Out with the new and in with the old; my 130i LE
Discussion
88LG said:
That diffuser looks so much better now it's not stock! Really suits it!
I sometimes wonder how much I can trust parking sensors! Although I'm glad I have them! Remember scraping against a trolley bay (massive thing) in my little Ford KA when I first past my test!
Thanks, I much prefer it too. It’ll look even better when the car is clean. I sometimes wonder how much I can trust parking sensors! Although I'm glad I have them! Remember scraping against a trolley bay (massive thing) in my little Ford KA when I first past my test!
You clearly can’t trust them 100%!
Court_S said:
I dropped the car off on Monday and picked it up this afternoon. Whilst it was there, I had the rear diffuser painted in dark shadow metallic with a gloss finish because hated the stock satin finish.
Oh that looks way better 
Adds to list for my E82 work to be done when it goes in for paint
cerb4.5lee said:
It looks great now Sam for sure.
Thanks Lee.GT89 said:
The paint work looks spot on.
I've got a few panels that need blowing over on my Le mans blue one, I'll add it on the never ending list
Cheers, I know the feeling about the never ending list. Keeps you busy at least!I've got a few panels that need blowing over on my Le mans blue one, I'll add it on the never ending list
Ben Lowden said:
Never would have thought to have the rear diffuser painted but looks so much better for it!
Thanks Ben. The stock finish is nasty, I’ve done similar to a few cars now. On my old 330 I had it painted gloss black and I painted the one on my other half’s 125i black because it looked especially crap on a grey car.josh-cg608 said:
Looking good mate
Cheers, it’s getting there and doesn’t look too bad for a 14 year old car.B'stard Child said:
Oh that looks way better
Adds to list for my E82 work to be done when it goes in for paint
That colour will look really good against the black of yours. I think the gloss works better too.Adds to list for my E82 work to be done when it goes in for paint
I managed to blag a day to myself yesterday to get a few jobs done to my car. I’ve noticed a few times that the valvetronic sensor seal looked a bit weepy bu I’d left it up until this point because everything I’d seen in the net had shown it being done with the rocker cover which on mine isn’t leaking. However, someone on another forum pointed out that it can be done without touching that (confirmed in ISTA too). It just pops out over the top and it was a no brainer when I found out that the seal was £7.
Old seal, weeping slightly.
Manky old seal out.
New one
Popped in place really easily, the wetness below is just excess oil that I’d used to lube it.
Whilst I was fiddling, I decided to clean my VANOS solenoids for no other reason that to check them etc. They didn’t look too bad to be fair
And clean
The bolt for the upper solenoid was a little bugger to get to and when refitting the lower one I managed drop the bloody bolt so had to jack the car up and remove the undertray. Joy. To add insult to injury, I then dropped one of the engine cover bolts so had to take the under tray off for a second time. t
t. 
Car was then cleaned and annoyingly there was sine crud from the body shop that was hard to budge so I had to raz over a few bits with my DA polisher. I ended up doing the whole car with a light one stage polish and chucking another coat of wax on. No pictures though because I was strapped for time.
I then headed down to C&M for dinner with a couple of chaps from BabyBMW.
The not so limited edition 130 given that two of the three were! C&M was pretty damn busy with a good mix if cars.
Old seal, weeping slightly.
Manky old seal out.
New one
Popped in place really easily, the wetness below is just excess oil that I’d used to lube it.
Whilst I was fiddling, I decided to clean my VANOS solenoids for no other reason that to check them etc. They didn’t look too bad to be fair
And clean
The bolt for the upper solenoid was a little bugger to get to and when refitting the lower one I managed drop the bloody bolt so had to jack the car up and remove the undertray. Joy. To add insult to injury, I then dropped one of the engine cover bolts so had to take the under tray off for a second time. t
t. Car was then cleaned and annoyingly there was sine crud from the body shop that was hard to budge so I had to raz over a few bits with my DA polisher. I ended up doing the whole car with a light one stage polish and chucking another coat of wax on. No pictures though because I was strapped for time.
I then headed down to C&M for dinner with a couple of chaps from BabyBMW.
The not so limited edition 130 given that two of the three were!
C&M was pretty damn busy with a good mix if cars.We’ll today was an absolute stter.
Popped over to my mate Andy’s house with the intention of fitting my M3 LCA’s, camber plates made by a chap on BabyBMW and fitting the rear subframe inserts I bought. Unfortunately the front end fought us all the way, so the subframe inserts will need to wait for another day.
The camber plates
New M3 LCA
Then, the fun started….the bolts at the wheel side of the LCA were sts to remove both sides and we ended up getting them undone enough to get an angle grinder underneath the nut which meant we could cut through the bolt. Next issues was the M3 LCA’s were a super tight, and I mean fking tight fit which needed sone buggeration both sides.
One new LCA fitted
The next fun was the camber plates which meant the camber pins need to some out and they really didn’t want to. Eventually we got the little fkers out. With them gone, with the M3 LCA’s and the camber plates I should be able to get close to minus two degrees camber on each side.
The Quik Fit close of Andy’s house couldn’t do the alignment because it was too late (I’m waiting for the seized track rod ends next….. ). What we I did discover is that when on fill lock to the right, there’s a light metallic running noise but balls can we see what it might be. With these constant figs and setbacks we didn’t get chance to look at the subframe inserts….I might leave them until the spring now!
The toe is way out and the drive home was a bit interesting, the car gets very upset by bumps etc. Hopefully someone can look at it tomorrow.
tter.Popped over to my mate Andy’s house with the intention of fitting my M3 LCA’s, camber plates made by a chap on BabyBMW and fitting the rear subframe inserts I bought. Unfortunately the front end fought us all the way, so the subframe inserts will need to wait for another day.
The camber plates
New M3 LCA
Then, the fun started….the bolts at the wheel side of the LCA were s
ts to remove both sides and we ended up getting them undone enough to get an angle grinder underneath the nut which meant we could cut through the bolt. Next issues was the M3 LCA’s were a super tight, and I mean fking tight fit which needed sone buggeration both sides.One new LCA fitted
The next fun was the camber plates which meant the camber pins need to some out and they really didn’t want to. Eventually we got the little f
kers out. With them gone, with the M3 LCA’s and the camber plates I should be able to get close to minus two degrees camber on each side.The Quik Fit close of Andy’s house couldn’t do the alignment because it was too late (I’m waiting for the seized track rod ends next…..
). What we I did discover is that when on fill lock to the right, there’s a light metallic running noise but balls can we see what it might be. With these constant figs and setbacks we didn’t get chance to look at the subframe inserts….I might leave them until the spring now! The toe is way out and the drive home was a bit interesting, the car gets very upset by bumps etc. Hopefully someone can look at it tomorrow.
I think I might be friends with my car again after today.
I gave it a clean because it was covered in mud after the local farmers turned the roads on a dirt tracks Friday night.
I had the car on axle stands and managed to replicate the running / grinding noise….the passenger side front wheel catches one of the arms and the liner (admittedly the liner was missing a few bolts so sitting proud).
Here is where it is catching on the arm.
It looks like it’s down to the LCA’s because when I undid the top mounts slightly and pulled them back to the stock position it was still rubbing.
That side seems to have a fair amount of to in, so perhaps it’ll improve once I get the alignment sorted. Worst case scenario is that I have to whack a couple of 5mm spacers on.
I gave it a clean because it was covered in mud after the local farmers turned the roads on a dirt tracks Friday night.
I had the car on axle stands and managed to replicate the running / grinding noise….the passenger side front wheel catches one of the arms and the liner (admittedly the liner was missing a few bolts so sitting proud).
Here is where it is catching on the arm.
It looks like it’s down to the LCA’s because when I undid the top mounts slightly and pulled them back to the stock position it was still rubbing.
That side seems to have a fair amount of to in, so perhaps it’ll improve once I get the alignment sorted. Worst case scenario is that I have to whack a couple of 5mm spacers on.
The alignment fun and games continue…
Basically no one locally will touch it when I explain that’s it’s slightly lowered on Birds B1 suspension with M3 LCA’s. If it’s not as per the info on the screen they’re not interested. FFS.
The motorsport place that did a few bits on my 140i are fully booked until mid November, Centre Gravity have a big old waiting list too….so it continues. I phoned String Theory and they’re going to squeeze me in at the end of the day on Wednesday but have warned me that the track rods are most likely seized (they were on the 125i too). As a precaution I’ve ordered a set of Moog jobbies which seemed to fall in between Starline and Lemforder price wise and they were out of stock one side for TRW.
Sometimes I do wonder why I piss about with my cars.
Basically no one locally will touch it when I explain that’s it’s slightly lowered on Birds B1 suspension with M3 LCA’s. If it’s not as per the info on the screen they’re not interested. FFS.
The motorsport place that did a few bits on my 140i are fully booked until mid November, Centre Gravity have a big old waiting list too….so it continues. I phoned String Theory and they’re going to squeeze me in at the end of the day on Wednesday but have warned me that the track rods are most likely seized (they were on the 125i too). As a precaution I’ve ordered a set of Moog jobbies which seemed to fall in between Starline and Lemforder price wise and they were out of stock one side for TRW.
Sometimes I do wonder why I piss about with my cars.
cerb4.5lee said:
Gutted to hear about your difficulties with it Sam. I bet the bloody thing is driving you around the bend for sure. 
Yeah, it’s pretty frustrating. The really good garages seem to be super, super busy so it’s hard to get squeezed in.I do bring it on myself by fiddling though.
I'm trying to get my head round the rubbing
So the M3 LCA are longer and are behind the rack line - so you've pushed out the wheel and as a result the steering has tried to pull it back in (generating toe in and a lot of tyre scrub)
The camber plates are interesting I assume that means you get more dialed in than std (with pins removed)
So the M3 LCA are longer and are behind the rack line - so you've pushed out the wheel and as a result the steering has tried to pull it back in (generating toe in and a lot of tyre scrub)
The camber plates are interesting I assume that means you get more dialed in than std (with pins removed)
B'stard Child said:
I'm trying to get my head round the rubbing
So the M3 LCA are longer and are behind the rack line - so you've pushed out the wheel and as a result the steering has tried to pull it back in (generating toe in and a lot of tyre scrub)
The camber plates are interesting I assume that means you get more dialed in than std (with pins removed)
Yeah, it’s odd that it’s only one side albeit that side has loads of toe in just looking at it. Andy has no such issues, but he’s running 205 front tyres and I’m on 225’s.So the M3 LCA are longer and are behind the rack line - so you've pushed out the wheel and as a result the steering has tried to pull it back in (generating toe in and a lot of tyre scrub)
The camber plates are interesting I assume that means you get more dialed in than std (with pins removed)
The removal of the pins, the plates and M3 LCA’s should get me to about minus two degrees each side.
"Yeah, it’s pretty frustrating. The really good garages seem to be super, super busy so it’s hard to get squeezed in."
Sam, that, right there, is a sound business case for vehicle no. 3. If you run interesting, slightly older vehicles and want them to be serviced by the best for that particular issue/car, then the delays getting booked in are always a problem with a daily driver. I think you need to treat yourself to that Z4 you've talked about, to take away the stress!
Sam, that, right there, is a sound business case for vehicle no. 3. If you run interesting, slightly older vehicles and want them to be serviced by the best for that particular issue/car, then the delays getting booked in are always a problem with a daily driver. I think you need to treat yourself to that Z4 you've talked about, to take away the stress!
Tom4398cc said:
"Yeah, it’s pretty frustrating. The really good garages seem to be super, super busy so it’s hard to get squeezed in."
Sam, that, right there, is a sound business case for vehicle no. 3. If you run interesting, slightly older vehicles and want them to be serviced by the best for that particular issue/car, then the delays getting booked in are always a problem with a daily driver. I think you need to treat yourself to that Z4 you've talked about, to take away the stress!
You’re a bad man Tom!Sam, that, right there, is a sound business case for vehicle no. 3. If you run interesting, slightly older vehicles and want them to be serviced by the best for that particular issue/car, then the delays getting booked in are always a problem with a daily driver. I think you need to treat yourself to that Z4 you've talked about, to take away the stress!
I think the easiest answer is to leave the damn thing alone and not keep fiddling with it! I doubt that’ll happen though, I seem to be catching up on fiddling with cars later in life. I guess I was too busy with mountain bikes to bother when I was younger.
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