First BMW 630i
Discussion
d_a_n1979 said:
Unusual; is the steering column electric?
It is indeed - I did wonder if its something around that, or the electric steering lock. At the moment its infrequent and I suspect I'd spend ages trying to pinpoint it, so I'm tempted to leave it - if something goes wrong then at least I'll know! Mind you, I employed the same tactics on my E Class and then it stranded me with a dead steering lock.Sorry for derailing your thread OP!
Court_S said:
Looks well. OP, annoying about the headlight issues. Have you managed to get anywhere with them?
Cross your fingers, I spent this morning swapping parts n/s to o/s to work out what works... Seems everything I can access via front wheel arches does, bulbs, retaining rings and igniter units.So by dedication, deduction and my new BMW mates... It's the control unit under the headlight, I have one coming Friday.
Thanks to 'Timms BMW repair' on YT I know how to do it.
When I bought my 630i it has been ‘looked after’ (annual servicing) but not cared for. Being based on the 5 series, it is easy enough to work your way through stuff to create what is quite a nice car with nicely weighted controls and old school feel to the interior.
My headlight was flickering badly so did the same investigation as you. My previous owner had left the cap off the back of the unit, which had let water in which filled the ballast module that sits on the bottom of the cluster. Cheap part, fiddly but simple swap job. Hopefully this cures it for you.
My headlight was flickering badly so did the same investigation as you. My previous owner had left the cap off the back of the unit, which had let water in which filled the ballast module that sits on the bottom of the cluster. Cheap part, fiddly but simple swap job. Hopefully this cures it for you.
josh00mac said:
When I bought my 630i it has been ‘looked after’ (annual servicing) but not cared for. Being based on the 5 series, it is easy enough to work your way through stuff to create what is quite a nice car with nicely weighted controls and old school feel to the interior.
My headlight was flickering badly so did the same investigation as you. My previous owner had left the cap off the back of the unit, which had let water in which filled the ballast module that sits on the bottom of the cluster. Cheap part, fiddly but simple swap job. Hopefully this cures it for you.
Found the upper cap is missing today, currently covered now with gaffer tape, luckily everything is dry.My headlight was flickering badly so did the same investigation as you. My previous owner had left the cap off the back of the unit, which had let water in which filled the ballast module that sits on the bottom of the cluster. Cheap part, fiddly but simple swap job. Hopefully this cures it for you.
We have 2 dipped beams... Yay.
New control unit arrived so I jumped in, after watching a Yt video i went for not completely removing the bumper.
It is fiddly, but I have extensive home repair skills and a bucket load of tools.
Part fitted, before locking the headlight back in I checked, f##k!!!!!! Not working, changed the bulb, BINGO...
There is a seal strip between the indicator and headlight, sorry, used to be a seal strip... I made a new one with double sided and strips of inner tube, anyway everything is working and back together.
Next time I will completely remove the bumper.
New control unit arrived so I jumped in, after watching a Yt video i went for not completely removing the bumper.
It is fiddly, but I have extensive home repair skills and a bucket load of tools.
Part fitted, before locking the headlight back in I checked, f##k!!!!!! Not working, changed the bulb, BINGO...
There is a seal strip between the indicator and headlight, sorry, used to be a seal strip... I made a new one with double sided and strips of inner tube, anyway everything is working and back together.
Next time I will completely remove the bumper.
waynedear said:
We have 2 dipped beams... Yay.
New control unit arrived so I jumped in, after watching a Yt video i went for not completely removing the bumper.
It is fiddly, but I have extensive home repair skills and a bucket load of tools.
Part fitted, before locking the headlight back in I checked, f##k!!!!!! Not working, changed the bulb, BINGO...
There is a seal strip between the indicator and headlight, sorry, used to be a seal strip... I made a new one with double sided and strips of inner tube, anyway everything is working and back together.
Next time I will completely remove the bumper.
Brilliant news! Great job; fingers crossed that's it sorted now New control unit arrived so I jumped in, after watching a Yt video i went for not completely removing the bumper.
It is fiddly, but I have extensive home repair skills and a bucket load of tools.
Part fitted, before locking the headlight back in I checked, f##k!!!!!! Not working, changed the bulb, BINGO...
There is a seal strip between the indicator and headlight, sorry, used to be a seal strip... I made a new one with double sided and strips of inner tube, anyway everything is working and back together.
Next time I will completely remove the bumper.
waynedear said:
Found the upper cap is missing today, currently covered now with gaffer tape, luckily everything is dry.
I have a spare cap (I found two caps resting on the undertray when I did the light job) - poor chap had dropped one into the abyss, bought another, dropped it and given up it would seem. I’ll photo it and send to you to check it is the part you need and if so I’ll send it over to you. Can I message you on here? waynedear said:
Found the upper cap is missing today, currently covered now with gaffer tape, luckily everything is dry.
I have a spare cap (I found two caps resting on the undertray when I did the light job) - poor chap had dropped one into the abyss, bought another, dropped it and given up it would seem. I’ll photo it and send to you to check it is the part you need and if so I’ll send it over to you. Can I message you on here? josh00mac said:
waynedear said:
Found the upper cap is missing today, currently covered now with gaffer tape, luckily everything is dry.
I have a spare cap (I found two caps resting on the undertray when I did the light job) - poor chap had dropped one into the abyss, bought another, dropped it and given up it would seem. I’ll photo it and send to you to check it is the part you need and if so I’ll send it over to you. Can I message you on here? Light work today, flipping knee is being a bugger.
Inner wing drains, think I got lucky, no idea when they were done previously, very heavily clogged, removed what I could with my fingers, broke through the rest with a heavy cable tie and finished the job with the hosepipe. (Carpets dry)
Uncovered the 2 cabin microfilters, absolutely minging, I can't get new ones until Monday so I vacuumed all the crap out.
Wheel caps were not great, Amazon supplied new ones.
With a hacksaw I managed to open up the spare key, it will not lock the car, figured it was the micro switch, apparently it's not.
I know a good key place in Bootle, I'll call in Monday.
I reckon the cathedral on the left is at least 5 times bigger than the church on the right...
Inner wing drains, think I got lucky, no idea when they were done previously, very heavily clogged, removed what I could with my fingers, broke through the rest with a heavy cable tie and finished the job with the hosepipe. (Carpets dry)
Uncovered the 2 cabin microfilters, absolutely minging, I can't get new ones until Monday so I vacuumed all the crap out.
Wheel caps were not great, Amazon supplied new ones.
With a hacksaw I managed to open up the spare key, it will not lock the car, figured it was the micro switch, apparently it's not.
I know a good key place in Bootle, I'll call in Monday.
I reckon the cathedral on the left is at least 5 times bigger than the church on the right...
God it's never ending... Found out about another drain... Under the brake servo, everything apart, cleared that, well pushed it right through, think it's on the undertray.
Fitted the new micro filters and air filter.
Put a new case on the key that will not lock the car then called at NW keys in Bootle, he did some checks, need a new one, as it opens and starts the car it can be my emergency spare.
I'm really starting to like this car, it feels special.
Fitted the new micro filters and air filter.
Put a new case on the key that will not lock the car then called at NW keys in Bootle, he did some checks, need a new one, as it opens and starts the car it can be my emergency spare.
I'm really starting to like this car, it feels special.
waynedear said:
God it's never ending... Found out about another drain... Under the brake servo, everything apart, cleared that, well pushed it right through, think it's on the undertray.
Fitted the new micro filters and air filter.
Put a new case on the key that will not lock the car then called at NW keys in Bootle, he did some checks, need a new one, as it opens and starts the car it can be my emergency spare.
I'm really starting to like this car, it feels special.
You found the right drain! The one under the servo is the one that often blocks. Most people remove it too. Fitted the new micro filters and air filter.
Put a new case on the key that will not lock the car then called at NW keys in Bootle, he did some checks, need a new one, as it opens and starts the car it can be my emergency spare.
I'm really starting to like this car, it feels special.
CornedBeef said:
Funnily enough I've just ordered a new battery for one of my keys, because it's not been unlocking the car reliably.
I assume from the photo the key needs to be cut/wedged open - was it a pain?
From what I can gather the comfort access keys have a replaceable battery so they have an opening section.I assume from the photo the key needs to be cut/wedged open - was it a pain?
Mine is not comfort access so has the rechargeable battery, it charges when you insert it in the ignition.
Hacksaw made light work of opening my case up.
The place I took it has a small box of electronics with lights on, you just press your key at it and it lights up green or red if that function works or not.
My lock switch is physically working, just not electronically.
There are guides to the 2 types of key on YouTube.
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