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

[pmorg4]

Good work - that's dedication for you changing the caliper in the knowledge that it'll have to come off again when the new discs & pads arrive. I suspect most would have just put the job off until it could have been done at the same time.

What brake bleeder did you buy? I have a really old easy bleed one that uses a spare tyre for pressure, but I'm wondering if I'd be better off buying a new style one with a hand pump.

[roadie]

Nicely done Sam. After having washed my 335i and my girlfriends Mini today with only a watering can and a couple of buckets I am extremely envious of your washing kit. Especially as I have to troop up the stairs to the kitchen at the far end of my first floor flat every time I want to fill the watering can! Both cars were disgustingly filthy thanks to all the salt on the roads.

I'm intrigued by the citrus pre-wash - how is this applied and how well does it work? Also, what wheel cleaner are you using to get rid of the brake dust? Sounds like both might save me some effort!

[Court_S]

Tom4398cc said:

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.

Thanks Tom. It was a pretty satisfying day getting this sorted.

[Court_S]

pmorg4 said:

Good work - that's dedication for you changing the caliper in the knowledge that it'll have to come off again when the new discs & pads arrive. I suspect most would have just put the job off until it could have been done at the same time.

What brake bleeder did you buy? I have a really old easy bleed one that uses a spare tyre for pressure, but I'm wondering if I'd be better off buying a new style one with a hand pump.

The sticky calliper was on and off so many times in the last few weeks that it doesn’t take long. I figured I’d rather get the gammy calliper off ASAP.

I bought one from eBay that was recommended by bd Child.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293435727170?mkcid=16&a...

[Court_S]

roadie said:

Nicely done Sam. After having washed my 335i and my girlfriends Mini today with only a watering can and a couple of buckets I am extremely envious of your washing kit. Especially as I have to troop up the stairs to the kitchen at the far end of my first floor flat every time I want to fill the watering can! Both cars were disgustingly filthy thanks to all the salt on the roads.

I'm intrigued by the citrus pre-wash - how is this applied and how well does it work? Also, what wheel cleaner are you using to get rid of the brake dust? Sounds like both might save me some effort!

I mix it an a spray bottle like this

https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk/collections/bottl...

I just spray it over the ca rand it helps to break down the road grime etc.

I normally use Bilberry’s wheel cleaner but had recently started using Alien Magic’s wheel cleaner. Every now and then (like today), I’ll use tar remover and iron fall out remover to shift the really, really stubborn stuff and it turns purple as it breaks down.

[JakeT]

In a similar vein, I put a front caliper, discs, and pads on a friends 130i this morning too. Seized caliper and the discs were grotty, so genuine discs and pads and a reman caliper on. Job jobbed, hopefully for a while now.

[Court_S]

JakeT said:

In a similar vein, I put a front caliper, discs, and pads on a friends 130i this morning too. Seized caliper and the discs were grotty, so genuine discs and pads and a reman caliper on. Job jobbed, hopefully for a while now.

The near side disc is pretty cooked after calliper was binding. They were stty Eicher ones, so I’m waiting for some Zimmerman discs and ATE ceramic pads to arrive.

[pmorg4]

Court_S said:

The sticky calliper was on and off so many times in the last few weeks that it doesn’t take long. I figured I’d rather get the gammy calliper off ASAP.

I bought one from eBay that was recommended by bd Child.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293435727170?mkcid=16&a...

Thanks. That looks like a good bit of kit for ~£30. At that price I should replace mine, aside from the quality I'm concerned that there might be some gunk in the lines that can't be easily cleaned out and will end up in the brake fluid.

[MDifficult]

Every time I look at this thread, I end up on Autotrader. In a world of inflated used car prices I can’t get over what fantastic value these are - so much ‘fun’ car for the money and your touches show how good they can look.

When my daughter is ready to move up from her Polo, I’m going to be pushing her this way…

[cerb4.5lee]

Great work as always Sam.

Ours badly need cleaning too. I just need to get my backside in gear and get on with it like you do for sure.

[Court_S]

pmorg4 said:

Thanks. That looks like a good bit of kit for ~£30. At that price I should replace mine, aside from the quality I'm concerned that there might be some gunk in the lines that can't be easily cleaned out and will end up in the brake fluid.

It seemed to work really well. Piece of cake to use and far less faff than dropping it off at a garage for a day or whatever.

[Court_S]

MDifficult said:

Every time I look at this thread, I end up on Autotrader. In a world of inflated used car prices I can’t get over what fantastic value these are - so much ‘fun’ car for the money and your touches show how good they can look.

When my daughter is ready to move up from her Polo, I’m going to be pushing her this way…

These do seem a bit unloved compared to other cars but I really like it. It’s been a cracking wee car so far. We didn’t pay that much for it two years ago and my other half refuses to let me sell it.

[Court_S]

cerb4.5lee said:

Great work as always Sam.

Ours badly need cleaning too. I just need to get my backside in gear and get on with it like you do for sure.

Cheers Lee.

I’m sure my neighbours all think I’m batst mental but hey ho.

[B'stard Child]

Court_S said:

pmorg4 said:

Thanks. That looks like a good bit of kit for ~£30. At that price I should replace mine, aside from the quality I'm concerned that there might be some gunk in the lines that can't be easily cleaned out and will end up in the brake fluid.

It seemed to work really well. Piece of cake to use and far less faff than dropping it off at a garage for a day or whatever.

Chuffed with mine - it's done about 6 or 7 changes now on cars and one change on a transit van and shows no sign of losing performance or being a cheap copy that lasts five mins

[MDifficult]

Court_S said:

These do seem a bit unloved compared to other cars but I really like it. It’s been a cracking wee car so far. We didn’t pay that much for it two years ago and my other half refuses to let me sell it.

Looks just as good in the flesh! (I got to see it this morning at the Sunday Service).

[Court_S]

MDifficult said:

Looks just as good in the flesh! (I got to see it this morning at the Sunday Service).

Thanks. I saw your 1M and Mr Tourings M3 (I think).

[MDifficult]

Court_S said:

Thanks. I saw your 1M and Mr Tourings M3 (I think).

Yeah, that was us. Both cars were MINT when we left first thing, but we went cross-country to get there - mine looked like I’d been doing donuts in a field by the time we arrived.

[Court_S]

MDifficult said:

Yeah, that was us. Both cars were MINT when we left first thing, but we went cross-country to get there - mine looked like I’d been doing donuts in a field by the time we arrived.

Same here…the wash and coat of QD yesterday was a waste of time! I think we need some rain go wash away the salt etc.

[Court_S]

Had a good drive to and from the Motor Museum for SS today; w joyed it with the roof down. I saw quite a few members cars too.

The car is pretty grotty now though!





The brakes feel good, so it looks like I did a good job bleeding them yesterday.

[Court_S]

Having finally taken delivery of the new front discs and pads for this I got them fitted this afternoon.

First up was a good clean because it was horrible inside and out. I have no idea how she gets it so dirty inside in a week!





It’s definitely ready for it’s post winter clean having picked up a few stubborn tar spots and other associated fall out. It’ll keep for a couple more weeks.

Once it was safe to touch, it was time to tackle the front discs and pads. The passenger side disc was looking a bit sorry for itself after the calliper seized.



Calliper and crappy Eicher pads removed.



New Zimmermann disc fitted after cleaning up the mating surface.



ATE ceramic pads fitted, Bosch wear sensor and everything buttoned up.



Took it for a short drive to start the bedding in process. After 20 miles or so they seemed to be working pretty well. Next job on this at sone point is a new rocker cover to stem the oil leak.