E91 Straight Six Bearding

[Swervin_Mervin]

pmorg4 said:

I think pretty much all E91s will need a set of tailgate struts if they're still on the originals. Mine were holding the tailgate up, but you had to give it quite a helping hand to raise it. A new pair of Stabilus struts for £25 or thereabouts was well worth the money and an easy job to change. Just don't forget to support the tailgate before removing one of the struts, as it won't stay up with just one strut supporting it.

And don't forget that new struts can make that thing swing up pretty quickly! As I found out when I first opened it and forgot that I'd fitted new ones. Nearly took my chin off

Good news George!

[g3org3y]

Swervin_Mervin said:

And don't forget that new struts can make that thing swing up pretty quickly! As I found out when I first opened it and forgot that I'd fitted new ones. Nearly took my chin off

Good news George!

[to3m]

to3m said:

I saw a E91 330i M-Sport in person the other day. I think it might even be the first one I've ever seen. I feel like I should get a badge or a sticker or something.

(I don't know if auto or manual - I didn't realise what it was exactly until I'd got into my car and saw the model badge.)

Quoting my post from 2018 - I saw an E90 330i M-Sport in person today, in the Waitrose car park in Sheffield. So that would be the 2nd.

(325i's are easier to find...)

Edited by to3m on Sunday 10th July 01:01

[g3org3y]

to3m said:

to3m said:

I saw a E91 330i M-Sport in person the other day. I think it might even be the first one I've ever seen. I feel like I should get a badge or a sticker or something.

(I don't know if auto or manual - I didn't realise what it was exactly until I'd got into my car and saw the model badge.)

Quoting my post from 2018 - I saw an E90 330i M-Sport in person today, in the Waitrose car park in Sheffield. So that would be the 2nd.

(325i's are easier to find...)

Fancy rich 330i drivers!

[VS02]

to3m said:

Quoting my post from 2018 - I saw an E90 330i M-Sport in person today, in the Waitrose car park in Sheffield. So that would be the 2nd.

(325i's are easier to find...)

Edited by to3m on Sunday 10th July 01:01

So i assume they are rare then? I was looking for one forever and could only find one that wasn’t hideously overpriced

[Court_S]

g3org3y said:

Thanks guys.

Wife said the car better not cause any more problems otherwise we're getting rid!

(Just had to order new boot struts as those have just given up the ghost resulting in a wack on the head yesterday when I was getting something out the boot).

Dying bonnet struts on my 130i certainly added a sense of excitement when working on it….

[bodhi]

to3m said:

to3m said:

I saw a E91 330i M-Sport in person the other day. I think it might even be the first one I've ever seen. I feel like I should get a badge or a sticker or something.

(I don't know if auto or manual - I didn't realise what it was exactly until I'd got into my car and saw the model badge.)

Quoting my post from 2018 - I saw an E90 330i M-Sport in person today, in the Waitrose car park in Sheffield. So that would be the 2nd.

(325i's are easier to find...)

Edited by to3m on Sunday 10th July 01:01

There used to be an E91 330i, albeit an SE from memory regularly seen in our golf club car park. Think the chap who owned it has now swapped it for a 640i GC, so clearly a fan of rare cars.

Mind I think in the time I've had my 125i (8 years), I've only seen 3 others out in the wild. Guess we're looking at the era when people really did just buy diesels...

[Court_S]

bodhi said:

There used to be an E91 330i, albeit an SE from memory regularly seen in our golf club car park. Think the chap who owned it has now swapped it for a 640i GC, so clearly a fan of rare cars.

Mind I think in the time I've had my 125i (8 years), I've only seen 3 others out in the wild. Guess we're looking at the era when people really did just buy diesels...

Yeah, that era of BMW was peak diesel so finding a good well spec’d petrol can be tough and frustrating. They are out there though.

[Court_S]

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

[helix402]

Any LL04, choose your grade. I use 5w30 simply as it’s what we put in when I worked at main dealer.

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

Either; higher miles maybe 5W40, but 5W30 will be fine for yours pal

I personally use TripleQX; it meets all necessary BMW specs, that and Mann filters and just change it yearly, if not twice a year for peace of mind...

x2 oil & filter changes is less than a tank of fuel currently

[bmwmike]

Court_S said:

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

I find my n53 oil temps lower with 5w40 than 5w30, also in theory as I often got it to 120c with 5w30 a 40 should cope better at that temp, though oddly since using 5w40 I've never had it at 120c, it seems to not get quite so hot. Id never have believed it till i did it btw, I thought in our climate there would be zero difference between 30 and a 40.

[Court_S]

Cheers both.

I’ll order some 5w 30 (probably Millers from Opie).

The Americans on forums are trying all sorts of weird and wonderful weights.

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

Cheers both.

I’ll order some 5w 30 (probably Millers from Opie).

The Americans on forums are trying all sorts of weird and wonderful weights.

Massive temp variations over there though

I've seen some Yank E39 owners running 15w50 etc as 5w30 turns to water in the heat they have

One oil I did use previously was Liqui Moly in the F01 and TBH the engine did run quieter & smoother; I added Ceratec too

Sreten of M539 Restorations really advocates the Liqui Moly stuff and they don't sponsor him; just a big fan of their oil... It does get good reviews!

[JakeT]

Court_S said:

Cheers both.

I’ll order some 5w 30 (probably Millers from Opie).

The Americans on forums are trying all sorts of weird and wonderful weights.

I’ve used the Millers in my N52 and it’s been dead fine (insofar as it hasn’t blown up).

Dan, I think Liqui Moly did sponson Sreten when he started on his E46 project. Not sure if they still do, mind.

I’d like to give LM a try but it’s always a bit of a pain to get ahold of.

[Gunk]

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

Either; higher miles maybe 5W40, but 5W30 will be fine for yours pal

I personally use TripleQX; it meets all necessary BMW specs, that and Mann filters and just change it yearly, if not twice a year for peace of mind...

x2 oil & filter changes is less than a tank of fuel currently

I’ve never quite understood why you would buy an aftermarket oil filter when an OEM BMW or Mahle filter is not exactly expensive, doesn’t seem worth saving a fiver.

[d_a_n1979]

Gunk said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

Either; higher miles maybe 5W40, but 5W30 will be fine for yours pal

I personally use TripleQX; it meets all necessary BMW specs, that and Mann filters and just change it yearly, if not twice a year for peace of mind...

x2 oil & filter changes is less than a tank of fuel currently

I’ve never quite understood why you would buy an aftermarket oil filter when an OEM BMW or Mahle filter is not exactly expensive, doesn’t seem worth saving a fiver.

What? Mann, Mahle are OEM filters for BMW...

[d_a_n1979]

JakeT said:

Court_S said:

Cheers both.

I’ll order some 5w 30 (probably Millers from Opie).

The Americans on forums are trying all sorts of weird and wonderful weights.

I’ve used the Millers in my N52 and it’s been dead fine (insofar as it hasn’t blown up).

Dan, I think Liqui Moly did sponson Sreten when he started on his E46 project. Not sure if they still do, mind.

I’d like to give LM a try but it’s always a bit of a pain to get ahold of.

Yeah they did sponsor him but that's ended as far as I can remember; had the same with Falken etc

TBH I got the LM oil via Amazon; delivered in 2 days via a UK reseller

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liqui-Moly-3756-Engine-Li...

[JakeT]

Gunk said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

Either; higher miles maybe 5W40, but 5W30 will be fine for yours pal

I personally use TripleQX; it meets all necessary BMW specs, that and Mann filters and just change it yearly, if not twice a year for peace of mind...

x2 oil & filter changes is less than a tank of fuel currently

I’ve never quite understood why you would buy an aftermarket oil filter when an OEM BMW or Mahle filter is not exactly expensive, doesn’t seem worth saving a fiver.

I bought a BMW branded filter last change for my E91, as I was collecting some other parts and it was the same MANN HU-819X filter I’d normally use, with all of the same bits.

[d_a_n1979]

JakeT said:

Gunk said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

Probably a daft question, but is 5w 30 the preferred oil for the N54.

I’m struggling find a definitive answer with all sorts of other recommendations.

Opie brings up mostly 5w 30 plus a few 5w 40’s.

Either; higher miles maybe 5W40, but 5W30 will be fine for yours pal

I personally use TripleQX; it meets all necessary BMW specs, that and Mann filters and just change it yearly, if not twice a year for peace of mind...

x2 oil & filter changes is less than a tank of fuel currently

I’ve never quite understood why you would buy an aftermarket oil filter when an OEM BMW or Mahle filter is not exactly expensive, doesn’t seem worth saving a fiver.

I bought a BMW branded filter last change for my E91, as I was collecting some other parts and it was the same MANN HU-819X filter I’d normally use, with all of the same bits.

Yup; without the BMW price tag

I always stick with Mann or Mahle; they're all made in the same factory IIRC