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Had a problem with the puncture warning flagging up which made me itch a bit :/ pressures just 2 psi off so maybe the ABS is in a twist. Otherwise it's performing famously out here. Incredible roads and for sure the place we'll end up. Shameless picture of the drive 
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 20th August 19:50
So all back in one piece. The weird tyre fault just went away and no other dramas. On the return journey I had some very childish times with my 6 year old in the tunnels, and with the odd standing start from a toll booth I know it's not a particularly exotic car but it drew a bit of attention in Dublin and I didn't see another on the trip.
The exhaust mod is without doubt the best money I have spent on pretty much anything, ever
It's not all good news though. The brakes are now feeding back a bit of light judder and the pads are glazed I would think as they feel a bit dead. I'm looking at options to go the whole hog and change the front setup entirely. It's just too much car for the brakes to be like this. Tyres will be needed sometime in the near future, the front edges have lost their bite and the steering is suffering for it. I expected it to go through these things so it's not a problem....apart from money
Fuel consumption continues to be ok. Oil hasn't moved since the small top up. I had some reservations but it's starting to get under my skin now and the plan to switch to a 911 after 6 months might need a rethink.
I know it's not a particularly exotic car but it drew a bit of attention in Dublin and I didn't see another on the trip. The exhaust mod is without doubt the best money I have spent on pretty much anything, ever
It's not all good news though. The brakes are now feeding back a bit of light judder and the pads are glazed I would think as they feel a bit dead. I'm looking at options to go the whole hog and change the front setup entirely. It's just too much car for the brakes to be like this. Tyres will be needed sometime in the near future, the front edges have lost their bite and the steering is suffering for it. I expected it to go through these things so it's not a problem....apart from money
Fuel consumption continues to be ok. Oil hasn't moved since the small top up. I had some reservations but it's starting to get under my skin now and the plan to switch to a 911 after 6 months might need a rethink.
Bad week.
Returning from Caterham I picked up an ugly stone chip on the bonnet, it's left a small dent as well. Then yesterday something caught the nearside front at work, nobody saw it etc, etc. I was pretty pissed about it but it'll get fixed. In other news it's annoyed me now so it's living with the M button on and fuel consumption has been chucked out the window, I just can't be assed. The Caterham is coming anyway. The exhaust mod continues to make me smile and the brakes continue to confuse. The temptation to swap it for a CS E46 is quite strong as is the pull of a Maserati. The Caterham will bring order to the garage I feel.
Next week bodyshop quotes...nothing like spending money for no reason :/
Returning from Caterham I picked up an ugly stone chip on the bonnet, it's left a small dent as well. Then yesterday something caught the nearside front at work, nobody saw it etc, etc. I was pretty pissed about it but it'll get fixed. In other news it's annoyed me now so it's living with the M button on and fuel consumption has been chucked out the window, I just can't be assed. The Caterham is coming anyway. The exhaust mod continues to make me smile and the brakes continue to confuse. The temptation to swap it for a CS E46 is quite strong as is the pull of a Maserati. The Caterham will bring order to the garage I feel.
Next week bodyshop quotes...nothing like spending money for no reason :/
Back from the bodyshop. Going to have the whole bumper and bonnet painted as there are a few chips etc. The guys at DM gave me a few ideas about making the car a bit more edgy which sound good and something to look at. There is a vast amount of tuning stuff out there and loads of ways to empty your wallet! If I'm keeping it for a while then it'll have to have a BBK, that's a decision to be made when the new toy arrives. It is coming just a question of spec and dealing with a scary number
Another trip to Ireland so time to update. The car is still doing well, it served as rapid transport to Holyhead, funeral car, sandwich wagon for a christening and general transport. Not the brightest Xmas but that's how life goes sometimes. That's the thing with it, just a 3 series and apart from the wheels (and if you don't drive like an ass) nobody looks twice.
The brakes, which I've been ignoring and not been hard on are really s
tty now, I'll book it in tomorrow as its making fast driving nigh on impossible. The ignition keys dropped into the fag lighter (second car I've had this happen) and have blown the fuse somewhere as all the auxiliary stuff isn't working. Having to rely on the frankly ridiculous BMW satnav reminds me why I don't. The 6 year old was feeling a bit glum after a bumpy ferry journey and being trapped in the back for a few hours so I swapped places and the other half drove. First time in the back, not a bad place to be apart from no arm rest, what is it with BMW and their crazy notion of all the saloons having split seats as an option against the coupe all standard fitment? Had a few compliments in Ireland about its noise and I still think it's one of the things that make the car now, it's loud enough to know what it is but just this side of yobbish, borderline at cold start. It feels pretty rapid as a passenger
We followed a newish 911 and as much as I fancy one it wouldn't make this trip we've just done with all the crap in the boot. Still looking at at a replacement sometime but it's such a good all rounder and i have got used to the fuel, the next service, tyres etc might be a bit sobering though I'll check the trip tomorrow but it was showing something like 23.5 after 650 miles of motorway and two weeks of short journeys, I don't think that's too bad overall. I'm not sure where it is value wise and TBH I'm not going to look, the warranty runs for a good while longer so I'll be keeping it into the summer I would think. The bonnet and bumper are still waiting, I can't see the point until I sell it really as knowing my luck it'll get chipped, knocked again, it's not that annoying now I've attacked it with some cutting type stuff.
Next step is a clean. It's pretty manky.
The brakes, which I've been ignoring and not been hard on are really s
tty now, I'll book it in tomorrow as its making fast driving nigh on impossible. The ignition keys dropped into the fag lighter (second car I've had this happen) and have blown the fuse somewhere as all the auxiliary stuff isn't working. Having to rely on the frankly ridiculous BMW satnav reminds me why I don't. The 6 year old was feeling a bit glum after a bumpy ferry journey and being trapped in the back for a few hours so I swapped places and the other half drove. First time in the back, not a bad place to be apart from no arm rest, what is it with BMW and their crazy notion of all the saloons having split seats as an option against the coupe all standard fitment? Had a few compliments in Ireland about its noise and I still think it's one of the things that make the car now, it's loud enough to know what it is but just this side of yobbish, borderline at cold start. It feels pretty rapid as a passenger We followed a newish 911 and as much as I fancy one it wouldn't make this trip we've just done with all the crap in the boot. Still looking at at a replacement sometime but it's such a good all rounder and i have got used to the fuel, the next service, tyres etc might be a bit sobering though
I'll check the trip tomorrow but it was showing something like 23.5 after 650 miles of motorway and two weeks of short journeys, I don't think that's too bad overall. I'm not sure where it is value wise and TBH I'm not going to look, the warranty runs for a good while longer so I'll be keeping it into the summer I would think. The bonnet and bumper are still waiting, I can't see the point until I sell it really as knowing my luck it'll get chipped, knocked again, it's not that annoying now I've attacked it with some cutting type stuff. Next step is a clean. It's pretty manky.
The view that every M3 owner dreads but everyone else enjoys
The clock lost about 20 mins last week and then returning back from the station a warning about 'increased discharge', which sounded painful. I switched the charger from the Atom to the BMW and left it overnight, the next morning it was fine. On the way home though it went into limp, reduced power wasn't undriveable so made it back ok. Obviously first port of call was a new battery. Sod going to BMW's oiks so I used DMWorx, they're very good guys. New battery was around £150 and the 'coding'
(the most tragic and unbelievable use of what is a complex job used to describe adding a mere serial number or hitting enter on a sub menu) £20, therefore £200 or so all in. The crap the display lit up with was fairly complete. Tyre warnings, low fuel, every DSC type fault, battery, engine faults....
I remember having a dead battery on an old Mini once. Every day I used to bump it down the hill, a good few months that went on until it started misfiring and I got bored with problem. £20, 5 mins and it was back on the road.
Apart from that the 'drug dealers car' (as next door refer to it) is plodding along merrily depleting the worlds oil supplies and making the most wonderful noises. I had a wobble the other week with an i3, and also the 135i but the cost to change to the i3 is too much and the 135i is too small for my needs. I was seriously impressed with the pace of it (135) but it was a bit sterile and the suspension was a bit bland after the E90. On the same day we went to the Merc dealer to look at a GLC (great name for a mercedes bus) for the other half. They kindly gave me the keys to an A45AMG. It reminded me of my old DC2, way, way faster obviously but it was so loud, crashy and attention seeking I really couldn't have one. Seriously rapid car though, hugely impressive and no doubt effective.
There are those that say the E90 has no torque, is a reps car, is too bland etc but as yet I haven't found a replacement. It reminded me how competent it is overall after driving all these new cars, not to mention how much more character the S65 has. The brakes are still not sorted and I am now toying with smaller wheels.
The clock lost about 20 mins last week and then returning back from the station a warning about 'increased discharge', which sounded painful. I switched the charger from the Atom to the BMW and left it overnight, the next morning it was fine. On the way home though it went into limp, reduced power wasn't undriveable so made it back ok. Obviously first port of call was a new battery. Sod going to BMW's oiks so I used DMWorx, they're very good guys. New battery was around £150 and the 'coding'
(the most tragic and unbelievable use of what is a complex job used to describe adding a mere serial number or hitting enter on a sub menu) £20, therefore £200 or so all in. The crap the display lit up with was fairly complete. Tyre warnings, low fuel, every DSC type fault, battery, engine faults....I remember having a dead battery on an old Mini once. Every day I used to bump it down the hill, a good few months that went on until it started misfiring and I got bored with problem. £20, 5 mins and it was back on the road.
Apart from that the 'drug dealers car' (as next door refer to it) is plodding along merrily depleting the worlds oil supplies and making the most wonderful noises. I had a wobble the other week with an i3, and also the 135i but the cost to change to the i3 is too much and the 135i is too small for my needs. I was seriously impressed with the pace of it (135) but it was a bit sterile and the suspension was a bit bland after the E90. On the same day we went to the Merc dealer to look at a GLC (great name for a mercedes bus) for the other half. They kindly gave me the keys to an A45AMG. It reminded me of my old DC2, way, way faster obviously but it was so loud, crashy and attention seeking I really couldn't have one. Seriously rapid car though, hugely impressive and no doubt effective.
There are those that say the E90 has no torque, is a reps car, is too bland etc but as yet I haven't found a replacement. It reminded me how competent it is overall after driving all these new cars, not to mention how much more character the S65 has. The brakes are still not sorted and I am now toying with smaller wheels.
cerb4.5lee said:
Very sorry to hear this and I hope you get it sorted as easily as possible.
Hi, thanks for that. It's just a car, tbh I kind of expected it to rain one day and knew there were potential bills around the corner, especially given the complexity of them. It's is totally why I bought approved used rather than saved a few grand privately, In one way I really hope it's the actuators, and both of them. The worst case would be a 'glitch', I will lose patience with an intermittent fault for sure! I was speaking to a guy who lost a compression on one cylinder and was faced with a new engine, £15K that cost him, or at least the insurance company. It's a high stakes game. Anyway let's not feel sorry for me, I've got it booked in and once home, it it limps back ok, will probably take the Atom out. A few miles in that ill forget all about the various 'bongs' and alarms in the Bavarian monster
SirSamuelBuca said:
what gearbox software u running? there is few versions that fix that
It's a human one From a cold start it became a bit of a daily game. Trying to make it run perfectly smoothly and not just short shift. I thought a while back it felt like the throttle was doing something weird. Might just be how the S65 is, not the greatest problem really, just a 'thing'.
roadie said:
So what is the situation with the brakes at the moment? Have any replacement pads sorted them out?
That's another tale. So I read tons of info about E90 M3 brakes. The common opinion is that the discs generally don't warp, calipers are actually pretty bombproof and that the standard pads do a fair job. It sort of pointed towards pad deposits so I was all booked in to have them skimmed and fit some RS29's. On the day of the job I wandered in there and waited for a while before being told to 'hang around', I left. I was looking at booking it in somewhere else and then this cropped up. I think a trip to either DM or CPC in the next few weeks will need to happen. In the meantime I will see how much new discs are from Germany, it might be easier to do that. I won't be investing in a BBK.
It's back, and boy have I missed it!
Handing back the i3 (see other thread) wasn't exactly a wrench, but the genuine excitement I felt when I heard the M3 arriving from the workshop took me by surprise. Was this the same car I had been shouting at and looking for a place to stop near birch trees only a few days ago?
The lack of torque after the toaster was alarming, the S65 never being a tractor in that department anyway was now feeling a bit limp. However the noise, all the noise, from everywhere; it was like hearing for the first time. Exhaust note aside (which was glorious, a selection of various petrol fumed notes which I'd love to be able to explain) the engine, box....everything. Soon on our way and onto the A40 I noticed, or didn't, that I was no longer looking at the speed and holding a steady 63 mph, speed no longer mattered as it didn't impact on the cars range. Yes I know it eats fuel but I don't have to do this every evening and it was brilliant not worrying about it, the future perhaps?
Something else.
The gearbox baulked at a clumsy shift, instead of irritating me it made me grateful, grateful that I was actually driving something again. For all its faults and mine it is a dumb (sort of) machine that does what it is told and reacts totally to my inputs, mechanical inputs, timing, co-ordination. The final element was a little bit of clumsy throttle out of a roundabout, revs, wheelspin.
I can safely say as a mode of transport electric cars are the future. As things to enjoy they are so lacking in so many areas I am actually quite concerned for what the future holds. It seems I may be the luddite I protested against after all.
...the brakes are still st.
Handing back the i3 (see other thread) wasn't exactly a wrench, but the genuine excitement I felt when I heard the M3 arriving from the workshop took me by surprise. Was this the same car I had been shouting at and looking for a place to stop near birch trees only a few days ago?
The lack of torque after the toaster was alarming, the S65 never being a tractor in that department anyway was now feeling a bit limp. However the noise, all the noise, from everywhere; it was like hearing for the first time. Exhaust note aside (which was glorious, a selection of various petrol fumed notes which I'd love to be able to explain) the engine, box....everything. Soon on our way and onto the A40 I noticed, or didn't, that I was no longer looking at the speed and holding a steady 63 mph, speed no longer mattered as it didn't impact on the cars range. Yes I know it eats fuel but I don't have to do this every evening and it was brilliant not worrying about it, the future perhaps?
Something else.
The gearbox baulked at a clumsy shift, instead of irritating me it made me grateful, grateful that I was actually driving something again. For all its faults and mine it is a dumb (sort of) machine that does what it is told and reacts totally to my inputs, mechanical inputs, timing, co-ordination. The final element was a little bit of clumsy throttle out of a roundabout, revs, wheelspin.
I can safely say as a mode of transport electric cars are the future. As things to enjoy they are so lacking in so many areas I am actually quite concerned for what the future holds. It seems I may be the luddite I protested against after all.
...the brakes are still s
t. So, April and May with the new actuators, all is well.
Its MOT time and am not in the UK. Great. It'll be interesting if this trip extends further, probably the only SORN'd car in short stay The spend this month is looking a but scary but tbh I figure I am already up with the actuator claim, you know, man maths and all that? With some luck I might get some help on the discs from BMW, yes, I never got around to sorting it out despite it pissing me off every day! New OEM are almost four figures and DS2500 pads all round have been chosen in preference to the RS19's, primarily as I don't need the extra temperatures they offer. A brake fluid service will be carried out next week and I will get them to change the oil, 10K is enough, no matter what the car tells me.
The tyres are in stock so that's another chunk of change, significant savings on what the dealer was offering so I am *happy enough. Finally the bodywork. Full paint correction to take all the swirls out and I am looking for a bodyshop to take the stone chips out, perhaps one place can do both, I don't know? Finally the small matter of another year of comprehensive warranty and daylight robbery funding parliaments drinks cabinet.
Then we'll see. It's very much second fiddle to the Atom and I keep looking at other things but, it's still a hell of a lump of metal for the money. Also, the days of V8's like this are now well and truely over and I don't feel like giving in and having an auto generic barge just yet thanks very much.
'as one can be with two hoops of rubber costing £500
Its MOT time and am not in the UK. Great. It'll be interesting if this trip extends further, probably the only SORN'd car in short stay
The spend this month is looking a but scary but tbh I figure I am already up with the actuator claim, you know, man maths and all that? With some luck I might get some help on the discs from BMW, yes, I never got around to sorting it out despite it pissing me off every day! New OEM are almost four figures and DS2500 pads all round have been chosen in preference to the RS19's, primarily as I don't need the extra temperatures they offer. A brake fluid service will be carried out next week and I will get them to change the oil, 10K is enough, no matter what the car tells me.The tyres are in stock so that's another chunk of change, significant savings on what the dealer was offering so I am *happy enough. Finally the bodywork. Full paint correction to take all the swirls out and I am looking for a bodyshop to take the stone chips out, perhaps one place can do both, I don't know? Finally the small matter of another year of comprehensive warranty and daylight robbery funding parliaments drinks cabinet.
Then we'll see. It's very much second fiddle to the Atom and I keep looking at other things but, it's still a hell of a lump of metal for the money. Also, the days of V8's like this are now well and truely over and I don't feel like giving in and having an auto generic barge just yet thanks very much.
'as one can be with two hoops of rubber costing £500
RS Grant said:
I'm a big fan of the E90 and manual gearbox combo; DCT is absolutely not for me and an E92 would have to be pretty special to tempt me away from a 4dr.
I'm actually looking at these and doing more and more reading on them recently.. the potential oil consumption puts me off a little and while I can live with fuel consumption figures >20mpg, I know that if I was visiting the local petrol station any more than that then it would start to grate after a while.
There's a distinct lack of pictures in this thread though...
Cheers,
Grant
Hi Grant. Yes, fuel consumption is not the cars greatest thing, it has averaged 22-23 over the 10K with me. Oil consumption is low, lower than I anticipated. I have used about 1.5L in total, it does depend how it's driven. I prefer not just the practicality but the looks of the E90, I don't like long coupe doors in carparks either. With children it's a no no anyway. I'm actually looking at these and doing more and more reading on them recently.. the potential oil consumption puts me off a little and while I can live with fuel consumption figures >20mpg, I know that if I was visiting the local petrol station any more than that then it would start to grate after a while.
There's a distinct lack of pictures in this thread though...
Cheers,
Grant
Every other week I think about selling it but what to buy? It would mean investing at least another 10-20K for anything I really wanted and I just don't need anything more. I looked at used M4 but in reality it's just a slightly bigger, different version of what I have..and it's not a manual. Besides, it was £50K+, too much money when purchasing privately.
No, I'l have to continue with this marriage and accept it for what it is
Unless someone comes in with an offer like they did with the 130i.I'll put some more pictures up, I figured it's a bit 'ordinary' to do so but.....
So the spending started in earnest today. New set of Michelin's for the rear (£490), free de-icer though which is handy Discs ordered (£587) and a set of Pagid RS19 (£517), yes really! How I'll bed them in on the road yet I'm not quite sure..
The cars off to DM Worx tomorrow for a fluid change and MOT, whilst I feck off to Europe. Excel dents are just around the corner so I will ask them about taking out the stone chip/rock dent in the bonnet then touch it in. A full detail will follow, it's a great colour, but subtle colour and about time it was given a spruce. At the same time the front window tints are coming out, I never liked them.
Still undecided upon renewing the warranty, £1700 seems a lot, but then so is an actuator...and there is still one original one in there, plus the S65 shells..... It might be a small price to pay for not worrying about the odd noise here and there
It has thrown a rear light failure fault which I traced to the holder. There was a recall to sprinkle some BMW pixie dust on it but a pair of non BMW needle nosed pliers seem to have fixed it
Looking forward to the new brakes but not the VED!
Discs ordered (£587) and a set of Pagid RS19 (£517), yes really! How I'll bed them in on the road yet I'm not quite sure..The cars off to DM Worx tomorrow for a fluid change and MOT, whilst I feck off to Europe. Excel dents are just around the corner so I will ask them about taking out the stone chip/rock dent in the bonnet then touch it in. A full detail will follow, it's a great colour, but subtle colour and about time it was given a spruce. At the same time the front window tints are coming out, I never liked them.
Still undecided upon renewing the warranty, £1700 seems a lot, but then so is an actuator...and there is still one original one in there, plus the S65 shells..... It might be a small price to pay for not worrying about the odd noise here and there
It has thrown a rear light failure fault which I traced to the holder. There was a recall to sprinkle some BMW pixie dust on it but a pair of non BMW needle nosed pliers seem to have fixed it
Looking forward to the new brakes but not the VED!
MOT passed with no advisorys, cool. DM Worx were great as ever, MOT and brake fluid service £100, perfect. Chatting to a guy there, as a newish M4 went out, we both agreed that the E90 offers most that everything that the current range does without spending £50K. Back too late to pick up the discs, another day and I will drop it back as I just don't have the time right now. I also visited Refined Detailing today, great place. Really impressed with the enthusiasm and the cars he's working on. The paint was measured all over and it's apparent it's never been touched. One rear door was slightly worse in his opinion but overall it got a clean bill of health. September it's going there for paint correction. Lastly found a place to upgrade the stereo. Not that much and the reckon their upgrade is substantially better than all and every variant of OE.
I just can't wait for mega brakes
This little beauty was in the car park...
I just can't wait for mega brakes
This little beauty was in the car park...
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 1st July 22:07
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