E61 V8 Bearding
Discussion
dom9 said:
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!
I've noticed the occasional clunk when I'm driving along at say 30 almost constant speed. It feels like car is going to change gear then thinking it won't. If that makes sense?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!
Interesting about the 30-40 gearbox hesitation I get that sometimes when the box is still cold and cruising on very light throttle, I think box is in 5th and the revs are only around 1200 to 1500 which seems low (iirc).. goes after box fully warm but I've noticed it does it more if there have been a lot of short trips. If car has had a long run I dont see the hesitation at all. As such I wonder if it's related to battery charge. Mines a petrol f10 with the hp8 box in case that matters.
Thought I'd mention that battery charge idea in case it helps anyone.
Personally not bothered enough to get dealer to check it out ( is under warranty).
Thought I'd mention that battery charge idea in case it helps anyone.
Personally not bothered enough to get dealer to check it out ( is under warranty).
Edited by bmwmike on Saturday 7th January 09:56
Edited by bmwmike on Saturday 7th January 09:58
bmwmike said:
Interesting about the 30-40 gearbox hesitation I get that sometimes when the box is still cold and cruising on very light throttle, I think box is in 5th and the revs are only around 1200 to 1500 which seems low (iirc).. goes after box fully warm but I've noticed it does it more if there have been a lot of short trips. If car has had a long run I dont see the hesitation at all. As such I wonder if it's related to battery charge. Mines a petrol f10 with the hp8 box in case that matters.
Thought I'd mention that battery charge idea in case it helps anyone.
Personally not bothered enough to get dealer to check it out ( is under warranty).
I think the f10 is completely different. I had that one in my F30. The old school slasher in the E60 is more hydraulic based than electronics. Have you see a pic of the valves and galleys in the slusher which help the box figure out what it is meant to be doing?Thought I'd mention that battery charge idea in case it helps anyone.
Personally not bothered enough to get dealer to check it out ( is under warranty).
Edited by bmwmike on Saturday 7th January 09:56
Edited by bmwmike on Saturday 7th January 09:58
bmwmike said:
I've seen the mechatronic gadget yes.. if that's what you mean? Must admit I assumed the hp8 would have something similar.
No idea. I think the modern autos are more connected to the wheels to prevent any slip. In an old school slasher you just can't get drive at seriously low revs because the slip kills it. I'd assume modern autos are more computer controlled with electronic bits and pieces. Mind you they do say the e60 box has a clutch pack. I know the modern bmw autos are supposed to produce less emissions than the manuals so can they do this with valves and hydraulics - again no idea.So, had the codes read yesterday and they don't reckon it is the Mechatronic but some input shaft bushings! Apparently quite common.
However, this isn't great news as it's an £800-900 job + VAT and there is no guarantee that will cure it as this may be a coincidence and the Mechatronic solenoids may need changing as well (i.e. two problems which show similar issues).
To have it all done would like be the far side of £1,500+VAT.
Since the car is completely driveable and the gearbox is unlikely to suddenly give up the ghost, it may just be better living with it for a while and seeing what we'll do in the future.
Mrs9 thinks kids=4x4, which would mean this goes (don't worry, will get a V8 X5 I think) so we could just part ex it at the time. It's a lot to think about. To be honest; it's probably worth doing if selling privately as you can do the bushes first and see if that cures it and, if it does, you can probably ask £1k more for the car than if it has the transmission fault. Perhaps you could even ask £2k more if you have it all done... So maybe it is fairly cost neutral!?
Would you buy a £3k 545i Touring with an intermittent transmission fault or pay £5k for a sorted one? The third option is part-ex it for say £4k without doing any work and let them worry about it...
However, this isn't great news as it's an £800-900 job + VAT and there is no guarantee that will cure it as this may be a coincidence and the Mechatronic solenoids may need changing as well (i.e. two problems which show similar issues).
To have it all done would like be the far side of £1,500+VAT.
Since the car is completely driveable and the gearbox is unlikely to suddenly give up the ghost, it may just be better living with it for a while and seeing what we'll do in the future.
Mrs9 thinks kids=4x4, which would mean this goes (don't worry, will get a V8 X5 I think) so we could just part ex it at the time. It's a lot to think about. To be honest; it's probably worth doing if selling privately as you can do the bushes first and see if that cures it and, if it does, you can probably ask £1k more for the car than if it has the transmission fault. Perhaps you could even ask £2k more if you have it all done... So maybe it is fairly cost neutral!?
Would you buy a £3k 545i Touring with an intermittent transmission fault or pay £5k for a sorted one? The third option is part-ex it for say £4k without doing any work and let them worry about it...
Having had one fully rebuilt on a 7 series, the bushes/mechatronic can throw the same issues, so personally if you went down that route, I'd do both. I also wouldn't see you recouping the outlay if you then moved it on, as it's only partly rebuilt. If you want a second opinion, try Nino at Bedford transmissions or Bill at Stephens engineering.
Collectingbrass said:
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?
Just to update this, the reboot sequence is the Crtl - Alt - Del sequence is as I described above, but that didn't clear the mute fault. Leaving it shut & locked for 24 hours seems to have cleared what ever the probelm was though. - 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?
bigdom said:
Having had one fully rebuilt on a 7 series, the bushes/mechatronic can throw the same issues, so personally if you went down that route, I'd do both. I also wouldn't see you recouping the outlay if you then moved it on, as it's only partly rebuilt. If you want a second opinion, try Nino at Bedford transmissions or Bill at Stephens engineering.
This...The issue is that the codes suggest the bushes but it could still then have the same symptoms because the Mecha isn't great (just not as bad as the bushes) - Nothing the transmission guys can do but they suggest bushes first as that's the primary culprit and to then do the Mecha after as it can be done with the 'box in situ. Thus, possibly a cheaper repair.
I'd be tempted to do both though and may ask them for a 'formal' quote for that but chew on it for a while.
Price seems good compared to the £10k+ cars that we have seen, with similar miles, recently.
Pro Nav, HUD, bum warmers all nice. Looks like there is no pano roof, which I would rather not have but others will disagree.
I'd like more pics and to have a look at this maple wood but, on the face of it, it doesn't seem a bad price.
At almost 50k miles more than my car, I'd want to be checking the servicing and see if it has ever had a gearbox oil change or issues (like the ones I've recently reported).
MOT expires in June (< 6 months) and it will need taxing, which is £500 straight out the door.
Advisories (if not attended to) suggest there could be some bills in summer:
nearside rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
nearside rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front bush starting to separate (2.4.G.2)
offside rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front bush starting to separate (2.4.G.2)
nearside rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)
offside rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.5mm (4.1.E.1)
Pro Nav, HUD, bum warmers all nice. Looks like there is no pano roof, which I would rather not have but others will disagree.
I'd like more pics and to have a look at this maple wood but, on the face of it, it doesn't seem a bad price.
At almost 50k miles more than my car, I'd want to be checking the servicing and see if it has ever had a gearbox oil change or issues (like the ones I've recently reported).
MOT expires in June (< 6 months) and it will need taxing, which is £500 straight out the door.
Advisories (if not attended to) suggest there could be some bills in summer:
nearside rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
nearside rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front bush starting to separate (2.4.G.2)
offside rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front bush starting to separate (2.4.G.2)
nearside rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)
offside rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.5mm (4.1.E.1)
I'm finding a lot of suspension related stuff needs doing at the moment. Thankfully no big costs yet. After a new block I would not fancy having any more big costs for a few years.
Contemplating getting the gearbox oil done, but don't know of anyone local.
I have to say I do keep thinking that I really should sell it as I will find it very difficult towing as the petrol tank is not really a suitable size. I can't get down to Cornwall without filling up with no van on the back. I would have to fill up at least once with the van on the back and there lies my problem..... taking caravans to petrol stations.
But then I think how much fun the car is (for a 5 series estate) and start looking for something cheap to tow with so I can keep it.
Contemplating getting the gearbox oil done, but don't know of anyone local.
I have to say I do keep thinking that I really should sell it as I will find it very difficult towing as the petrol tank is not really a suitable size. I can't get down to Cornwall without filling up with no van on the back. I would have to fill up at least once with the van on the back and there lies my problem..... taking caravans to petrol stations.
But then I think how much fun the car is (for a 5 series estate) and start looking for something cheap to tow with so I can keep it.
I towed our van with mine smashie. As you say range is an issue. On a long drag it averaged about 16mpg at best but that is ticking along at a decent rate, 65 or so. Dropping to 55 made a big improvement but I didn't really have the patience 
What I used to do was scope out stations on streetview before I left and never really found it an issue.
What I used to do was scope out stations on streetview before I left and never really found it an issue.
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