[EwenMac]

so today ive decided that my serpentine belt is to far forward on the tensioner pulley, its actually hanging about 2mm over toward the radiator,

when i stick my hand in there it seems there is a fair amount of pulley exposed at the rear, ive also ordered a new idler pulley, may as well while im in there,

the serpentine belt looks like its new, so ill leave that alone for the time being

i bought this car 6 months ago, and i have to say it was a little run down, if i had to pay labour for all ive done im sure it would have gone to the wreckers.

that said i have no regrets, every time i drive it i get a huge silly grin on my face.

makes it all worth while

[StradaRedlands]

Doing a lot my own work really allows me to have nice cars for the family. At least they were nice 15 years ago!!! But really, seeing how much basic service like brakes and oil filter housing gaskets cost, it really makes me want to keep wrenching on these things. Especially the basic stuff. Then I can justify taking it in to a shop when I can't or don't want to deal with it (looking at your, X5 oil pan gasket!).

[EwenMac]

Yep I’m with you on that, plus sure beats the hell out of that monthly lease payment

My wife’s car is 16, this bmw is 17 and my xj Cherokee is 31, I have no desire to have anything newer.

[EwenMac]

tensioner and idler turned up today so fit them , another job out of the way.

really simple job to do took half an hour, i removed the air intake and air box ( euro style)

got a breaker bar and the appropriate torx socket, loosened the tension and just slipped the belt off the tensioner pulley removed the mounting bolt, cleaned the mounting surface on the block and reversed the process, checked the serpentine belt was sitting correctly on all the pulleys and woo hoo done.

next job......

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by EwenMac

tensioner and idler turned up today so fit them , another job out of the way.

really simple job to do took half an hour, i removed the air intake and air box ( euro style)

got a breaker bar and the appropriate torx socket, loosened the tension and just slipped the belt off the tensioner pulley removed the mounting bolt, cleaned the mounting surface on the block and reversed the process, checked the serpentine belt was sitting correctly on all the pulleys and woo hoo done.

next job......

Welcome to the club!! 😆

I remember doing this job. Actually my tensioner bolt broke in half coming out of my garage. I heard this weird unusual noise and turned car off immediately. I had replaced my tensioner a fee yrs before that. I went to the dealership and bought a new bolt and replaced it. Now every time I open my hood, I always keep an eye on the belt.

Now my e88 I am replacing my Crankshaft sensor and Vanos solenoids this weekend. It should be an easy job I mean 🙄😅

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

Welcome to the club!! 😆

I remember doing this job. Actually my tensioner bolt broke in half coming out of my garage. I heard this weird unusual noise and turned car off immediately. I had replaced my tensioner a fee yrs before that. I went to the dealership and bought a new bolt and replaced it. Now every time I open my hood, I always keep an eye on the belt.

Now my e88 I am replacing my Crankshaft sensor and Vanos solenoids this weekend. It should be an easy job I mean 🙄😅

How are you planning the crank position sensor extraction? Pull the intake?

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

How are you planning the crank position sensor extraction? Pull the intake?

Actually, on the N54 engines no need to remove the intake. Also, I have the dual cones air filters. Nor I have the cabin filter box. I use the small individual ones. I should have a fair access to the Crankshaft sensor by removing the plastic cowl from the top only. I remember when replaced my charge pipe was a fair access and can see the starter in which sensor it's next to it. Will see. 😄

On N52 engines I believe it's harder unless you access it from the bottom.

[GoRomeo]

Got this mother f*** out TWICE!!! . Things did not go a planned of course. At first I thought there was no oring on my old crankshaft sensor . Didn’t see one at all last night when I replaced it. Well it was. I installed the new o rign on top of the old one!!!!!’n 😭😫😂 Stupid me. Tried everything clearled adaptations this am to get error off no luck. Well, I am like WTF ???

I removed the one I just installed and boom there was the frikin old o ring 🤬 Found the culprit though 😌

I re installed the new one after spending all morning on this. Mission accomplished.

All running smoothly so far. 🤞

Shes happy again.

[Bims328i]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Doing a lot my own work really allows me to have nice cars for the family. At least they were nice 15 years ago!!! But really, seeing how much basic service like brakes and oil filter housing gaskets cost, it really makes me want to keep wrenching on these things. Especially the basic stuff. Then I can justify taking it in to a shop when I can't or don't want to deal with it (looking at your, X5 oil pan gasket!).

This, I've just now caught up on maintenance. My SOS light is going on and off, oil change on the way. It's one thing if you had the car since new as opposed to trying to slowly correct all the previous owner's negligence.

This was part of my argument to oil changes. Yes, if you had it brand new it's no big deal but these cars often fall into hands who fail to do some service or don't know they should do it so then you get a car you need to catch maintenance up on. Even when I did my oil pan gasket, the high side of the gasket was still pliable while the low side was just brittle plastic. The end transitions were quite pliable until the corner of the low side of the gasket. The side that sits in oil all the time.

If you had your BMW from new and did the maintenance, I presume you would not have problems, but I digress, for some owners, you need to keep oil changes short until you get ahead of it and see beneficial results. It's not a solve all but in some instances, this should be expected. Best regards.

So far mine has all the main points done and running well. I keep a damp rid cup in the passenger rear seat to remove any cabin moisture. There are points you need to meet to keep these cars in top condition. Sunroof drains, OPG, OFHG, VCG just name a few, we all know.

[Bims328i]

If you use one of those grabber arm plungers you can easily grab the head of the CPS bolt and thread it out after loosening. I actually used mine to grasp the head of the new bolt and fish it into the spot without having to remove my intake manifold. It was too tight for my arm to fit so I really needed the grabber arm to hold the head of the bolt and thread it in a few turns. After then I could use a small inch pound wrench to torque down to specs.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Bims328i

This, I've just now caught up on maintenance. My SOS light is going on and off, oil change on the way. It's one thing if you had the car since new as opposed to trying to slowly correct all the previous owner's negligence.

This was part of my argument to oil changes. Yes, if you had it brand new it's no big deal but these cars often fall into hands who fail to do some service or don't know they should do it so then you get a car you need to catch maintenance up on. Even when I did my oil pan gasket, the high side of the gasket was still pliable while the low side was just brittle plastic. The end transitions were quite pliable until the corner of the low side of the gasket. The side that sits in oil all the time.

If you had your BMW from new and did the maintenance, I presume you would not have problems, but I digress, for some owners, you need to keep oil changes short until you get ahead of it and see beneficial results. It's not a solve all but in some instances, this should be expected. Best regards.

So far mine has all the main points done and running well. I keep a damp rid cup in the passenger rear seat to remove any cabin moisture. There are points you need to meet to keep these cars in top condition. Sunroof drains, OPG, OFHG, VCG just name a few, we all know.

I've had my car since new, 3 delivery miles. My use case had the CBS changing the engine oil at 16,000 and 17,000 mile intervals. The ration of shit I caught on E90 Post was pretty brutal. And I followed the maintenance intervals of 100,000 miles (or close to it) for coolant, manual transmission, and diff oil changes. And all those components are mostly original at the miles on my car. The components that have been replaced, like the radiator, I did well past 300,000 miles. I did do the coolant hoses at 230,000 miles, but none really needed replacement. I definitely replaced the Mickey Mouse flange on that 2nd t-stat hose a few years ago, but the plastic flange had probably a year left on it.

The point is, my experience with the E90 is (N52) has shown these cars really don't need a lot of preventative maintenance like the internet leads one to believe they do. Now, even with 18-month OCI and just the 5,000 miles a year I drive the E90, the lifetime OCI is still 12,150 miles on an engine with 426,000 miles, which I still do WOT pulls on it nearly every time I drive it.

I do think some 2nd and 3rd tier owners don't repair the OPG, OFHG, and VCG when they appear, which is problematic.

[Dirtleg]

I am bored at the airport with a long layover today so maybe I am posting too much but I will throw in here a bit.

When I picked up the 06' 325i for my son it had 164k miles on it. It was badly neglected. In the 1st 18 months we had it we did the trifecta of gaskets, almost a complete cooling system, alternator, complete front suspension minus struts, driveshaft, wiper assembly, rear door window regulator, drivers door Lock solenoid assembly and replaced the dead ccc with a CIC from eBay.

My point. All of those items needing repair were due to neglected maintenance by the previous owner.

Once fixed that car is rock solid daily driver dependable. Wouldn't hesitate to drive it across country. Except I sold it a month ago to my friends 17 year old niece.

It was by far the best sorted, nicest car she could find for the money she paid.

Glad I was able to save one from the scrapper and it has now been 2 teenagers first car.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Dirtleg

I am bored at the airport with a long layover today so maybe I am posting too much but I will throw in here a bit.

When I picked up the 06' 325i for my son it had 164k miles on it. It was badly neglected. In the 1st 18 months we had it we did the trifecta of gaskets, almost a complete cooling system, alternator, complete front suspension minus struts, driveshaft, wiper assembly, rear door window regulator, drivers door Lock solenoid assembly and replaced the dead ccc with a CIC from eBay.

My point. All of those items needing repair were due to neglected maintenance by the previous owner.

Once fixed that car is rock solid daily driver dependable. Wouldn't hesitate to drive it across country. Except I sold it a month ago to my friends 17 year old niece.

It was by far the best sorted, nicest car she could find for the money she paid.

Glad I was able to save one from the scrapper and it has now been 2 teenagers first car.

I have a trip planned for a cross country run this summer. If I get the rear subframe in and fix the AC before the trip, I may take the E90.

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I have a trip planned for a cross country run this summer. If I get the rear subframe in and fix the AC before the trip, I may take the E90.

So does that mean I have a chance to catch up to you lol.
I'm currently sitting at 316k and I also have an air conditioner issue, mine is making some unnerving noise when it's on and I also have a P301 code that I have been slowly working for a year.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Richwm

So does that mean I have a chance to catch up to you lol.
I'm currently sitting at 316k and I also have an air conditioner issue, mine is making some unnerving noise when it's on and I also have a P301 code that I have been slowly working for a year.

Awesome that we two are still running our E90's. How are you?

I'm barely getting 5,000/year on mine now. Such a big change for it.

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Awesome that we two are still running our E90's. How are you?

I'm barely getting 5,000/year on mine now. Such a big change for it.

I'm good I sold my F30 335i and kept my E90 I could never make that thing handle as well as my E90. I did a MSport suspension struts and springs refresh at 300k on it with new M-arms with TMS monoballs and it is like new again. My other vehicle is a 2020 Wrangler so anything handles better than that thing.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Richwm

I'm good I sold my F30 335i and kept my E90 I could never make that thing handle as well as my E90. I did a MSport suspension struts and springs refresh at 300k on it with new M-arms with TMS monoballs and it is like new again. My other vehicle is a 2020 Wrangler so anything handles better than that thing.

I picked up a 2022 Bronco Black Diamond. It's a fun beast with the 2.3L EcoBoost and the 7-sp MT.

The E90 is getting a refreshing this year. Rear subframe I've had for two years awaiting time to do the install. New A/C (hoping so). I have a local shop to do the AC. I first need to make sure the condenser is not leaking. Good news is I have $1,200 of free money (credit card rewards) that I've earmarked for the A/C repair. If the condenser is leaking, then I'm just going to hold putting any more money in the E90. At this point he's like an old dog you don't want to euthanize. He's running good as ever.

[Leucosticte]

Originally Posted by Richwm

I'm good I sold my F30 335i and kept my E90 I could never make that thing handle as well as my E90. I did a MSport suspension struts and springs refresh at 300k on it with new M-arms with TMS monoballs and it is like new again. My other vehicle is a 2020 Wrangler so anything handles better than that thing.

Hate to bring this off topic, but how are the monoballs in terms of NVH?

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by Leucosticte

Hate to bring this off topic, but how are the monoballs in terms of NVH?

They are a little worse than the M3 Arms I have been running since 100k miles but SoCal High Desert roads are shit. My car is set up to handle great not for comfort but on the really bad roads I have to turn the radio way up because it gets really loud. With that said I would still never go back to stock or M3 bushings. The steering is go cart like and hard braking is straight without drama.