E91 Straight Six Bearding

[Swervin_Mervin]

AmirGSXR said:

Hi All,

On a tyre change today on my 2005 E90 330i, the garage notified me of some corrosion issues with the rear subframe. I was aware that this was happening but it is now at the point that I need to do something about it.

I will need the left and right pushrods (they are corroded badly) and the rubber bush. BMW bushes are £54 each, so may opt for the cheaper Febi Bilstein ones (£23 each).

I would like advice on how best to deal with the corroded subframe having never delved into this side of the maintenance. Is it an expensive and labour intensive job to have the current subframe blasted and then powdercoated? Are their any specialistss with good reputation for this?

Might be cheaper to just get one 2nd hand off eBay. One from Spain or similar? No idea what the labour would be to get one blasted and coated

[pmorg4]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Hive mind - I've probably asked this question a million times before, but can't recall. Is there a way to disable the rain sensors and have the switch revert to being a variable intermittent wipe?

You'll have to code it (NCS expert, ISTA etc) to remove the rain sensor, then the dial will revert to manual intermittent wipe, which is the factory behaviour for lower level models. I believe if you just unplug the sensor it will wipe once then stop, so not a solution unfortunately.

[E-numbers]

It s the return of the waterpump saga on my B3 finally was at home long enough to get my st together and run the car up onto the ramps and get the hoses and pump changed. Hasn t all gone to plan, I find it never does on older cars.

I could really do with some help on getting this completed. I ve changed a load of hoses, all the ones that looked tired or are known to break, also the expansion tank and was today working on getting everything back together. In a gazebo, with the pouring rain finding me lying underneath

Issues and watch outs:

1. I ve watched a lot of YouTube videos on this job and spent a lot of time on it- not rushing. Expect it to take time and need more parts to be removed (N54 has awful access with the charge pipes not helping). As I slot my waterpump back up into the space, it feels like it s being pushed back down by something. If I go to line it up for the 3 aluminium one time use bolts, it needs a lot of pressure to sit in the right position. Is that normal?

2. I got all of the hoses into the thermostat and only have the short u bend thermostat to waterpump hose left- as per the advice/BMW/and videos, it s on the thermostat and just needs to go into the waterpump now- I have sprayed silicon into both parts and can t for the life of me get it to seat. I ve been at it for more than an hour and just given up for today. This is the biggest issue I m facing to get this damn job complete.

3. A watch out- the short and very flimsy, aged wiring that goes to the thermostat- 2 think wires, under slight stress, yep, one broke. I found a repair harness- basically two wire extensions and a new thermostats plug- watch out for this. It s delicate and heat aged, and at least on my car it was under some tension to get into place. That was enough to break it. At least by extending the wires I ll hopefully avoid future problems.

Really could do with help/advice on the thermostat to pump hose. Picture here:



Thanks PH E91 beards!

ETA flimsy thermostat wires to watch out for:

[chris-s3]

chris-s3 said:

Is anyone running 225/50 R17 tyres?

Cracked both nearside MV3's on the 325i and pondering a square set of 17's off a F30 instead.

I ended up with a set of stock e90 Style 161 17's that I found cheap, will make a good winter set once the MV3 are back in service.
Pic in case anyone in the future wonders about Style 161 wheels on a E91

[JakeT]

E-numbers said:

It s the return of the waterpump saga on my B3 finally was at home long enough to get my st together and run the car up onto the ramps and get the hoses and pump changed. Hasn t all gone to plan, I find it never does on older cars.

I could really do with some help on getting this completed. I ve changed a load of hoses, all the ones that looked tired or are known to break, also the expansion tank and was today working on getting everything back together. In a gazebo, with the pouring rain finding me lying underneath

Issues and watch outs:

1. I ve watched a lot of YouTube videos on this job and spent a lot of time on it- not rushing. Expect it to take time and need more parts to be removed (N54 has awful access with the charge pipes not helping). As I slot my waterpump back up into the space, it feels like it s being pushed back down by something. If I go to line it up for the 3 aluminium one time use bolts, it needs a lot of pressure to sit in the right position. Is that normal?

2. I got all of the hoses into the thermostat and only have the short u bend thermostat to waterpump hose left- as per the advice/BMW/and videos, it s on the thermostat and just needs to go into the waterpump now- I have sprayed silicon into both parts and can t for the life of me get it to seat. I ve been at it for more than an hour and just given up for today. This is the biggest issue I m facing to get this damn job complete.

3. A watch out- the short and very flimsy, aged wiring that goes to the thermostat- 2 think wires, under slight stress, yep, one broke. I found a repair harness- basically two wire extensions and a new thermostats plug- watch out for this. It s delicate and heat aged, and at least on my car it was under some tension to get into place. That was enough to break it. At least by extending the wires I ll hopefully avoid future problems.

Really could do with help/advice on the thermostat to pump hose. Picture here:



Thanks PH E91 beards!

ETA flimsy thermostat wires to watch out for:

I might not be too much help as all work I’ve done has been on N52/3, which don’t have a lot going on in the exhaust side of the engine bay.

Can you soak the hose in hot water to soften it before fitting it? Also can it go on the pump first and then the thermostat once the pump is in?

[RSTurboPaul]

24% off genuine BMW screenwash until midnight 2nd Dec, making it £20.29 for 5 litres:

https://shop.bmw.co.uk/product/genuine-car-window-...

[Swervin_Mervin]

MOT passed yesterday. No advisories for engine covers or undertrays weirdly, but 1 for corrosion on the rear subframe (it's just surface imo) and more crucially 1 for rear brake lines.

1 of the hard lines is starting to swell apparently.

So as next year is its 20th birthday I'm starting to draw up a list of things to do, which will include new hard lines.

Anyone done those yet?

[stevesingo]

Swervin_Mervin said:

MOT passed yesterday. No advisories for engine covers or undertrays weirdly, but 1 for corrosion on the rear subframe (it's just surface imo) and more crucially 1 for rear brake lines.

1 of the hard lines is starting to swell apparently.

So as next year is its 20th birthday I'm starting to draw up a list of things to do, which will include new hard lines.

Anyone done those yet?

Are they the hardlines on the subframe - the main line runs down the car, has a small flexi, then on to a short run across the subframe.

They are a PITA.

When I refreshed my suspension, I bought a used subframe from ebay and had it shot blasted and powder coated. I then fitted new lines, bushes arms so it was 75% made up on the garage floor. Then one for oned with new hub carrier bearings.

[helix403]

Swervin_Mervin said:

MOT passed yesterday. No advisories for engine covers or undertrays weirdly, but 1 for corrosion on the rear subframe (it's just surface imo) and more crucially 1 for rear brake lines.

1 of the hard lines is starting to swell apparently.

So as next year is its 20th birthday I'm starting to draw up a list of things to do, which will include new hard lines.

Anyone done those yet?

I’ve done the line that goes along the rear subframe. It was cheap enough to buy a new genuine BMW part. It was quite straightforward to fit.

[rallycross]

This looks great value these remap straight back to 330i power with no other mods stick a set of sports seats in the front from eBay (£200) and you have a great value 6 cylinder manual touring for low cost


https://ebay.us/m/Biiwfz

Edited by rallycross on Saturday 20th December 15:46

[beambeam1]

I've kept an eye on that one and another in the same colour. On the lookout for a second car again and trying to decide between another E91 (my third) or go for an e92…

[JakeT]

Touring is obviously the way forwards. Though coupe models have a better spec as standard which helps.

[pmorg4]

Touring then Saloon for me on the E9x range, preferably LCI just because of the rear lights. The coupe was the pick of the range in the E46 looks wise but I haven’t really taken to any of the subsequent models.

[bmwmike]

rallycross said:

This looks great value these remap straight back to 330i power with no other mods stick a set of sports seats in the front from eBay (£200) and you have a great value 6 cylinder manual touring for low cost


https://ebay.us/m/Biiwfz

Edited by rallycross on Saturday 20th December 15:46

Its price is approx the same as the set of the injectors it'll probably need. N53 injectors are currently retailing at around £460 each. I got out of my n53 when they got harder to obtain during covid, and the price seems to have gone up and up since despite shortages easing.

[JakeT]

bmwmike said:

Its price is approx the same as the set of the injectors it'll probably need. N53 injectors are currently retailing at around £460 each. I got out of my n53 when they got harder to obtain during covid, and the price seems to have gone up and up since despite shortages easing.

Agreed. I looked at an E61 530i with an N53 earlier in the year, and it had injectors in January. £3,000 fitted at an independent specialist. It still misfired and ran poorly on startup.

[rallycross]

JakeT said:

Agreed. I looked at an E61 530i with an N53 earlier in the year, and it had injectors in January. £3,000 fitted at an independent specialist. It still misfired and ran poorly on startup.

You don’t need to buy new ones and if it’s running fine you won’t need any obviously don’t know till you test drive it!

[JakeT]

rallycross said:

You don t need to buy new ones and if it s running fine you won t need any obviously don t know till you test drive it!

You’re not wrong, but it’s a bit of a lottery getting used ones that work, and work long term. Like you say, a test drive should make it clear.

[RSTurboPaul]

JakeT said:

bmwmike said:

Its price is approx the same as the set of the injectors it'll probably need. N53 injectors are currently retailing at around £460 each. I got out of my n53 when they got harder to obtain during covid, and the price seems to have gone up and up since despite shortages easing.

Agreed. I looked at an E61 530i with an N53 earlier in the year, and it had injectors in January. £3,000 fitted at an independent specialist. It still misfired and ran poorly on startup.

That is insane.

[Mr Tidy]

pmorg4 said:

Touring then Saloon for me on the E9x range, preferably LCI just because of the rear lights. The coupe was the pick of the range in the E46 looks wise but I haven t really taken to any of the subsequent models.

I couldn't care less about the rear lights, I'm happy to stick to my early E90 as it has the N52 engine. I really wouldn't want to risk an N53!

[preacherman]

JakeT said:

rallycross said:

You don t need to buy new ones and if it s running fine you won t need any obviously don t know till you test drive it!

You re not wrong, but it s a bit of a lottery getting used ones that work, and work long term. Like you say, a test drive should make it clear.

Used injectors are absolute minefield and a micro percentage are actually useable these days. The only route is new and genuine. If you can wield INPA then you can at least replace only those that are required but they all have a relatively limited shelf life.