Out with the new and in with the old; my 130i LE

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pmorg4 said:

Thanks - another job to add to the ever-lengthening list! Maybe I should stop reading this type of thread as it's giving me too much inspiration to fix all the little niggling issues with my car

I know the feeling. The list of jobs seems to get longer, not shorter. At least it in the stage where it’s still fun and not annoying.

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Ben Lowden said:

Looking great Sam! This is an LCI model isn't it? I thought I'd done plenty of research when I bought mine but never came across any Valvetronic issues – I thought the LCI engine was supposed to be bulletproof. Hopefully it's something simple for you.

Scared the life out of me how many warning lights an ABS sensor throws up on the dash, but luckily was only £20 to fix! The Carly app is brilliant.

Thanks Ben. The valvetronic issues do appear fairly rare but do crop up from time to time. There seems to be causes; the motor gasket leaking and oil making its way to the electrical connector and upsetting the system and similar happening to the sensor.

Getting to the motor looks pretty straightforward; it’s just above the spark plus. Whip a few of the, out to access the bolts and it comes out. The sensor is a bit more buried and requires the rocker cover gasket replacing at the same time.

The garage locally said they are starting to see a few valvetronic issues as these engines get a bit older. Mine doesn’t seem too bad because it’s only a slightly lumpy idle. Some have issues affect starting etc, but mine starts perfectly.

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Most of my stuff from RSW arrived today.

Like me they’ve returned it in two parcels but Parcel Force have seen fit to load the parcels onto different vans....I’m still waiting for my dash trim to arrive it that should be here in the next couple of hours.

I launched into fitting the binnacle cover, wheel, gear gaiter and hand brake. I probably should have looked into how to remove the binnacle because I was a bit stumped at first until I realised the dials had to come out to access four screws holding it in place. Whoops. As usual the workmanship is top notch from Jack and co.







I’ll grab sone better photos when the dash trim is here and the sun isn’t so bright.

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MDifficult said:

That looks absolutely fantastic - well done!

Thanks. It’s certainly getting there.

d_a_n1979 said:

That wheel is gorgeous

I'd love an alcantara wheel; but with all the chalk I use in training & for lifting stones; it'd be flat and shiny in no time... Will stick with leather I think

Thanks, it’s not the most practical but they do feel lovely. You just need to drive around in some marigolds!

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d_a_n1979 said:

Absolutely; do love an alcantara steering wheel

Ran the Sabelt ones in a number of my Hondas:



Great feel in the hands...

Just not ideal for my touring

Incidentally I've messaged Jack at RSW today for a quote; hoping he'll get back to me soon enough

I can’t fault RSW’s work. Their leather options are nice too and will rejuvenate an older wheel especially with BMW leather wheels loving going shiny. Most of the wheels in used BMW’s I’ve had have been too far gone tj get back to a nice matt finish.

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Ben Lowden said:

Good to know for future reference, thanks! Fingers crossed it's straight forward for you to get fixed. Interior has been transformed with your new bits from Royal Steering Wheels. I've used them before for a similar job and can thoroughly recommend to anyone!

Thanks

This is the third wheel they’ve done for me plus various parts in my other half’s 125i. The wheel in my M140i wore really well considering it was a daily driver.

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My dash insert finally arrived, but the sun still isn’t making for good pictures...







I think the interior is a better place to be now, the silver trim ever really worked with the cream leather for me. The retrimmed wheel is slightly thinner too, so that’s another good result.

The new shift bush has improved the gear change no end, so I’m really pleased with that. I’ll do the same to the 125i at some point.

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d_a_n1979 said:

Yup; superb work & all who I'll use

My steering wheel is in good condition, give it a good clean with hot water & one of those magic eraser thingymedoos and it goes nice and satin again...

But a week or so & its back to shiny again!

Same here. I guess it just wears to that point.

Ben Lowden said:

I've been using this kit for a few years on my Alcantara wheels, does a good job https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/leather-care-pro...

Thanks for that; I’ll look into the kit in more detail. I currently use Autobrite alcantara cleaner as recommended by RSW.

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cerb4.5lee said:

Really loving what you've done to the interior, it looks awesome now I reckon.

That gearstick and the surround look like they are begging you to use them!

Ha ha, thanks Lee. Good news is the shift is much nicer with the CDV where it belongs (in the bin) and the new bush. I’ve got to say I’ve enjoyed driving a manual again.

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I’ve been fiddling again! :lol:

Firstly, I whipped off the engine cover to look at the connections for the valvetronic motor and sensor.





Cleaned the connections with contact cleaner and popped the back. I read the codes again and no error for the valvetronic system, although the motor looks grubby/oily. Will be interesting to see what the garage think next week.

Whilst I was under the bonnet I popped in my Mishimoto intake pipe. I had to settle for blue because the black was out of stock. Doesn’t look too bad.





The old intake with the resonator and sound generator thing that I’m sure just droned.



Popped out afterwards for a drive, the intake pipe with the carbon intake sound pretty angry together (in a good way). Happy with the improvement. Checked the codes again and still no valvetronic error code, so I’ll keep an eye on that over the next few days before it goes to the garage.

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Just to update early, the valvetronic error code hasn’t come back and the car seems to be running better. The garage did various tests etc and struggled to find anything wrong with it to be honest. I’m going to keep an eye on the codes and if it comes back, I’ll leave it and get it booked in.

When I’m bored, I’ll give the valvetronic motor housing etc a clean to get rid of the grime etc. That way it’ll make it much easier to spot if there are any leaks from the gasket.

I’m retrofitting cruise control on Friday. I’ll be doing the donkey work myself and then taking it to Zed Coding for them to activate it / get rid of the lights on the dash etc.

I’ve also ordered a CarPlay solution which will hopefully be here at the end of this week / early next week. I’m hoping for a relatively easy installation.

A have a few more small jobs to tick off too;

Calliper paint
Metal pedals
Re-wrap the interior trim because the eBay special stuff I bought has turned out to be crap. I used the same stuff in my other half’s 125i and it’s worn well, mine less so. I’ve bought some proper 3M stuff which should be here in the next day or so.
Golf tee mod
I’d love a performance exhaust, so am keeping an eye out for one

I want to get it out for a few fun drives like I did with the M140i I had before.

Other than that I’ll just enjoy it really. I do like driving it.

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Ben Lowden said:

Great news! And when you want your thread title changing, just drop me a PM as 'Limied Edition' makes my teeth itch a bit One too many characters, so I could always changed it to Ltd instead.

fat fingers….

Feel free to change it to LE instead

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Finally got around to getting cruise control sorted having had the parts kicking around in the garage pretty much since I bought the car.

Wheel, lower cowel and old squib all removed:



Old squib



New squib



All fitted



It was a piece of cake and I was waiting for the kicker / problem but there wasn’t any. I then popped over to see Zed Coding in Brum to get the coding / warning lights sorted. £40 later and I have functional cruise with no warning lights (steering wheel angle sensor needed calibrating so the DSC and tyre pressure systems shat themselves). Traffic in the M42 meant that I didn’t actually get use it on the way home though…typical.

I ordered a CarPlay solution from Bavarian Automotive only to be told after I’d paid that it won’t work with my screen. So I’m a bit pissed off and waiting for my refund. I’ll revert to the original option from Integrated Automotive which is a bit more expensive but definitely works with my screen.

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Still no return of the valvetronic error code.

Whilst the weather was crap this weekend I rewrapped my interior trim because the stuff I used last time was rubbish and had marked / torn on a couple of places already (I used it in my other half’s 125 a s it’s been fine). This time around I coughed up for some genuine 3M vinyl. My god it was easier to use. It’s loads thicker so should wear better and didn’t seem to suffer with air bubbles.





I’m now a dab hand removing and reinstalling the centre console.

I also ordered some OE mats. The least cool way to spend money on your car but the ones supplied are annoying because the drivers side creeps forward over time and the corners don’t sit flush.

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Tom4398cc said:

Looking really tidy in there now Sam ??

Thanks Tom. Hope that MINI of yours is treating you well. Give me a shout when you’re at CG.

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WhisperingWasp said:

Great work all round Sam. I have a few exterior bits to finish on mine then I might take some inspiration from your interior!

Definitely want the CarPlay thing. Also like the idea of cruise control and the red starter button. I don't mind the silver trim myself but must admit yours does look great. The RSW stuff looks fantastic; the wheel obviously but I particularly like the binnacle and dash insert. I have the BMWP gear knob/gaiter and matching handbrake and recently added the alcantara steering wheel boss. I like it but you've got me thinking about the rim now too.

Quick question; what are your air vents like? Mine seem to have a white scum on the fins.

I’m having to revert back to my original solution for CarPlay because it turns out the other one won’t work with the 6.5 inch screen. The guys from Integrated Automotive have been really helpful so far which inspires confidence so I’m putting my money where my mouth is tomorrow and ordering one.

I’ve bought the steering wheel trim too. That should be here this week; I’m hoping that the colour matches the RSW bits.

My vents are starting to go white too; I believe it’s sun damage. Some manage to bring them back to life with a trim restorer but I’ve never been able to do that. The ones in my other half’s old 116 and her current 125 were pretty scrubby so I painted them with satin black paint.

From this



To this



You need to take the vents out and dismantle them to get the slats out. Quick coat of primer and a few coats of satin black and jobs a good ‘un. I need to do the ones on my 130 at some point but they’re not that bad.

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My CarPlay gubbins should be here tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll get that fitted this weekend if the weather isn’t too crap.

More alcantara was added today in the form of the steering wheel trim



And literally the most boring way to spend £100 on my car, a set of new OE mats. The ones that came with the car were a pain in the bum with the front one moving every now andy then and getting caught under the clutch pedal. These are much better quality and shouldn’t move about.



I’ve also had to remove and refit the panel above the pedals. When I had the centre console out this weekend I must have moved it slightly when fitting everything back together because my toes were catching it when depressing the clutch.

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d_a_n1979 said:

Lovely stuff; that wheel is

cerb4.5lee said:

Sam you've got the interior looking absolutely superb. I really love what you've done to it.

Thanks both. It’s not too shabby for an old car.

Adding CarPlay will modernise it even further and give me a useful sat nav.

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My fuel filler flap gave up the ghost this week. It was a bit weak when I got the car but it went full floppy this week. Quick trip to Sytner to grab a new filler pot.



I used the short cut method of drilling the tabs out and basically ragging it out. I remembered from the one I did on the old 116 that I managed to snap the end off the filler flap lock so I thought I remove it. I ended up taking the boot apart to get access (luckily not that hard).

Old filler pot out.





I cleaned the gunk etc on bits you never see whilst it was out. New pot in



So much better, a filler flap that is no longer floppy and rattling. The only casualty was my eBay special filler cap tether but they’re a quid something so I’m not too bothered.

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This also turned up late today







This will give me CarPlay whilst retaining the OE screen and nav system. It may sound sad but that’s the one thing I’m missing from the 140i. Whilst I can stream music to the car via a little speaker thing under the armrest that plugs into my aux and usb plugs, I can’t control the music (skip tracks, select playlists etc). Plus the nav is ste.

With this I’ll be able to control the Amazon music app like I used to plus get Waze etc.

First impressions are that it’s well made, well packaged, came with good clear instructions and the pre and post sales support had been brilliant. It’s not cheap, but it’ll be well worth it and it seems like a better solution than pulling out screens etc.

Looking forward to getting it fitted this weekend.