My other half’s new daily; E88 BMW 125i cabriolet

My other half’s new daily; E88 BMW 125i cabriolet

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d_a_n1979

8,448 posts

73 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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Balls frown

RFTs too Sam?

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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d_a_n1979 said:
Balls frown

RFTs too Sam?
No, they’re normal tyres. Looks like a pair of Asymmetric 6’s will be £185. Not yet end of the world but bloody annoying.

d_a_n1979

8,448 posts

73 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Balls frown

RFTs too Sam?
No, they’re normal tyres. Looks like a pair of Asymmetric 6’s will be £185. Not yet end of the world but bloody annoying.
Sods law pal... Least it's been caught and not blown at speed etc!

Tyresonthedrive had some good discount codes going not so long ago; might be worth looking over

Try Camskill too (but you need to get them fitted on top)

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
Sods law pal... Least it's been caught and not blown at speed etc!

Tyresonthedrive had some good discount codes going not so long ago; might be worth looking over

Try Camskill too (but you need to get them fitted on top)
Asda tyres are looking like the cheapest at the moment.

Can hopefully get them fitted tomorrow and returner car from the in-laws drive.

d_a_n1979

8,448 posts

73 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
quotequote all
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Sods law pal... Least it's been caught and not blown at speed etc!

Tyresonthedrive had some good discount codes going not so long ago; might be worth looking over

Try Camskill too (but you need to get them fitted on top)
Asda tyres are looking like the cheapest at the moment.

Can hopefully get them fitted tomorrow and returner car from the in-laws drive.
That'll do it then thumbup

Mr Tidy

22,421 posts

128 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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That's a right PITA! Should have got the tyre pressure warning light though.

At least you seem to have found a good deal on the new ones.

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
That's a right PITA! Should have got the tyre pressure warning light though.

At least you seem to have found a good deal on the new ones.
It’s how much attention that was paid to said light! I’m guessing, not enough! banghead

The chaps from the tyre place popped the tyre back on so I could take the car off the jack. When I got back, you could hear the air pissing out of it.

Mr Tidy

22,421 posts

128 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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Court_S said:
It’s how much attention that was paid to said light! I’m guessing, not enough! banghead
Say no more. rolleyes

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
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It was the turn of the 125i to cause some headaches yesterday….

The front near side calliper appeared to be binding; disc was super hot compared to the others.

Jacked the car up and that wheel couldn’t be spun by hand. Balls. Managed to get the calliper and pads off with some persuasion. The calliper pushed back in easily enough with my wind back tool, so I’m hoping it’s not shagged.

I’ve cleaned the slides up with some wet and dry and it appears to be ok now, but one to keep an eye on. New front discs and pads have been ordered. This was in the cards anyway this year because I had to fit stty Eichler discs and pads in a rush to get it running again. I’ll keep an eye on this calliper before fitting the new discs and pads, just in case.

Sodding cars.

mercedeslimos

1,657 posts

170 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
quotequote all
Court_S said:
It was the turn of the 125i to cause some headaches yesterday….

The front near side calliper appeared to be binding; disc was super hot compared to the others.

Jacked the car up and that wheel couldn’t be spun by hand. Balls. Managed to get the calliper and pads off with some persuasion. The calliper pushed back in easily enough with my wind back tool, so I’m hoping it’s not shagged.

I’ve cleaned the slides up with some wet and dry and it appears to be ok now, but one to keep an eye on. New front discs and pads have been ordered. This was in the cards anyway this year because I had to fit stty Eichler discs and pads in a rush to get it running again. I’ll keep an eye on this calliper before fitting the new discs and pads, just in case.

Sodding cars.
Had the same on our T4 camper this week, caliper has been fine all along but now sticking like fk. calipers are cheap, screw rebuilding it for a tenner and a pain in the balls when you can replace it for fifty. Also, Eicher is absolute dogste. ECP's basic junk. I was given a set in the boot when I bought my daily Passat as the front discs were lipped, checked them and they were on the manufacturer's min so threw the Eicher ones on. 10k and a year later they have just-in-tolerance ovality on the brake rollers and are definitely warped. Absolute dross. Put pads and discs in the Transporter last week and paid the extra twenty quid for Pagid over that crap. Would have preferred TRW or Brembo but at that age even genuine VW was NLA so it's a case of make do with what you can

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
quotequote all
mercedeslimos said:
Had the same on our T4 camper this week, caliper has been fine all along but now sticking like fk. calipers are cheap, screw rebuilding it for a tenner and a pain in the balls when you can replace it for fifty. Also, Eicher is absolute dogste. ECP's basic junk. I was given a set in the boot when I bought my daily Passat as the front discs were lipped, checked them and they were on the manufacturer's min so threw the Eicher ones on. 10k and a year later they have just-in-tolerance ovality on the brake rollers and are definitely warped. Absolute dross. Put pads and discs in the Transporter last week and paid the extra twenty quid for Pagid over that crap. Would have preferred TRW or Brembo but at that age even genuine VW was NLA so it's a case of make do with what you can
I looked into buying sone used callipers and rebuilding them but it’ll be about £70 for the pair but I can buy a pair of Febi ones for £90.

I know the Eicher stuff is ste, but at the tune I needed them there and then. I’m swapping them for Zimmermann discs with ATE ceramic pads to reduce brake dust. They’ve lasted nearly two years / 15k.

mercedeslimos

1,657 posts

170 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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Court_S said:
mercedeslimos said:
Had the same on our T4 camper this week, caliper has been fine all along but now sticking like fk. calipers are cheap, screw rebuilding it for a tenner and a pain in the balls when you can replace it for fifty. Also, Eicher is absolute dogste. ECP's basic junk. I was given a set in the boot when I bought my daily Passat as the front discs were lipped, checked them and they were on the manufacturer's min so threw the Eicher ones on. 10k and a year later they have just-in-tolerance ovality on the brake rollers and are definitely warped. Absolute dross. Put pads and discs in the Transporter last week and paid the extra twenty quid for Pagid over that crap. Would have preferred TRW or Brembo but at that age even genuine VW was NLA so it's a case of make do with what you can
I looked into buying sone used callipers and rebuilding them but it’ll be about £70 for the pair but I can buy a pair of Febi ones for £90.

I know the Eicher stuff is ste, but at the tune I needed them there and then. I’m swapping them for Zimmermann discs with ATE ceramic pads to reduce brake dust. They’ve lasted nearly two years / 15k.
Absolutely, needs must and often Eicher is all they have in stock at the time - Euros are my only go-to place (the healthy trade discount helps), anything I'm not in a rush for I use Autodoc, got a full caliper with handbrake motor for B8 Passat recently for 80 quid, not to be sniffed at. I have found myself upping the quality of parts used since buying online gives me the option, factors you had one choice and lump it but often the OE quality stuff isn't horrendously more expensive than the bargain basement stuff. At one point for older cars, cheap tat was all that was available but it's not much fun having to do the same jobs every year for test, despite the labour being free!

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Monday 16th January 2023
quotequote all
mercedeslimos said:
Absolutely, needs must and often Eicher is all they have in stock at the time - Euros are my only go-to place (the healthy trade discount helps), anything I'm not in a rush for I use Autodoc, got a full caliper with handbrake motor for B8 Passat recently for 80 quid, not to be sniffed at. I have found myself upping the quality of parts used since buying online gives me the option, factors you had one choice and lump it but often the OE quality stuff isn't horrendously more expensive than the bargain basement stuff. At one point for older cars, cheap tat was all that was available but it's not much fun having to do the same jobs every year for test, despite the labour being free!
It was Eicher or get absolutely bummed on a better known brand.

The calliper is still sticking ever so slightly today having driven it so I’m going to bite the bullet for a new calliper (would rather do them as a pair but Parts in Motion don’t have a matching pair).

JakeT

5,441 posts

121 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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My experience of BMWs has usually been if the caliper is sticky, just whack a new one on. Cleaning the pins won’t help as the caliper isn’t a sliding type. A light go over with some emery cloth or fine sandpaper will do it.

People also get upset that the pins aren’t greased, but the BMW documentation states specifically not to add anything to them.

Strangely I had a good experience with Eicher discs and pads. When putting an E46 328ci on the road that was abandoned in a field, I used them to keep costs down while the car was an unknown. Did 40,000 miles on them with no issues, and little wear. They did look awful as the hats of the discs corroded, but performance was acceptable. Usually I fit genuine BMW discs.

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Monday 16th January 2023
quotequote all
JakeT said:
My experience of BMWs has usually been if the caliper is sticky, just whack a new one on. Cleaning the pins won’t help as the caliper isn’t a sliding type. A light go over with some emery cloth or fine sandpaper will do it.

People also get upset that the pins aren’t greased, but the BMW documentation states specifically not to add anything to them.

Strangely I had a good experience with Eicher discs and pads. When putting an E46 328ci on the road that was abandoned in a field, I used them to keep costs down while the car was an unknown. Did 40,000 miles on them with no issues, and little wear. They did look awful as the hats of the discs corroded, but performance was acceptable. Usually I fit genuine BMW discs.
It’s better than it was but I’ve bitten the bullet and ordered a Febi calliper (wanted to do then as a pare but the place I ordered it from only have the near side).

Has anyone got any recommendations for a brake bleeder? I’m considering this one:

Sealey VS820 Brake & Clutch Bleeding System https://amzn.eu/d/b1QRMa5

B'stard Child

28,447 posts

247 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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Court_S said:
Has anyone got any recommendations for a brake bleeder? I’m considering this one:

Sealey VS820 Brake & Clutch Bleeding System https://amzn.eu/d/b1QRMa5
I have similar - brilliant little tool but mine wasn't sealey branded and I think £30 cheaper

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293435727170

JakeT

5,441 posts

121 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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Agreed. Those are great. If you’re in a pinch let it gravity bleed for a couple of minutes and then a helper pumping the pedal a couple of times will do it.

Pressure bleeder makes a doddle of changing brake fluid though. If you can have the car jacked up on all fours it’s a quick affair.

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Monday 16th January 2023
quotequote all
B'stard Child said:
I have similar - brilliant little tool but mine wasn't sealey branded and I think £30 cheaper

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293435727170
Banging, cheers for that; looks just the ticket. Will get one ordered I think.

Court_S

Original Poster:

12,997 posts

178 months

Saturday 28th January 2023
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Spent a satisfying day pissing around with the 125i today.

First up was a clean because it was pretty grotty and there was no way I was taking the wheels off as they were!

Citrus pre-wash doing its thing on the road grime





The it was snowfoamed



After it was rinsed down, I tackled the tar and brake dust baked into the wheels.



All clean, inside and out.





It’s very much ready for its post winter detail; there are a few tar spots and other fall out that is hard to shift with just a wash. The roof is going a bit green so needs a proper clean and protect soon.

After it was cleaned, it was time to fit the freshly painted nearside calliper and flush the brake fluid.

New calliper ready to be fitted.



Annoyingly the new discs and pads didn’t arrive in time, so I’ve had to put it back together with the nailed disc and pad. New calliper fitted.



The old flexi hose undid nice and easily from the old calliper. Then it was get all four wheels off and start flushing the fluid.



The old stuff wasn’t too grim.



I flushed the best part of a litre through, topped up the reservoir and it’s all good; a nice firm pedal and service indicator has been reset. Pretty easy job really and less inconvenient than taking it to a garage.

I’ll get type new front discs and pads fitted next weekend.

It’s due it’s official oil service next month, so that’s on the cards too and at sone point I need yo change they rocker cover because it’s leaking where a corned of plastic has been snapped off by a bolt. I think the valvetronic motor gasket is weeping too. The oil filter and cooler housing ones that I changed last year are fine though.

Tom4398cc

259 posts

35 months

Saturday 28th January 2023
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Pleased you’ve had a positive day where car stuff went well. You were overdue it after all the recent hassle with dealers and warranty companies on your other car.