Long-termer 318d E91 N47

[helix402]

BFleming said:

My 525d still has the original 7 year old battery, starting motor and timing chain at 143,000 miles. Some cars just buck the trend I suppose.

My battery record is 16 years and 220k miles on an E46 330d.

[DailyHack]

Mileage 131,000

Update on my E91, the auto stop start issue warning bong was sorted with a salvaged "Brake Vacuum Sensor" had it fitted whilst it was in for it's MOT, thought I would get it in before every other person wants it, passed flying colors of course.

Stop/start now works again, so that shows the sensor was buggered, not that I ever use stop/start it's a gimmick!

First impressions always point to the AGM batteries on these, not this time - battery still good after 8 years

[DailyHack]

135,000 miles

So a year has past, mileage has been stagnant due to CV19.

The E91 has been used as a loyal family wagon for our 3 month old, it's doing a great job....still much prefer driving my SAAB 9-3 though

But, MOT is next week and right on time the front windscreen wipers stop squirting from just being a dribble for the past few weeks to nothing, still hear the pump.

So, tried a sterile tablet (my usual trick)...didn't work, then a pin in the nozzles...didn't work.

So, it was time to get the infamous inline filter looked at, in the pump in the bloody wheel well!!!



Look at the gunk in this!!!!



I did fit a new pump aswell, but the new one didn't even work! Ah well was only £10. So refitted the old original one and it was fine, cleaned up the filter and works a treat.

Hardest bit was fitting it back together, pretty cool windscreen bottle design I have to admit.

[g3org3y]

What kind of screenwash have you been using?

[DailyHack]

g3org3y said:

What kind of screenwash have you been using?

All sorts over the years

[757]

140,000 miles

Thought would do a quick update on the family bus. Now the V60 has gone, we are down to a one car family, so this is being shared about like rag doll now, taking it in its stride. I am on the look out for a shed car soon, so will get a thread going once I know what I am doing.

Anyway, oil service and filter once again. Gets done every 7/8,000 miles on this N47 engined beast, running superbly as usual, washer jets havent blocked up again (wont be looking forward to that job anytime soon again).



My mechanic mate had a look around while she was up in the air, utterly solid as you can imagine these E91's....but ah, the rear was sagging ever so slightly and yep as diagnosed, absolutely knackered rear shocks, so bad the oil is everywhere - so its booked in next week (earliest availability) to get these done - so off to ECP for the discount code sale

Hmmm, also when the misses said she got stuck in a car park a few weeks back.... apparently she didn't hit anything?..not too sure...#shedlife

[redandwhite]

Nice thread, i have recently bought one myself (thread on here) and compared to the XC70 it replaces, it drives excellent, parts are reasonable and they are DIY friendly (i had the same blocked pump filter issue as you did).

[757]

redandwhite said:

Nice thread, i have recently bought one myself (thread on here) and compared to the XC70 it replaces, it drives excellent, parts are reasonable and they are DIY friendly (i had the same blocked pump filter issue as you did).

Cheers, yeah they are pretty good buses these E90's if looked after mechanically, heading into bangernomics territory now tbh, mine won't be going for along time yet.

Mine doesn't even have a single creak or squeak in all its miles, quite remarkable.

They do drive very well, and can really hustle - if abit souless at times.

[Mr Tidy]

757 said:

if abit souless at times.

That sums them up pretty well! Capable but not exactly exciting.

My E90 needed new rear shocks at 113K miles, but that doesn't seem unreasonable.

[Court_S]

DailyHack said:

g3org3y said:

What kind of screenwash have you been using?

All sorts over the years

I’ve found sticking to one brand stops it happening again. My parents in law had the issue with their 116, were told to use one brand and didn’t and had to have it sorted again. The bottles come out easy enough but are little buggers to get back in.

Sounds like it’s largely treating you well.

[757]

Court_S said:

Sounds like it’s largely treating you well.

Yeah its a good bus for us, not massive and has been tested a little with 1 year old. But it keeps on trooping, I have an aero roofbox that gets deployed for longer stints away, so works well.

Cant imagine what to replace it with, as it drives so well and is relatively cheap to run being the 318d variant - better the devil you know and all that.

Just need to find myself a 'shed/banger' run about to run alongside it soon - as trying to share a car is becoming quite tiresome.

[757]

So rear dampers arrived, was thinking of doing this myself but decided against, mainly because I'm lazy, but I have began to strip ALL the amount trim and paneling in the boot.

Just so the mechanic can go straight in and fit the shocks, so should save me at least hours labour of his time fitting then refitted the stuff in the boot

Here are the shocks as present, NSR is the offender, but it's at 140,000 miles and I know these are the original dampers from factory, so way over due a pair I think.

[helix402]

I hope you have new bump stops and upper and lower mounts too, they will all be expired!

[757]

helix402 said:

I hope you have new bump stops and upper and lower mounts too, they will all be expired!

Yeah got dust kit to go on that includes bump stops, just hope they get here in time before next week, otherwise it's using the old ones again

Edited by 757 on Friday 12th November 14:38

[redandwhite]

fit them yourself, you have already done half of the job

[757]

redandwhite said:

fit them yourself, you have already done half of the job

Ha yeah think I will....like your say half way there.



Done for the evening, soaked the bolts underneath overnight, as they will be tight when I get to them!

Can get to the top mounts now easily enough, probably lost some screws somewhere in all this trim, not really to fussed

[757]

Done! Car feels alot better, funny how you grow into how a car feels, trim all back in and remembered what screws go where

Anyway, bike on roof off for a ride.

[757]

Nothing to report on my E91, gave it abit of a clean, as I have fitted a cherished plate I've had on retention for years, so thought I would give it a scrub behind the ears or numberplate.

The squeeky drive belt on start up is coming back, had this done 40,000 miles ago, so that will be done again when it's in for it's next oil service in 6,000 miles time.

Funny how it looks very US spec without a plate fitted, still scrubs up well I think.

Borrowed recently my brothers 2016 F31 320d (had to sort out his MOT and service on it whilst he was away), nice accomplished car, but tbh I was very happy to get back in this older E90, just felt more solid, couldn't quite put a finger on it.

Edited by 757 on Saturday 12th February 13:38

[757]

143,000

The A/C st itself....well what I thought, quick diagnosis, no leaks, no biggie just needed a quick Aircon service and charge, back to normal - needed it for this weather.

Tbh it's never been looked at since new, so it's had a good innings the original gas.

Had it's MOT last month - advisories on a loose exhaust bracket and a nail in tyre, that was it. Got done and fixed there and then

So just the Vectra shed to sort out now, MOT time I will get that looked at too regarding it's warm A/C.

But, so far all good with the 3 series, still just doing it's thing as a baby/family duty car.

Edited by 757 on Tuesday 12th July 20:56

[757]

Not much going on here, 147,000 miles now, due it's oil service shortly - but, may eek it out until MOT time in few months, two birds one stone scenario, it's been overly serviced anyway over the years.

The usual cheapest spec 6L Mannol oil it gets and a oil filter off eBay, £40 all in.

Apart from keeping it clean inside, alcantara seats are taking a beating (kids are horrendous for the inside of the car) it's still a good old family bus.

I gave it a very quick wash, purely just out of boredom yesterday!



Oh, and the wife drove into a wall last month, too - not too overly concerned about it.

Edited by 757 on Saturday 31st December 10:35