E91 Straight Six Bearding

[MajorMantra]

ATM said:

E61

A bit bigger without being massive

Still good feel and balance

Well worth trying IMHO

Call me shallow but I struggle with the looks of the E61. If I ever move to a 5 it'll almost certainly have to be an F11. The petrol engine choices aren't great though, so that might mean a return to diesel (which I thought I'd seen the last of).

[d_a_n1979]

MajorMantra said:

ATM said:

E61

A bit bigger without being massive

Still good feel and balance

Well worth trying IMHO

Call me shallow but I struggle with the looks of the E61. If I ever move to a 5 it'll almost certainly have to be an F11. The petrol engine choices aren't great though, so that might mean a return to diesel (which I thought I'd seen the last of).

The F11 touring is a superb car; the N57 530D is a fantastic engine and that was the touring I really wanted to go for after selling my Jap import E39 530i Sport touring; but got won over by an F01 730D instead

There are a few F11 535i's cropping up now; that'd be hell of an upgrade on an E9x TBH

The E61 tourings have gotten better with age; but the F11 is a much better move IMO

[MajorMantra]

d_a_n1979 said:

The F11 touring is a superb car; the N57 530D is a fantastic engine and that was the touring I really wanted to go for after selling my Jap import E39 530i Sport touring; but got won over by an F01 730D instead

There are a few F11 535i's cropping up now; that'd be hell of an upgrade on an E9x TBH

The E61 tourings have gotten better with age; but the F11 is a much better move IMO

Indeed, the 530D looks like the best all-round buy, and they're getting fairly affordable.

Back to calipers...

Does anyone know who the OEM is for E91 calipers? Not that it matters hugely, just overwhelmed by options.

£30 gets you this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305280926200

(Says 'genuine' then also says it's a 'Remy'. Plus it looks like it may have an ATE logo – is that the OEM? Not sure what to make of all this...)

Also, BMW calipers don't normally come with new slider pins, right?

[helix402]

MajorMantra said:

Indeed, the 530D looks like the best all-round buy, and they're getting fairly affordable.

Back to calipers...

Does anyone know who the OEM is for E91 calipers? Not that it matters hugely, just overwhelmed by options.

£30 gets you this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305280926200

(Says 'genuine' then also says it's a 'Remy'. Plus it looks like it may have an ATE logo – is that the OEM? Not sure what to make of all this...)

Also, BMW calipers don't normally come with new slider pins, right?

ATE make the calipers for BMW. The one in the link is a used gen. BMW caliper rebuilt by Remy.

[MajorMantra]

helix402 said:

ATE make the calipers for BMW. The one in the link is a used gen. BMW caliper rebuilt by Remy.

Ahh, that makes sense, thank you. Not sure their use of 'brand new' fits my definition, but I'd be happy with that.

[Swervin_Mervin]

MajorMantra said:

I do think about when to call time on the car as it's needed quite a bit in the last few years, but then I consider the alternatives. Other than moving to an F11 for the extra space, there's not a lot that really draws me in its class. And I do really like driving my E91. Anything newer seems to lose out on 'feel' (thanks in no small part to electric steering, I suspect).

I've come to the conclusion I probably won't get rid of mine. It's just too good at what it does, drives better than anything more modern in it's class, owes me nowt, has extremely low running costs and I just love driving it.

I'd rather get a classic and run the E91 during the winter months than get anything modern. Or I'd get an A110 and run that most of the year.

[MajorMantra]

Spotted this keenly priced 335i local to me if anyone is feeling brave...

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/20444503...

(No connection to seller.)

[helix402]

A tailgate question. Please could someone open their tailgate and check the trim, pictured:






Does your car have the added piece in red?

[Fermit]

MajorMantra said:

Spotted this keenly priced 335i local to me if anyone is feeling brave...

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/20444503...

(No connection to seller.)

That is incredibly cheap for a 35i touring.

[MajorMantra]

helix402 said:

A tailgate question. Please could someone open their tailgate and check the trim, pictured:

Does your car have the added piece in red?

Nope. Although no guarantee this is correct...

[helix402]

MajorMantra said:

Nope. Although no guarantee this is correct...

Thanks. I suspect the bodyshop who treated the tailgate rust (prior to my ownership) fitted them in an attempt to prevent the rust returning. I think they made it worse by trapping water.

[Swervin_Mervin]

MajorMantra said:

Nope. Although no guarantee this is correct...

Mine's the same as that

[MajorMantra]

I'm still having minor idle issues and a very occasional CEL.

The 2C7F code pretty much never goes away, the 2C6C appeared with the latest engine light.

Over the last 18 months I've thrown parts at this and got a garage involved too. I changed all the oxygen sensors for new Bosch ones, the MAF, the oil breather/separator, and the garage checked for vacuum leaks too. Despite this, it's not quite right!

Aside from the occasional warning light, it still hunts at idle and if left idling for several minutes, the revs sometimes drop momentarily to the point where it sounds like it's going to stall, but it doesn't.

Any suggestions? Find a better garage? Try more smoke testing?

The car still drives fine but it just irritates me that I can't seem to solve the problem for good. Also, there's always the possibility the engine light will come on during an MOT which could be a pain.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Currently mulling what parts to order from BMW. List so far is

• supporting ledge (for the windscreen cowl as per Sam "court_S" find about getting the seal to seal properly)
• Handle for boot floor after kwik-st broke mine
• filler cap - the tether went years ago but the seal is also shot now and it honks. Could replace just the seal but...
• sound insulation for the bonnet - mine's sagging and I'm not convinced it must do much anymore. Not cheap though!!

Was also eyeing up the m performance gear knob but again they're fairly pricey items. Mine std one has started to lose its silver wrap on the top and so I'm tempted to upgrade. But you're looking at £150 if you add in the gaitor as well!

I did think about new strut braces as well as mine have started to corrode. Would be £250 for a pair though! Anyone else's have any corrosion?

And lastly, was looking at a new cowl but they're also fairly pricey. I was only looking because the clips that hold the cable ducting above the engine are all broken. The ducting stays up as there's enough of the clips left to slide on and tension of the cables holds them in place. Not sure I'm bothered enough given the cost though.

There's an ever increasing amount of NLA parts on these now though so that's at the back of my mind with a lot of stuff that's looking tired.

[JakeT]

That’s a good list. I’d probably get some good used bits, as fortunately tonnes of E90s were sold, so here’s still lots of good used parts on the market. One of the clips that supports the wiring on mine is broken too but I’ve done nothing about it, as per. For the strut braces a rub down and paint would probably see them right too.

[helix402]

Re strut braces I bought a good used pair. I may get the originals powder coated one day. Don’t forget the bolts are stretch bolts.

[williskwl]

williskwl said:

Many thanks Dan I will check that out first- Tape ordered! That sounds like a good tip when I couldn’t see anything obvious in the other seals (other than some wear on the drivers side entry point).

So both front and rear door done and back together. Took the drivers seat out and from the carpet/ underneath took 3 full carpet washer’s worth of water out. Booked in a water test for next week to see… fingers crossed it’s good now!

(Driver vapour seal original seal was very wet so hopeful!!)

[Court_S]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Currently mulling what parts to order from BMW. List so far is

• supporting ledge (for the windscreen cowl as per Sam "court_S" find about getting the seal to seal properly)
• Handle for boot floor after kwik-st broke mine
• filler cap - the tether went years ago but the seal is also shot now and it honks. Could replace just the seal but...
• sound insulation for the bonnet - mine's sagging and I'm not convinced it must do much anymore. Not cheap though!!

Was also eyeing up the m performance gear knob but again they're fairly pricey items. Mine std one has started to lose its silver wrap on the top and so I'm tempted to upgrade. But you're looking at £150 if you add in the gaitor as well!

I did think about new strut braces as well as mine have started to corrode. Would be £250 for a pair though! Anyone else's have any corrosion?

And lastly, was looking at a new cowl but they're also fairly pricey. I was only looking because the clips that hold the cable ducting above the engine are all broken. The ducting stays up as there's enough of the clips left to slide on and tension of the cables holds them in place. Not sure I'm bothered enough given the cost though.

There's an ever increasing amount of NLA parts on these now though so that's at the back of my mind with a lot of stuff that's looking tired.

That’s not a bad list; I’d also be tempted to look at used parts from decent breakers. I sourced the lower part for the cabin filter for my 130i from Global Parts because of some broken clips etc.

[roadie]

MajorMantra said:

I'm still having minor idle issues and a very occasional CEL.

The 2C7F code pretty much never goes away, the 2C6C appeared with the latest engine light.

Over the last 18 months I've thrown parts at this and got a garage involved too. I changed all the oxygen sensors for new Bosch ones, the MAF, the oil breather/separator, and the garage checked for vacuum leaks too. Despite this, it's not quite right!

Aside from the occasional warning light, it still hunts at idle and if left idling for several minutes, the revs sometimes drop momentarily to the point where it sounds like it's going to stall, but it doesn't.

Any suggestions? Find a better garage? Try more smoke testing?

The car still drives fine but it just irritates me that I can't seem to solve the problem for good. Also, there's always the possibility the engine light will come on during an MOT which could be a pain.

What engine is having issues? I ask as I am having this part replaced on my N55 due to having hunting at idle and throttle hesitations.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/Camshafts/Valve...

[MajorMantra]

roadie said:

What engine is having issues? I ask as I am having this part replaced on my N55 due to having hunting at idle and throttle hesitations.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/Camshafts/Valve...

Mine is the N52, although it has a valvetronic motor too. I don't have any codes that directly relate to it, but honestly anything is possible...