What have you done to your BMW today?

What have you done to your BMW today?

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Discussion

danb79

10,479 posts

82 months

Saturday 21st December 2024
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cerb4.5lee said:
You've done an absolutely cracking job with those Dan. coolthumbup
Cheers Lee smile Very happy how they’ve turned out. They’re in no way perfect, but for my weekend banger, they’ll do very nicely indeed biggrin

It’s in with my pals on 07th Jan to get them fitted and then it can stay as is until Spring when I’ll get the suspension fully overhauled wink

Mr Tidy

25,186 posts

137 months

Saturday 21st December 2024
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Olivergt said:
JakeT said:
Absolutely, I can’t disagree on the medicinal purposes of dailying and old BMW. In the last 9 years I’ve put around 165,000 miles on old BMWs as my daily, and it’s been great. I could save some pennies by running around in something else, but the misery it would inflict would be far more costly.
Absolutely agree, I don't use mine as a daily, but it definitely feels better when it's used regularly.

It hadn't been used much when I bought it, but after a week and a 1000 miles in Scotland it felt much better. Hopefully get it out for a run this weekend if it's dry.

Someone was asking on YT how best to layup a car for the winter and the response was, don't! Much better to use it a little on dry days rather than leave it for months.
My 3 dailies for the last decade have been a 2002 E46 325ti, 2002 E91 325i and currently a 2005 E90 330i and they really are such a pleasure to drive. biggrin

Before that I tried a minimalist approach with a low mileage 1996 Mazda 323f 1.5i for the low Road Tax and other running costs - it lasted just 6 months!

danb79

10,479 posts

82 months

Sunday 22nd December 2024
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More faffing with the car…

Drivers side from wheel off; wheel arch liner out; replaced the headlight washer nozzles (absolute faff, should have took the bumper off but I didn’t want to be defeated) haha

Once you can see it; you just undo the 2 8mm bolts; but getting to them is faffy and it’s not a job if you’ve shovel like hands like me!

Anyways; done. No more leaks smile





Halo light bulbs replaced with Oscar’s H8 Nightbreakers whilst I was at it

preacherman

389 posts

216 months

Tuesday 24th December 2024
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After replacing a rear caliper with a refurb (thanks danb79 for the recommendation) and adding discs and pads to the deal, I was able to make it to Christmas plans this week. Except that first I had to roll over a screw and pierce a brand new PS4. It was 3 days old, how's that for luck!

That bad news was tempered by the arrival of a retrimmed steering wheel from Royal Steering Wheels. What a delight that is; makes the car feel much newer. Very happy with their service and quality of work.

danb79

10,479 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th December 2024
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Had a Boxing Day blast out in the 130i this morning. Roads were absolutely dead which was superb.

8°C out, the Michelin CC2s were super grippy on the country lanes and short sections of bypasses I went on through the Ribble Valley and did 72miles to half a tank of VPower biggrinhehe

bodhi

11,956 posts

239 months

Friday 27th December 2024
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Has the afternoon to myself after a heavy few days socialising - original plan was to play some golf but my course was shut due to fog - so decided the give the 125i a bit of a deep clean.

Before picture from a distance suggested it wasn't too bad:



But on closer inspection it was a bit grim - probably best look away now if clean cars are your thing...





Clearly showing the signs of being left out and driven in all weathers. So go to work - despite not really doing washing my own car I did manage to get some Auto Glym stuff out the shed from the last time I thought about cleaning it (2021), and found some shampoo and wheel cleaner.

Did a proper job for once, including all door/boot/bonnet shuts, and the fuel filler which was as grim as you would expect after 15 years and 178k miles.



Came out pretty well for an old hector - didn't get a chance to polish as ran out of light, so that and the interior will have to wait for another day.





Also gave me a chance to look at the bodywork up close, and after the mileage it's a bit of a mixed bag. Bonnet and front bumper are covered in stone chips and will ideally need replaced, but other than a couple of bits of surface rust where a stone's hit it, it isn't looking too bad at all.

Hopefully replacing the Civic in the background this year and it's replacement will take over the bulk of transportation duties, which will allow me to gradually bring the 125i up the scratch as well.

MissChief

7,334 posts

178 months

Friday 27th December 2024
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bodhi said:
Has the afternoon to myself after a heavy few days socialising - original plan was to play some golf but my course was shut due to fog - so decided the give the 125i a bit of a deep clean.

Before picture from a distance suggested it wasn't too bad:



But on closer inspection it was a bit grim - probably best look away now if clean cars are your thing...





Clearly showing the signs of being left out and driven in all weathers. So go to work - despite not really doing washing my own car I did manage to get some Auto Glym stuff out the shed from the last time I thought about cleaning it (2021), and found some shampoo and wheel cleaner.

Did a proper job for once, including all door/boot/bonnet shuts, and the fuel filler which was as grim as you would expect after 15 years and 178k miles.



Came out pretty well for an old hector - didn't get a chance to polish as ran out of light, so that and the interior will have to wait for another day.





Also gave me a chance to look at the bodywork up close, and after the mileage it's a bit of a mixed bag. Bonnet and front bumper are covered in stone chips and will ideally need replaced, but other than a couple of bits of surface rust where a stone's hit it, it isn't looking too bad at all.

Hopefully replacing the Civic in the background this year and it's replacement will take over the bulk of transportation duties, which will allow me to gradually bring the 125i up the scratch as well.
Looks to have cleaned up pretty well. smile

Sofa

501 posts

102 months

Friday 27th December 2024
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Few little bits done to the 125i recently:

Very tired old centre caps replaced. Thought I’d give some AliExpress ones a punt, the fit isn’t quite as good as OEM ones but not bad for a fiver and still a vast improvement.



Rebadged it, again thought I’d give AliExpress a go at 1/10th the price of a genuine item. I took the badge off not long after I bought it as it had clearly been replaced at some point and was in totally the wrong place, but recently went off the look- think it looks much nicer with the badge back on.


New plates to replace the very tired pressed metal ones I got the car with- the front one was dented which I thought was just from 20k+ miles of rocks and stones being kicked up, but the front has obviously had a clout as the bumper behind was also dented- happily the plate totally covers this. laugh (Yes, it is ever so slightly wonky in the photo, now rectified)

I’ve also got all the bits to upgrade the front brakes to 130i spec as the discs need doing anyway, so it’ll get booked in for that and some other bits (diff seals and reluctor rings!) in the new year. Similar to Bodhi’s the bodywork is a bit of a mixed bag, as you can see in the last photo the 97k miles are clearly visible in the number of stone chips- there’s a scrape I need to get sorted thanks to someone who couldn’t parallel park (or leave a note) so I may look at getting a more comprehensive respray done at the same time. Then it should be all sorted for a planned trip to the ‘ring in May. driving

Edited by Sofa on Friday 27th December 18:15

Pizzaeatingking

581 posts

81 months

Friday 27th December 2024
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After 4 weeks or so of it not moving I started it this week and was greeted by a low battery warning. Not hugely surprised so I picked up a charger/maintainer. It was a pain to hook up because I have a Panda in the garage so I can't get in the house side of the garage. This means I had to plug it in, shut the garage door and move the car close enough to connect the charger.

It's sorted now though, bonnet shut fine and it was showing less than 25% charge once connected so certainly needed it. I just need to remember to disconnect it before driving off in it next time I take it out!


danb79

10,479 posts

82 months

Saturday 28th December 2024
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Full in-depth clean today, inside and out; just timed it well with the 2.5 hours were had with no rain/mizzle laugh


Full hoover inside and wiped down everywhere


Exterior got a full AG Polar Blast snow foam; wheels cleaned with various brushes and tyres scrubbed; rinsed, AG Polar Wash applied, hand-washed, rinsed. Last of my AG Polar Seal applied, rinsed, towel dried. Glass cleaned with Gtechniq glass cleaner; wheels quickly waxed with Chemical Guys Blazin' Banana carnuba spray wax and buffed, tyres treated with AGs Instant Tyre Dressing


It's up the drive now as won't be used for a good week or so; I'll stick it on trickle next week


The beading looks superb in the security light on the drive haha biggrin

Mr Squarekins

1,225 posts

72 months

Saturday 28th December 2024
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Gave both of them a bit of a clean smile

Mark-insert old BMW

16,381 posts

183 months

Sunday 29th December 2024
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That bike is a work of art.

cerb4.5lee

34,765 posts

190 months

Sunday 29th December 2024
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Mark-insert old BMW said:
That bike is a work of art.
I thought that as well. What a beauty. love

danb79

10,479 posts

82 months

Sunday 29th December 2024
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Collected these this morning - OEM Style 208s - 18x7.5 / 18x8.5 thumbup


Will get them to my pals sometime soon for a full refurb in platinum silver and then shod with new premium tyres; more than likely Conti Sport 7s - thinking 225/40 fronts and 245/35 rears



Stillstand

1,595 posts

217 months

Monday 30th December 2024
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After months have passed, I've finally managed to get my retrofit reverse camera installation working on my G31.

This was far from simple - installing the camera, running the loom to the fuseboard in the rear, ground and then to the BDC at the front. Made extra complicated by the retrofit instructions from BMW being incorrect and having to splice wires on one of the pins on the BDC module, with a little help from friends.

I had it coding by changing the VO and it works.


Pica-Pica

14,780 posts

94 months

Monday 30th December 2024
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Last week, after a trip down to Kent, I filled from almost empty with a tank-full of BP Ultimate diesel (a long time since I have used it). The car seemed sluggish, and confused about when to change gear for a while (335d auto). Now having come back and down to a quarter-full, the car seems decidedly perky. I don’t know if that was the long trip it needed, or the BP Ultimate diesel. It certainly seemed suitably refreshed (almost 60k miles, never any DPF issues). I may treat it to BP Ultimate periodically. Any views? I know the cetane value is supposed to be higher (though not declared as such).

Huff

3,239 posts

201 months

Monday 30th December 2024
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I 've not owned a diesel myself but the Premium diesels from (BP, Shell, likely others) are made via 'gas-to-liquid' refining- and this makes them very clean & consistent.


So could be a combination of yes, decent long run + cleaner injectors after it.
NB My Dad has long found similar with his XF 3litre, so runs it on the better stuff at the advice of his indy - & had fewer EGR niggles as a result.

danb79

10,479 posts

82 months

Monday 30th December 2024
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Pica-Pica said:
Last week, after a trip down to Kent, I filled from almost empty with a tank-full of BP Ultimate diesel (a long time since I have used it). The car seemed sluggish, and confused about when to change gear for a while (335d auto). Now having come back and down to a quarter-full, the car seems decidedly perky. I don’t know if that was the long trip it needed, or the BP Ultimate diesel. It certainly seemed suitably refreshed (almost 60k miles, never any DPF issues). I may treat it to BP Ultimate periodically. Any views? I know the cetane value is supposed to be higher (though not declared as such).
We run 2 in 4 tanks (usually) of Shell VPower diesel and it keeps the engine running sweet.

Its smoother now than it has been more so as the wife's using it daily and that's doing it good as well

M28TTR

42 posts

51 months

Monday 30th December 2024
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Had a nice run out to Wales for a few hours today, bit greasy for the bike so took the car, out towards Abergavenny from Chepstow to Usk, then onto the B4560. Awesome road and views.










Mark-insert old BMW

16,381 posts

183 months

Monday 30th December 2024
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M28TTR said:
Had a nice run out to Wales for a few hours today, bit greasy for the bike so took the car, out towards Abergavenny from Chepstow to Usk, then onto the B4560. Awesome road and views.









Lovely.

I can't wait to be able to take the E30 on a Welsh jolly.