E91 Straight Six Bearding

[Swervin_Mervin]

RECr said:

Is the glass supposed to pop fully open as soon as you press the release button? I've soaked my hinges in Plus Gas for the past few days and worked them back and forth quite a lot, but so far it's not made much real difference.

If it feels free of grit and clean, I'd get some white lithium grease squirted in there. That will help protect them and keep them lubed up

Edited by Swervin_Mervin on Saturday 17th July 19:25

[AmirGSXR]

I have a quick question on AC.

In almost three years of ownership, I have never used my AC, but the few times I have, it has been ice cold.
However, when I turn it off, there is a horrible musty smell which I understand to be mould spores on the evaporator.

Would a bacterial recon clean from the likes of ATS be beneficial in cleaning the system? https://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/consumer/air-condi...

I know aerosol 'bombs' can be used, but many suggest mixed results with them.

Do you guys have any other suggestions?

PS: Once smell is sorted, I will start using AC more to keep the seals lubed etc.

[JakeT]

Get yourself one of the Autoglym/Meguiars et al kits first and do what that says.

I’m in the camp of A/C all year round.

[MajorMantra]

Swervin_Mervin said:

They're only halogen units, but is removing them to try and hoover them out going to be a monumental ballache that I'll rue ever starting? I'm not even sure it would get everything either.

Headlight removal is a bumper-off job isn't it? One of my lights is slightly damaged and no longer properly seals, so it sometimes fogs a bit when it's really humid – I couldn't face the job so haven't addressed it.

Other than the openings the bulbs sit in, the headlights should be fully sealed AFAIK, so dust shouldn't really be able to get in?

[Swervin_Mervin]

MajorMantra said:

Swervin_Mervin said:

They're only halogen units, but is removing them to try and hoover them out going to be a monumental ballache that I'll rue ever starting? I'm not even sure it would get everything either.

Headlight removal is a bumper-off job isn't it? One of my lights is slightly damaged and no longer properly seals, so it sometimes fogs a bit when it's really humid – I couldn't face the job so haven't addressed it.

Other than the openings the bulbs sit in, the headlights should be fully sealed AFAIK, so dust shouldn't really be able to get in?

Yeah I suspect the bulb cover seals may be marginally compromised - they are 15yo rubber after all. And it's amazing just how far that dust gets. I spent 45mins the other night cleaning as much of the engine bay as I could from dust. not something I normally bother with but it looked like it'd been driven through the desert.

I guess I'll maybe just try to craft some sort of hoover attachment to try and hoover out via the bulb apertures.

[g3org3y]

JakeT said:

I’m in the camp of A/C all year round.

+1

[cerb4.5lee]

g3org3y said:

JakeT said:

I’m in the camp of A/C all year round.

+1

Same and I've left it on all year round in all my cars for years. I've often read that it is bad if you don't use it all the time.

[g3org3y]

cerb4.5lee said:

g3org3y said:

JakeT said:

I’m in the camp of A/C all year round.

+1

Same and I've left it on all year round in all my cars for years. I've often read that it is bad if you don't use it all the time.

If it isn't used on a regular basis I believe the seals are at risk of drying out.

[bmwmike]

never turn it off either, why would you? Driving around in the heat yesterday and the aircon on full blast made no difference to my mpg's, and it was working harder than it normally does. I get 21-23mpg around town normally and yesterday was exactly the same even with AC working hard.

[JakeT]

bmwmike said:

never turn it off either, why would you? Driving around in the heat yesterday and the aircon on full blast made no difference to my mpg's, and it was working harder than it normally does. I get 21-23mpg around town normally and yesterday was exactly the same even with AC working hard.

Agreed. I also like it that A/C stops the windows misting up. Once the cabin is at temperature, the compressor uses very little fuel. Outside of town, A/C uses less fuel than having the windows down. It’s also much more comfortable.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I probably use it more in the winter than any other time. I wear contacts and find it dries them out too much.

Plus I like being warm on the 5 days a year when it actually is remotely warm and I like having the windows down.

[Court_S]

cerb4.5lee said:

g3org3y said:

JakeT said:

I’m in the camp of A/C all year round.

+1

Same and I've left it on all year round in all my cars for years. I've often read that it is bad if you don't use it all the time.

Same here. Mine is never turned off, I just change the temperature to suit.

[cerb4.5lee]

Swervin_Mervin said:

I probably use it more in the winter than any other time. I wear contacts and find it dries them out too much.

My Mrs used to complain about that as well. She's had her eyes lasered now though...so that's one less thing for her to moan about!

[Mr Tidy]

cerb4.5lee said:

My Mrs used to complain about that as well. She's had her eyes lasered now though...so that's one less thing for her to moan about!

But she did have a point to be fair! I wear contacts quite often these days (so much easier than glasses when you need to wear a mask) and belting A/C is really uncomfortable. But wearing sunglasses helps no end.

[beambeam1]

Love me some AC. Worked the doors for years and after working a few hours inside a hot, sweaty nightclub there was not much nicer than the drive home with AC on full tilt to cool you down.

Just dropping in to report that the battery swap has done the trick! Haven't had an issue since.

[Swervin_Mervin]

cerb4.5lee said:

Swervin_Mervin said:

I probably use it more in the winter than any other time. I wear contacts and find it dries them out too much.

My Mrs used to complain about that as well. She's had her eyes lasered now though...so that's one less thing for her to moan about!

Yeah I won't be doing that.

[cerb4.5lee]

Swervin_Mervin said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Swervin_Mervin said:

I probably use it more in the winter than any other time. I wear contacts and find it dries them out too much.

My Mrs used to complain about that as well. She's had her eyes lasered now though...so that's one less thing for her to moan about!

Yeah I won't be doing that.

I'm definitely not brave enough for that either to be fair!

I was bad enough just sat waiting for her to go in for it to be honest!

[paul n]

Just in case anybody is looking for one sadly my manual M sport 330i touring is for sale,

will be sad to see her go but too good for what i am currently using it for!

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12006378

Cheers Paul

[JakeT]

I’m happy with my specs, I tried contacts but couldn’t poke myself in the eye four times a day.

[Swervin_Mervin]

You have to be suspicious when so many eye surgeons wear glasses

Anyway, back on topic. Guess what this dummy did. Having replaced the tailgate struts I decided why not do the bonnet ones. Only I didn't bloody check when ordering that they came as a pair did I? About the only place I could have ordered them from as singles and I manage to order just 1. And now they keep cancelling my order (via Amazon) for another