BMW E91 335i Touring, Le Mans Blue

[Court_S]

Fermit said:

So the consensus is the trim needs pulling off a little. Any pointers how to do this from those who have done the job?

Trim removal tool at the end by the button and prise it away gently. Once the trim is out two inches or so, you should be able to access the clips holding the starter button in place. There’s one either side. The one closest to the steering wheel is the easiest one to reach.

[Fermit]

Court_S said:

Trim removal tool at the end by the button and prise it away gently. Once the trim is out two inches or so, you should be able to access the clips holding the starter button in place. There’s one either side. The one closest to the steering wheel is the easiest one to reach.

Not owning a trim removal tool, is there anything else I could use, or would that mean a major risk of monumentally fking it up?

If it needs to be said tool, would this do the job? (yes, I know it's a cheapy, but yes, if I spend much more on this car I'll be divorced!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313611605652?hash=item4904b5569...

[Court_S]

Fermit said:

Not owning a trim removal tool, is there anything else I could use, or would that mean a major risk of monumentally fking it up?

If it needs to be said tool, would this do the job? (yes, I know it's a cheapy, but yes, if I spend much more on this car I'll be divorced!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313611605652?hash=item4904b5569...

.

You could try a screwdriver and wrap some electrical tape or similar around it to make it a bit softer. It depends on how tight your days trim is, sometimes they take zero effort other times they can be a bit stubborn.

Failing that, one of those kits will do the trick.

[d_a_n1979]

Fermit said:

Court_S said:

Trim removal tool at the end by the button and prise it away gently. Once the trim is out two inches or so, you should be able to access the clips holding the starter button in place. There’s one either side. The one closest to the steering wheel is the easiest one to reach.

Not owning a trim removal tool, is there anything else I could use, or would that mean a major risk of monumentally fking it up?

If it needs to be said tool, would this do the job? (yes, I know it's a cheapy, but yes, if I spend much more on this car I'll be divorced!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313611605652?hash=item4904b5569...

Spend a bit more and get a kit with tools that won't bend due to them being too soft; 5% off too if you tick the box:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wetado-Removal-Upholstery...

But like Sam said; a wide, flat head screwdriver with masking tape on the end will work, used carefully...

If anything like the F31; you'll be able to pull it free with your fingertips

[Fermit]

Not an update I wanted to post. Yesterday visiting Chesterfield Hospital for just over an hour, we returned to the car to discover someone had driven in to it and buggered off. The security team at the hospital couldn't give a flying one, apparently CCTV doesn't cover the area in question, and for whatever reason they're doing their darndest to swerve assisting us. This is a carpark which costs as near as damn it twice as much (£3.20p/h) as the nearest multi-storey carpark (too far away to us for this visit) and their website states 'the carpark has CCTV running throughout'.

Derbyshire Police aren't interested either (hit and run is a criminal offence) presumably we interrupted their donut break.

Utterly fking livid. It's not so much what's occurred (car park bumps happen) but that the perp has gone in to Billy Whizz mode and hot footed it, leaving no details. The one and only time I ever clipped a car pulling away after parking, I spent 10 minutes to find the guy, and leave my details.

We're not going through insurance. I already have the car booked in for repair of a dent near the roofline, and for bird muck paint damage to one of the doors which was struck. He has agreed to repair the damage for £100 extra, so a £450 bill instead of the previous £350

Edited by Fermit on Wednesday 28th June 10:43

Edited by Fermit on Wednesday 28th June 10:43

Edited by Fermit on Wednesday 28th June 10:44

[Court_S]

That’s really annoying on all fronts, I’d be cheesed off as well.

The only good news is that the extra cost to repair it isn’t too horrendous especially compared to going via your insurance company.

[Fermit]

Court_S said:

That’s really annoying on all fronts, I’d be cheesed off as well.

The only good news is that the extra cost to repair it isn’t too horrendous especially compared to going via your insurance company.

The manager of security at the hospital (the only thing he's managing is fk all!) is an utter idiot. After I asked on email for their complaints procedure he rang me in a minute flat to defend their stance. I said 'perhaps I'll come to the hospital and drive in to your car, to see how quickly you identify me'. He replied 'well, that is noted as threatening behaviour' to which I replied 'it's called sarcasm you prat'

Probably won't help my case, but it made me feel better.

Funnily enough, he's not so quick to send me their complaints process, the call ended 50 minutes ago.

[d_a_n1979]

Absolute knobbers...

At least you're able to get it fixed and within a current booking and for not silly money...

Positive thoughts; leave the arse-eaters of society to it and move on/leave em behind

[Fermit]

Updates a little slow, as money I'd planned to be spending on jobs such as the Andream and the Walnut Blast have been pushed back, as we've got to spend £450 on bodywork repairs, thanks to a stupid spineless who thinks it's OK to drive in to the car and fk off

It's in for an oil and filter service on Monday, moving forward it'll get one a year. We're doing approx 8000 miles per year, so this will ensure it gets serviced more regularly than the suggested, which from what I read many think is ideal.

A few small tweaks in the meantime. Firstly, headlights polished up/ de-yellowed. They're not perfect, but are fine in passing. i also stole Sam/Court_S's idea to remove the numberplate plinth for a cleaner look, and changed the plates, as the old ones suggested I 'Dick Lovett'



I also changed the stop/start button for a blue one, in keeping with the paint work.



And changed the old tatty indicator repeaters for some third-party LED ones. On the second pic you may note the hit and run damage is less conspicuous, as before cleaning I t-cutted the hell out of it. Only because it was 'growling' at me every time I saw it. It least it doesn't scream out at me like it did before, and it's only for 6 weeks until it's in the bodyshop




Imminent plans.

• undertake a pigment restore (myself) on the drivers bolster, the steering wheel, and assorted small pigment damage in the rear.
• fit the new cubbys, to replace the ash-tray and phone cradle (Sam, I'll give you a shout sometime)
• Waxoil underneath, have bought some two tonne Draper ramps to undertake this, and anything else where I need to get under it.
• replace the rear ashtray centre trim with an ashtray delete one I found, on the bay for £20. To me the former dates it inside.

Finally, it's been suggested that the reason the remote keyfobs aren't working is down to something called the Antenna Diversity Module located under the spoiler may be the culprit. Pic below, not from my car



There's one one ebay ATM for £120, but it's been suggested that (often cheaper) ones from the E70 X5 are compatible. Does anyone know if this is true, or if any others are compatible?

One last thing, and this is a number of jobs down the line, so just bouncing it off others for thoughts. When I refurb the alloys I'm thinking I want them a bit less flat, without going too blingy or drug dealer chav. This is the sort of finish I'm thinking, I think it would look really nice. Any thoughts?

Edited by Fermit on Thursday 6th July 19:19

[Court_S]

Some nice cost effective updates. I need to remove the plinth on my 335i having done it to the 330i - it looks loads better.

More regular oil changes are are a good idea from what I can gather - I’m doing mine ever 8-9k in both cars. It’s way and cheap to do so I’m happy to keep on top of it.

Give me a shout and we’ll sort a date out for me to help with the cubby etc.

Absolute pisser about the car park damage.

[Jhonno]

Have you checked the boot wiring for the keys not working? I had to repair my sister's E91 for this very reason/symptom..

[Fermit]

Jhonno said:

Have you checked the boot wiring for the keys not working? I had to repair my sister's E91 for this very reason/symptom..

The wiring on the top right is good. Where were the wires located that you repaired in your sisters?

[d_a_n1979]

Fermit said:

One last thing, and this is a number of jobs down the line, so just bouncing it off others for thoughts. When I refurb the alloys I'm thinking I want them a bit less flat, without going too blingy or drug dealer chav. This is the sort of finish I'm thinking, I think it would look really nice. Any thoughts?

Edited by Fermit on Thursday 6th July 19:19

On my LMB E65 730D I had my alloys refurbed in Platinum Silver and they looked superb; a nice b right silver that wasn't in your face...

I don't have any pics unfortunately; but had the same colour on the Style 351Ms I had on a previous F01 730D and again, they set the car off superbly

[Jhonno]

Fermit said:

Jhonno said:

Have you checked the boot wiring for the keys not working? I had to repair my sister's E91 for this very reason/symptom..

The wiring on the top right is good. Where were the wires located that you repaired in your sisters?

Both sides.

[Fermit]

Jhonno said:

Fermit said:

Jhonno said:

Have you checked the boot wiring for the keys not working? I had to repair my sister's E91 for this very reason/symptom..

The wiring on the top right is good. Where were the wires located that you repaired in your sisters?

Both sides.

ok, brill, cheers. I've just checked all cables in all three places, a few with small out casing split, none where the cables have snapped mind. The Antenna Amplifier Diversity Unit looks good, and silicone beading around the perimeterof the screw on cover suggests that the first owner fell fowl to water ingress and had to replace, so put this on to fail-safe it. Do these just go on occasions? Two on ebay at £126 ATM.

[wol]

Fermit said:

And changed the old tatty indicator repeaters for some third-party LED ones.

I need to do this on my E61. Which seller did you go with and how is the fitment?

[Fermit]

wol said:

Fermit said:

And changed the old tatty indicator repeaters for some third-party LED ones.

I need to do this on my E61. Which seller did you go with and how is the fitment?

I bought these -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clear-Indicator-Amber-Mar...

Pleased with them, an easy replacement, and a snug fit. 1 pointer, maybe put something (like blutac) in to wedge the metal clip on it in place, as it's a pain to retrieve them if they fall inside the wing. Ask me how I know!

[Fermit]

Thoughts please peeps. I much prefer the aesthetic of the LCI rear lights, so bought a vinyl kit to give them the same look. Is the consensus that they A) look better or B) not at all?

Edited by Fermit on Tuesday 11th July 12:41

[cerb4.5lee]

I think they look better.

[Fermit]

One vote yes, that's a good start!