E61 V8 Bearding

[ATM]

philmots said:

ATM said:

I just had a brief interaction with a 2007 530i e61. The demonstration was swiftly over.

How do you find it compares with other stuff you've had?

I'm quite impressed with it. For a daily run about which is massive and a warp drive when required and all for 8 grand. You can glide over speed bumps and enjoy country lanes in it too. I'm still organising some go flat tyres and then hopefully it will be even better.

I'm getting various messages popping up on the screen which could be worrying if these things bother you. I've had it 2 weeks and so far I've had these:

Engage Park - every time I stop
Oil level - not checked it
Reverse light bulb failure
Airbag warning

[ATM]

The oil level only popped up once. I think it was on Friday. Its not popped up since. What oil do I need anyway?

[ATM]

wsurfa said:

Is it heresy to also be looking at S6 estates? £3-5k more, but 60bhp extra... Plus a V10 can never be a bad idea can it...?

I'd have a go in one first. Yes they have more power but I'd hazard they're bigger too. I had an S4 a few years ago and didn't get on with it.

[ATM]

dom9 said:

Another one has appeared:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-550i-Touring-Estate-...

Looks expensive compared to ATM's, with a lot more miles, maybe!?

What's this - I dont have it?

[ATM]

hornetrider said:

What's what? That's exactly how mine looks.

Mine is a 55 reg and it has no spare wheel.

[ATM]

Edited by ATM on Saturday 18th August 17:45

[ATM]

Edited by ATM on Saturday 18th August 17:46

[ATM]

RobinBanks said:

It seems like there are a few 5-Series beards here.

Can anyone tell me exactly what engine it is in a 540i E60?
I've just heard of them - I was completely unaware of it before and I'm curious.

Some small and inferior v8. Probably from the BMW parts bin of unused engines.

[ATM]

jboy72 said:

ATM said:

What's this - I dont have it?

That is really strange. Mine does this:



Or should it do both??

Mine can't do that. My uppermost floor is one piece hinged near seat backs with gas struts - like the bonnet. Do you have a spare wheel well?

[ATM]

2008
RS 6
700bhp
103,000 miles
£21,495.00

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161761913553

[ATM]

hornetrider said:

jboy72 said:

With hindsight, my question was a stupid one - of course it couldn't do both as the struts are in a completely different place.

I do have a spare wheel well (without wheel as it happens) but have the front strutted, gate-fold configuration. Seems odd that there were two varieties of strutted boot floor but it seems there are!

Didn't we establish yours was grandad spec? That's your Trilby and spare tissue box cupboard.

Clearly the wring size and shape for a tissue box. That's more likely to be for spare rubber feet for his walking stick.

[ATM]

philmots said:

I've an empty spare wheel well with more divides in.

Pics please

[ATM]

hornetrider said:

Phil - that iDrive update you did to your car. Does it now look like the modern menu on the latest BMWs? Did some googling last night, is it called a CIC upgrade?

No I think that uses a completely newer unit from the F models.

[ATM]

Update:

I dropped my Bus at the garage for an AC re-gas. I hope it is just as simple as a re-gas. Obviously when you buy a second hand car which says it needs a re-gas you automatically assume it will need completely rebuilding from the ground up.

I've decided to use some BBS wheels I've had in storage for about 2 years on the Bus. These are 18 inch diameter and have 8.5 inch wide fronts and 10 inch rears. They were a bit tired looking so I took them to a refurb place. Now I'm dilemma'ing over what go flat tyres to buy and what size. 245 40 front and 275 35 rear is the obvious choice. Obviously being a Man I know that more is better so I might try and squeeze a slightly wider tyre on the front - 255 40.

[ATM]

Here are some old pics from when I tried fitting the BBS wheels to my E46.

[ATM]

dom9 said:

ATM said:

Here are some old pics from when I tried fitting the BBS wheels to my E46.

Looking forward to seeing those on the car. I quite fancied a set like that on mine but I don't think the 'race' look of those BBS (or something like the E46 CSL wheel) would suit my SE spec car, sadly. Think yours could look great though. Maybe I need to get the silver window surrounds swapped/ wrapped/ painted?!

I wouldn't have necessarily chosen these wheels for my Bus. But as I had already them it seemed like the sensible thing to do. It's costing me £200 for the refurb and I've decided to go with a standard'ish grey colour as my Bus is Silver.

I'll need to play around with some spacers too as they have quite a high offset. This is lifted from the BBS website:

Front
CH 015 18 x 8.5 ET 35

Rear
CH 018 18 x 10 ET 40

[ATM]

Edited by ATM on Saturday 18th August 17:47

[ATM]

ATM said:

Update:

I dropped my Bus at the garage for an AC re-gas. I hope it is just as simple as a re-gas. Obviously when you buy a second hand car which says it needs a re-gas you automatically assume it will need completely rebuilding from the ground up.

48 quid and the blower is cold.

[ATM]

Jobbo said:

If it does, put a drivetrain warranty on the car now.

What do these cost?

[ATM]

smashie said:

dom9 said:

Good lad! Welcome to the club! Let us know what it's like!

Well it's fast. Gonna need to be careful with my right foot. Last 4.8 I had didn't go anywhere near as quick, but then again it was in a Range Rover and the last 5 series was only a 3L diesel. It sure does feel good to finally have another petrol car. Just got to remember I have one of each now and therefore need to fill them with the correct fuel.

Good man. Silver is the best colour for surprising other road users. Dual carriageways is where it's at. Even traffic light gran prix it's pretty impressive too especially if you get lucky on launch and the tc light stays off.