What have you done to your BMW today?
Discussion
JakeT said:
Thanks Court, and George. These things happen. I should pay more attention. Sent off the letter today to ask them to consider me.
I was more annoyed that there's a massive lack of nice auto 130is out there. I know here it's a bit off to want an auto 130i but dem's the rules. She wouldn't entertain a manual one, no matter how nice.
I also applied for the course; one other benefit of covid is that these are being run online only via zoom, anyone done this so far? I was more annoyed that there's a massive lack of nice auto 130is out there. I know here it's a bit off to want an auto 130i but dem's the rules. She wouldn't entertain a manual one, no matter how nice.
JakeT said:
Court you just need to own it and be the neighbour with the weird car obsession. I am, but have one other neighbour to share the weirdness (and tools)
We're known as the BMW house on the street (E63 + E91 + E70 + E85). Neighbours known as the Porsche house (911 + Macan).
Fanboys FTW
g3org3y said:
JakeT said:
Court you just need to own it and be the neighbour with the weird car obsession. I am, but have one other neighbour to share the weirdness (and tools)
We're known as the BMW house on the street (E63 + E91 + E70 + E85). Neighbours known as the Porsche house (911 + Macan).
Fanboys FTW
One other guy down the road usually keeps his cars mint and fiddles with them loads but he’s been slacking recently so it’s literally just me now. Just means that I’m the only one for the annoying guy over the road to collar and tell me his is around the back when I’m ready…that’s wasn’t funny thee years ago. It’s still not funny.
It was bad enough being interrogated by him about where the 140 was when I bumped into him walking the dog yesterday. He does my bloody head in.
E63eeeeee... said:
I have to be honest, after lots of reading about it I at least partly decided to do it out of bloody-mindedness to see if I could. I reckon I could do it again in less than half the time, the hardest part is getting a mental model of what you're trying to do and having the right tool ready for each of the screws.
For the benefit of anyone thinking about doing it, I reckon I did three things that worked and one thing I'd do differently. I took the seat out (I'm 6'3" and there was no way I was fitting in the footwell otherwise), I had every T20 tool, bit and bit holder I own in the footwell, plus a pry kit, because once you're wedged in there you don't want to be popping out to get something else, and I had an endoscope on my phone rather than trying to wedge mirrors in there, much of the time you will only be able to bring one hand into play, and you'll be limited about where your head can be.
The thing I'd do differently is more light. I had a head torch, which was pretty good as I could wedge and tie it where it needed to be, but it died as I was fixing the motor back on, and I ended up doing the last bit with the light on my phone. You can't have too much light in there, it's hard enough without making it harder.
Definitely agree about doing it on a LHD, in total it's 9 screws, 6 push-fit connectors and a plastic clip. With good access and visibility it would take minutes. The steering column is most of the problem on both counts.
To be fair to BMW as a relative novice to tinkering on cars mostly in the last year, I've found the E46s really easy to work on.
Aaaaah, this takes me back... as a result my smaller, younger brother now gets pimped out amongst car friends who need this done. He's done about 5 of them now and has even made his own t-handled T20 tool to get it done! For the benefit of anyone thinking about doing it, I reckon I did three things that worked and one thing I'd do differently. I took the seat out (I'm 6'3" and there was no way I was fitting in the footwell otherwise), I had every T20 tool, bit and bit holder I own in the footwell, plus a pry kit, because once you're wedged in there you don't want to be popping out to get something else, and I had an endoscope on my phone rather than trying to wedge mirrors in there, much of the time you will only be able to bring one hand into play, and you'll be limited about where your head can be.
The thing I'd do differently is more light. I had a head torch, which was pretty good as I could wedge and tie it where it needed to be, but it died as I was fixing the motor back on, and I ended up doing the last bit with the light on my phone. You can't have too much light in there, it's hard enough without making it harder.
Definitely agree about doing it on a LHD, in total it's 9 screws, 6 push-fit connectors and a plastic clip. With good access and visibility it would take minutes. The steering column is most of the problem on both counts.
To be fair to BMW as a relative novice to tinkering on cars mostly in the last year, I've found the E46s really easy to work on.
Sold most of the bits I removed from the 140i, so I will be able to order a load of parts from RSW (I just need to decide what colour stitching matches the leather best).
I’ve bought new stalks and lower steering column cowel so I can retrofit cruise control. I’ll fit the stalks etc, I just need someone to do the coding.
I’ve bought new stalks and lower steering column cowel so I can retrofit cruise control. I’ll fit the stalks etc, I just need someone to do the coding.
Today the older 330Ci passed its MOT with a clean ticket, which was nice. Just needs a new roof harness and a wash and it can go up for sale.
I also discovered that the source of the slightly odd whining noise was because some idiot had reinstalled the intake-to-airbox tube wrong. Now, since as far as I know nobody else has been under the bonnet in the last year, during which time I've had the whole intake system out twice, I can only assume that someone is sneaking around at night deliberately miss-connecting intake components. Ahem.
I also discovered that the source of the slightly odd whining noise was because some idiot had reinstalled the intake-to-airbox tube wrong. Now, since as far as I know nobody else has been under the bonnet in the last year, during which time I've had the whole intake system out twice, I can only assume that someone is sneaking around at night deliberately miss-connecting intake components. Ahem.
MarkGArgyle said:
JakeT said:
Thanks Court, and George. These things happen. I should pay more attention. Sent off the letter today to ask them to consider me.
I was more annoyed that there's a massive lack of nice auto 130is out there. I know here it's a bit off to want an auto 130i but dem's the rules. She wouldn't entertain a manual one, no matter how nice.
I also applied for the course; one other benefit of covid is that these are being run online only via zoom, anyone done this so far? I was more annoyed that there's a massive lack of nice auto 130is out there. I know here it's a bit off to want an auto 130i but dem's the rules. She wouldn't entertain a manual one, no matter how nice.
FYI the course prices seem to vary around the country and since you can do any of them, might as well do the cheapest. Lowest I could find was £73 in Hartlepool...
g3org3y said:
No more EML?
Did you go Siemens/VDO?
For now it is looking good no light! I’m going to take it to work tomorrow (74 mile round trip) to see if it resurfaces. I ended up going hella I was struggling to find the VDO units for sale I will have to see if it lasts fingers crossed it won’t go in a month Did you go Siemens/VDO?
ieuandkernow said:
g3org3y said:
No more EML?
Did you go Siemens/VDO?
For now it is looking good no light! I’m going to take it to work tomorrow (74 mile round trip) to see if it resurfaces. I ended up going hella I was struggling to find the VDO units for sale I will have to see if it lasts fingers crossed it won’t go in a month Did you go Siemens/VDO?
Rather than just fiddling with the 130i, I thought I’d take it out for a drive because I was bored tonight.
Stopped for a few pics...
I’m genuinely very impressed with how it drives. Perhaps my expectations were low because it’s an older car. It’s obviously a lot slower than what I’ve come from, but it certainly gets down the road well enough especially if you keep the revs up. Makes a bloody good noise too.
The Birds suspension is very, very good. It’s firm (less so now I’ve reduced the rear tyres from 41psi) but it’s so well controlled and deals with imperfections in the road so well. On roads I know well, I think it might actually be more confidence inspiring if technically lots slower.
Stopped for a few pics...
I’m genuinely very impressed with how it drives. Perhaps my expectations were low because it’s an older car. It’s obviously a lot slower than what I’ve come from, but it certainly gets down the road well enough especially if you keep the revs up. Makes a bloody good noise too.
The Birds suspension is very, very good. It’s firm (less so now I’ve reduced the rear tyres from 41psi) but it’s so well controlled and deals with imperfections in the road so well. On roads I know well, I think it might actually be more confidence inspiring if technically lots slower.
Court_S said:
Rather than just fiddling with the 130i, I thought I’d take it out for a drive because I was bored tonight.
Stopped for a few pics...
I’m genuinely very impressed with how it drives. Perhaps my expectations were low because it’s an older car. It’s obviously a lot slower than what I’ve come from, but it certainly gets down the road well enough especially if you keep the revs up. Makes a bloody good noise too.
The Birds suspension is very, very good. It’s firm (less so now I’ve reduced the rear tyres from 41psi) but it’s so well controlled and deals with imperfections in the road so well. On roads I know well, I think it might actually be more confidence inspiring if technically lots slower.
Absolutely beautiful!Stopped for a few pics...
I’m genuinely very impressed with how it drives. Perhaps my expectations were low because it’s an older car. It’s obviously a lot slower than what I’ve come from, but it certainly gets down the road well enough especially if you keep the revs up. Makes a bloody good noise too.
The Birds suspension is very, very good. It’s firm (less so now I’ve reduced the rear tyres from 41psi) but it’s so well controlled and deals with imperfections in the road so well. On roads I know well, I think it might actually be more confidence inspiring if technically lots slower.
Yes, the NA 3.0 litres do make a lovely noise. You can forgive them the lack of outright power because of that. I've had my Z4 Coupe a year now and havent had the radio on once. Same with my 330i when i had it too.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff