My 'new to me' 2011 F01 730D SE Luxury

[d_a_n1979]

So suspension arm replaced yesterday (Moog) and front tyres fitted.

Rear tyres landed yesterday so will get them fitted next week.

Still a slight clunk on suspension when moving slow on rough roads, so drop links and tie rods/track rod ends to be replaced (doing these for peace of mind as the car needs a full tracking & alignment too)...

Also managed to break the adjuster on the OS headlight, so that's a £500 bill I didn't need

Ordered its replacement via Autodoc, so will get it fitted in October when it's with my pal getting the bodywork bits done

[d_a_n1979]

meb90 said:

I'll echo the others and say that it looks a very good car in the pictures, but I don't disbelieve you regarding the 'improvement potentials'.

I'll follow along to see what you end up doing to it

Cheers Matt

Well the other suspension bits & tracking / alignment I had lined up for this week have been postponed as I'm full of a wrotten cold/chest infection all thanks tonmy darling niece (she knows I love her) She came to us for tea last week I've caught it but the wife's absolutely fine

So will try & get them bits done next week or the week after & then it's into the bodyshop.

Just waiting for the winter tyres to land so I can drop them off to get refurbed too...

[d_a_n1979]

B'stard Child said:

That looks lovely but I’m sure it will look even better in a very short space of time

Bookmarked for the journey

Cheers

Yup; it'll soon be looking spiffing compared to how it looks now. I'm not even washing it, it looks that sorry for itself very unlike me!

New headlights, some paintwork and cleaner alloys & it'll look much better.

Just need to decide what to do with the 20s

[d_a_n1979]

GrantD5 said:

Love this! I see these around from time to time and always fancied one

Thanks

TBH I've only ever seen a few on the road; I've seen more G 7'ers than I have F 7'ers locally; there are a few E65s though

I knew I wanted to get back into a 7'er and was seriously considering a well looked after (albeit basic spec) E65 750i; but decided against it as it was only 4 years younger than my previous E39 touring. So stumped up for the F01 and got a superb spec IMO

[d_a_n1979]

Small service stuff ordered; so:

- New Exide AGM battery (the cars still on its original one)!
- 5W40 oil & Mann filter
- Mann air filter
- Mahle carbon pollen filter

I've also ordered Moog front drop links, inner tie rods and track rod ends; as it's BMW, we all know how these likes to seize and the car needs a full tracking & alignment set up anyways; so I'll replace those for peace of mind before it gets its tracking done!

I've also bought Lunex 6000K D1S bulbs and Osram H8 bulbs for when the front bumper comes off and I replace the OS headlight (I'll do a full bulb change for both; may as well as it's a bumper off jobby anyway)!

[d_a_n1979]

Replacement Exide battery landed today, it's on the trickle charger currently & overnight. Will get it fitted & registered to the car tomorrow

Rear Kumho. PS91 tyres fitted today, I'll refit the 20" alloys tomorrow when it's not lashing it down

Rear Jurid discs, Textar pads and an OEM BMW brake sensor ordered too. Removing the alloys yesterday for the tyres to be fitted let me have a decent look over the brakes. They're OK, but for me not in good enough condition, so they'll get replaced next week whilst it's in with my pal.

MOT due next month, so more peace of mind...

[d_a_n1979]

Jhonno said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Small service stuff ordered; so:

- New Exide AGM battery (the cars still on its original one)!
- 5W40 oil & Mann filter
- Mann air filter
- Mahle carbon pollen filter

I've also ordered Moog front drop links, inner tie rods and track rod ends; as it's BMW, we all know how these likes to seize and the car needs a full tracking & alignment set up anyways; so I'll replace those for peace of mind before it gets its tracking done!

I've also bought Lunex 6000K D1S bulbs and Osram H8 bulbs for when the front bumper comes off and I replace the OS headlight (I'll do a full bulb change for both; may as well as it's a bumper off jobby anyway)!

Is the later 3.0d lump spec'd to use 5W40? Or is it using a bit of oil?

I do like a 7.. Just too big for what I need.. Although saying that I drive an E61

I've gone for 5W40 as after quite a bit of reading; a lot of folk have said how much quieter their engine runs with it

5W30 & 5W40 are more then fine for the N57

[d_a_n1979]

Fitted a Nextbase 512GW dashcam; same that I had in the touring

I've got the hardwire kit; but for now (as I'm unsure which fuse to use for the hardwire kit, so researching), I've used the main 12v connection and it's long enough (more than long enough) to reach one of the rear 12v sockets and still be hidden in the door rubber trims and up over the A pillar and the wire tucked into the headlining

All the bits together for the mini-service and tracking & alignment set up for Tuesday

Will fit the pollen filter tomorrow; looks like I need to do some footwell gymnastics

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

Slightly off topic, but how do you find the Moog parts?

I’ve been advised to buy some track rods for my 130 because they’re most likely going it be seized solid and they’re a chunk cheaper than Lemforder jobbies but not a brand that I’ve come across before.

Absolutely brilliant pal; had more issues with Lemforder and OEM BMW over the last few years; Moog & Meyle never let me down. Plus Moog have great warranty; that's why they're now my go-to brand TBH

I'm fitting all new Moog inner tie rods, track rod ends and front drop links tomorrow for the 7'er tracking & alignment. Exactly the same reasons that you've stated; they all seize up & don't like to come undone, so replace it in one lot and that's it done

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Absolutely brilliant pal; had more issues with Lemforder and OEM BMW over the last few years; Moog & Meyle never let me down. Plus Moog have great warranty; that's why they're now my go-to brand TBH

I'm fitting all new Moog inner tie rods, track rod ends and front drop links tomorrow for the 7'er tracking & alignment. Exactly the same reasons that you've stated; they all seize up & don't like to come undone, so replace it in one lot and that's it done

Good to know….I’ve ordered a set!

Talking to the guys at String Theory, they reckon they’re a good design in terms of giving lots of adjustability they’re just prone to seizing. Bloody things (same happened to her 125i too).

If I get chance tomorrow, I might have a crack at seeing how easily the old track rods loosen off (main worry is that the bolt spins in the rubber).

It's usually the locking nut that ends up spinning; or they seize in the rod itself and then they've had it. Sometimes heat will cure it; take them apart and liberally grease them; but they'll still seize... The parts aren't expensive at all; so IMO well worth replacing as part of the normal suspension consumables etc

[d_a_n1979]

Oil & filter change; air filter, inner tie rods/track rod ends, front drop links, rear discs & pads and full tracking & alignment set up done

Car drives straight & true now; no more clunking at the front either Both the inner tie roads/track rod ends and front drop links were all OEM BMW dated 2011! Well past their due date IMO















Next... Bodyshop on Monday

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

Good work. You’re going to have this knocked into shape in no time.

Hoping so pal

Realistically it'll be next year when I've got it fully licked into shape; having the bodywork that I want sorting done over 2, maybe 3 visits rather than in one blast. Mainly because of the time of year and we're going to be in the Highlands mDec, Jan & Feb this time around; so potential stone chip galore on the motorways and A9 etc!

[d_a_n1979]

Sn1ckers said:

I’m hoping to pick up my first F01 next week. I had an E65 for a couple of years (a record for me!) and really looking forward to wafting around in a 7 again.

Will be keeping an eye on your progress and may well pick your brain on stuff that’s likely to need doing (mine will be similar age / miles).

No worries; good luck in the search

My E65 ownership lasted 6 months. But the F01 IMO is a different kettle of fish

I'm no expert on these like I tried to be with the E39; but I'll help where I can

[d_a_n1979]

Glorious sunshine but cool today; so a great day to give the car a decent wash before it goes into the bodyshop on Monday...

Cleaned inside and out; tyres treated and that'll do it for now.

[d_a_n1979]

The land-barge has been emptied today ready to be dropped off at the bodyshop tomorrow.

Left the trickle charger and the extensions for it in the boot though and my pal can plug it in when it needs it and I'll swap the battery out when I collect the car

Style 234 alloys to be dropped off for refurbing tomorrow too; will take them and the Nexen winter tyres and he'll fit and balance them once he's refurbed the wheels. Just sticking with standard silver on them

Will update with pics when I can

[d_a_n1979]

Dropped the 7'er off at the bodyshop this morning and I've just dropped the winter 18" Style 234s and winter tyres off to get them refurbed & tyres fitted/balanced etc

Should have them back by early next wee, but the car won't be done for a few weeks as my pals fitting it in around other jobs; but means I get time to remove both headlights, swap out the damaged one and then fit all new bulbs in each, then it's done!

[d_a_n1979]

One quick WhatsApp from my pal at the bodyshop...

One new OEM BMW rear bumper ordered and another £700 bill to swallow

Bloody cars!

[d_a_n1979]

B'stard Child said:

d_a_n1979 said:

One quick WhatsApp from my pal at the bodyshop...

One new OEM BMW rear bumper ordered and another £700 bill to swallow

Bloody cars!

Bloody hell - why does it need a new bumper??

A bit too much damage to repair to his standards... It's had a repair once already and it wasn't done very good and he doesn't want to start undoing bad work and try to rehash it to make it perfect; which it won't be

Sods law; just one of those things!

[d_a_n1979]

Popped by whilst out on errands to see how the land-barge is coming on; front bumper just off and started on:



Will pop back Monday to remove both headlights and swap over all the bulbs etc; may as ell take advantage rather then waiting till the cars done and having to faff to remove the front bumper again on the drive!

[d_a_n1979]

To update re the OS headlight on my F01; this is exactly what's happened. The adjuster had somehow popped off the ball connector on the xenon projector housing and that's why it was drooped down. 



Managed (with lots of swearing and faffing) to get it popped back on and both adjusters now work; just need the car back from the bodyshop and to my pals MOT station so he can confirm that the headlights fine using his light box etc



As the bumpers off to be resprayed; it was an ideal time to get the headlight out to sort this. Fingers crossed that's it fixed and I don't have to fork out for another!