E61 V8 Bearding

[ATM]

Is anyone thinking Winter Tyres?

[ATM]

So my car is asking for a Statutory Vehicle Inspection - I guess that's the mot. How can I find out when it needs an actual service?

[ATM]

philmots said:

I think I'll just take the wives Clio if it snows, she can stop at home and do the washing up or something..

As long as can get to work I'm not fussed, it's downhill getting there, I'll worry about getting home another day!

This may be a benefit of getting married. I don't have a wife so my cars need to work whatever the weather.

[ATM]

Any fellas in here driven the slk55 amg? If so what are they like?

[ATM]

AlpinaJez said:

smashie said:

Well according to how many left there are 24 vehicles from 2007 onwards still licensed. For 2008 onwards you are looking at only 10 left licensed. Good luck in your search. They are great cars, but rare as rocking horse sh*t, especially the LCI. I gave up and went pre-LCI.

Yes, tell me about it, I have been looking for over a year! Hence my note to you guys. A trader I spoke to reckons that a lot of them are bought up and sent abroad.

Yes

I think it's Malaysia or somewhere like that. More so when the price of big engine petrol cars fell to stupidly cheap prices here a few years ago. Since then they have stabilised a bit. Its even a problem with new cars. Some Range Rover garages are only allowing known customers to order the lwb because a lot were getting put on boats and shipped out.

[ATM]

A mate with a vxr8 munched through a brand new pair of Michelin Pilot Sports in 6 weeks due to alignment. His rear wheels were both pointing in a lot. Is that called toe in?

[ATM]

hornetrider said:

DL

?

[ATM]

Jobbo said:

The grey one you've linked looks in nice condition; it lacks the pro nav but has Logic7 and a sunroof. Not obvious from the photos whether it's the panoramic roof; I'm not sure whether you had a choice of normal sunroof or panoramic on the E61. Best thing is that it has dynamic drive which is the active anti-roll bars; I wish I had that on my F11 because it was great on the E61.

Adaptive zenons too so well loaded that one. Mine is very poverty spec in comparison but at least there is less to go wrong. I might get a px valuation on it and see if anything else takes my fancy. I'd try a new shape 335i touring but they seem quite rare. There is always the 335d touring obviously - has anyone here driven a 4wd 3?

[ATM]

smashie said:

Looks like I will finally be able to drive my 550i as of tomorrow. Had a call from BMW saying they are putting the engine back together today and will test drive it overnight which I guess means that one of the guys will be taking it home. 2 and half weeks without the thing and I cannot wait. Will see how close to quoted 2.5k the bill turns out to be.

I thought this was just breathers?

[ATM]

dom9 said:

I'll have a look there - Hopefully it is nothing too sinister... I really don't think it is.

Didn't realise the E500 5.5. was so rare... Hmmm... Will have to keep my eyes open!

The early cars were a 5 litre. Then merc dropped that engine and started using the na 55 engine instead from the amg cars. Same with the CLS.

[ATM]

I'm going the other way. Been thinking about some 17 inches for winter. I believe the 550i shares the discs with the 535d and both of these can accommodate a 17 inch wheel. Does anyone know which of the OEM wheels will fit?

[ATM]

philmots said:

That must be a massively tight fit, with my 18" mv2 I can't even fit my wheel brush between the inside wheel and caliper. The stem of the brush us around 5mm.

I think it depends on the thickness and shape of the rim itself. I switched from some lowish quality 18 inch rims to some oz's on my e46 and there was much more clearance on the oz rims.

[ATM]

philmots said:

ATM said:

philmots said:

That must be a massively tight fit, with my 18" mv2 I can't even fit my wheel brush between the inside wheel and caliper. The stem of the brush us around 5mm.

I think it depends on the thickness and shape of the rim itself. I switched from some lowish quality 18 inch rims to some oz's on my e46 and there was much more clearance on the oz rims.

I never thought of that !!

550i only has a 345mm disc. I have 355mm discs and massive 6 pot AP calipers on my e46 and some people say these can fit under some 17 inch wheels. I'm happy to take a punt on some oem 17 inch wheels in the hope they'll fit my big bus now that I know that.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_5+Series_4.8...

[ATM]

smashie said:

Will have to speak to them tomorrow. Don't want a huge bill on top of the huge bill I will get, because as far as I am concerned they should have noticed when they had the heads off 1st time around. Don't want to pay for heads off twice. Happy to pay parts and for the work done, but not to repeat work already done as they didn't bother to check things properly.

Oh no. So it's only come to light after everything was put back together.

[ATM]

philmots said:

hornetrider said:

dom9 said:

Love that colour - looks a good one

Yeah it is nice. Is that an LCI Space Grey?

Must admit my favourite touring colour is Imola



But they all seem to be 520Ds.

Second favourite is Interlagos

That's quite a nice wheel comparison, I don't really think the spiders look better on the Tourings. No worse, but no better!

Think ill keep my 18's and cheaper tyres, spend the difference on an exhaust of some description.

Have you switched to go flats?

[ATM]

I'm going to look at M3 v8 coupes this weekend.

[ATM]

dom9 said:

ATM said:

I'm going to look at M3 v8 coupes this weekend.

People always talk about the lack of low down torque... Would be interested in your thoughts after spending time in your LS and 550i.

Seems to be one of those engines you 'have to try'...

hornetrider said:

Lack of torque just means you're in the wrong gear!

I'm going dct so it should just kick down I'd presume.

[ATM]

wsurfa said:

Love the imola, even though I went to the audi dark side, I still like looking. Although I think that in the words of some Parisian 'marrying your mistress merely creates a vacancy', so I think I stay with my current estate and wish it was imola red

I quite like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131649253769

[ATM]

philmots said:

Yeah it's badly presented..

There's a right scuff on the bottom of front bumper which will need attention.

Just noticed it's got no xenons which would be a deal breaker for me.!

Mine has no zenons. I'd say confidently mine is poverty spec. I might buy some brighter headlight bulbs and give that a whirl. I am missing the bum warmers now with temps down to -1 this morning. Finally got some winter tyres organised and hope to get them fitted this week.

[ATM]

dom9 said:

I am also in need of some more powerful bulbs...

Let me know if you find anything you think suitable, please

I'll probably just go into Halfords and buy the brightest they have. If my bulbs are standard then anything is an improvement.