E61 V8 Bearding

E61 V8 Bearding

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Discussion

ATM

Original Poster:

18,085 posts

218 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
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Sounds like you've spent some money there.

pewe

648 posts

218 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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ATM said:
Sounds like you've spent some money there.
Oh yes but I intend to keep it long term.
My last sleeper was a SAAB 9-5 turbo estate which we owned for 17 years.
Spreading those sort of costs across that time-span makes it more sensible than it sounds.
Besides which I can't stand vehicles which are part functioning...

ATM

Original Poster:

18,085 posts

218 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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pewe said:
Oh yes but I intend to keep it long term.
My last sleeper was a SAAB 9-5 turbo estate which we owned for 17 years.
Spreading those sort of costs across that time-span makes it more sensible than it sounds.
Besides which I can't stand vehicles which are part functioning...
I try to never think long term keeper. It helps having 3 cars because they all need something most of the time. I haven't bought another for a while and I probably wont. When I had 4 it was a bit complicated. My commute now is only 5 miles each way anyway.

ATM

Original Poster:

18,085 posts

218 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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Winter boots on


alistair267

218 posts

147 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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Having not had mine through a winter yet, I presume the winter boots make a big difference (obviously in snow but also more normal winter days - cold, wet etc)?

Spotted some condensation in one of my headlights over the weekend, I will have to see if there's an easy fix for that

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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I found on BMWs I’ve owned winter tyres have been better in snow than summers but worse on cold damp leaf covered roads than summers.

alistair267

218 posts

147 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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helix402 said:
I found on BMWs I’ve owned winter tyres have been better in snow than summers but worse on cold damp leaf covered roads than summers.
I've had an E46 330i and E61 530i and never had winter tyres. With the 550i though it might be more worthwhile, although living in London if it does snow properly, it vanishes fairly quickly

ATM

Original Poster:

18,085 posts

218 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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I've been using Winter tyres since about 2010 I think. I'm tight so I shop around on eBay for used tyres. These Winter tyres I bought last year and used them last Winter. They only cost me £80 and a bit of fuel. Spend this year was just the fitting to the wheels which I already had. Cost me £50. Lets not talk about the cost for the storage bin I rent all year round to store all this junk.

First impression was as always with Winter tyres, the steering has a kind of damper or delay where you turn and there is a delay before the car actually turns. Its a bit like driving on marbles ... maybe. These tyres are 225 50 17 so the thinnest recommended by BMW. I'm probably using more steering input to achieve the same turn but I cant detect that. I can just detect the kind of muted sway or delayed response when I change direction or try to change direction. Just think of it as removing precision. I have never got stuck with Winter tyres on my car and I've driven past many many cars which were stuck.

So yes if there is no Snow and no Ice then these are a bit useless although they are supposed to grip better if it is just cold and damp. Some tests conclude they are better in the dry too if temps are around single digits. For me it used to be an insurance that I can go anywhere without worrying about the weather forecast. I've recently simplified my work drive balance so my commute is only 5 miles all on 30mph roads. But if I do choose to go somewhere else further afield then I can just get in and drive knowing I will only get stuck if everyone else blocks the road in front of me.

alistair267

218 posts

147 months

Monday 9th December 2019
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ATM said:
I've been using Winter tyres since about 2010 I think. I'm tight so I shop around on eBay for used tyres. These Winter tyres I bought last year and used them last Winter. They only cost me £80 and a bit of fuel. Spend this year was just the fitting to the wheels which I already had. Cost me £50. Lets not talk about the cost for the storage bin I rent all year round to store all this junk.

First impression was as always with Winter tyres, the steering has a kind of damper or delay where you turn and there is a delay before the car actually turns. Its a bit like driving on marbles ... maybe. These tyres are 225 50 17 so the thinnest recommended by BMW. I'm probably using more steering input to achieve the same turn but I cant detect that. I can just detect the kind of muted sway or delayed response when I change direction or try to change direction. Just think of it as removing precision. I have never got stuck with Winter tyres on my car and I've driven past many many cars which were stuck.

So yes if there is no Snow and no Ice then these are a bit useless although they are supposed to grip better if it is just cold and damp. Some tests conclude they are better in the dry too if temps are around single digits. For me it used to be an insurance that I can go anywhere without worrying about the weather forecast. I've recently simplified my work drive balance so my commute is only 5 miles all on 30mph roads. But if I do choose to go somewhere else further afield then I can just get in and drive knowing I will only get stuck if everyone else blocks the road in front of me.
Thanks, that's helpful to know

survivalist

5,614 posts

189 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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Hope no-one objects to me posting on this thread, seems the collective PH knowledge for the 550i resides here.

My brother has one of these and it’s now beginning to seriously smoke.

Would I be right in assuming that it’s the valve stem seals everyone talks about? If so anyone have a rough idea of cost to rectify and/or a recommendation for a decent specialist near Reading.

Thanks in advance.

S

JakeT

5,406 posts

119 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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Grosvenor motor company are pretty much the go to specialist in Reading. They are not cheap, but all live and breathe BMW. I've had work done there before and been happy. I'm sure they will have done a job like this before.

The smoking is usually the valve stem seals. Have your brother drive it for 35/40 mins to get it all warmed up, then let it sit idling for a couple of minutes. Give it a big rev. If there's a plume of smoke it's the valve stem seals.

ATM

Original Poster:

18,085 posts

218 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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Anything from £1200 to £5000

smashie

685 posts

150 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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Could be valve stems or in my case it was a score in one of the cylinder bores.

survivalist

5,614 posts

189 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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ATM said:
Anything from £1200 to £5000
That’s one hell of a range, assuming it’s for the same job. What determines the price?

ATM

Original Poster:

18,085 posts

218 months

Friday 13th December 2019
quotequote all
survivalist said:
ATM said:
Anything from £1200 to £5000
That’s one hell of a range, assuming it’s for the same job. What determines the price?
No - as above if the block is busted its big money.

Smoke is generally burning oil. It can also be burning anti freeze. We dont know what the problem is yet. I've seen some quotes of £1200 for valve stem oil seals but BMW would probably charge you more like £3000. You can DIY it for about 300 - 400 which is a complete guess.

clickmechanic quote £1360.95 for valve stem oil seals and claim BMW charge £3575.42.

smashie

685 posts

150 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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Anyone know which is the most suitable coolant I can get from Halfords/ECP to top mine up? Would usually use bmw coolant, but it seems my local bmw parts department can be bothered to open on a Saturday,
Could go Monday lunchtime to bmw near work, but that means a whole weekend of having to drive around in my Aygo, which does not fill me with joy,

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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What have you got in there now?

Just use the same stuff colour wise.

How much do you need to add?

If it is half a litre or so just add some water. What you don't want to do is mix coolants.

smashie

685 posts

150 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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Got the bmw stuff in there. Looks like I need to add a header tank’s worth. Should be ok with just water mine you as previously I was topping up neat!. Didn’t want to mix, hence I was hoping that could get the same from somewhere other than bmw as BMW do not make the coolant.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 13th December 2019
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smashie said:
Anyone know which is the most suitable coolant I can get from Halfords/ECP to top mine up? Would usually use bmw coolant, but it seems my local bmw parts department can be bothered to open on a Saturday,
Could go Monday lunchtime to bmw near work, but that means a whole weekend of having to drive around in my Aygo, which does not fill me with joy,
You need G48 antifreeze

pewe

648 posts

218 months

Monday 16th December 2019
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survivalist said:
Hope no-one objects to me posting on this thread, seems the collective PH knowledge for the 550i resides here.

My brother has one of these and it’s now beginning to seriously smoke.

Would I be right in assuming that it’s the valve stem seals everyone talks about? If so anyone have a rough idea of cost to rectify and/or a recommendation for a decent specialist near Reading.

Thanks in advance.

S
Ask Steve at Berkshire Motor Works (BMW geddit?) in Sindlesham.
My mate used him for his Z3 and spoke highly of him.
He's not above giving sound advice for free and his prices seem very reasonable.
The smoking problem is fairly common around 85k miles and is normally valve stem oil seals - ask me how I know...
Cheers, Pewe