What have you done to your BMW today?
Discussion
Having a week of struts. Replaced the 53 plate's boot and bonnet struts with decent OEM ones. Have ordered the genuine BM ones for the other car. Unusually I remembered to take a before pic so as you can see they looked really tatty before, quite a bit visual difference, plus it now turns out that the boot actually opens to 90 degrees rather than the slightly better than 45 it did before.
You may also notice that I tried the youtube self-opening boot spring mod. I can report that it didn't do a thing. That's £2.68 I'll never see again. Not sure if i need bigger springs, or if Americans just have lighter bootlids or what.
Also, fixed a minor power steering fluid leak by, er, tightening the reservoir lid properly.
Finally, picked up a set of clubsport 18in alloys, and a pair of proper xenon headlights to replace the aftermarket bodge with the intermittent fault I inherited. That'll be a fun job for a sunny weekend soon.
RichardM5 said:
So while replacing the Sword, I also replaced the microfilter which may have been just a little overdue. This is common as it's a bit of a b
h to get at.
The old filter was a RHD version, it's split in two to enable you to fit it without removing the steering column, the LDH part does not need to be split as it's fitted from the passenger side footwell, you 'just' have to remove the glovebox, some trim and some of the vent pipes.
I recall doing this job on my E34 540i many years ago, and also that RHD models were supposedly significantly more difficult than LHD models. Somehow the passage of time has dulled the pain and I don't think it was that difficult aside from the contortion required of your body upside down in the driver's footwell, but were I to be faced with the same job today I'm sure my older and less flexible self would come to a different conclusion!h to get at.The old filter was a RHD version, it's split in two to enable you to fit it without removing the steering column, the LDH part does not need to be split as it's fitted from the passenger side footwell, you 'just' have to remove the glovebox, some trim and some of the vent pipes.
pmorg4 said:
I recall doing this job on my E34 540i many years ago, and also that RHD models were supposedly significantly more difficult than LHD models. Somehow the passage of time has dulled the pain and I don't think it was that difficult aside from the contortion required of your body upside down in the driver's footwell, but were I to be faced with the same job today I'm sure my older and less flexible self would come to a different conclusion!
Difficulty is relative I guess. It's not that hard a job per say, but relative to, for example, swapping the microfilters on an E39 which takes a minute or so if you go slow, it's significantly more time consuming. One particularly frustrating part is removing the two screws that hold the footwell vent pipe behind the glove box. The metal support is a sort of box section with two access holes in it and a slot at the bottom which is just too small for the screws and captive washers to fit through.
It is so designed that if you drop one of the screws it's just about impossible to get them out and the access hole is just too small to be able to hold the screw as it comes out, without a magnetic screwdriver it is almost inevitable that the screw will fall into the support. There were 3 screws that had previously been dropped in there, I managed to get them out by blasting compressed air through the slot at the bottom so the screws came flying up and out of the holes!
The other issue is that it involves removing various pieces of 30 year old plastic, these have also been removed in the past, presumably for the same job, and have various broken bits and pieces. Both the trim on the left of the glovebox and the piece above it had significant damage. Being a bit OCD, this then results in another trip to the local BMW parts department for another £100 worth of bits from Germany.
g3org3y said:
^Good luck! 
I've been using the E91 for tip runs as I've been cutting hedges.
Thanks.I've been using the E91 for tip runs as I've been cutting hedges.
It’s a bit different to the gasket on the George Austers video. Looks like there was a change when they introduced the N52 with the black engine cover. My gasket is held in place by two torx bolts plus the e torx bolts for the motor.
JakeT said:
I’m one of those sad gits that uses exclusively Shell Vpower. Fortunately I don’t do 25,000 miles a year anymore!
It’s a real sting after fuel prices were so low last year.
1 in 4 for me, the rest is Sainsburys PremiumIt’s a real sting after fuel prices were so low last year.
I tend to stick to those 2 as my car will have had the higher RON fuel that's more common in Japan
Don't think I've stuck 95RON in it since I bought it back in March 2019
JakeT said:
I’m one of those sad gits that uses exclusively Shell Vpower. Fortunately I don’t do 25,000 miles a year anymore!
It’s a real sting after fuel prices were so low last year.
Definitely noticed this too with VPower, now the £100 limit on the app is often not enough to fill the Merc. It’s a real sting after fuel prices were so low last year.
The new gearknob arrived today. Takes a few seconds to fit.
So thats the new gearknob fitted, the missing cup holder replaced, the aluminium trim replaced (previous one had a deep scratch on the ash tray), steering wheel trim replaced and new fitted mats.
(door card off as i'm waiting on my door mirror coming)
So thats the new gearknob fitted, the missing cup holder replaced, the aluminium trim replaced (previous one had a deep scratch on the ash tray), steering wheel trim replaced and new fitted mats.
(door card off as i'm waiting on my door mirror coming)
Deep Thought said:
The new gearknob arrived today. Takes a few seconds to fit.
So thats the new gearknob fitted, the missing cup holder replaced, the aluminium trim replaced (previous one had a deep scratch on the ash tray), steering wheel trim replaced and new fitted mats.
(door card off as i'm waiting on my door mirror coming)
Exactly the same gear knob in my touring!So thats the new gearknob fitted, the missing cup holder replaced, the aluminium trim replaced (previous one had a deep scratch on the ash tray), steering wheel trim replaced and new fitted mats.
(door card off as i'm waiting on my door mirror coming)
Where did you source yours from (sorry if this has already been asked)?
d_a_n1979 said:
Exactly the same gear knob in my touring!
Where did you source yours from (sorry if this has already been asked)?
Ebay - but likely paid over the odds.Where did you source yours from (sorry if this has already been asked)?
Its discussed on page 32 from about 1/4 the way down. Mr Tidy has some pointers RE: getting one cheaper near the bottom of that page.
Do note however, there is two lengths for the shaft. Ones about an inch longer than the other so pull yours out and have a good check and comparison. I ordered the wrong one initially and had to send it back.
I think its as simple as the shaft colour (studying mine here as we speak). Black is the shorter shaft, grey is the longer one. Theres about an inch difference.
Theres links to both (and part numbers in the links) about 1/4 way down page 32.
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