E65 daily driver
Discussion
With the right size socket this time I set to work extracting the hub.
The drive shaft was well and truly in there. Some penetrating oil and a lot of hitting with a copper mallet, it came free.
Now I could move on to the park brake cable.
The motor and mechanism is hidden under the boot floor.
You can see how it has bunched up on one side where the N/S cable snapped.
Getting that one cable out wasn’t too much of a drama. I am however going to replace the other cable and the plastic gear. Although not broken they are well known for doing so. I never want to have to pull this all out again so belt and braces.
That is all the broken parts off the car. I could just put it back together but it seems silly now I am this far.
The car has over 150k on it now. When I strip the hub to replace the other end of the cable I will be four bolts away from a wheel bearing change.
The drive shaft was well and truly in there. Some penetrating oil and a lot of hitting with a copper mallet, it came free.
Now I could move on to the park brake cable.
The motor and mechanism is hidden under the boot floor.
You can see how it has bunched up on one side where the N/S cable snapped.
Getting that one cable out wasn’t too much of a drama. I am however going to replace the other cable and the plastic gear. Although not broken they are well known for doing so. I never want to have to pull this all out again so belt and braces.
That is all the broken parts off the car. I could just put it back together but it seems silly now I am this far.
The car has over 150k on it now. When I strip the hub to replace the other end of the cable I will be four bolts away from a wheel bearing change.
Edited by Hamster69 on Monday 2nd November 13:42
I left this a bit late, but Christmas and stuff got in the way.
Hub off and at work in the press, lovely new bushes pressed in. New wheel bearing in on both sides.
New park brake cables in the hubs too.
Now I need to sort the mechanism. There is a plastic gear inside the control box. Mine isn’t actually broken but they do break commonly. There is an modified metal one, so as it is pieces.
So finally after buying bits for a couple of years. The whole rear end is rebuilt. All new bushes and bearings. Working parking brake just in time for the MOT.
Last job, full geometry. Now everything is like new and it really does drive like it.
Hub off and at work in the press, lovely new bushes pressed in. New wheel bearing in on both sides.
New park brake cables in the hubs too.
Now I need to sort the mechanism. There is a plastic gear inside the control box. Mine isn’t actually broken but they do break commonly. There is an modified metal one, so as it is pieces.
So finally after buying bits for a couple of years. The whole rear end is rebuilt. All new bushes and bearings. Working parking brake just in time for the MOT.
Last job, full geometry. Now everything is like new and it really does drive like it.
Thanks guys.
It really is a fantastic car. It’s a bit weird being basically at the end of the to do list. I’m not sure but I think it might be time for someone else to enjoy it. I have another project or two on the horizon and I had had it over two years now.
If I had the room and didn’t need the money for another project I would keep it forever. But all good things.
It really is a fantastic car. It’s a bit weird being basically at the end of the to do list. I’m not sure but I think it might be time for someone else to enjoy it. I have another project or two on the horizon and I had had it over two years now.
If I had the room and didn’t need the money for another project I would keep it forever. But all good things.
MOT time again. The car hasn’t had a lot of use recently due to the other projects starting at a pace. I have taken on an S class (W220) to do a similar thing as this car. I am also in the process of starting my own race team. I’m going to compete to start in the 116 Trophy, so I have bought an E87 1 series and will be building it into a race car. All this and finishing the van off does mean the 7 has been sitting around a lot. Which I hate as it is now such a good drive.
So last couple of niggles. The opposite side light to last time has stopped working.
So every thing off again. This is the only thing on this car that I think is a stupid pain in the ass. Removing the bumper to do a bulb. Which is why I fitted the LEDs originally. This time the multiplug had wiggled loose just as it had on the other side. Why they didn’t fit a retaining clip like on 99% of multiplugs I don’t know. Anyway cable tie around the plug to stop it coming apart again and everything worked fine again. Now the bumper “should” never have to come off again.
A quick wash in my lunch and in for MOT. Flew through with no advisorys. As it should after the work I have put in!
Right very last niggle! The dash is saying service in 600 miles. We know this isn’t true as I just serviced it. When you go into the service menu it’s actually for the brakes.
BMW in their infinite wisdom fitted sensors in the front pads, that don’t just tell you when the pads are worn out. But also estimate pad life by having multiple cut points through the pad.
Could be useful if it worked properly.
However I have checked the pads and they are still plenty thick enough and not touching the sensor. There is a bit of a kink in the wire though. I suspect the wire is broken inside.
I checked the fault codes and yes “Front pad sensor open circuit”.
So last couple of niggles. The opposite side light to last time has stopped working.
So every thing off again. This is the only thing on this car that I think is a stupid pain in the ass. Removing the bumper to do a bulb. Which is why I fitted the LEDs originally. This time the multiplug had wiggled loose just as it had on the other side. Why they didn’t fit a retaining clip like on 99% of multiplugs I don’t know. Anyway cable tie around the plug to stop it coming apart again and everything worked fine again. Now the bumper “should” never have to come off again.
A quick wash in my lunch and in for MOT. Flew through with no advisorys. As it should after the work I have put in!
Right very last niggle! The dash is saying service in 600 miles. We know this isn’t true as I just serviced it. When you go into the service menu it’s actually for the brakes.
BMW in their infinite wisdom fitted sensors in the front pads, that don’t just tell you when the pads are worn out. But also estimate pad life by having multiple cut points through the pad.
Could be useful if it worked properly.
However I have checked the pads and they are still plenty thick enough and not touching the sensor. There is a bit of a kink in the wire though. I suspect the wire is broken inside.
I checked the fault codes and yes “Front pad sensor open circuit”.
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 14th March 06:58
About time this got another update.
The 7 stomped on through the summer with no real issues. I have had the car two and a half years already.
I could hear a little rumbling at the front, I guess the front wheel bearings are original. As the whole rear end is like new I suppose the front could do with a little work.
The front bearings are not complicated, but we’re a bit of a sod to do on the drive. You have to drop the hub off the strut to get to one of the bolts and they were all pretty tight.
For good measure I decided to change the front discs and pads. If you remember I replaced these when I first got the car. They are a long way from being worn out, but it has suffered with brake judder a lot. Over my ownership I have skimmed the discs three times and every time it comes back. I think I used Pagid last time and won’t make that mistake again.
Brembo discs and pads fitted.
I did put the 7 up for sale a few months back. What with the S class project, 1 series project, van and the wife’s car. We just had too much here.
I had absolutely no interest though. Shortly after that I quit porsche to start working for myself. I am contracting to a place 50 miles away four days a week though and I am so glad the 7 didn’t sell as it is the perfect commuter. I will run her into the ground I think.
The 7 stomped on through the summer with no real issues. I have had the car two and a half years already.
I could hear a little rumbling at the front, I guess the front wheel bearings are original. As the whole rear end is like new I suppose the front could do with a little work.
The front bearings are not complicated, but we’re a bit of a sod to do on the drive. You have to drop the hub off the strut to get to one of the bolts and they were all pretty tight.
For good measure I decided to change the front discs and pads. If you remember I replaced these when I first got the car. They are a long way from being worn out, but it has suffered with brake judder a lot. Over my ownership I have skimmed the discs three times and every time it comes back. I think I used Pagid last time and won’t make that mistake again.
Brembo discs and pads fitted.
I did put the 7 up for sale a few months back. What with the S class project, 1 series project, van and the wife’s car. We just had too much here.
I had absolutely no interest though. Shortly after that I quit porsche to start working for myself. I am contracting to a place 50 miles away four days a week though and I am so glad the 7 didn’t sell as it is the perfect commuter. I will run her into the ground I think.
Another four months and the car had been faultless. Now though it is in constant use. A few months back I decided to take the whole racing thing seriously. I started my own LTD company TEAM HAMSTER RACING. As well as building our own race car we will be freelance supporting other racers, but more importantly (for this thread anyway) specialising in Porsche and German prestige vehicles. As part of this I have quit Porsche, I had been there 8 years and it was time for a change.
So four days a week I am contracting to a restoration workshop while the rest of the time building up my own specialist.
Currently mobile available around the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire area you can reach us on 07742 813223. Even if you don’t need anything right now, just give us a follow. Team Hamster Racing
The contracting job is just under 50 miles away up the M1 so almost 400 miles a week going on the 7 now. So glad I didn’t sell it. It gobbles up those motorway miles and I get to work relaxed.
A couple of jobs now to carry out. I could hear a slight knock, especially on pull away. With it up on a ramp I had a look at the engine and gearbox mounts but they all seemed fine. Pulled back the heat shields and found the prop joint had loads of play. see the last picture
It was about time I replaced the rear discs and pads too. Although not as bad as the fronts had been, these too are now vibrating. The pads hadn’t worn much at all, which to me shows they are far too hard, which has caused the discs to overheat.
The inner surface confirmed this for me as it has some nasty blotches. In fact I found the discs had juddered so badly it had notched the calliper carrier.
Thankfully I caught this early and the notch came out with a little bit of filing. I have entered a sponsorship agreement for the race car with EBC brakes. I had never really used them before, but they are a local company who make competition brakes, so I asked them and they are kindly custom making brakes for the race car! That being said I thought I should use them on all my other projects. I have now fitted a full set to an 350 SL and an S320. I have to say I have been very impressed. Slightly cheaper than the brembo’s and seem to work very well.
I would say that will be the last update for a while, but the airbag light has now come on
So four days a week I am contracting to a restoration workshop while the rest of the time building up my own specialist.
Currently mobile available around the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire area you can reach us on 07742 813223. Even if you don’t need anything right now, just give us a follow. Team Hamster Racing
The contracting job is just under 50 miles away up the M1 so almost 400 miles a week going on the 7 now. So glad I didn’t sell it. It gobbles up those motorway miles and I get to work relaxed.
A couple of jobs now to carry out. I could hear a slight knock, especially on pull away. With it up on a ramp I had a look at the engine and gearbox mounts but they all seemed fine. Pulled back the heat shields and found the prop joint had loads of play. see the last picture
It was about time I replaced the rear discs and pads too. Although not as bad as the fronts had been, these too are now vibrating. The pads hadn’t worn much at all, which to me shows they are far too hard, which has caused the discs to overheat.
The inner surface confirmed this for me as it has some nasty blotches. In fact I found the discs had juddered so badly it had notched the calliper carrier.
Thankfully I caught this early and the notch came out with a little bit of filing. I have entered a sponsorship agreement for the race car with EBC brakes. I had never really used them before, but they are a local company who make competition brakes, so I asked them and they are kindly custom making brakes for the race car! That being said I thought I should use them on all my other projects. I have now fitted a full set to an 350 SL and an S320. I have to say I have been very impressed. Slightly cheaper than the brembo’s and seem to work very well.
I would say that will be the last update for a while, but the airbag light has now come on
Time for an actual repair as opposed to preemptive maintenance. The airbag light came on last month. Helpfully it gave me some specifics on the dash, of drivers airbag faulty. Now in my 20 plus years of working on cars, I think I have replaced 2 actually faulty airbags. So I doubt it’s that.
I put my computer on, but unfortunately the E65 stores airbag faults all over the place and not just in the SRS control unit. My tester being quite a cheap one, only talks to engine, transmission, ABS and SRS.
A better tester could have given me more of a clue, but I had a hunch anyway. Intermittently the traction light has flashed when turning a tight corner, without any wheel slip I would add. Occasionally it has come up as traction system failure. Once the car was stopped and restarted it usually went away.
This makes me think due to the tight steering that communication is being lost with the steering angle sensor.
If the spiral contact (clock spring to some people) is starting to break up, that could cause both faults. It’s a punt but I’m going for it.
With the steering wheel off you can see the spiral contact and I must say it’s a big one.
I had done a little research and found that the E65 sort of has two. There is the normal contact and also some small brushes that run on a brass ring.
I really don’t know why BMW saw the need for two different types of contact in one column but still, as I was in here I inspected the brushes. They weren’t too bad. The ring was pretty dirty though. Bit cod contact cleaner on a cotton bud.
A lot of dirt removed then all back together. Thankfully a friend with a proper expensive tester was coming round to help me with the race car. Popped his tester on the 7, found the fault codes I suspected and they all cleared. Hurray!
I put my computer on, but unfortunately the E65 stores airbag faults all over the place and not just in the SRS control unit. My tester being quite a cheap one, only talks to engine, transmission, ABS and SRS.
A better tester could have given me more of a clue, but I had a hunch anyway. Intermittently the traction light has flashed when turning a tight corner, without any wheel slip I would add. Occasionally it has come up as traction system failure. Once the car was stopped and restarted it usually went away.
This makes me think due to the tight steering that communication is being lost with the steering angle sensor.
If the spiral contact (clock spring to some people) is starting to break up, that could cause both faults. It’s a punt but I’m going for it.
With the steering wheel off you can see the spiral contact and I must say it’s a big one.
I had done a little research and found that the E65 sort of has two. There is the normal contact and also some small brushes that run on a brass ring.
I really don’t know why BMW saw the need for two different types of contact in one column but still, as I was in here I inspected the brushes. They weren’t too bad. The ring was pretty dirty though. Bit cod contact cleaner on a cotton bud.
A lot of dirt removed then all back together. Thankfully a friend with a proper expensive tester was coming round to help me with the race car. Popped his tester on the 7, found the fault codes I suspected and they all cleared. Hurray!
The mighty seven stomps on and on. Doing 100 miles a day commute now at over 177k miles.
Just recently it has started a bit of a judder from the front end.
Followers will remember I refreshed all the rear suspension bushes a year or so ago. Now I guess it’s time to do the fronts.
Once again I went with Meyle and HD where I could. I decided just to do everything after having it up on the ramp and feeling slight play in most of the ball joints. The front thrust arm bushes had plenty of cracks in too.
You can see the real benefits of the HD range here, almost over engineered.
You can see from the drop links that they aren’t just beefed up either. Redesigned with the technician in mind. Those torques in the end of ball joints always round off.
With this little lot bolted on she is back to driving like a magic carpet.
I’m going to Le Man in it next mont so there will be some more preemptive work coming.
Thanks guys.
Exciting road trip now coming up, Le Man is in just a couple of weeks. So I’m carrying so preemptive maintenance. New water pump, thermostat, breather and belt.
Not a bad job really. The belt tensioner is a bit of a sod, power steering pump and alternator have to be removed to get the tensioner off, but everything undone ok. It was a good chance to get in there and clean everything too.
New belt and rollers on. I’m glad I did it, once the old rollers were off, you could hear and feel how much they rumble.
Team Hamster Racing is now properly established as a Porsche and German specialist, so if you need some work like this doing you can WhatsApp us on 07742 813223 or check out Facebook or Instagram
Exciting road trip now coming up, Le Man is in just a couple of weeks. So I’m carrying so preemptive maintenance. New water pump, thermostat, breather and belt.
Not a bad job really. The belt tensioner is a bit of a sod, power steering pump and alternator have to be removed to get the tensioner off, but everything undone ok. It was a good chance to get in there and clean everything too.
New belt and rollers on. I’m glad I did it, once the old rollers were off, you could hear and feel how much they rumble.
Team Hamster Racing is now properly established as a Porsche and German specialist, so if you need some work like this doing you can WhatsApp us on 07742 813223 or check out Facebook or Instagram
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