E91 Straight Six Bearding
Discussion
Done a full LCI swap on my E91 (56 reg). Front is a walk in the park - unbolt old, bolt on new. Rear was a complete faff with the tailgate swap & re-pinning wires. Took me an afternoon & a morning.
But I specifically wanted the LCI looks. Roof rails will also get done to LCI spec!
I don't think you'll find an E91 too small either. Certainly, it's not a 5 series wagon, but it is plenty big enough - especially seeing as you can run your bike rack off the coupe so taking bikes anywhere won't swallow up the boot space!
But I specifically wanted the LCI looks. Roof rails will also get done to LCI spec!
I don't think you'll find an E91 too small either. Certainly, it's not a 5 series wagon, but it is plenty big enough - especially seeing as you can run your bike rack off the coupe so taking bikes anywhere won't swallow up the boot space!
christhreadgill said:
Done a full LCI swap on my E91 (56 reg). Front is a walk in the park - unbolt old, bolt on new. Rear was a complete faff with the tailgate swap & re-pinning wires. Took me an afternoon & a morning.
But I specifically wanted the LCI looks. Roof rails will also get done to LCI spec!
I don't think you'll find an E91 too small either. Certainly, it's not a 5 series wagon, but it is plenty big enough - especially seeing as you can run your bike rack off the coupe so taking bikes anywhere won't swallow up the boot space!
I think it’ll be fine size wise; she won’t drive a 5 series and that’s probably bigger than we need fro three of us and our dog. It’ll be way more practical than with of our current two cars.But I specifically wanted the LCI looks. Roof rails will also get done to LCI spec!
I don't think you'll find an E91 too small either. Certainly, it's not a 5 series wagon, but it is plenty big enough - especially seeing as you can run your bike rack off the coupe so taking bikes anywhere won't swallow up the boot space!
I’ve been looking at roof racks and they’re not too expensive for they E91 really, so it’ll probably get one was well.
An E91 sounds like a good plan Sam. 
But I'd avoid a 325i. I bought one to replace my E46 325ti Compact and it felt pretty gutless at lower engine speeds, which is why I compromised and replaced it with an E90 330i. Although that is also pretty high geared (2,500 rpm in 6th is almost 70mph) so that other diff should liven a 330i up a bit!
I can live with the pre-LCI looks as both my E9*s were Sparkling Graphite (boring default choice) and my current one has Xenons.
Good luck with your search - manual E91 330is seem to be hard to find and don't come cheap.
But I'd avoid a 325i. I bought one to replace my E46 325ti Compact and it felt pretty gutless at lower engine speeds, which is why I compromised and replaced it with an E90 330i. Although that is also pretty high geared (2,500 rpm in 6th is almost 70mph) so that other diff should liven a 330i up a bit!
I can live with the pre-LCI looks as both my E9*s were Sparkling Graphite (boring default choice) and my current one has Xenons.
Good luck with your search - manual E91 330is seem to be hard to find and don't come cheap.
Mr Tidy said:
An E91 sounds like a good plan Sam.
But I'd avoid a 325i. I bought one to replace my E46 325ti Compact and it felt pretty gutless at lower engine speeds, which is why I compromised and replaced it with an E90 330i. Although that is also pretty high geared (2,500 rpm in 6th is almost 70mph) so that other diff should liven a 330i up a bit!
I can live with the pre-LCI looks as both my E9*s were Sparkling Graphite (boring default choice) and my current one has Xenons.
Good luck with your search - manual E91 330is seem to be hard to find and don't come cheap.
It’s a 330 or nothing! I don’t mind the pre-LCI looks (I hate the big teddy bear ear wing mirrors on the latter cars). It’s just the rear lights that are sBut I'd avoid a 325i. I bought one to replace my E46 325ti Compact and it felt pretty gutless at lower engine speeds, which is why I compromised and replaced it with an E90 330i. Although that is also pretty high geared (2,500 rpm in 6th is almost 70mph) so that other diff should liven a 330i up a bit!
I can live with the pre-LCI looks as both my E9*s were Sparkling Graphite (boring default choice) and my current one has Xenons.
Good luck with your search - manual E91 330is seem to be hard to find and don't come cheap.
te but easily solved with some dark lines.I’m going to call the chap tonight and go from there….
Court_S said:
I hate them. Like really, really hate them. They look ridiculous. What cost cutting took place on the facelift cars? I’ve only ever owned earlier cars.
They are pretty hideous, agreed. The pre-facelift mirrors are actually pretty sleek looking for "standard" i.e. non-M car mirrors, so they really dropped the ball with the dumbo ears on the LCI. I thought about swapping the mirrors on my LCI for a pre-facelift set, but the combination of a colour that I don't think was available pre-LCI and the mirrors having the folding option means it will be an expensive swap involving painting so I probably won't bother.I don't think the LCI cost-cutting is too extensive but it's apparent in some areas. The reading lamps no longer have a lens (it's basically a hole with the bulb inside) and they removed the longitudinal dynamics module (LDM) by integrating its functionality into the DSC module, which is fine unless you want to retrofit ACC which requires also retrofitting the LDM as the DSC doesn't have the capability to manage the requirements of ACC.
Having owned both pre-LCI and LCI Tourings I haven't noticed any other cost-cutting measures but they're probably in there!
Court_S said:
Did the LCI cars loose the split sliding front arm rest? I know when I was looking at interiors for my 335i, the LCI ones all had a one piece armrest (I like the split sliding one).
I think we’ve decked that we’d like to try and buy the 330, so I’m due to speak to the chap tonight.
The split armrest was an option on both pre- and post-LCI, so it depends on what was originally specced. My pre-LCI had it but to be honest I always had it pushed back and didn't see the point in it. My LCI doesn't have it and I haven't missed it.I think we’ve decked that we’d like to try and buy the 330, so I’m due to speak to the chap tonight.
If your interior is black on the E91 it would be cheap and easy to retrofit one as there are plenty around. Obviously other colours are a bit harder to come by, and sellers might be reluctant to split it from the rest of the interior.
pmorg4 said:
The split armrest was an option on both pre- and post-LCI, so it depends on what was originally specced. My pre-LCI had it but to be honest I always had it pushed back and didn't see the point in it. My LCI doesn't have it and I haven't missed it.
If your interior is black on the E91 it would be cheap and easy to retrofit one as there are plenty around. Obviously other colours are a bit harder to come by, and sellers might be reluctant to split it from the rest of the interior.
Back in the days when BMW gave you nothing then! It was the LCI M3 interior that didn’t have it, the red replacement I ended up with did have it. I wasn’t sure if it was standard because my E90 has it and so does my E92.If your interior is black on the E91 it would be cheap and easy to retrofit one as there are plenty around. Obviously other colours are a bit harder to come by, and sellers might be reluctant to split it from the rest of the interior.
Personally I like it; it spends most of its life forward and pushed back on a good road. My other half likes it because she’s short and has the seat really far forward.
Court_S said:
pmorg4 said:
The split armrest was an option on both pre- and post-LCI, so it depends on what was originally specced. My pre-LCI had it but to be honest I always had it pushed back and didn't see the point in it. My LCI doesn't have it and I haven't missed it.
If your interior is black on the E91 it would be cheap and easy to retrofit one as there are plenty around. Obviously other colours are a bit harder to come by, and sellers might be reluctant to split it from the rest of the interior.
Back in the days when BMW gave you nothing then! It was the LCI M3 interior that didn’t have it, the red replacement I ended up with did have it. I wasn’t sure if it was standard because my E90 has it and so does my E92.If your interior is black on the E91 it would be cheap and easy to retrofit one as there are plenty around. Obviously other colours are a bit harder to come by, and sellers might be reluctant to split it from the rest of the interior.
Personally I like it; it spends most of its life forward and pushed back on a good road. My other half likes it because she’s short and has the seat really far forward.
The major thing they cut out on LCI cars is the boot lock, if the battery goes flat there’s no other way into the boot than via powering the car from the terminals under the bonnet.
A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
I'm guessing that was a saloon? I don't think the E91 had a keyhole for the boot throughout the life of the range. I don't remember there being one on either of mine, and I did look on my pre-LCI before doing a battery replacement where I had to be sure that I wouldn't forget and close the tailgate! A towel covering the latch whilst I did the work removed that risk.
nipsips said:
The major thing they cut out on LCI cars is the boot lock, if the battery goes flat there’s no other way into the boot than via powering the car from the terminals under the bonnet.
A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
A big drill wouldn't have been necessary, both split glass and primary boot lid have manual releases, bit fiddly to get to but they are there.A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
i quite like the pre-lci with blacklines, downside is the front imo but xenons & angel eyes make it look a lot better. the xenons are a must have!
easy_ said:
nipsips said:
The major thing they cut out on LCI cars is the boot lock, if the battery goes flat there’s no other way into the boot than via powering the car from the terminals under the bonnet.
A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
A big drill wouldn't have been necessary, both split glass and primary boot lid have manual releases, bit fiddly to get to but they are there.A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
i quite like the pre-lci with blacklines, downside is the front imo but xenons & angel eyes make it look a lot better. the xenons are a must have!
Funnily enough, I always thought the front end of the pre-LCI touring looked quite good (at least with xenons which meant projector headlights and angel eyes). I'm not crazy on the front end of the LCI as it's a bit more fussy and too similar to the 5-series, and we've spoken enough about the transit van mirrors. I don't think there's much argument that the rear end looks far better. I do also like that the LCI xenons have LED indicators which looks much more modern than filament bulbs.
pmorg4 said:
easy_ said:
nipsips said:
The major thing they cut out on LCI cars is the boot lock, if the battery goes flat there’s no other way into the boot than via powering the car from the terminals under the bonnet.
A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
A big drill wouldn't have been necessary, both split glass and primary boot lid have manual releases, bit fiddly to get to but they are there.A friend of mines boot latch motor failed, seats out, boot interior trim out and a big drill bit was the only way in.
i quite like the pre-lci with blacklines, downside is the front imo but xenons & angel eyes make it look a lot better. the xenons are a must have!
Funnily enough, I always thought the front end of the pre-LCI touring looked quite good (at least with xenons which meant projector headlights and angel eyes). I'm not crazy on the front end of the LCI as it's a bit more fussy and too similar to the 5-series, and we've spoken enough about the transit van mirrors. I don't think there's much argument that the rear end looks far better. I do also like that the LCI xenons have LED indicators which looks much more modern than filament bulbs.
I've got the optional split/fold seats in mine, but the releases are inside the boot, so I imagine the E92/E93 might be the same. I'm not sure E90s without split/fold have any sort of release.
Anyway good luck Sam.
Looks like we’ve agreed a deal on the car with nicer headlights; just waiting to sort dates which depend on a date for his Defender arriving (it’s in the uk awaiting PDI etc).
The car also comes with a set of winters (style 338 by the looks of it).
One more question; it has an aux socket in the glove box but no USB like in my 335i or 130i. I assume that I’m into a world of pain trying to retrofit one. What are the best options to add music streaming; there are loads on eBay / Amazon but I was wonder which ones are tried and tested.
The car also comes with a set of winters (style 338 by the looks of it).
One more question; it has an aux socket in the glove box but no USB like in my 335i or 130i. I assume that I’m into a world of pain trying to retrofit one. What are the best options to add music streaming; there are loads on eBay / Amazon but I was wonder which ones are tried and tested.
Good stuff! I look forward to a lengthy new Readers’ Cars thread chronicling your many upgrades 
The main USB for streaming etc is under the armrest (the glovebox one is mainly intended for map updates etc). If you don’t have a USB it would likely require various upgrades to make it work depending on what’s already fitted. Personally if you don’t want to go down the Andream (CarPlay) route, I’d just get a Bluetooth streaming device that plugs into the aux socket and either stream to that from your phone, or get one that has an SD card slot for adding MP3s. The only thing is that you won’t be able to control it from the iDrive, but if you need that I’d go back to the CarPlay solution, it’s probably easier and far superior to getting the USB input working.
The main USB for streaming etc is under the armrest (the glovebox one is mainly intended for map updates etc). If you don’t have a USB it would likely require various upgrades to make it work depending on what’s already fitted. Personally if you don’t want to go down the Andream (CarPlay) route, I’d just get a Bluetooth streaming device that plugs into the aux socket and either stream to that from your phone, or get one that has an SD card slot for adding MP3s. The only thing is that you won’t be able to control it from the iDrive, but if you need that I’d go back to the CarPlay solution, it’s probably easier and far superior to getting the USB input working.
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