What have you done to your BMW today?

[McGee_22]

-TorqueR said:

I have owned my (F30) 330d xDrive for a few months now and have enjoyed it but I do have a question or two!

1) The DAB reception is bad, some days it’s OK and other days I am barely getting a signal anywhere, even on routes where I had signal the day before.

Is this a BMW trait that I have will have to live with ( I admit is a first world problem ) or are there any tips to improve the DAB experience?

2) I would like to replace the tyres in the near future, I heard that star rated tyres are needed on BM’s and in particular, the xDrive models. Is that correct?

We have a 2015 435d xdrive;

The DAB is crap more than 50% of the time - always has been.

We've replaced tyres with non-star tyres but the replacements are also XL (extra load) as the xdrive cars are weighty.

[Pica-Pica]

-TorqueR said:

I have owned my (F30) 330d xDrive for a few months now and have enjoyed it but I do have a question or two!

1) The DAB reception is bad, some days it’s OK and other days I am barely getting a signal anywhere, even on routes where I had signal the day before.

Is this a BMW trait that I have will have to live with ( I admit is a first world problem ) or are there any tips to improve the DAB experience?

2) I would like to replace the tyres in the near future, I heard that star rated tyres are needed on BM’s and in particular, the xDrive models. Is that correct?

F30 335d x drove here.
1) no issues with DAB, except in tunnels.
2) star-marked is the recommendation by BMW, although opinions will differ. I used to have Pirelli PZero in 19”, went down to 18” Goodyear EfficientGrips. Both star marked, the Goodyears are quieter and more comfortable. That’s my 2p worth.

[Wills2]

McGee_22 said:

We have a 2015 435d xdrive;

The DAB is crap more than 50% of the time - always has been.

.

Agreed on DAB depending of course where you drive but know of many blind sports locally where it will not get a signal (not car dependant either same in all the BMWs I've had with DAB)

[squareflops]

MOOG tension struts fitted on the F11



and an alignment



all sorted for France now, and slightly more skint

[d_a_n1979]

squareflops said:

MOOG tension struts fitted on the F11



and an alignment



all sorted for France now, and slightly more skint

Good to see you're all sorted

[squareflops]

d_a_n1979 said:

Good to see you're all sorted

cheers bud! and thanks for the recommendations

[d_a_n1979]

squareflops said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Good to see you're all sorted

cheers bud! and thanks for the recommendations

No probs; all the best on the Frenchy road trip... Should ride and handle smoothly now with the new arms!

[Gunk]

-TorqueR said:

I have owned my (F30) 330d xDrive for a few months now and have enjoyed it but I do have a question or two!

1) The DAB reception is bad, some days it’s OK and other days I am barely getting a signal anywhere, even on routes where I had signal the day before.

Is this a BMW trait that I have will have to live with ( I admit is a first world problem ) or are there any tips to improve the DAB experience?

2) I would like to replace the tyres in the near future, I heard that star rated tyres are needed on BM’s and in particular, the xDrive models. Is that correct?

I own the same car but a touring, DAB reception is disappointing compared with our Golf. Tyres, they just need to be XL

[-TorqueR]

Thank you for all the replies, much appreciated.

[d_a_n1979]

Cleaned inside and all leather treated with Mega Leather Conditioner

Front kidney grilles swapped out for all new OEM ones

Replacement battery popped onto trickle charge and will fit it tomorrow

[Pitre]

Swapped my E91 euro headlamps for UK ones in preparation for migrating back to England

Schoolboy error not checking the bulbs were working before fitting as bulb replacement is like bloody keyhole surgery. Grrrr.

[Gunk]

RESSE said:

Two weeks into E46 ownership:

1. Oil filter, air filter, spark plugs changed today + air conditioning service (the compressor is working fine but the air flow was not cold) all fixed and air is icy cold.

2. The c-pillar flap covers were not working and remained in this position:



After watching a few YouTube clips I discovered the return springs (both sides) had long since departed. An ebay purchase of two new springs (£11.82) and some skinning of knuckles later all is sorted. The springs attach to the underside of the flap covers, and over the years the retaining holes have cracked, but with a couple of washers and some gentle 'persuasion' they are working perfectly.





3. DVLA have been very efficient - I received the new owner V5 within 2 days and the tansfer of my late Mum's number plate to the car was completed at the beginning of this week.



4. Next on the list is to clean and treat the roof:

You’ve made a very nice car out of that. Looks lovely. I had a 330Ci convertible new back in 2002, they’re a really nice car and time has been very kind to them, the styling has matured very well. Sorry about the photo, no iPhone 13’s back then.

[RESSE]

Gunk said:

You’ve made a very nice car out of that. Looks lovely. I had a 330Ci convertible new back in 2002, they’re a really nice car and time has been very kind to them, the styling has matured very well. Sorry about the photo, no iPhone 13’s back then.

Gunk, thank you

Although I have (only) owned the car for a couple of weeks, I like it a lot and bonus is my wife approves. We took it to visit some friends in their new home yesterday evening, driving back roof down, our little dog on board and it was perfect. Happy days.

[to3m]

Pitre said:

Swapped my E91 euro headlamps for UK ones in preparation for migrating back to England

Schoolboy error not checking the bulbs were working before fitting as bulb replacement is like bloody keyhole surgery. Grrrr.

I did the driver's side bulb on my E90 the other week - what a pain. Mine has HIDs, and the excuse there is of course that the bulbs don't go pop very often, and this bulb has indeed lasted at least the 5 years I've had the car. But when researching what to do, I was a bit surprised to find that changing the E90 halogen bulbs sounds only marginally more straightforward.

I'd planned on doing both sides, so the colours match, but actually the result is fine, thank goodness. So I can put that off for a while

(Not sure about E46 HIDs, but changing the E46 halogens was super easy. And on a similar note, I also have a screenwash leak, another thing that's massively easier to debug on the E46. On the other hand, amount of rust I noticed this time while poking around in the front wheelarch: none.)

[Pitre]

to3m said:

..... on a similar note, I also have a screenwash leak, another thing that's massively easier to debug on the E46. On the other hand, amount of rust I noticed this time while poking around in the front wheelarch: none.)

I also had a leak on the front washers but taking off the cabin filter shroud gave easy access to the screen jets and it turned out that the pipe had just come off one of the jets. Simple fix, thankfully!

[d_a_n1979]

New battery, new OEM kidney grilles & new 'M' exterior door trims fitted...

That'll do for today; it's too bloody 'ot!

[Court_S]

RESSE said:

Gunk, thank you

Although I have (only) owned the car for a couple of weeks, I like it a lot and bonus is my wife approves. We took it to visit some friends in their new home yesterday evening, driving back roof down, our little dog on board and it was perfect. Happy days.

I’ve loved roof down driving since we’ve had my other half’s little 125i.

The E46 has aged really well and yours looks cracking.

[Court_S]

Finally changed the diff and gearbox oil on the 125i.

The diff was a pain because this is in the way



Gearbox fill and drain plugs were fking tight too.

[Court_S]

Braved / battled the heat to give both cars a clean, they were both covered in dust and the swallows that nest over the road had peppered them both with st that baked on in the sun.

[Olivergt]

New front dampers (Sachs OEM) for my E32

One was obviously leaking, the other was also leaking, but you couldn't see it.

Has a new NCT (Irish MOT) now, valid for 2 years.



I have the rears to do now. I have all the parts, just need to find the time, but may put off to the winter when the car will be used a lot less.