E61 V8 Bearding

[Jobbo]

I had exactly that problem with my second 545i. The indie replaced the battery, then the intelligent battery lead, then something else before finally doing the alternator. If you know it's only putting out 11v then just get it done.

[helix402]

Hope you get it sorted without too much expense.

[Theophany]

Jobbo said:

I had exactly that problem with my second 545i. The indie replaced the battery, then the intelligent battery lead, then something else before finally doing the alternator. If you know it's only putting out 11v then just get it done.

Yeah, that was the thinking. I only did the battery because I knew it was on its way out and was praying for the cheapest fix. As it turns out, I was 'lucky' it went wrong now when there are some deals to be had. 70% off an OEM quality alternator that runs for £600 is not to be sniffed at!

[Jobbo]

70% off?! Lucky so and so!

[Theophany]

Jobbo said:

70% off?! Lucky so and so!

Would've felt luckier if it didn't happen in the first place

[ATM]

Just reading here about the 12 year corrosion warranty - which is news to me. I've spotted a bit of rust on my bootlid. Just near the reg plate lamps. Has anyone here ever made a claim - successfully?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=134...

[hornetrider]

Do BMW put some kind of stipulation on annual checks? Yours got full BMW SH?

[zippyonline]

ATM said:

Just reading here about the 12 year corrosion warranty - which is news to me. I've spotted a bit of rust on my bootlid. Just near the reg plate lamps. Has anyone here ever made a claim - successfully?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=134...

Hi All, long term lurker here (and don't normally post as a rule, but I think I can be helpful here). I've been watching this thread for a while as I secretly want a V8 E61 (Manual) but ended up with an E91 330i (Manual box).

Anyway, mine is a Nov 2005 with a full BMW service history. It has a bit of rust on the boot, and the tiniest part showing up on the arches (I'm used to jap cars, so this is tiny rust to me and easy to sort myself if it comes to it), but I took it in to my local BMW dealer to see if I can get a warranty claim. They took paint depth readings and photos, and have sent these off to BMW HQ...now I need to chase them up on the result - but the dealer seemed fairly accommodating about it all anyway.

I'll keep updated once I get somewhere (or not) with it!

That said, having read that thread, I might do it myself as it's all in places that aren't really visibible/body worky, and I know how to do it properly now!

[ATM]

zippyonline said:

ATM said:

Just reading here about the 12 year corrosion warranty - which is news to me. I've spotted a bit of rust on my bootlid. Just near the reg plate lamps. Has anyone here ever made a claim - successfully?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=134...

Hi All, long term lurker here (and don't normally post as a rule, but I think I can be helpful here). I've been watching this thread for a while as I secretly want a V8 E61 (Manual) but ended up with an E91 330i (Manual box).

Anyway, mine is a Nov 2005 with a full BMW service history. It has a bit of rust on the boot, and the tiniest part showing up on the arches (I'm used to jap cars, so this is tiny rust to me and easy to sort myself if it comes to it), but I took it in to my local BMW dealer to see if I can get a warranty claim. They took paint depth readings and photos, and have sent these off to BMW HQ...now I need to chase them up on the result - but the dealer seemed fairly accommodating about it all anyway.

I'll keep updated once I get somewhere (or not) with it!

That said, having read that thread, I might do it myself as it's all in places that aren't really visibible/body worky, and I know how to do it properly now!

If mine is bootlid only then does the paint depth or anything else on the rest of the car affect this claim or just the bootlid itself?

[zippyonline]

Pass! I think it's more to check it hasn't been in a prang and you're still on original paint (or it is a "proper" BMW approved repair if it's in the book) - because a paint depth gauge will spot that straight away. i.e. check you're still under the terms of the warranty

[da_murphster]

So anyone had this done?

https://www.facebook.com/Paulscarwelding/

He opens up the oem exhaust and wraps part of it.

I'd like a bit more growl but not willing to pay the megabucks to replace exhaust.

Obviously different exhaust but here is the effect on the 650i

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MBV5mBGGRQ

Think its about £300?

[dom9]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Threadists!

I had a cat back exhaust custom fabricated in stainless and it's fantastic. I can highly recommend http://www.profusioncustoms.com/

I am starting to get a sinking feeling on my gearbox. It has locked me out in one gear 3x in the last week (2 of those being last night).

It is still doing the 30-40mph 'hesitation' and now it seems to hunt for a gear when on the motorway (assume 5th-6th change), get confused and throw up an error.

From my extensive reading; this sounds like the Mechatronic unit and it looks possible to just change the sleeve adaptor and the solenoids to recondition that.

The parts look to be less than £400 but would need fitting on top. Think the job (they change the whole unit or even 'box) at a Dealer would be thousands

This has all happened since the oil change at ~75k miles (now 86k miles-ish) though I needed that as the sump was cracked and needed changing.

Might have a talk with my local, friendly mechanic and maybe Indy and see what they think and would quote on labour.

Has anyone bought an INPA/ diagnostics cable? All the ones I find come with a CD and my laptop doesn't have a CD drive

[Jobbo]

I can confirm that I had my gearbox replaced entirely by a main dealer for a similar fault, and the cost would have been a bit over £5k. Covered by warranty in my case.

However, I don't think there's a need to replace the whole gearbox. There are gearbox specialists all over the country and I'm sure you can get it fixed a hell of a lot cheaper than a main dealer's solution.

[dom9]

I've opened a dialogue with my local transmission specialist so I shall see what they say.

I'm hoping it's not a new transmission job. If so, I may sell it as Mrs9 is already talking kids and a 4x4 anyway, so it wouldn't be worth spending a fortune on for the next owner.

However, I'm hopeful it's <£1k on a Mechatronic refurb with new solenoids. Need them to confirm my diagnosis first though!

[Bebs]

Finally on winters - almost identical to ATM's car..

[ATM]

I'm still back on Summers. What size have you gone for?

[Bebs]

ATM said:

I'm still back on Summers. What size have you gone for?

Alpina recommend 245/45R/18 on all four so that's what I've gone for. Had to put 15mm spacers on to clear the front calipers with 18 inch alloys.
Just back from a 2000 mile round trip to Scandinavia and pleased with the Yokohama winters, did the trick.

[CB 987]

ATM said:

zippyonline said:

ATM said:

Just reading here about the 12 year corrosion warranty - which is news to me. I've spotted a bit of rust on my bootlid. Just near the reg plate lamps. Has anyone here ever made a claim - successfully?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=134...

Hi All, long term lurker here (and don't normally post as a rule, but I think I can be helpful here). I've been watching this thread for a while as I secretly want a V8 E61 (Manual) but ended up with an E91 330i (Manual box).

Anyway, mine is a Nov 2005 with a full BMW service history. It has a bit of rust on the boot, and the tiniest part showing up on the arches (I'm used to jap cars, so this is tiny rust to me and easy to sort myself if it comes to it), but I took it in to my local BMW dealer to see if I can get a warranty claim. They took paint depth readings and photos, and have sent these off to BMW HQ...now I need to chase them up on the result - but the dealer seemed fairly accommodating about it all anyway.

I'll keep updated once I get somewhere (or not) with it!

That said, having read that thread, I might do it myself as it's all in places that aren't really visibible/body worky, and I know how to do it properly now!

If mine is bootlid only then does the paint depth or anything else on the rest of the car affect this claim or just the bootlid itself?

If it helps I have just been through this process with BMW on my 2005 330i E91 touring, with approx. 9 months of the 12 year warranty left. I had small amounts of rust coming through on the boot lid, OSR arch, OSF arch, seam of the OSR door, only visible when the door was open and the seam of the bonnet, again only visible when the bonnet was open.

Finding a good dealer willing to help is key. My local dealer fobbed me off twice and told me I had no chance, so I tried another BMW body shop further afield and they were great. The body shop then processed the claim through the warranty department at the dealer. They initially took paint depth readings of the panels to confirm they hadn't been painted previously and also took photos. I also had to supply a copy of my service book, my car has FSH, but only part BMW history, however the most recent service I had done was at BMW, which I think helped.

It took a few weeks to get a response, apparently there is one individual from BMW UK who deals with these claims for each patch in the UK, so it does take a little while.

Mine was approved for a replacement OSR door and bonnet and it is being done this week, they've given me a Mini for the week, which I didn't expect. The boot lid was refused, as according to BMW UK it was previously repaired under warranty by another dealer. The arches were also refused as they said it was down to stone chipping, which I would probably agree with, but it was worth a shot. I decided to pay and have the OSR arch repaired at the same time as it was only a couple of hundred pounds, so seemed silly not to. My car is silver, so I just hope the paint hasn't been a pain to match!

Fire away if you have any questions, but it is definitely worth a shot.

[zippyonline]

Thanks for updating us with that. I've heard a few stories of the rust repair process being a bit sub standard and either paint match being poor, or the rust coming back a year later.

My rear arches are literally just starting to show signs - and to be honest I think I'd rather do that myself as I've got clued in on what products work - and it's small fry compared to my japanese car adventures! I haven't investigated how bad the boot is though, as it's mostly behind the plastic trim I haven't taken off yet...

Anyway, my actual question is - which dealer did you use? I suppose I should really chase my dealer who inspected the car, but not heard from...but rebuilding the suspension kindof took priority!

Sounds like the key is lining up both a decent dealer and one with a decent bodyshop!!

[Collectingbrass]

Has anyone had any problems with the entertainment system staying muted? This has come up on mine ('04 645, 78k miles) last night and tonight, but not this morning. Symptoms are:

- No sound via any input & mute symbol displayed on screen
- Radio button has no effect
- Volume button on steering wheel has no effect
- Setting the mute toggle function on to the rhomboid / star wheel buttons has no effect
- all other entertainment and IDrive functions act as expected, i.e. CD tracks and Radio stations change with the control wheel or steering wheel buttons.

The car has factory phone and both CD & DVD inputs. Two months ago I fitted a Dension in the CD changer slot with no problems but it has been dropping the battery recently & it had the earth lead to the starter motor replaced last week.

I've seen that there's a Crtl - Alt - Del sequence of ignition on then mute button & both ejects, is this true for UK cars?