How knackered is your old bimmer?
Discussion
My E39 520i Touring (2001 Y-reg post-facelift M54B22 2171cc, manual 'box) is getting pretty baggy now - mainly the springs/dampers. Ride quality is not wonderful and body control no longer feels quite as tight as it did 70k ago (it's now got 125k miles on it - it was very pampered until I bought it in 2009 and it's been absolutely flogged since. The drivetrain still feels wonderful - beyond about 4000rpm it really screams and goes like buggery, which it has no right to do at only 100bhp/ton. Cosmetically it's in a pretty poor state, and various cheap plastic fittings (some door and tailgate trims, rear wiper arm) have broken off. SWMBO, in a state of great stress, also scraped the LHS on a bollard en route to a last-minute pre-PhD-viva voce meeting and so the rear door is slightly dented and has white scraping on it. There's also a slight dent on the LHS, right at the top rear corner of the rear wing, and I have no idea how it got that, nor when. It's a strong place in the shell so it must have been a hell of a wallop - but not when I was driving it and SWMBO knows nothing about it either. Paint is fine there. Haven't washed it in ages. Mind you, the Oxford Green paint absolutely covered in mud looks pretty cool in the sunlight. I think the front LHS spring is also broken - I did the same (massive pothole) to my old E46 and that made much the same graunching noise. I've also had both rear air suspension air bags replaced - one of them let go, then the compressor fuse blew, leaving me with no rear suspension and a 50-mile trip back home, then another 12 to my local BMW specialist the next day... the other one let go a few weeks later so it was another trip for another 'bag. On really bumpy B-roads and some A-roads (the A246 from Bocketts Farm into Bookham is one of the worst offenders), passengers have reported that they can feel the shell flexing a little bit (resting their elbow on the window sill and hand against the roof). It's nothing horrendous by any means. I've also replaced the RHS door mirror more times than I care to think, having had it smashed off by drivers coming down the middle of the road. Quite a lot of road noise. I'd have the saloon (which I'm told is a bit quieter, stiffer, better sprung [no air suspension], 100kg lighter and tighter to drive), but I rather need the boot space, having transported various bits of furniture in the old battlewagon. As a big practical GT shooting brake, I'd like more torque and a sixth gear, and I'd gladly sacrifice the 3-seater rear bench for two individual rear buckets - my old Rover P6 was SO much nicer a place to travel in the rear despite tight leg-room. Sport seats in the front would be good too as the SE seats are somewhat unsupportive. A 540i M Sport Touring would do nicely, but I hear the V8s don't steer as nicely as the sixes. Does anyone know if I could get a 6-speed 'box from an E60/1 to fit in the E39 and mate them to the M54 engine? Clutch/bellhousing? I've already spent far more than my car is worth on it, but I like it too much to get rid of it. Any tips on springs/dampers? I'm thinking of putting some Bilstein shocks on it to start with - if anyone here has any experience of putting aftermarket suspension on E39s (and possibly converting air to steel springs), I'd like to hear.
mysteron35 said:
Not knackered in the true sence, but I've had my 02 M3 from nearly new and use it daily.
I'm a contractor in the power industry and it's lived all over Europe with me.
I should have replaced it with an e92 years ago but it just keeps on going and feels like a comfy fastish slipper
Good going, how many miles now? SMG?I'm a contractor in the power industry and it's lived all over Europe with me.
I should have replaced it with an e92 years ago but it just keeps on going and feels like a comfy fastish slipper
2006 E91 320D - 170k
Other than a few small things it's completely fine.
- Both thermostats dead - replaced
- Blower fan noisy - Might replace
- One cup holder doesn't fully come out - Probably needs a clean
- Track rod ends seized - Need to be replaced when I change tyres for tracking
- Has had a small front bump, paint cracked, headlight mounts broken - Aesthetic, headlight levels fine and doesn't jiggle
- Drivers mat worn through, velcro gone, passengers folded in middle - Probably replace
- Offside wing mirror glass starting to go, only slightly and hard to see when driving - Will replace if it gets worse
Okay it's not that old, but it's done the miles. Plan to take it to around 200k then sell it.
Other than a few small things it's completely fine.
- Both thermostats dead - replaced
- Blower fan noisy - Might replace
- One cup holder doesn't fully come out - Probably needs a clean
- Track rod ends seized - Need to be replaced when I change tyres for tracking
- Has had a small front bump, paint cracked, headlight mounts broken - Aesthetic, headlight levels fine and doesn't jiggle
- Drivers mat worn through, velcro gone, passengers folded in middle - Probably replace
- Offside wing mirror glass starting to go, only slightly and hard to see when driving - Will replace if it gets worse
Okay it's not that old, but it's done the miles. Plan to take it to around 200k then sell it.
E24man said:
E39 B10 V8 Touring, 130k. Everything works except the absolutely stupid designed-on-a-hangover-with-no-protection-from-any-water-ingress-whatsoever tailgate mounted button for the hydraulic tailgate - feckin thing.
E34 B10 4.6 Touring, 133k. Everything works save for the Cruise Control I retro-fitted to the existing loom; cock alone knows what it is as I have no way of testing it except a little voltage check here and there.
E24 M635CSI, 118k. In pieces for a glass out full respray - it was all working when I sent it in but.....
E24 635CSi, lots of miles, see speedo below, but I suspect at least 180k. Just received it back after a 6 year hiatus in storage/crap respray/lost/forgotten about/surprised to be handed it back. Hardly anything works.
OBC - dead.
Central locking - dead.
Electric aerial - sporadic/random/game of chance.
Stereo - occasional but turns off when you turn hard left.
Headlights - working but like candles in a storm.
Rear shocks - gradually loosening off.
Indicators - worked for the MoT but getting through some bulbs so some hidden gremlins there.
Speedo - occasional with percussion engineering still proving the best fix.
Cruise control - linked to the speedo so not a chance.
Sunroof - broken bracket causing it to sag in.
Bonnet shocks - job number 1 as I don't appreciate 16 square feet of double skinned Munich metal on my head every few minutes.
Wipers - lethargic/mortally wounded through years of slumber/coma.
Headlight wipers - oh, come on, they didn't work a few months after they were brand new - what chance have they after 33 years.
Tyres - retaining air - for now.
Brakes - just enough for an MoT - not confidence inspiring though.
Exhaust - the Lord himself only knows how this retains gas for the entire length - I suspect imminent failure.
Engine electrics - weird. You can't turn it off! Connect the battery and the dash lights up without a key. Insert and turn key, and and the car starts really quite easily. Turn the key off and ..... it keeps running. Extract key and.....it keeps running. Disconnect rear of ignition switch and ....can you see a pattern. All the previous and disconnect the battery .... yep, the alternator is one item still stubbornly working and the car keeps running. Surely unplugging the Motronic power supply relay should.... nope, it still keeps going. Stall it! Nope, it's an auto....
Feckin thing.
Thank God it's pretty though - otherwise I'd burn it.....
Just bumping this thread with an update of my post two years ago. E34 B10 4.6 Touring, 133k. Everything works save for the Cruise Control I retro-fitted to the existing loom; cock alone knows what it is as I have no way of testing it except a little voltage check here and there.
E24 M635CSI, 118k. In pieces for a glass out full respray - it was all working when I sent it in but.....
E24 635CSi, lots of miles, see speedo below, but I suspect at least 180k. Just received it back after a 6 year hiatus in storage/crap respray/lost/forgotten about/surprised to be handed it back. Hardly anything works.
OBC - dead.
Central locking - dead.
Electric aerial - sporadic/random/game of chance.
Stereo - occasional but turns off when you turn hard left.
Headlights - working but like candles in a storm.
Rear shocks - gradually loosening off.
Indicators - worked for the MoT but getting through some bulbs so some hidden gremlins there.
Speedo - occasional with percussion engineering still proving the best fix.
Cruise control - linked to the speedo so not a chance.
Sunroof - broken bracket causing it to sag in.
Bonnet shocks - job number 1 as I don't appreciate 16 square feet of double skinned Munich metal on my head every few minutes.
Wipers - lethargic/mortally wounded through years of slumber/coma.
Headlight wipers - oh, come on, they didn't work a few months after they were brand new - what chance have they after 33 years.
Tyres - retaining air - for now.
Brakes - just enough for an MoT - not confidence inspiring though.
Exhaust - the Lord himself only knows how this retains gas for the entire length - I suspect imminent failure.
Engine electrics - weird. You can't turn it off! Connect the battery and the dash lights up without a key. Insert and turn key, and and the car starts really quite easily. Turn the key off and ..... it keeps running. Extract key and.....it keeps running. Disconnect rear of ignition switch and ....can you see a pattern. All the previous and disconnect the battery .... yep, the alternator is one item still stubbornly working and the car keeps running. Surely unplugging the Motronic power supply relay should.... nope, it still keeps going. Stall it! Nope, it's an auto....
Feckin thing.
Thank God it's pretty though - otherwise I'd burn it.....
E39 B10 V8 Touring: Yet another coolant leak.
E24 M635CSi: Still stunning after the restoration and everything works.
E34 B10 4.6 Touring: Still no cruise but not a single problem otherwise.
E24 635CSi: First of all check the list above......... well right now every single thing works except the OBC and silly headlamp wipers! I even re-charged the croaky 34 year old air-con and have completely unexpected but very much appreciated chilly air.
E38 B12 5.7 L: Everything works including the tandom BMW-GSM telephones.
Edited by E24man on Tuesday 14th June 06:57
2001 e39 525d. 288k miles.
The engine runs sweet as a nut - no oil top up between services.
Still on original ...
rear shocks
clutch
starter
alternator (although it has had new brushes at @ 230k miles, but bearing is fine)
cooling system (when the alternator was out, as preventative maintenance, I replaced the waterpump and thermostat with bits from ECP. 4 or 5 months later, the new thermostat died
, so although I had "binned" the old one, it hadn't been thrown out yet. Old thermostat went back in, and is still working perfectly 
.
Front discs changed at 251k miles - were getting a wee bit thin!
Rear discs changed at @ 220k-ish miles as I couldn't adjust the handbake to pass MoT.
It has rust in the usual e39 places. But, due to some twunt whacking it in a car park, and busting rear light and severely damaging the bumper, it has received a paint repair to the bootlid while shunt damage was addressed.
The central locking only works to open the car.
Both rear doors sometimes refuse to open from the outside.
The bootlid wiring is buggered, so I get the "boot open" light on dash. The boot doesn't lock, either.
When the car was hit, my wife was delighted (she has been at me to change it for the last couple of years). I told her that I could fix it for £100, and that it wasn't going anywhere!
Off to the breakers ...
Rear light £30
Bumper (slightly cracked/wrong colour) £20
Fresh P38, primer, paint, and lacquer £43
Back on road.
I love that old car!
Edited to add ... Original battery, too.
The engine runs sweet as a nut - no oil top up between services.
Still on original ...
rear shocks
clutch
starter
alternator (although it has had new brushes at @ 230k miles, but bearing is fine)
cooling system (when the alternator was out, as preventative maintenance, I replaced the waterpump and thermostat with bits from ECP. 4 or 5 months later, the new thermostat died
, so although I had "binned" the old one, it hadn't been thrown out yet. Old thermostat went back in, and is still working perfectly .Front discs changed at 251k miles - were getting a wee bit thin!
Rear discs changed at @ 220k-ish miles as I couldn't adjust the handbake to pass MoT.
It has rust in the usual e39 places. But, due to some twunt whacking it in a car park, and busting rear light and severely damaging the bumper, it has received a paint repair to the bootlid while shunt damage was addressed.
The central locking only works to open the car.
Both rear doors sometimes refuse to open from the outside.
The bootlid wiring is buggered, so I get the "boot open" light on dash. The boot doesn't lock, either.
When the car was hit, my wife was delighted (she has been at me to change it for the last couple of years). I told her that I could fix it for £100, and that it wasn't going anywhere!
Off to the breakers ...
Rear light £30
Bumper (slightly cracked/wrong colour) £20
Fresh P38, primer, paint, and lacquer £43
Back on road.
I love that old car!
Edited to add ... Original battery, too.
Edited by Higgs boson on Tuesday 14th June 17:20
My 2005 645, 57k miles.
Currently parked in the garage for the next couple of months until I get back from offshore and holidays and have time to get it sorted out.
It was running well but a couple of days ago I reversed it out onto the drive to find a pool of oil under the car.
Annoyingly it's had rocker cover gaskets (with any other seals in the are replaced), a new gearbox sump and various other small repairs in the last year. My drive is covered with a mixture of oil and transmission fluid stains and I've had some fairly large bills to sort it out.
It also required the coolant to be topped up last month, it's never needed it before but took a litre to fill. Checking the level last week showed it was still full.
I'll get another couple of things looked at while it's in for repair, the rear pads are thin and a couple of brake lines could do with changing before they get any worse. It occasionally misfires when it's started from cold, I think it might be a failing coil.
It's probably the least reliable car I've had in the last 10 years. It's lucky I love it otherwise I'd be getting rid of it!
Currently parked in the garage for the next couple of months until I get back from offshore and holidays and have time to get it sorted out.
It was running well but a couple of days ago I reversed it out onto the drive to find a pool of oil under the car.
Annoyingly it's had rocker cover gaskets (with any other seals in the are replaced), a new gearbox sump and various other small repairs in the last year. My drive is covered with a mixture of oil and transmission fluid stains and I've had some fairly large bills to sort it out.
It also required the coolant to be topped up last month, it's never needed it before but took a litre to fill. Checking the level last week showed it was still full.
I'll get another couple of things looked at while it's in for repair, the rear pads are thin and a couple of brake lines could do with changing before they get any worse. It occasionally misfires when it's started from cold, I think it might be a failing coil.
It's probably the least reliable car I've had in the last 10 years. It's lucky I love it otherwise I'd be getting rid of it!
Edited by Speed addicted on Tuesday 14th June 11:03
I have a 17 year old E36 which I've owned from three months old. Love it to bits and mechanically it's sound, but the rear arches and various other bits are rusting. I know a great specialist who can sort it and I have the money waiting, but his schedule is packed so it remains to be seen whether it will be saved.
1995 520i:
Gearbox whines in every gear except 5th - thinking layshaft, clonk from RHS rear end when taking up drive (although if I use the handbrake when setting off, i.e. a hill start, it doesn't... thoughts?), ignition barrel broken so using a screwdriver to start, A/C doesn't work, one sill a little suspect at the front.
but...
doesn't shimmy, no rust under filler cap (in fact not much body rust at all), steering not too woolley, doesn't have cooling system issues, and will still cruise at (some) mph and rides well (especially since I've got rid of the style 49s and replaced them with basketweaves)
|http://thumbsnap.com/MoBE5qcK[/url]
Peeking out from behind the tent on a camping trip a couple of years ago on its old Style 49s
Gearbox whines in every gear except 5th - thinking layshaft, clonk from RHS rear end when taking up drive (although if I use the handbrake when setting off, i.e. a hill start, it doesn't... thoughts?), ignition barrel broken so using a screwdriver to start, A/C doesn't work, one sill a little suspect at the front.
but...
doesn't shimmy, no rust under filler cap (in fact not much body rust at all), steering not too woolley, doesn't have cooling system issues, and will still cruise at (some) mph and rides well (especially since I've got rid of the style 49s and replaced them with basketweaves)
|http://thumbsnap.com/MoBE5qcK[/url]Peeking out from behind the tent on a camping trip a couple of years ago on its old Style 49s
Edited by Triumph Man on Tuesday 14th June 13:37
Edited by Triumph Man on Tuesday 14th June 13:39
Edited by Triumph Man on Tuesday 14th June 13:42
2003 E65 745i just about to tick over 128k...
Lots of stone chips to the bonnet, few very minor dings here and there, NSR wheel badly kerbed but mechanically though (touch wood!) it's fine. No smoking, no electrical faults (any more!), I've done 5k since it's last oil change and haven't had to top it up, I have spent around £6-7k in 3 years on it though
Am I doing this right?
Lots of stone chips to the bonnet, few very minor dings here and there, NSR wheel badly kerbed but mechanically though (touch wood!) it's fine. No smoking, no electrical faults (any more!), I've done 5k since it's last oil change and haven't had to top it up, I have spent around £6-7k in 3 years on it though
Am I doing this right?
Strictly not that old & BMW have fixed it but with 50k on my 64 plate 520 Lux. to date it's needed.
Dakota leather that has a finish like a samsonite suitcase, separating along its 'exclusive' stitched seams
Two sets of wheels as they keep corroding round the centre caps
new clutch & DMF - no idea why BMW didn't offer an explanation
Door handles repainting due to paint bubbling
New coolant hose - original design rubbed through on the alternator pullly so it dumped its guts all over the drive (fortunately not whilst on the move)
Two subs for the HK sound system - too much volume/base apparently
Flap things that close over the rad are stuck open - Don't no why they can fix it when it goes in for service.
Its just a bit s
t, not built like old school BMW's. I won't be getting another when it gets chopped in later this year
Dakota leather that has a finish like a samsonite suitcase, separating along its 'exclusive' stitched seams
Two sets of wheels as they keep corroding round the centre caps
new clutch & DMF - no idea why BMW didn't offer an explanation
Door handles repainting due to paint bubbling
New coolant hose - original design rubbed through on the alternator pullly so it dumped its guts all over the drive (fortunately not whilst on the move)
Two subs for the HK sound system - too much volume/base apparently
Flap things that close over the rad are stuck open - Don't no why they can fix it when it goes in for service.
Its just a bit s
t, not built like old school BMW's. I won't be getting another when it gets chopped in later this yearEdited by shep1001 on Sunday 19th June 22:04
I hear a lot of stories like this, not just about BMW but everything else these days.
My daily stbox is a 1999 318i Touring, 165'000 miles. Has had the usual rear arch trauma and a previous owner had it filled and resprayed 2-3 years ago. Now bubbling through again - my concern, on a scale on 0-10 is about 2 which equates to 'don't give a flying ****".
Uses no oil, does 35-40 mpg, AC still works as does everything else. It's not worth anything but is worth keeping mechanically up to scratch as it's a useful old shed.
My daily s
tbox is a 1999 318i Touring, 165'000 miles. Has had the usual rear arch trauma and a previous owner had it filled and resprayed 2-3 years ago. Now bubbling through again - my concern, on a scale on 0-10 is about 2 which equates to 'don't give a flying ****".Uses no oil, does 35-40 mpg, AC still works as does everything else. It's not worth anything but is worth keeping mechanically up to scratch as it's a useful old shed.
2002 325i sport touring. 106k.
Yellow oil light comes on for about 20 seconds just after start up. New oil level sender needed.
Uses a litre of oil every 1200-1500 miles. Appears to be leaking from the rocker cover gasket.
The cabin fan pulses when you first start the car. Final stage resistor needs replacing.
Never really gets hot enough to open the thermostat. Suspect the 'stat is bust and stuck permanently open. Even if I leave it idling it never gets above about 86 degrees. New 'stat needed.
These all appear to be classic E46 faults, so I'm not overly concerned, unless it starts using larger amounts of oil. It doesn't use any coolant at all, and seems to run perfectly. I'll get the thermostat changed before winter so it doesn't run really cold for months on end. It's probably costing me a bit in fuel due to never being fully up to temp, but it still does 31-32 mpg on my cruise to work, and averages just under 27 mpg, so it's not all that bad really.
Yellow oil light comes on for about 20 seconds just after start up. New oil level sender needed.
Uses a litre of oil every 1200-1500 miles. Appears to be leaking from the rocker cover gasket.
The cabin fan pulses when you first start the car. Final stage resistor needs replacing.
Never really gets hot enough to open the thermostat. Suspect the 'stat is bust and stuck permanently open. Even if I leave it idling it never gets above about 86 degrees. New 'stat needed.
These all appear to be classic E46 faults, so I'm not overly concerned, unless it starts using larger amounts of oil. It doesn't use any coolant at all, and seems to run perfectly. I'll get the thermostat changed before winter so it doesn't run really cold for months on end. It's probably costing me a bit in fuel due to never being fully up to temp, but it still does 31-32 mpg on my cruise to work, and averages just under 27 mpg, so it's not all that bad really.
1999V e36 323 convertible with 105k miles, daily driver.
- rust blisters under fuel filler cap.
- tiny rust bubbles appearing on bonnet edge and under headlamps
- rust bubbles around boot lock
- front bumper not in great nice, previously bashed and repaired
- big dent and chip down to primer from some **** who took exception to me asking them politely not to bang their door into my car. When I came back half an hour later they had clearly swung the door into my car and fked off.
- misty headlamps
- back end of car feels a bit wallowy, probably needs new bushes
- driver's door card loose
- driver's door mirror electrics work but glass doesn't move
- passenger window sometimes sticks on the way up.
- roof needs "helping" down as the elastic has stretched (was fine until a replacement roof a year ago, which has rub marks from the frame already
Other than that, pretty good. Never let me down, no leaks, runs well, all the electrics work.
- rust blisters under fuel filler cap.
- tiny rust bubbles appearing on bonnet edge and under headlamps
- rust bubbles around boot lock
- front bumper not in great nice, previously bashed and repaired
- big dent and chip down to primer from some **** who took exception to me asking them politely not to bang their door into my car. When I came back half an hour later they had clearly swung the door into my car and f
ked off.- misty headlamps
- back end of car feels a bit wallowy, probably needs new bushes
- driver's door card loose
- driver's door mirror electrics work but glass doesn't move
- passenger window sometimes sticks on the way up.
- roof needs "helping" down as the elastic has stretched (was fine until a replacement roof a year ago, which has rub marks from the frame already
Other than that, pretty good. Never let me down, no leaks, runs well, all the electrics work.
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Wednesday 29th June 16:33
2005 330i M Sport touring
181k miles. Seemingly runs fine. The N52 lump is well regarded as pretty bomb proof. Certainly more so than the later N53. It's had a full suspension refresh in the last 18 months and recently I've replaced steering wheel and gear knob and gaiter. Apart from that the niggle list is as follows;
- Fuel breather in filler neck is knackered and the car smells of unleaded when filled. Need to sort sooner rather than later, but it's finding the time to drop the tank etc.
- Needs a service and brake fluid change.
- Needs front discs and pads. Bought, just not fitted.
- Needs new tailgate struts and the tailgate itself is a little stiff. Hinges reauire a session with some WD40!
- Tiny bits of rust, and I mean tiny, and a couple of car park dings on the bodywork to get a PDR guy to look at.
Apart from that, it uses little oil between changes. I suspect I may carry out some preventative maintenance on the cooling system as that seems to be one of the only weak points, engine wise. The front bumper is peppered, but then, it would be at the mileage. i recently sanded and polished the headlights as they were looking tired. They are now almost crystal clear again, which is nice.
181k miles. Seemingly runs fine. The N52 lump is well regarded as pretty bomb proof. Certainly more so than the later N53. It's had a full suspension refresh in the last 18 months and recently I've replaced steering wheel and gear knob and gaiter. Apart from that the niggle list is as follows;
- Fuel breather in filler neck is knackered and the car smells of unleaded when filled. Need to sort sooner rather than later, but it's finding the time to drop the tank etc.
- Needs a service and brake fluid change.
- Needs front discs and pads. Bought, just not fitted.
- Needs new tailgate struts and the tailgate itself is a little stiff. Hinges reauire a session with some WD40!
- Tiny bits of rust, and I mean tiny, and a couple of car park dings on the bodywork to get a PDR guy to look at.
Apart from that, it uses little oil between changes. I suspect I may carry out some preventative maintenance on the cooling system as that seems to be one of the only weak points, engine wise. The front bumper is peppered, but then, it would be at the mileage. i recently sanded and polished the headlights as they were looking tired. They are now almost crystal clear again, which is nice.
Not knackered at all let alone for a nearly 20 year old car.
A few marks on the corners of the bonnet, a few scratches and a ding in the front passenger wing (soon to be replaced) , a light graze on the front bumper and a couple of park dings are the only imperfections on the bodywork.
Engine/box on 89k are spot on, coolant system has had an overhaul 6 months ago, full serviced by BMW, new brakes, shocks (Sport), bugger load of bushes. The interior is immaculate, everything works as it should.
To be honest I originally bought it as a quick flipper but it's turned out to be a damn good car and it's given me an opportunity to do some work on the project cars rather than pissing about with the daily drivers!!
I've probably jinxed it now.
A few marks on the corners of the bonnet, a few scratches and a ding in the front passenger wing (soon to be replaced) , a light graze on the front bumper and a couple of park dings are the only imperfections on the bodywork.
Engine/box on 89k are spot on, coolant system has had an overhaul 6 months ago, full serviced by BMW, new brakes, shocks (Sport), bugger load of bushes. The interior is immaculate, everything works as it should.
To be honest I originally bought it as a quick flipper but it's turned out to be a damn good car and it's given me an opportunity to do some work on the project cars rather than pissing about with the daily drivers!!
I've probably jinxed it now.
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