E61 V8 Bearding
Discussion
dom9 said:
ATM said:
Yes
I was in Parts department at BMW buying a litre of oil. Parts guy said what model do you have. 5 50 I said.
Guy next to me - excuse me did you just say 5 50?
Me - Yes
Guy - is that a 5 litre
Me - Yes
Guy - I didn't know they made them
Me - Err yes
Did you tell him what your other BMW had under the hood? I was in Parts department at BMW buying a litre of oil. Parts guy said what model do you have. 5 50 I said.
Guy next to me - excuse me did you just say 5 50?
Me - Yes
Guy - is that a 5 litre
Me - Yes
Guy - I didn't know they made them
Me - Err yes
The poor man seemed clearly a bit out of the loop.
ATM said:
No
The poor man seemed clearly a bit out of the loop.
You'd have blown his mind!The poor man seemed clearly a bit out of the loop.
I am tempted to de-badge mine now... You 550i boys are making me feel slightly inferior and the custom exhaust (which I am yet to film for you guys) is all the announcement my car needs!
Running beautifully the last couple of days... No warning lights, no gearbox hesitation and fuel economy back up to 20.0mpg after some judicious use of the cruise control!
Will get it booked in for an oil service (300 miles overdue) at Cobham BMW and they should give it a hoover (as I'm too lazy)!
People used to think my B10 had a "B10" in it. I used to get a lot of "that must be amazing!" type comments. The 545i is lot more sleeper.
Mines' debadged. I sometimes see pedestrians wondering why an estate is making so much noise if I exit an intersection a little quickly.
My wife (who preferred the Alpina to the 545i) does some work for a French car company. Her clients think I'm insane commuting in 4.4 V8. They actually used the word "insane" (imagine french accent) which wasn't very polite!
Mines' debadged. I sometimes see pedestrians wondering why an estate is making so much noise if I exit an intersection a little quickly.
My wife (who preferred the Alpina to the 545i) does some work for a French car company. Her clients think I'm insane commuting in 4.4 V8. They actually used the word "insane" (imagine french accent) which wasn't very polite!
My Bus regularly surprises me still. I generally put my phone where the iDrive screen is. Just the other day I exited a junction a bit briskly. I was stationary and then accelerated and turned left. I got some really good traction and the phone almost hit me in the face. I think it hit me in the chest. It really surprised me.
ATM said:
My Bus regularly surprises me still. I generally put my phone where the iDrive screen is. Just the other day I exited a junction a bit briskly. I was stationary and then accelerated and turned left. I got some really good traction and the phone almost hit me in the face. I think it hit me in the chest. It really surprised me.
I find motorway on ramps kicking down in sport from 60mph can surprise/delight too.philmots said:
Not that long before that the trolley guy in Sainsbury's car park got excited about it "5.0 injection - woooo" I disappointed him when I said it was "only a 4.8" ..I briefly thought about debadging, but I do like the attention and comments off car people who obviously know it's a bit rare, or the daft one.
Anyone else get comments?
Whilst waiting for the ferry to go to the IOM the other month in my 650i, the port police were wondering about and a chap walked up the left side of my car round the back and to the drivers window (Oh dear I thought). We exchange pleasantries and says "so is it a 6.5l then?" I had to disappoint him with "no its only a 4.8". He turned out to be a bit of a petrol head and chatted to me for the next 30 minutes before realising that he had to check the rest of the vehicles due to board the boat and they had started loading... hahaAnyone else get comments?
ATM said:
AlasdairB10 said:
hornetrider said:
How novel...
Quite! However, M25 tailbacks can kill the self change enthusiasm in anyone. Was sorely tempted by that 550i manual on ebay a while back though.hornetrider said:
ATM said:
AlasdairB10 said:
hornetrider said:
How novel...
Quite! However, M25 tailbacks can kill the self change enthusiasm in anyone. Was sorely tempted by that 550i manual on ebay a while back though.It's quiet in here! Anyone anything to report?
My low radiator level warning came on again on the way to work this morning... Must fit that new radiator cap today!
Anyone know a good source for the correct coolant? Is it meant to be pink or something?
Other than that, the gearbox 'hesitation' at 35-40mph has returned and it looks like someone has sat on the bonnet and scratched a bum-sized area. Very annoying.
They look too deep to polish out. Might get a quote to give it a general paint tidy when it goes in for its service as other areas (bumpers, doors) need attention.
Will also ask them to take a look at the torque converter and quote on that... There will likely be a few quid to be spent!
However, it's running lovely and I can see us keeping it for a long time to come. Back down to 19.8mpg though!
My low radiator level warning came on again on the way to work this morning... Must fit that new radiator cap today!
Anyone know a good source for the correct coolant? Is it meant to be pink or something?
Other than that, the gearbox 'hesitation' at 35-40mph has returned and it looks like someone has sat on the bonnet and scratched a bum-sized area. Very annoying.
They look too deep to polish out. Might get a quote to give it a general paint tidy when it goes in for its service as other areas (bumpers, doors) need attention.
Will also ask them to take a look at the torque converter and quote on that... There will likely be a few quid to be spent!
However, it's running lovely and I can see us keeping it for a long time to come. Back down to 19.8mpg though!
Well I have had my boot wiring all fixed as there were lots of broken wires so a lot of stuff such as heated screen did not work.
Car is currently at BMW having the valve stem oil seals replaced (heads off job). Surprisingly my local main dealer was 2nd cheapest out of 5 and there was not much in it between them and the cheapest (still north of 2.5k though), but quite a bit between them and the most expensive who happen to be a very reputable company.
As I would have spend a load on it, this car will have to be a keeper, so will also go all out early next year and get an NBT retrofit done.
Car is currently at BMW having the valve stem oil seals replaced (heads off job). Surprisingly my local main dealer was 2nd cheapest out of 5 and there was not much in it between them and the cheapest (still north of 2.5k though), but quite a bit between them and the most expensive who happen to be a very reputable company.
As I would have spend a load on it, this car will have to be a keeper, so will also go all out early next year and get an NBT retrofit done.
smashie said:
Well I have had my boot wiring all fixed as there were lots of broken wires so a lot of stuff such as heated screen did not work.
Car is currently at BMW having the valve stem oil seals replaced (heads off job). Surprisingly my local main dealer was 2nd cheapest out of 5 and there was not much in it between them and the cheapest (still north of 2.5k though), but quite a bit between them and the most expensive who happen to be a very reputable company.
As I would have spend a load on it, this car will have to be a keeper, so will also go all out early next year and get an NBT retrofit done.
I thought they could do stem seals without taking the heads off, these days?Car is currently at BMW having the valve stem oil seals replaced (heads off job). Surprisingly my local main dealer was 2nd cheapest out of 5 and there was not much in it between them and the cheapest (still north of 2.5k though), but quite a bit between them and the most expensive who happen to be a very reputable company.
As I would have spend a load on it, this car will have to be a keeper, so will also go all out early next year and get an NBT retrofit done.
Reckon I'll spend a few quid and mine will be a keeper as well.
They're great cars - what would I replace it with???
Torque converter, service, paint and summer tyres for me in the next year, I reckon.
Edited by dom9 on Tuesday 22 September 08:22
smashie said:
Car is currently at BMW having the valve stem oil seals replaced (heads off job).
What were your symptoms?
smashie said:
As I would have spend a load on it, this car will have to be a keeper, so will also go all out early next year and get an NBT retrofit done.
What's an NBT retrofit when it's at home?NBT is the iDrive update, isn't it?
I am pretty happy with mine. I am still yet to try playing with the climate settings at all!
Header tank topped up before work this morning and the new cap fitted.
Seemed to 'go on' easier than the old one so I am wondering whether there was some damage/ dirt/ grit that allowed the old one to 'pass' a bit.
Could do with some coolant though, if anyone can point me towards the right stuff! Maybe that can wait 'til the service though.
Torque converter now annoying me as the majority of my commute is in the 35-40mph bracket!
I am pretty happy with mine. I am still yet to try playing with the climate settings at all!
Header tank topped up before work this morning and the new cap fitted.
Seemed to 'go on' easier than the old one so I am wondering whether there was some damage/ dirt/ grit that allowed the old one to 'pass' a bit.
Could do with some coolant though, if anyone can point me towards the right stuff! Maybe that can wait 'til the service though.
Torque converter now annoying me as the majority of my commute is in the 35-40mph bracket!
Yes, NBT is the latest iDrive. I find the sat nav on the current CCC system to be very poor, what with it being only 5 digit post code. In addition I would like DAB and iPod integration which can all be provided by the latest version.
It is possible to do it without heads off and would have been about 1/2 price, however I decided that with all the issues that I have already had with he car, at least with heads off, all the gaskets would be replaced and if there are any other issues with the engine, they would more than likely be seen and thus rectified with this work. I didn't want to have to be doing something like changing a head gasket 1 year down the line.
The symptoms that led my mechanic to believe that it was valve stem oil seals were that it was burning a lot of oil, and smoking. Th smoke smelt of oil. It was also lumpy on cold. He tested all the other likely candidates such as CCV valves, Crankcase vent pipe and vacuum pump. BMW are however also doing their own diagnostics on it prior to taking the heads off.
It is possible to do it without heads off and would have been about 1/2 price, however I decided that with all the issues that I have already had with he car, at least with heads off, all the gaskets would be replaced and if there are any other issues with the engine, they would more than likely be seen and thus rectified with this work. I didn't want to have to be doing something like changing a head gasket 1 year down the line.
The symptoms that led my mechanic to believe that it was valve stem oil seals were that it was burning a lot of oil, and smoking. Th smoke smelt of oil. It was also lumpy on cold. He tested all the other likely candidates such as CCV valves, Crankcase vent pipe and vacuum pump. BMW are however also doing their own diagnostics on it prior to taking the heads off.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff