What have you done to your BMW today?

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Hardwired the Nextbase 422GW dash cam in today (Fuse 21 for those other E39 owners wondering; glovebox fuse box)

Changed all the interior bulbs for LEDs too inc the puddle lights

LED interior bulbs modernise the older cars in a nice way I think. My 335i felt proper retro with bits halogen bulbs after LED’s in my M140i and 130i.

Yeah; it was a little too 'yellow' inside the car

The white LEDs will make a good difference

[Deep Thought]

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

[Gunk]

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Could just be a duff battery

[Deep Thought]

Gunk said:

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Could just be a duff battery

The battery is only a few years old so it "should" be fine. But you're right it could well just be the battery.

It was quite odd as on the turn of the key it just clicked. Didnt even try to turn over. Then on the fifth time - that Oh FFS start! moment - it started as normal.

Got home, knocked it off, restarted fine. Second time it just clicked.

I've heard they do require a certain charge to even attempt to start so maybe its just been borderline.

I'll see what happens over the next few days. Was starting fine today.

[dickymint]

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Hardwired the Nextbase 422GW dash cam in today (Fuse 21 for those other E39 owners wondering; glovebox fuse box)

Changed all the interior bulbs for LEDs too inc the puddle lights

LED interior bulbs modernise the older cars in a nice way I think. My 335i felt proper retro with bits halogen bulbs after LED’s in my M140i and 130i.

Yeah; it was a little too 'yellow' inside the car

The white LEDs will make a good difference

Interesting - never thought of changing them. What set did you go for? I have a 2001 E46 convertible with a hard top.

[Gunk]

Deep Thought said:

Gunk said:

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Could just be a duff battery

The battery is only a few years old so it "should" be fine. But you're right it could well just be the battery.

It was quite odd as on the turn of the key it just clicked. Didnt even try to turn over. Then on the fifth time - that Oh FFS start! moment - it started as normal.

Got home, knocked it off, restarted fine. Second time it just clicked.

I've heard they do require a certain charge to even attempt to start so maybe its just been borderline.

I'll see what happens over the next few days. Was starting fine today.

Having owned motorcycles which do a low annual mileage, I think that sounds like the battery has has it.

[illmonkey]

Followed it! 7 years and I’ve never seen it move externally

It looks the business, bit of camber on wide tyres. the world throws these things at me to tell me to keep it…

[d_a_n1979]

dickymint said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Hardwired the Nextbase 422GW dash cam in today (Fuse 21 for those other E39 owners wondering; glovebox fuse box)

Changed all the interior bulbs for LEDs too inc the puddle lights

LED interior bulbs modernise the older cars in a nice way I think. My 335i felt proper retro with bits halogen bulbs after LED’s in my M140i and 130i.

Yeah; it was a little too 'yellow' inside the car

The white LEDs will make a good difference

Interesting - never thought of changing them. What set did you go for? I have a 2001 E46 convertible with a hard top.

Just the eBay set; c£20 delivered

Just search 'E46 interior LEDs' and take your pick

[helix402]

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Once battery is ruled out consider starter, common failure on N52s.

[Gunk]

helix402 said:

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Once battery is ruled out consider starter, common failure on N52s.

Agreed, but always start with the easy stuff first.

[dickymint]

Gunk said:

helix402 said:

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Once battery is ruled out consider starter, common failure on N52s.

Agreed, but always start with the easy stuff first.

Then work your way up to parasitic battery drains

[Deep Thought]

Gunk said:

helix402 said:

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Once battery is ruled out consider starter, common failure on N52s.

Agreed, but always start with the easy stuff first.

Agreed. The ignition switch is an easy, cheap one to do if it was it. It could well be the battery. It gets very little use so maybe the full charge on the CTEK will be enough.

[Gunk]

dickymint said:

Gunk said:

helix402 said:

Deep Thought said:

My Z4 Coupe wouldnt start while in town on Friday evening. Dash lights all on ok but wouldnt turn over. Thought i was going to have to phone Mrs Thought to come get me but on the fifth turn of the key it burst in to life again and started.

Its been three weeks since it was started and i'd left it sitting with the sidelights on whilst nipping in to the shop, so i'm hoping its just been the battery. I've had it on the charger since and its been starting fine.

Will keep an eye on it but most likely other cause if its not it is - apparently - an ignition switch so i've one of those ordered. Not expensive at £19 delivered off of ebay. If it does it again its an easy swap out if push comes to shove rather than have the car recovered by breakdown service.

Once battery is ruled out consider starter, common failure on N52s.

Agreed, but always start with the easy stuff first.

Then work your way up to parasitic battery drains

Usually caused by an aftermarket stereo or alarm

[Deep Thought]

dickymint said:

Then work your way up to parasitic battery drains

Lack of use is my cars biggest problem.

[kiethton]

Collected it

[Gunk]

kiethton said:

Collected it

Very nice, I really like the colour scheme

[illmonkey]

Gunk said:

kiethton said:

Collected it

Very nice, I really like the colour scheme

Chocolate leather? Viewed a 2nd hand car with it for my brother this weekend and I love it!

[2 GKC]

Nice. How long did you have to wait for it?

[Court_S]

dickymint said:

Interesting - never thought of changing them. What set did you go for? I have a 2001 E46 convertible with a hard top.

I bought a kit from these guys for my 335

https://www.xenonbulbs.co.uk/Led-Bulbs/LED-Bulbs-b...

[Sofa]

Dug this out of the air duct under the passenger seat- I was getting an irritating noise like something was sliding around every time I turned a corner and some forum threads helped me track it down to the air ducts in the floor. Apparently BMW didn’t think to add a lip or mesh to stop stuff getting in…


Was expecting to find a pen or some coins but I’m mostly glad to be rid of the noise! It’s a shotgun cartridge for clay shooting for anyone none the wiser, clearly a pastime of the previous owner as I went once years ago and was awful.