What have you done to your BMW today?
Discussion
Beeroklaunch said:
d_a_n1979 said:
I absolutely love these 3 series touring. Currently looking for one. How do you like it? Any gripes?No gripes at all; it serves us very well; we don't do big miles at all, only just done about 4k miles since buying it Dec 2022/collected it Jan 2023!
I've done a lot of work to it recently; preventative more than necessary, but it's really made a marked difference on how the car rides & handles
Had the car up on the ramps, as the engine under tray had ripped off in one corner, and I was getting tired of hearing scraping plastic every time I went over a bump or similar. Accordingly, the mid section one also needed removing (in perfect nick) as without the front tray that was too hanging down.
Applied some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 to a few rusty bits now exposed, all else straight and clean under there, pleased to see.
A question for the masses. The replacement engine undertray is about £50 on ebay. Is it really necessary for it to be replaced, or will nothing come to harm if it's simply left off? Hoping it's not an idiot question, I've never had the need to remove one off a car before.
Applied some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 to a few rusty bits now exposed, all else straight and clean under there, pleased to see.
A question for the masses. The replacement engine undertray is about £50 on ebay. Is it really necessary for it to be replaced, or will nothing come to harm if it's simply left off? Hoping it's not an idiot question, I've never had the need to remove one off a car before.
Fermit said:
Had the car up on the ramps, as the engine under tray had ripped off in one corner, and I was getting tired of hearing scraping plastic every time I went over a bump or similar. Accordingly, the mid section one also needed removing (in perfect nick) as without the front tray that was too hanging down.
Applied some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 to a few rusty bits now exposed, all else straight and clean under there, pleased to see.
A question for the masses. The replacement engine undertray is about £50 on ebay. Is it really necessary for it to be replaced, or will nothing come to harm if it's simply left off? Hoping it's not an idiot question, I've never had the need to remove one off a car before.
Personally I'd always want to run them; they do a good job of protecting everything down there etc... If it's in one piece and you've got the fixings etc; go for itApplied some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 to a few rusty bits now exposed, all else straight and clean under there, pleased to see.
A question for the masses. The replacement engine undertray is about £50 on ebay. Is it really necessary for it to be replaced, or will nothing come to harm if it's simply left off? Hoping it's not an idiot question, I've never had the need to remove one off a car before.
d_a_n1979 said:
Personally I'd always want to run them; they do a good job of protecting everything down there etc... If it's in one piece and you've got the fixings etc; go for it
I agree with Dan. It’s there for a reason and help keeps the s
t at bay. Plus it hides the inevitable BMW oil leaks 
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Personally I'd always want to run them; they do a good job of protecting everything down there etc... If it's in one piece and you've got the fixings etc; go for it
I agree with Dan. It’s there for a reason and help keeps the st at bay. Plus it hides the inevitable BMW oil leaks It's part of their rust proofing service; didn't you read the small print
Fermit said:
Had the car up on the ramps, as the engine under tray had ripped off in one corner, and I was getting tired of hearing scraping plastic every time I went over a bump or similar. Accordingly, the mid section one also needed removing (in perfect nick) as without the front tray that was too hanging down.
Applied some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 to a few rusty bits now exposed, all else straight and clean under there, pleased to see.
A question for the masses. The replacement engine undertray is about £50 on ebay. Is it really necessary for it to be replaced, or will nothing come to harm if it's simply left off? Hoping it's not an idiot question, I've never had the need to remove one off a car before.
I'd replace it for peace of mind if nothing else. Applied some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 to a few rusty bits now exposed, all else straight and clean under there, pleased to see.
A question for the masses. The replacement engine undertray is about £50 on ebay. Is it really necessary for it to be replaced, or will nothing come to harm if it's simply left off? Hoping it's not an idiot question, I've never had the need to remove one off a car before.
I know a Z4 owner who ended up with an oil leak after his sump pan rusted through from the outside. He suspected not having an undertray for ages may have been a factor!
5s Alive said:
Love a clean car and that looks spotless inside and out. You must have spent a fair few hours doing that. Can't decide if that design of wheel makes it easier or more difficult to clean the barrels. 
Yeah, it was a long day.Snow foamed, washed, dried, chemical decontamination, washed and dried again, clay barred, single stage polish topped off with two coats of wax.
The wheels are a pain in the arse to clean.
Court_S said:
5s Alive said:
Love a clean car and that looks spotless inside and out. You must have spent a fair few hours doing that. Can't decide if that design of wheel makes it easier or more difficult to clean the barrels.
Yeah, it was a long day.Snow foamed, washed, dried, chemical decontamination, washed and dried again, clay barred, single stage polish topped off with two coats of wax.
The wheels are a pain in the arse to clean.
Court_S said:
Yeah, it was a long day.
Snow foamed, washed, dried, chemical decontamination, washed and dried again, clay barred, single stage polish topped off with two coats of wax.
The wheels are a pain in the arse to clean.
They look great on the car though. What applicator do you use to dress the tyres? With such a low profile it must be difficult to avoid the rim.Snow foamed, washed, dried, chemical decontamination, washed and dried again, clay barred, single stage polish topped off with two coats of wax.
The wheels are a pain in the arse to clean.
Took it past 175k miles, which isn't too bad at all for the baby of the range. I celebrated this by doing the 125i 3rd gear trick, so change into 3rd at 40, plant your foot and grin as it takes off towards highly illegal speeds in one gear.
Given how it went, I'd say it's still in fine fettle despite it's age and miles.
Given how it went, I'd say it's still in fine fettle despite it's age and miles.
Track social day at Bicester Heritage.
Cracking morning out despite weather, tiny track but great fun.
Thing to note - G80 M3 is as quick as latest GT3 in slightly damp conditions. Driver came over to me in paddock to say he couldn't get past me on the straight either. 4wd traction and loads of torque counts for a lot.
First time i'd switched off DSC etc - , 4WD sport mode is great. S3 gearshifts so harsh i quickly turned that down.
Great fun though. Will go again in June.
Cracking morning out despite weather, tiny track but great fun.
Thing to note - G80 M3 is as quick as latest GT3 in slightly damp conditions. Driver came over to me in paddock to say he couldn't get past me on the straight either. 4wd traction and loads of torque counts for a lot
.First time i'd switched off DSC etc - , 4WD sport mode is great. S3 gearshifts so harsh i quickly turned that down.
Great fun though. Will go again in June.
On the way back from the shops my car developed a noise that sounded like it was about to die, hope its a stone stuck behind a guard or something (slightly worried as last time I heard this noise on one of my cars the steering rack packed up/Audi tt mk1). Will inspect it tomorrow when I top up the oil.
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