E65 daily driver
Discussion
d_a_n1979 said:
Hamster69 said:
It had another plastic one. I doubt I will still own it if it starts leaking in another 10 years.
The oil and sump was 129 quid. I’m glad I did it myself if 450 is the going rate.
My local autobox placemquoted £350 all in, parts and labour, not too bad really, more so if like me and you have no access to a ramp or the knowledge on how to do it... Glad it’s already been done though, gives me peace of mind and the car better longevity The oil and sump was 129 quid. I’m glad I did it myself if 450 is the going rate.
I think that’s why so many people stay away from barges. Fantastic value as long as you’re very handy with spanner’s....
The gear “stick” is actually a stalk on the steering wheel. Merc have a very similar system on the ML, S class and other cars. Gives plenty of room for cup holders!
I can see why a 450 quid gearbox service bill would worry you. But I don’t see that as a reason to leave a barge. You could have exactly the same problem with the gearbox in a 3 series.
I can see why a 450 quid gearbox service bill would worry you. But I don’t see that as a reason to leave a barge. You could have exactly the same problem with the gearbox in a 3 series.
Hamster69 said:
The gear “stick” is actually a stalk on the steering wheel. Merc have a very similar system on the ML, S class and other cars. Gives plenty of room for cup holders!
I can see why a 450 quid gearbox service bill would worry you. But I don’t see that as a reason to leave a barge. You could have exactly the same problem with the gearbox in a 3 series.
Ah, that makes sense. I suppose they’re all electronic anyway so it doesn’t matter where they’re actually mounted. I can see why a 450 quid gearbox service bill would worry you. But I don’t see that as a reason to leave a barge. You could have exactly the same problem with the gearbox in a 3 series.
With the gearbox sump you just have to accept it’s one of the things that fails, my local indy saved me quite a bit using a kit from the states on the 645.
My engine sump also failed not long after, it was a bad couple of months really!
Speed addicted said:
I was idly looking at these on autotrader (they do look comfy).
Daft question, where’s the gear stick?
4 stalks on the steering column in this type of 7, top left is indicators/lights, bottom left is cruise. Top right is the gear selector (pull it to you, then up for reverse, down for drive. Push botton on end for park). Bottom right for wipers.Daft question, where’s the gear stick?
They’re fantastic cars if you can get over the exterior styling, I’ve long considered it, and of my 3 cars, if forced to give up two, this would be the keeper and the SL & M6 would go. That’s how much I like it! (And I really, really love the SL - if it’s only me, that’s the default car to take).
eta- too bloody slow...
Now the general maintenance was out of the way, it was time to start the improvements.
First off the Thermostat has a few stains around it and while the coolant level hasn’t dropped since I have had the car. It still has to go.
I stuck a snap on tester on to see what fault codes were about. The obvious one I was looking for was glow plugs. There has been obvious miss fires when the engine was stone cold. But when I looked all six plugs had stored codes. I suspect this will be the glow plug output stage timer then.
After a bit of research I found it’s under the inlet manifold, along with the glow plugs. Sounds like a plan to change the lot.
I had a current fault code for the egr valve as well. I had a similar fault on the S class years ago, which had turned out to be the valve full of soot.
So time to remove it and have a look.
The valve was really quite blocked up. But the inlet manifold port was even worse.
Looks like I’m going to have to take the manifold off anyway to clean it out.
First off the Thermostat has a few stains around it and while the coolant level hasn’t dropped since I have had the car. It still has to go.
I stuck a snap on tester on to see what fault codes were about. The obvious one I was looking for was glow plugs. There has been obvious miss fires when the engine was stone cold. But when I looked all six plugs had stored codes. I suspect this will be the glow plug output stage timer then.
After a bit of research I found it’s under the inlet manifold, along with the glow plugs. Sounds like a plan to change the lot.
I had a current fault code for the egr valve as well. I had a similar fault on the S class years ago, which had turned out to be the valve full of soot.
So time to remove it and have a look.
The valve was really quite blocked up. But the inlet manifold port was even worse.
Looks like I’m going to have to take the manifold off anyway to clean it out.
I cleaned as much of the muck out as possible and installed this egr delete kit.
What a difference that made. Nothing perceptible when driving. But instantly 8mpg increase. Doesn’t sound a lot I know, but the difference between 32 and 40mpg is quite large savings.
Last thing to make the car get through an MOT. The side lights or angel eyes aren’t working.
When I looked into it this is ridiculous. Front bumper off to replace a bulb!
In that case I decided to get some of the decent quality LED type, that I should never need to change again.
All back together and her first wash in my ownership.
Hamster69 said:
I cleaned as much of the muck out as possible and installed this egr delete kit.
What a difference that made. Nothing perceptible when driving. But instantly 8mpg increase. Doesn’t sound a lot I know, but the difference between 32 and 40mpg is quite large savings.
Last thing to make the car get through an MOT. The side lights or angel eyes aren’t working.
When I looked into it this is ridiculous. Front bumper off to replace a bulb!
In that case I decided to get some of the decent quality LED type, that I should never need to change again.
All back together and her first wash in my ownership.
I did the bulbs upgrade fairly soon after buying my land-barge; did it whilst the weather was still dry & hot and gave everything behind there a good clean too. Very daft design, having to remove the front bumper just to change the halo lights. Did the same and went for decent CREE Canbus error free LED ones and changed out the D1S bulbs to better, 6000k whiter ones too
New fog lights and bulbs as well; may as well get the whole lot done and upgraded/replaced at the same time!Interesting results on the egr delete. Was the mpg change with just the egr delete or the cleaner manifold too?
I tried an egr delete on an older version of the M57 and refitted it with the addition of an egr cooler. With it removed I got worse mpg and subjective performance loss. The M57 responds very well to a remap.
I tried an egr delete on an older version of the M57 and refitted it with the addition of an egr cooler. With it removed I got worse mpg and subjective performance loss. The M57 responds very well to a remap.
Hi Helix. I’m not sure how you could get worse MPG by deleting the egr so long as it’s done right. The recirculated exhaust gas is not very flammable and is used to lower the temperature of the burn. Basically less efficient but cleaner emissions.
I didn’t clean the manifold out properly at the time as I was waiting for the swirl flap delete kit to turn up.
Speaking of which. Finally my swirl flap delete kit turned up. So along with the glow plugs and control unit it’s now worthwhile taking the manifold off.
Why on earth BMW thought under the inlet manifold was a good place for the glow plugs, or the output stage timer I don’t know. On the similar age Merc diesels the timer is freely accessible and the plugs between the ports.
Anyway off it came. The glow plugs were quite tight but thankfully all came out ok.
The control unit is buried down under all the vacuum pipes and wiring on the side of the block.
When you get the manifold off, you can see why the control unit failed. The swirl flaps leak oil, which drips onto the unit and kills it.
Thankfully when all back together the misfire from cold has gone. Glow plugs working nicely.
The swirl flap delete is something I was unsure about. The system is there for a reason, but considering they have killed the glow plug timer as well as have the possibility of falling in the engine. I’m glad they have gone.
eBay stuff just like the egr delete, but nicely made and came with all the manifold gaskets.
The manifold itself was full of sludge and soot build up. Scrubbed in the parts wash, then soaked in acid and jet washed. Finally it all seemed to be gone.
Now the only issue with the car is the engine light. This is on because the air mass can tell from the air flow the egr isn’t working. But actually the car is driving better than ever.
As I think you can see. Grabbed a quick snap although on a run I have seen it up to 42mpg now.
I didn’t clean the manifold out properly at the time as I was waiting for the swirl flap delete kit to turn up.
Speaking of which. Finally my swirl flap delete kit turned up. So along with the glow plugs and control unit it’s now worthwhile taking the manifold off.
Why on earth BMW thought under the inlet manifold was a good place for the glow plugs, or the output stage timer I don’t know. On the similar age Merc diesels the timer is freely accessible and the plugs between the ports.
Anyway off it came. The glow plugs were quite tight but thankfully all came out ok.
The control unit is buried down under all the vacuum pipes and wiring on the side of the block.
When you get the manifold off, you can see why the control unit failed. The swirl flaps leak oil, which drips onto the unit and kills it.
Thankfully when all back together the misfire from cold has gone. Glow plugs working nicely.
The swirl flap delete is something I was unsure about. The system is there for a reason, but considering they have killed the glow plug timer as well as have the possibility of falling in the engine. I’m glad they have gone.
eBay stuff just like the egr delete, but nicely made and came with all the manifold gaskets.
The manifold itself was full of sludge and soot build up. Scrubbed in the parts wash, then soaked in acid and jet washed. Finally it all seemed to be gone.
Now the only issue with the car is the engine light. This is on because the air mass can tell from the air flow the egr isn’t working. But actually the car is driving better than ever.
As I think you can see. Grabbed a quick snap although on a run I have seen it up to 42mpg now.
I’ve had different egr experiences on different engines, as you say the exhaust gases are fed into the inlet to reduce combustion temps.
On the older M51 BMW diesel I used to remap them to turn the egr off, but leave it fitted. This gave more smoke, more power and worse mpg. Though the mpg worsening was probably more due to the rest of the remap with increased fuelling. (325tds touring used to get 24mpg! Though this was fully laden as a BMW Emergency Service vehicle).
If the egr delete works on yours perhaps a remap could incorporate mapping to keep the DDE light off due to no egr.
On the older M51 BMW diesel I used to remap them to turn the egr off, but leave it fitted. This gave more smoke, more power and worse mpg. Though the mpg worsening was probably more due to the rest of the remap with increased fuelling. (325tds touring used to get 24mpg! Though this was fully laden as a BMW Emergency Service vehicle).
If the egr delete works on yours perhaps a remap could incorporate mapping to keep the DDE light off due to no egr.
Hamster69 said:
Yes I have already talked to my mapping chap. A stage 2 map with egr deleted off is on the cards when funds allow.
Has the EGR delete thrown a code/EML light on your car?Seen the XKR kit online and it looks an easy fitting; just thinking more about any errors it may throw etc
Davie_GLA said:
Would you mind linking the supplier? Or the ones you bought?
Any CREE Canbus error free ones, around £35 will be perfect. These are the ones I've got on my E65
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E39-E87-E60-E63-E53...
So we will be coming up on a years ownership on the 20th of November. Time for a little update I guess.
The car has performed fantastically. It has never let me down, constantly retuned 40mpg on my commute and 50mpg on longer journeys. Just yesterday I did a 242 mile round trip to see my mother. It really is like driving a sofa.
It is giving me the service warning on the dash now, which I think is a little early. I probably didn’t reset it correctly, although I know it has an oil quality sensor so I will get it changed out soon.
I haven’t had to do much over the year. A pair of rear tyres were the only real expense.
I eventually got round to the remap.
I have used EndTuning a couple of times on my 3 series track car with very good results.
It is also very convenient as you post the control unit off and two days later get it back.
Refitted and no more engine light. A healthy dollop more power and as I said earlier really good cruising mpg. Win win.
I still haven’t got round to the parking brake cable or the rear bushes.
It has been quite a hectic year. We completed a full season of racing in the Boxster and I’m pleased to say cane third in championship, while my wife and I had our first baby.
I have also done a far bit on the other BMW in my life. E36 track car
Obviously somewhere in there I had to squeeze in the day job too. So unfortunately the daily hasn’t had as much work as I would have liked. That being said it has asked for nothing.
I have started the gentle tidy up though.
One rear ashtray wouldn’t shut and the door card screw covers were missing. After a hunt through the eBay I found some replacements.
Next month I will need to do the service and can see a few other bits being done at the same time.
The car has performed fantastically. It has never let me down, constantly retuned 40mpg on my commute and 50mpg on longer journeys. Just yesterday I did a 242 mile round trip to see my mother. It really is like driving a sofa.
It is giving me the service warning on the dash now, which I think is a little early. I probably didn’t reset it correctly, although I know it has an oil quality sensor so I will get it changed out soon.
I haven’t had to do much over the year. A pair of rear tyres were the only real expense.
I eventually got round to the remap.
I have used EndTuning a couple of times on my 3 series track car with very good results.
It is also very convenient as you post the control unit off and two days later get it back.
Refitted and no more engine light. A healthy dollop more power and as I said earlier really good cruising mpg. Win win.
I still haven’t got round to the parking brake cable or the rear bushes.
It has been quite a hectic year. We completed a full season of racing in the Boxster and I’m pleased to say cane third in championship, while my wife and I had our first baby.
I have also done a far bit on the other BMW in my life. E36 track car
Obviously somewhere in there I had to squeeze in the day job too. So unfortunately the daily hasn’t had as much work as I would have liked. That being said it has asked for nothing.
I have started the gentle tidy up though.
One rear ashtray wouldn’t shut and the door card screw covers were missing. After a hunt through the eBay I found some replacements.
Next month I will need to do the service and can see a few other bits being done at the same time.
Congratulations on the new arrival mate!
I’d forgotten about this thread and have just ordered the CREE angel eyes for my F01.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2... - for anyone searching.
Mine is going well although like you has a service soon. Since I last visited this thread it has cost me a few quid.
Mainly there was significant damage to the front right suspension that I think happened after a pot hole interaction. Warranty covered the snapped spring but I had to pony up for the rest, that was a sore £1000 later for all that do get done at a garage as I didn’t have the time.
I have a full set of discs, pads and sensors ready to go on if I ever get a break in the weather! Then to have it back to full fettle it needs four tyres. So quite an expensive year for me on the f01.
In fact quite an expensive year all round as I’ve just ordered a new kitchen and work at the house but when my bank balance recovers I’d like to consider a remap.
I have already mapped my EGR out as it was causing an EML when I gone car and I never did get to the cause of it. Car runs fine and pulls like a train but economy isn’t near yours at low high 20 - low 30 average.
I seem to spend more time cleaning it these days!
I’d forgotten about this thread and have just ordered the CREE angel eyes for my F01.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2... - for anyone searching.
Mine is going well although like you has a service soon. Since I last visited this thread it has cost me a few quid.
Mainly there was significant damage to the front right suspension that I think happened after a pot hole interaction. Warranty covered the snapped spring but I had to pony up for the rest, that was a sore £1000 later for all that do get done at a garage as I didn’t have the time.
I have a full set of discs, pads and sensors ready to go on if I ever get a break in the weather! Then to have it back to full fettle it needs four tyres. So quite an expensive year for me on the f01.
In fact quite an expensive year all round as I’ve just ordered a new kitchen and work at the house but when my bank balance recovers I’d like to consider a remap.
I have already mapped my EGR out as it was causing an EML when I gone car and I never did get to the cause of it. Car runs fine and pulls like a train but economy isn’t near yours at low high 20 - low 30 average.
I seem to spend more time cleaning it these days!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff