E61 V8 Bearding

[ATM]

quavey said:

ATM said:

So what's a vanilla C63 got under the hood bhp wise?

Very similar engine, just in a slightly different state of tune.

451bhp for standard C63
480bhp with performance package
500bhp for the C63 507 (507ps)

From just a remap?

[philmots]

ATM said:

dom9 said:

ATM said:

48 quid and the blower is cold.

Still cold now?

No

It's now warm again.

Join club. Mine started making funny noises about 4/5 weeks ago up until last week when it packed in all together.. Got a big hole in the condenser FFS, new one getting fit on Wednesday.

[dom9]

ATM said:

From just a remap?

Sorry guys - moving house day!

I believe so, yes. Easier to design one engine with good heads and cams and then just offer different states of tune etc via the ECU. Don't think we're so lucky with our engines as there were only 1 version per capacity but there are always games to play, even if they're not significant!

Sorry to hear about the AC - did they do a die test when they filled up? Hopefully just a condenser or something?

My car seems good but my transmission guys didn't come back with a price for a torque converter yet!

[ATM]

philmots said:

ATM said:

dom9 said:

ATM said:

48 quid and the blower is cold.

Still cold now?

No

It's now warm again.

Join club. Mine started making funny noises about 4/5 weeks ago up until last week when it packed in all together.. Got a big hole in the condenser FFS, new one getting fit on Wednesday.

So can I take the bus to any old garage and say make my ac work please?

[quavey]

ATM said:

From just a remap?

In other applications the engine is more powerful so it appears it was detuned for the initial C63 and then retuned for the special editions. I'm sure some mercedes beards would know the minute details, I suspect differences in exhaust/manifolds maybe. I did once read that some have a different crank shaft.

[ATM]

Jobbo said:

Depends on size of excess, mileage when you take it out etc. I think I paid £68 a month for my drivetrain warranty on a car which had 132k miles on it; the warranty had a £250 excess and I excluded emergency recovery. Paid for a £5k gearbox replacement at 146k miles

Where would you recommend I start my search for a warranty?

And is it just drivetrain that's worth having or can I go for other bells and whistles?

My AC doesn't seem to be working after a recent regas....

[smashie]

ATM said:

Where would you recommend I start my search for a warranty?

And is it just drivetrain that's worth having or can I go for other bells and whistles?

My AC doesn't seem to be working after a recent regas....

I just paid for a Warranty with Warranty Direct as I have used them plenty before and they have always paid out for me. If you do a search you will find just as much (if not more) bad things about them as good. A lot of this may be unjustified though as I have found that so long as you do things according to their instructions they should pay out. I have not had to use them recently so cannot comment on their payouts now.
One thing that has changed is they now have to send an engineer out to check over the car if the engine is bigger than 4L. They didn't do that 9 years ago when I took out Warranty on my 4.6 Range Rover. They also paid out quite a lot on that one as well without quibble.

[Jobbo]

ATM said:

Jobbo said:

Depends on size of excess, mileage when you take it out etc. I think I paid £68 a month for my drivetrain warranty on a car which had 132k miles on it; the warranty had a £250 excess and I excluded emergency recovery. Paid for a £5k gearbox replacement at 146k miles

Where would you recommend I start my search for a warranty?

And is it just drivetrain that's worth having or can I go for other bells and whistles?

My AC doesn't seem to be working after a recent regas....

www.bmw-warranty.co.uk for the proper BMW warranty. Anything else gives you potential to be caught in an argument between the dealer and the warranty company. Your car will need full service history, I believe, and the price isn't cheap, but many people (me included) wouldn't have anything else. I can't see Warranty Direct replacing a gearbox at 140k+ miles.

Drivetrain is the only option after 100k miles, but the engine and gearbox are the expensive bit. Worthwhile going for comprehensive before being forced into that, if the price doesn't put you off, because it covers the electrical gubbins such as iDrive. You have a choice of excess (I went for £250 on the drivetrain because I didn't expect anything but a full size claim), and take off the emergency assist to reduce the cost a bit. Also, paying monthly I have never encountered them increasing the premium, though in theory they can each year.

Edited by Jobbo on Thursday 20th August 16:30

[dom9]

With a GBP250 excess, a drivetrain warranty for mine would be GBP625 per year...

That has to be worth it with my gearbox potentially acting up...

No emergency service with that as I already have LV.

Hmmmmmm.....

[philmots]

dom9 said:

With a GBP250 excess, a drivetrain warranty for mine would be GBP625 per year...

That has to be worth it with my gearbox potentially acting up...

No emergency service with that as I already have LV.

Hmmmmmm.....

Your symptoms sound like the torque converter, you could have this repaired for that £625..

A full recon box you could have fitted for less than 3 years cover.

Repairs are generally huge as people use main dealers who'll just swap out the whole gearbox, if you use an independent and the Internet most repairs can be done for a fraction.

[philmots]

ATM said:

My AC doesn't seem to be working after a recent regas....

Find a proper specialist, mine hadn't worked for a long time from what I can tell then it failed after around 6 weeks after a regas..

It was the condenser right at the front, there was numerous tiny leaks in it that's just from the aged metal suddenly been subject up to around 30 bar.

Now fixed and it's such a good system, better than my previous best in a Volvo S60.

[dom9]

philmots said:

Your symptoms sound like the torque converter, you could have this repaired for that £625..

A full recon box you could have fitted for less than 3 years cover.

Repairs are generally huge as people use main dealers who'll just swap out the whole gearbox, if you use an independent and the Internet most repairs can be done for a fraction.

Absolutely - been looking at pocket rockets (106 GTI and Rallye, Twingo 133) for my commute but for a few grand, I could probably have my 545i scrubbed up to perfect and to hell with the economy!

I have my Clio V6 for hoons and while Mrs 9 is sunning herself in Costa Rica, avoiding the house move - I've been making the most of keeping her Fiat 500 on the boil!

[ATM]

dom9 said:

philmots said:

Your symptoms sound like the torque converter, you could have this repaired for that £625..

A full recon box you could have fitted for less than 3 years cover.

Repairs are generally huge as people use main dealers who'll just swap out the whole gearbox, if you use an independent and the Internet most repairs can be done for a fraction.

Absolutely - been looking at pocket rockets (106 GTI and Rallye, Twingo 133) for my commute but for a few grand, I could probably have my 545i scrubbed up to perfect and to hell with the economy!

I have my Clio V6 for hoons and while Mrs 9 is sunning herself in Costa Rica, avoiding the house move - I've been making the most of keeping her Fiat 500 on the boil!

The warranty direct screen I looked at said it paid 100% of labour but only 50% of parts on older vehicles. The gearbox new must be 3-4000. That's a big bill with a warranty.



Vehicle age or Mileage Parts Labour
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles 100% 100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles 80% 100%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles 70% 100%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles 60% 100%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 50% 100%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles 50% 100%

[dom9]

ATM said:

The warranty direct screen I looked at said it paid 100% of labour but only 50% of parts on older vehicles. The gearbox new must be 3-4000. That's a big bill with a warranty.



Vehicle age or Mileage Parts Labour
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles 100% 100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles 80% 100%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles 70% 100%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles 60% 100%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 50% 100%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles 50% 100%

Is that the higher of years or miles? As in, mine is 75,000 but 10 years old. So, would they pay 70% labour or 50%.

I think my 'box is fine - my ZF specialists reckon it's the torque converter, as does our learned friend above. 'Feeling' the symptoms, I'd say they were right.

new torque converter, maybe a map, a bit of paint, a polish, full service and some Michelin Pilot Supersports and that's probably around £2,500 and a great car for years to come!

[ATM]

dom9 said:

ATM said:

The warranty direct screen I looked at said it paid 100% of labour but only 50% of parts on older vehicles. The gearbox new must be 3-4000. That's a big bill with a warranty.



Vehicle age or Mileage Parts Labour
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles 100% 100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles 80% 100%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles 70% 100%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles 60% 100%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 50% 100%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles 50% 100%

Is that the higher of years or miles? As in, mine is 75,000 but 10 years old. So, would they pay 70% labour or 50%.

I think my 'box is fine - my ZF specialists reckon it's the torque converter, as does our learned friend above. 'Feeling' the symptoms, I'd say they were right.

new torque converter, maybe a map, a bit of paint, a polish, full service and some Michelin Pilot Supersports and that's probably around £2,500 and a great car for years to come!

Vehicle age or Mileage ::::::::::: Parts
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles :::100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles :::80%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles :::70%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles :::60%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 50%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles :50%



Vehicle age or Mileage ::::::::::: Labour
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles :::100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles :::100%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles :::100%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles :::100%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 100%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles :100%

[smashie]

ATM said:

Vehicle age or Mileage ::::::::::: Parts
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles :::100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles :::80%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles :::70%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles :::60%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 50%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles :50%



Vehicle age or Mileage ::::::::::: Labour
Up to 6 years or 60,000 miles :::100%
Up to 7 years or 70,000 miles :::100%
Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles :::100%
Up to 9 years or 90,000 miles :::100%
Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles 100%
Over 10 years or 100,000 miles :100%

Forgot about that. Cancelling my policy within it's 14 Day cooling off period and will go with the BMW one instead. As mine if over 100k I would have had to foot 50% of all parts.

[ian_cab28]

Hi,

Mild thread hijack, looking at moving from a near 200k e39 540 touring to a 3 year 04 plate younger model, only 100k. From a london based indie dealer, an SE model, normal spec, pan roof, leather, basic nav, 17" alloys, non-xenon badly fogged, all in all in pretty good condition, plenty of history . Negotiated him down a bit, does £4.9k sound ok for this ? PDC not working, likely 2+ sensors/water ingress :-(, dealer says will fix for 4.9k. Also how much for a loaded e39, double glazing, comfort seats, electro hydraulic tailgate (rusty!), etc. etc feels like worth more in pieces to a latvian ! Attracted by change of car to modern e60 shape had the e39 old girl for 7.5 year now.

Thanks, Ian

[ATM]

ian_cab28 said:

Hi,

Mild thread hijack, looking at moving from a near 200k e39 540 touring to a 3 year 04 plate younger model, only 100k. From a london based indie dealer, an SE model, normal spec, pan roof, leather, basic nav, 17" alloys, non-xenon badly fogged, all in all in pretty good condition, plenty of history . Negotiated him down a bit, does £4.9k sound ok for this ? PDC not working, likely 2+ sensors/water ingress :-(, dealer says will fix for 4.9k. Also how much for a loaded e39, double glazing, comfort seats, electro hydraulic tailgate (rusty!), etc. etc feels like worth more in pieces to a latvian ! Attracted by change of car to modern e60 shape had the e39 old girl for 7.5 year now.

Thanks, Ian

7.5 year now - we need pics of this Shirley!

I think the e39 540 touring is always worth money to a scruffy dog owner who wants top get a swerve on. But then you need to find one. If the garage is only offering you say £500 for it then why sell it? I mean how does it still work - go / stop etc?

[ian_cab28]

Will see if I can get some pics uploads. Goes great, as well as ever, new land rover MAF released some horses and power across the rev range that I hadn't notice were missing. No oil consumption whatsoever, engine is unburstable. Timing chain tension done, no slap or noise on start up. One issue is creaking / steering wobble under breaking (quite violent), think it is a dodgy caliper , as have had loads of arms changed. Creaking is steering centre bush i believe, only starts after 30 mins or so when warmed up.

Could fix all this but fancy a change, still love the e39 shape. Like a pair of 155mph comfy slippers ! Just trying to dig up some more background on this e61 545 don't want to swap a load of known unknowns for a load of unknown unknowns !

Ian

[dom9]

Hang on, so is it a 545i E61 that you're looking at for £4.9k? If it's in good nick, that sounds excellent! I paid £6.6k for mine (albeit 75k miles) a couple of months back!