E61 V8 Bearding

[pewe]

DogTheQCarHunter said:

Quick update on the required updates to the car in my attempts to get back it back to standard spec (e61 550i manual).
Next is a test drive to see how the car drives without the spacers and to then figure out what to do with the rear suspension - whether to continue with springs on the rear or reinstate the air suspension.

If you're trying to put it back to standard I'd be inclined to reinstate the rear air suspension.
My local Indie, Steve at Berkshire Motor Works (geddit?) pointed out the rear end was designed to work with air suspension so advised me to stick with that.
Apart from originality presumably the components are relatively easy to come by if they do fail.
New airbags will last a fair time and are easy to fit.

[ATM]

pewe said:

If you're trying to put it back to standard I'd be inclined to reinstate the rear air suspension.
My local Indie pointed out the rear end was designed to work with air suspension so advised me to stick with that.

I'm not sure how much I buy into this.

I think the main benefit of air is the self levelling feature. So if you are regularly loading up the boot or for towing maybe its useful. Or even carting round fatter folk in the back seat. The headlamps on the E61 do not self level because the car assumes the boot will do it.

Moving on to air in general I know a guy who has owned 3 Porsche Cayenne. He gets them off his wealthy mate who buys them brand new and runs them or 3 or 4 years then shifts them on. He told me that a few years ago this wealthy guy went to some Porsche event and got to drive several Cayenne on test track with different setups. The main take away was that he prefers steel springs to air springs. So this is hardly conclusive but interesting none the less. Everything I have read about the Cayenne says air is better but have many people actually tried with and without back to back? Ok I rambling now but you get the idea.

When we see cars modified with air ride suspension we laugh and say that's rubbish. Is it rubbish - I honestly don't know.

Like I said earlier I think it depends on how you will use the car. If the boot space is occasional use only maybe simple steel springs will be fine. And for the sportier drive - if that's really a concern - steel might be best. I'm guessing steel will be cheaper too.

[bolidemichael]

I've driven the 211 E class with and without steel springs (or air, depending on how you look at it) and the air is far superior. However, air struts do perish and eventually fail.

[Jules Sunley]

My Alpina B5 Touring has air at the rear and the ride is lovely, comfy yet sporting too. I had to replace the compressor early in my ownership due to blocked sunroof drains diverting rainwater under the boot floor and taking out the module. Birds who look after the car moved some modules when fixing this so it cant happen again. The bill wasn't top horrendous. I would never personally want a car designed with air changed to non air.

The reason aftermarket air suspension is often (and very much by me) chastised as being st is due to the plebs that buy it so they can park their cars looking like the springs have collapsed in a mode of what they think is cool...

[ATM]

My car has the air and it has been fine - no problems - touching wood.

I remember reading something that the compressor can fail because a spring can start to deteriorate and then the pump needs to run constantly. I think the tell tale sign is if the car sags at the rear when left for a while parked. Mine is only used very occasionally and it never seems to drop at all.

Also I believe there was some form of adapter for sale which fits to the level sensor and fools it into thinking the car is higher than it is and therefore the car lowers it. I had mine lowered via the ECU but then at some point the ECU was reset and it lost this lower setting.

[pewe]

ATM said:

My car has the air and it has been fine - no problems - touching wood.

I remember reading something that the compressor can fail because a spring can start to deteriorate and then the pump needs to run constantly. I think the tell tale sign is if the car sags at the rear when left for a while parked. Mine is only used very occasionally and it never seems to drop at all.

Before the air bags collapse they are more likely to go porous which means the compressor is forced to over work.
You may hear the compressor working on start up but if it continues it could be an indicator.
Also on mine (new air bags, standard set up, non run flat tyres etc) the resting gap between the tyre top and wheel arch is about three fingers.
Checking the bags isn't difficult if you don't mind getting down and dirty. Simply go underneath (safely of course) and brush a fairly strong solution of washing up liquid onto the bags, leave for a few minutes and any bubbles are produced it tells you they've gone porous.

[DogTheQCarHunter]

Thanks for all the comments on the rear suspension, I'm going to get it checked out when it's on the ramp in the next couple weeks when I get the front discs/pads fitted. It will be good to know if any elements of the air suspension systems remain on the car or if all components have been completely removed (the compressor etc).

In other news I'll be advertising my other 550i Manual for sale in a month or so when I have some time. This one is an e60 in carbon black with just 63k miles on the clock and every extra known to man, it's an ex BMW demonstrator for this model and I've owned it for the last 5 years. If anyone knows anyone who might be interested then drop me a message.

[pewe]

DogTheQCarHunter said:

In other news I'll be advertising my other 550i Manual for sale in a month or so when I have some time. This one is an e60 in carbon black with just 63k miles on the clock and every extra known to man, it's an ex BMW demonstrator for this model and I've owned it for the last 5 years. If anyone knows anyone who might be interested then drop me a message.

You could do worse than give Steve at Berkshire Motor Works, 0118 979 8448 a call. He's an excellent indie and has a loyal customer base. Also he's a busy guy so leave him a message if he doesn't pick up.

[DogTheQCarHunter]

pewe said:

Thanks for that, I'll drop him a call sometime. Much appreciated.

[ATM]

E61 fans

I bought a cheap and cheerful, hopefully, OBD reader from Aldi and the results are in. I have 9 in total:

P0444
P0300
P0301
P0306
P0303
P0307
P0302
P0597
P0304

So the 300 numbers are misfires detected. 300 is generic and the other designate the cylinder number. That just leaves

444 - EVAP Emission Control System Purge Valve
597 - Cruise Control Circuit Open

So if this means anything to anyone here please let me know.

TIA

[DogTheQCarHunter]

Quick update on the light restoration of the manual Touring.

New OEM front discs and Brembo pads now fitted, only light use so far until they bed in.

Next up are new front wishbones to make sure there’s no judder under heavy braking.

Qs on reinstating the rear air suspension

1. Any recommendations on the airbags? Prices go from £50 a pair to £500 a pair (OEM, Arnott etc). I’m thinking the Dunlop options are a decent bet at £190 a pair? Happy to hear thoughts on that.

2. Compressor - we won’t know if mine is dead u til everything else is fitted so I’ll order one just in case. Again, prices vary dramatically so any recommendations on a brand to pick would be appreciated.

3.Air pipes - I can only see these being sold on ebay from Latvia? My garage suggests replacing these when the job is done. Again, any help on sourcing those would be great.

Thanks

[ATM]

I had a bit of judder under braking which turned out to be rear discs.

[pmorg4]

ATM said:

E61 fans

I bought a cheap and cheerful, hopefully, OBD reader from Aldi and the results are in. I have 9 in total:

P0444
P0300
P0301
P0306
P0303
P0307
P0302
P0597
P0304

So the 300 numbers are misfires detected. 300 is generic and the other designate the cylinder number. That just leaves

444 - EVAP Emission Control System Purge Valve
597 - Cruise Control Circuit Open

So if this means anything to anyone here please let me know.

TIA

Assuming your cheap code reader doesn't tell you when the fault was detected or if it's current, I'd take a note of them and clear them to see whether they come back. Otherwise you might be chasing an issue that's not current.

[ATM]

Out in the country

[Jules Sunley]

Moody shot from earlier this evening. Loving how the colour and dekoset looked in the light.

[pewe]

Jules Sunley said:

Moody shot from earlier this evening. Loving how the colour and dekoset looked in the light.

Very sparkly - but there again it always is, Jules.

About time we had another Pinewood coffee & tyre kicking session?
You up for that as well Dave?
Anyone else??
Suggested dates?

[davejfk]

Very up for that Peter.

I'm off tomorrow (in my 550i of course!) to Tuscany for a couple of weeks but maybe when I'm back. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the mechanical fairies play ball...

[ATM]

davejfk said:

Very up for that Peter.

I'm off tomorrow (in my 550i of course!) to Tuscany for a couple of weeks but maybe when I'm back. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the mechanical fairies play ball...

Good solid cars these. Mine just keeps on trucking. Occasionally starts running on 7 or 6 so I have to turn it off and back on again. I did have a header tank / expansion tank split which stranded me. So if yours is original I'd buy a new one and just leave it in the boot just in case. Only around 40 quid.

[Jules Sunley]

pewe said:

Jules Sunley said:

Moody shot from earlier this evening. Loving how the colour and dekoset looked in the light.

Very sparkly - but there again it always is, Jules.

About time we had another Pinewood coffee & tyre kicking session?
You up for that as well Dave?
Anyone else??
Suggested dates?

Sounds like a plan. Down in Devon at present at family (in the Volvo as dog came too). Let's compare diaries soon.

[ATM]

Ordered plugs and coils from Autodoc. Then got an email saying they didn't have the plugs and offered me an alternative. I said no thanks I'll take the refund. I'd chosen NGK plugs and NGK coils and the alternative plugs they offered me where some unknown brand. Now I'm back to the drawing board. I'm wandering if I should give Euro Car Parts a go next. Autodoc had around 50 [maybe a slight exaggeration] different plugs listed for this car so I was a bit overwhelmed.