New BMW owner here too...

New BMW owner here too...

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Pilgrimage

Original Poster:

29 posts

212 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I bought a E93 330d convertible on a 58 plate last week.

Got a few questions if anyone can help:

1) Its blowing a little smoke (sometimes) on hard acceleration. I know diesels do this but there seem to be conflicting views on whether the smoke increases or decreases upon more frequent hard driving. Any guidance?

2) The under-seat subs don't work - can anyone think of a reason why they would've been disconnected? Stereo sounds awefull atm.

3) Its due a big service - quoted £600 by local BMW dealership. Any issues with getting it done at say Halfords Auto-Centre (who are apparently BMW trained now) or the like?

4) It was sold with no warranty - is one really necessary? It's only done 38k miles.

Thanks.

Pilg (Gav)

tomic

720 posts

144 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I made the mistake of buying some tyres from Halfords last year - they were incapable of balancing them properly and I had to go back 3 times.

There was a bloke in there while I was waiting who had them change his timing belt - it came off within a week and they were trying to make out it wasn't their fault.

Most of the employees seemed to be trainees. Find a good experienced independent with a good reputation. I think there's a BMW specialist list on here somewhere.

Did you get the car cheap?

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I was going to ask the same thing re price? I recently got a 330d e90, no problems at the moment, however come service time I will be using BMW Indy.

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I was going to ask the same thing re price? I recently got a 330d e90, no problems at the moment, however come service time I will be using BMW Indy.

SBN

1,025 posts

151 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
Would not suggest to anyone that halford servicing was a good choice... Maybe ring round a few BMW specialists.

Subs are easily accessed by pushing the seat right back and then remove the screws and have a look. You won't hurt anything by plugging them back and if they have popped replacing them is easy enough. BMW stereos in basic form are pretty pants I would suggest an upgrade if you haven't got the tweeters in the window corners.

Smoke is normal but if it's a real blue or white is be more worried.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
I'd find a good indy too. There are plenty about and lots seem to have ex-BMW techs working for them (the one I use was set up by ex Sytner guys and are really good).

Good luck with the new motor.

Pilgrimage

Original Poster:

29 posts

212 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
Thank you all.
No - if anything paid a touch over. It was the combo I wanted and low mileage. They seem in high demand too.
I'm shopping around for service now.
Happy enough with smoke - it seems to be reducing considerably.
Going to get under the seats this weekend and will then look at upgrading - no tweeters in window frame... yet!
I'll post some pics when I have it polished up.


sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Saturday 20th September 2014
quotequote all
Halfords....

If I saw their stamp in a service book of a potential purchase I'd run a mile.

Don't let Halfords service your BMW. A good indie will likely service it for a couple of hundred less than the stealer for you. Any BMW deserves at the very least a specialist/someone that knows them.

Edited by sparks_E39 on Saturday 20th September 01:21

ashway

532 posts

164 months

Saturday 20th September 2014
quotequote all
Pilgrimage said:
Thank you all.

Happy enough with smoke - it seems to be reducing considerably.
had it been overfilled with oil prior to you collecting it? if so it may be its burning the excess off

woogie

3,313 posts

251 months

Saturday 20th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi , I bought an E93 a few weeks back . Would be interested to see how you get on with the stereo upgrade .

SteveCal

45 posts

115 months

Saturday 20th September 2014
quotequote all
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sticky at the top of this forum ... plenty of names of independent specialists in your part of the world.

Pilgrimage

Original Poster:

29 posts

212 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
Thanks again - went to a 2nd BMW dealership this weekend (one close to home rather than close to work).
Same service, same work, same parts - £100 less. Pays to shop around...
The oil definitely needs changing - although it's running fine its clearly not been run much/ often and the oil itself when I picked it up was very black and heavy.
Hopefully MPG will improve with a full service too.
As to sound system the mystery deepens - the subs under the seat appear to be there - although there is too much under seat cabling to get to the back screws of the grate to be sure ATM.
I haven't been able to tell if they're connected yet - to be honest i'm not so good on electrics so may have to pay someone to have a look.
I had a quote from an ICE independent for £40 labour to take it apart and put it back together and as I have noticed that the brushed alloy dash front has been off (and a lug on the left snapped) i'm thinking someone must have had a look at it before. All very strange as behind there is just the vents and some buttons isn't it?...
So if all plans out as I hope then I think it'll be a case of connecting/ replacing the subs (assuming they are OK) and then simply replacing the door speakers all round with something like 2-way JBL 10cm:
JBL GTO 428 4" (100mm) 2-Way Coaxial Car Hifi Speakers (105W, 90dB), Black
£40 - £50 for a pair.
The next job would be tweeters if I can be bothered.
Would be good if I could connect my phone too... but that's a job for another day.