What have you done to your BMW today?

What have you done to your BMW today?

Author
Discussion

Chris Stott

15,272 posts

207 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Replaced the drivers door handle mechanism on my E53.

Bit of a ball ache of a job, but at least I can get in the car again. Unfortunately going to have to bite the bullet and buy a BMW part as the cheap one I have isn’t great.

Chestrockwell

2,778 posts

167 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all


I haven't done anything to mine today but I didn't realise the difference some springs, spacers and an ebay diffuser would make to a standard one until I parked next to it.


cerb4.5lee

34,802 posts

190 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Chestrockwell said:
I haven't done anything to mine today but I didn't realise the difference some springs, spacers and an ebay diffuser would make to a standard one until I parked next to it.
Spacers always make a nice difference as you say, and they transformed the way the wheels sit versus standard on my 370Z as well. I often flirt with the idea of putting some on the M4 too.

Court_S

13,997 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Chestrockwell said:


I haven't done anything to mine today but I didn't realise the difference some springs, spacers and an ebay diffuser would make to a standard one until I parked next to it.
The stock diffuser on the 1/2 series is bloody awful. I fitted a Reiger to mine.


Court_S

13,997 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
I’m still waiting for my replacement washer pump to arrived. I did dig out the old washer bottle for when the headlight washers were connected but the headlight washers use a different pump to the windscreen. The new pump is due to arrive tomorrow.

The new metal bracket for fixing the engine cover arrived today so I popped that on. Ever since I’ve had the Z4, the engine cover was loose / a pig to fit. Looks like the cage underneath was damaged.

Court_S

13,997 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
danb79 said:
Washed it; absolutely filthy... Scrubs up ok wink










It’s a never ending battle at the moment. I’ve done 18 miles since I washed mine on Monday and it’s absolutely filthy again. Like absolutely plastered with salt and mud. Which is nice with no windscreen washers.

Chestrockwell

2,778 posts

167 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Court_S said:
Chestrockwell said:


I haven't done anything to mine today but I didn't realise the difference some springs, spacers and an ebay diffuser would make to a standard one until I parked next to it.
The stock diffuser on the 1/2 series is bloody awful. I fitted a Reiger to mine.

Yours look lovely, I dont know what it is but only the 1/2 series make Alpine white look nice, on other BMW's it looks flat, cheap, basic, don't know what it is

JakeT

5,689 posts

130 months

Thursday 16th January
quotequote all
Chris Stott said:
Replaced the drivers door handle mechanism on my E53.

Bit of a ball ache of a job, but at least I can get in the car again. Unfortunately going to have to bite the bullet and buy a BMW part as the cheap one I have isn’t great.
I had to do the drivers and passengers side ones on my dad’s E53. I think it had two drivers and a passengers side over its life. I fitted genuine ones too, but it seems that drivers ones lasted about 120k a time before failing. Usually wrenching the door open when it’s frozen. hehe

Chris Stott

15,272 posts

207 months

Thursday 16th January
quotequote all
JakeT said:
I had to do the drivers and passengers side ones on my dad’s E53. I think it had two drivers and a passengers side over its life. I fitted genuine ones too, but it seems that drivers ones lasted about 120k a time before failing. Usually wrenching the door open when it’s frozen. hehe
Mines only done 150k km (90k miles) and it’s already had one replacement before this according to the history I have.

Plus it never freezes down here in southern Spain… coldest I’ve ever seen is 4*, but the car sits in a garage that doesn’t ever drop below double digits.

Used it today and it’s not great… but it was only €40… a genuine part is over €100.

McGee_22

7,212 posts

189 months

Thursday 16th January
quotequote all
Washed the E39 - it had got properly dirty. After the wash I polished the glass, treated the lights to some UV protection polish, quick vacuum of the footwells and some other tinkering

g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,323 posts

201 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
JakeT said:
Chris Stott said:
Replaced the drivers door handle mechanism on my E53.

Bit of a ball ache of a job, but at least I can get in the car again. Unfortunately going to have to bite the bullet and buy a BMW part as the cheap one I have isn’t great.
I had to do the drivers and passengers side ones on my dad’s E53. I think it had two drivers and a passengers side over its life. I fitted genuine ones too, but it seems that drivers ones lasted about 120k a time before failing. Usually wrenching the door open when it’s frozen. hehe
I hear quite a common issue on the E53?

Chris Stott

15,272 posts

207 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
I hear quite a common issue on the E53?
It is… because people pull the handle out, rather than lifting it.

I think the E39 has a similar mechanism, but less of an issue as the handle is lower down, so it’s more of a natural movement to pull up rather than out.

Olivergt

1,731 posts

91 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
Chris Stott said:
g3org3y said:
I hear quite a common issue on the E53?
It is… because people pull the handle out, rather than lifting it.

I think the E39 has a similar mechanism, but less of an issue as the handle is lower down, so it’s more of a natural movement to pull up rather than out.
I have an e46 coupe and everyone seems to have trouble opening the doors, the lift up is not the most intuitive.

And don't get me started on people closing the door using the glass!!!

JakeT

5,689 posts

130 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
A real issue too is that handles changed depending on production date. Early E46s had straight out handles and later ones had the up and out style. I owned E46s of both types at the same time and always got them wrong.

E53s generally had a poor design too. They had a handle ‘carrier’ that supported the handle and connected it to the lock actuator. It was weak and the hinges prone to snapping. They couldn’t be lubricated without removal, which would lengthen their life.

As for closing the door by the glass… shoot

Olivergt

1,731 posts

91 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
JakeT said:
...

As for closing the door by the glass… shoot
You think that's bad...

When my lad had an e46 coupe one of his friends used to grab the top of the glass to pull himself out of the car!!!

And he wasn't exactly a lightweight!!!!

danb79

10,491 posts

82 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
Had this water repellent glass coating in the garage, no idea when I bought it: https://angelwax.co.uk/product/h2go-the-ultimate-r...

Applied it to the 130i glass, will see how it gets on

Will do the F31 glass when I wash it next

sortedcossie

784 posts

138 months

Friday 17th January
quotequote all
That's decent stuff, I use it on my classic. Got Gyeon wet coat for our dailies (all over, not just glass), does similar although the angel way one lasts a bit longer.

g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,323 posts

201 months

Saturday 18th January
quotequote all
JakeT said:
As for closing the door by the glass… shoot
yesbanghead

Olivergt said:
JakeT said:
...

As for closing the door by the glass… shoot
You think that's bad...

When my lad had an e46 coupe one of his friends used to grab the top of the glass to pull himself out of the car!!!

And he wasn't exactly a lightweight!!!!
eek

punch

g3org3y

Original Poster:

21,323 posts

201 months

Sunday 19th January
quotequote all
Used for a dump trip.


Took a photo for the 'dirty winter car' thread in GG (obv no actual intention of washing it)

Court_S

13,997 posts

187 months

Sunday 19th January
quotequote all
JakeT said:
As for closing the door by the glass… shoot
That does my tits in! No need to touch the glass! Arrggghhhhhhhhh.