What have you done to your BMW today?
Discussion
Had it picked up for its MOT. Having a couple of other small jobs done:
- Getting the headlights sorted as they are like candles in jam jars and it's getting a struggle to see where I'm going at times, so they're going to clean the lenses up for me and fit some before bulbs.
- Front number plate is looking sorry for itself, so getting that replaced.

Quite a small amount of work for a 15 year old car with 179k on it - so far anyway...
- Getting the headlights sorted as they are like candles in jam jars and it's getting a struggle to see where I'm going at times, so they're going to clean the lenses up for me and fit some before bulbs.
- Front number plate is looking sorry for itself, so getting that replaced.
Quite a small amount of work for a 15 year old car with 179k on it - so far anyway...
bodhi said:
Had it picked up for its MOT. Having a couple of other small jobs done:
- Getting the headlights sorted as they are like candles in jam jars and it's getting a struggle to see where I'm going at times, so they're going to clean the lenses up for me and fit some before bulbs.
- Front number plate is looking sorry for itself, so getting that replaced.

Quite a small amount of work for a 15 year old car with 179k on it - so far anyway...
Does your car have xenon’s or halogens? The halogens are bloody useless if I’m honest especially having and more modern cars with LED’s. - Getting the headlights sorted as they are like candles in jam jars and it's getting a struggle to see where I'm going at times, so they're going to clean the lenses up for me and fit some before bulbs.
- Front number plate is looking sorry for itself, so getting that replaced.
Quite a small amount of work for a 15 year old car with 179k on it - so far anyway...
Court_S said:
bodhi said:
Had it picked up for its MOT. Having a couple of other small jobs done:
- Getting the headlights sorted as they are like candles in jam jars and it's getting a struggle to see where I'm going at times, so they're going to clean the lenses up for me and fit some before bulbs.
- Front number plate is looking sorry for itself, so getting that replaced.

Quite a small amount of work for a 15 year old car with 179k on it - so far anyway...
Does your car have xenon’s or halogens? The halogens are bloody useless if I’m honest especially having and more modern cars with LED’s. - Getting the headlights sorted as they are like candles in jam jars and it's getting a struggle to see where I'm going at times, so they're going to clean the lenses up for me and fit some before bulbs.
- Front number plate is looking sorry for itself, so getting that replaced.
Quite a small amount of work for a 15 year old car with 179k on it - so far anyway...
They're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
bodhi said:
They're halogens, but even worse they're aftermarket halogens. Previous owner put a set of Sonar headlights in with an HID Kit, which worked really well until the law changed and I had to take it out to get through an MOT.
They're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
Hopefully a lens refurb and decent bulbs (Osram Nightbreakers etc) will have them betterThey're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
But with age, the reflectors can get worse and worse to a point where only replacing the headlights will fix it
I have no issues with the halogens in my E91. I swapped out the main beam for Phillips +130% xtremevision and can see fine, and I don't have great night vision. I had Nightbreakers before that but they expired fairly quickly. The Phillips have been in there years now with no issues.
I actually prefer them to the adaptive Xenons we had on an F20, and the LED lights we have on our Skoda. Both great at lighting up lots of scenery at the side of the road that you don't need to see and which I just find distracting.
I actually prefer them to the adaptive Xenons we had on an F20, and the LED lights we have on our Skoda. Both great at lighting up lots of scenery at the side of the road that you don't need to see and which I just find distracting.
Court_S said:
The halogens are bloody useless if I’m honest especially having and more modern cars with LED’s.
I've always been with you on that Sam as you know, but the flipside is that I always seemed to get flashed in the Merc with the LED's, because folk think that I've still got my main beam on. You can't win! With halogens you can't see where you're going, but with LED's...you end up blinding the oncoming traffic in comparison!
bodhi said:
They're halogens, but even worse they're aftermarket halogens. Previous owner put a set of Sonar headlights in with an HID Kit, which worked really well until the law changed and I had to take it out to get through an MOT.
They're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
Might be worth chucking in some OE halogen units and pop some better bulbs in. The better quality lenses etc might help.They're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
cerb4.5lee said:
I've always been with you on that Sam as you know, but the flipside is that I always seemed to get flashed in the Merc with the LED's, because folk think that I've still got my main beam on. You can't win!
With halogens you can't see where you're going, but with LED's...you end up blinding the oncoming traffic in comparison!
We and the same with my wife’s old MINI; the LED lights that weee like a pair of dying suns strapped to the front of the car. We were always getting flashed at night.With halogens you can't see where you're going, but with LED's...you end up blinding the oncoming traffic in comparison!
Court_S said:
bodhi said:
They're halogens, but even worse they're aftermarket halogens. Previous owner put a set of Sonar headlights in with an HID Kit, which worked really well until the law changed and I had to take it out to get through an MOT.
They're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
Might be worth chucking in some OE halogen units and pop some better bulbs in. The better quality lenses etc might help.They're that bad I have to put the front fogs on on single carriageway roads at night (sorry), otherwise I physically cannot see where the edge of the road is. Usually results in me taking the Civic if I'm driving at night....
Other option is to try to find some OEM Xenons - there's a fair few E8xs heading for the big scrappy in the sky at the moment, so they should be a lot cheaper than getting from BMW.
Good news though, just checked the MOT History site, and it's passed with no advisories

Started the suspension overhaul shopping today on Autodoc 
Every arm, link, inner tie rods/track rod ends and front/rear ARB bushes ordered. (a mix of Lemforder, Moog and Meyle HD for the arms etc and Febi Bilstein for the ARB bushes)
Will order the Powerflex rear subframe inserts too and then get it booked in with my pals mid to late Feb and leave it with them for a good few days to fit all that and get it set up
Once that's done I'll make a decision on which coilovers to go for and then summer wheels/tyres after that

Every arm, link, inner tie rods/track rod ends and front/rear ARB bushes ordered. (a mix of Lemforder, Moog and Meyle HD for the arms etc and Febi Bilstein for the ARB bushes)
Will order the Powerflex rear subframe inserts too and then get it booked in with my pals mid to late Feb and leave it with them for a good few days to fit all that and get it set up

Once that's done I'll make a decision on which coilovers to go for and then summer wheels/tyres after that
bodhi said:
That is definitely a possibility if we can't improve these ones, although does mean I'll lose the Angel Eyes these ones come with.
Other option is to try to find some OEM Xenons - there's a fair few E8xs heading for the big scrappy in the sky at the moment, so they should be a lot cheaper than getting from BMW.
The only problem is if E8*s are anything like E9*s not too many of them had Xenons, but you may get lucky. Other option is to try to find some OEM Xenons - there's a fair few E8xs heading for the big scrappy in the sky at the moment, so they should be a lot cheaper than getting from BMW.

2016 F15 X5 M sport 40d. Flat tyre this morning- Upon inspection, another cracked rim. Booked in to be welded but will need replacing eventually. It’s the front near side. The rear near side wheel was replaced last year. Thinking of moving to non-run flat at the next tyre change which should hopefully reduce the chances of damaged rims
danb79 said:
Bilstein B14s ordered
Have asked Cotswolds BMW for a quote on the top mounts and bits needed
Yeah, makes sure you get the mounts, which should come with the plates that go above them, and also separately the plates which go below them, and if your keen some aftermarket sandwhich plates to go ontop of the top mounts too. Assuming the setup is how I remember it, and very similar to the E46.Have asked Cotswolds BMW for a quote on the top mounts and bits needed
dhutch said:
Yeah, makes sure you get the mounts, which should come with the plates that go above them, and also separately the plates which go below them, and if your keen some aftermarket sandwhich plates to go ontop of the top mounts too. Assuming the setup is how I remember it, and very similar to the E46.
Getting all the bits from Cotswolds inc the top spring perches, the gaskets/dust caps, washers, bolts etcIt's all coming out, so may as well put all new stuff in and it also means I can sell the Bilstein B4/Eibach pro kit set up as a full package, which will be plug n play for any E8x and E9x owner (same suspension)
Not today, but wednesday last week some arse decided to drive into the back of me on the motorway, very gentle hit, in slow moving stop start traffic, but its still going to be a job of work to put right. No damage to the main longitudinal rails, just pushed the bumper out of shape, and moved the boot latch forward around 5mm or so.
Presumably it will need a new 'carrier' crash beam, shock absorbers etc.
Bumper almost looks good to go again, after what will be its third blow over in 8 months.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BN52...




Presumably it will need a new 'carrier' crash beam, shock absorbers etc.
Bumper almost looks good to go again, after what will be its third blow over in 8 months.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BN52...
bodhi said:
Headlights have polished up well!

They have found a small issue with the driver's side, apparently the main beam isn't that well attached to the rest of the unit, to be expected with 10+ year old Chinesium headlights I guess.
Will see how we get on, next step is new headlights as suggested.
How much would you be looking at for second hand OEM units?They have found a small issue with the driver's side, apparently the main beam isn't that well attached to the rest of the unit, to be expected with 10+ year old Chinesium headlights I guess.
Will see how we get on, next step is new headlights as suggested.
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