[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

thank you strada,
"they all need the plunger piece" - does this apply to the uk switch??

No, just the NA switches with the blank button. They have neither button nor plunger. The UK/Euro/World switches are built with everything needed for the lights. You're over-thinking this one... just get it :-)

[colorado.e9x]

I've heard reports on some having plungers ready to go and alls they needed was to trim the tabs. Not sure if that's true or not. I can't recall if it was like that or not for some of my switches.

When I first did the mod on my 06 I just used an appropriate length countersunk bolt I found laying around and wrapped the threads in electrical tape so it wouldnt vibrate. I then used the stock plunger as a template for the head (where the feet are) and traced to an old gift card. Cut two of those out until the length perfectly matched the stock one, superglued it all together, and voila. Been working flawlessly since 2018.

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

No, just the NA switches with the blank button. They have neither button nor plunger. The UK/Euro/World switches are built with everything needed for the lights. You're over-thinking this one... just get it :-)

just get it....thank you!

[unicornsareus]

Changed my rear shocks about 2 months ago for the cheapest ones possible - and paid for them the hard way. Went to these from the factory original ones, and it made a massive difference.

The lower studs broke off on both shocks one after the other. I changed the one back to OEM temporarily when it broke, and the other one broke within the next week - It was real fun on the highway when I discovered it broke and hitting every bump would essentially have me swerving.

Went with Bilstein B4s, and decided to change the lower mounts just in case that was the issue.

Fun times.

I also found that the Gabriels were roughly 1/2" shorter than the B4s and the Original Sachs.

View post on imgur.com

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by unicornsareus

Changed my rear shocks about 2 months ago for the cheapest ones possible - and paid for them the hard way.

Welcome to used BMW ownership

I have learned over the years that the saying "the poor man pays twice" is certainly true on these cars. Don't skimp out on parts and you won't worry about them failing anytime soon (for the most part). OE/OEM or upgrades only and you'll have a blast

[Karlos20945]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

North Americans can't be trusted to properly use rear fog lights!

The inappropriate use of fog lights is clearly an international problem, if you’ve ever driven in the UK 😂

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by Karlos20945

The inappropriate use of fog lights is clearly an international problem, if you’ve ever driven in the UK 😂

....give us the back story to this great international debacle - would love to hear it!

[Hoody007]

On the rear fog light mod:

I’ve done it to two different E90s. My 10/08 (LCI) 335i did not have the plunger installed. Used some LEGO to make one.

My 10/2011 335i did have the plunger. A welcome surprise. I’ve also heard that the early cars (as in, 325i/330i) do have the plunger as well. Probably a scale of manufacturing thing (since they were ramping up production early on and only making the E92/93 from 12/2011 on)

Comes in handy when a Charger / Altima is tailing me way too close…

[Karlos20945]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

....give us the back story to this great international debacle - would love to hear it!

Oh it’s nothing major. Incorrect use of fog lights is just one of many driving mishaps that you’ll see on the daily in the UK

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Welcome to used BMW ownership

I have learned over the years that the saying "the poor man pays twice" is certainly true on these cars. Don't skimp out on parts and you won't worry about them failing anytime soon (for the most part). OE/OEM or upgrades only and you'll have a blast

This^^^

Luckily I haven't been burnt too badly with OE/OEM parts, but I know it's coming!

[colorado.e9x]

Got everything together to start the 330 for the first time in months. Unfortunately no power to any of the important bits. Hope I didn't fry something

Edit 11/11: one of my PT Can tap solder joints was NOT up to standard. Oops. Will be redoing BOTH of them tomorrow.

[Hoody007]

Took the F10 (N52) in for an oil change - there’s a new recall for the Vanos bolts from BMW. Applies to 2010-2013 vehicles. I’ll start a separate thread with the text of the recall. Just came out on October 23rd of this year.

With any luck they’ll cover both my VCG and OPG replacement as part of the labor…

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Took the F10 (N52) in for an oil change - there’s a new recall for the Vanos bolts from BMW. Applies to 2010-2013 vehicles. I’ll start a separate thread with the text of the recall. Just came out on October 23rd of this year.

With any luck they’ll cover both my VCG and OPG replacement as part of the labor…

Subscribed to your newsletter... As a 2011 528i owner, this sucks.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Subscribed to your newsletter... As a 2011 528i owner, this sucks.

Depending on mileage I'd do it asap
When I replaced the vanos bolts on my 2010 engine (99k) earlier this week, a good portion of them were barely tight at all

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Depending on mileage I'd do it asap
When I replaced the vanos bolts on my 2010 engine (99k) earlier this week, a good portion of them were barely tight at all

I did check them fairly recently with a borescope... they are the newer non-pinned kind:



Don't know if that is good enough or not... definitely freaking out a little now!

[Efthreeoh]

On the Hummer H3T...

So, the GM PassLock ignition system as it ages starts to intermittently not see the security chip embedded in the ignition key. When it doesn't see the key the ignition interlock activates and will not let the engine start. A PIA that makes you wait 10 minutes until the system resets.

Luckily, a company, PCM of North Carolina, sells a service to program out the PassLock. You ship off your ECU to them and they program it and send it back. They also retune the engine ignition and fuel maps to bump up the power by 15 HP. They also reprogram the transmission shift controls so you send the TCU to them as well. GM in its wisdom makes the ECU and TCU removal easy as pie. Both clip into a plastic mounting bracket on the passenger-side firewall. Move the washer fluid/coolant reservoir out of the way (3 bolts) and pull the connectors and unclip the modules.

Sent the hardware out Monday morning and received the reprogrammed units back on Thursday. 15 minutes reinstall this afternoon and the engine fired right up!

$240. Not having my wife bitch about getting rid of the Hummer... Priceless.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Karlos20945

Oh it’s nothing major. Incorrect use of fog lights is just one of many driving mishaps that you’ll see on the daily in the UK

I don't know of any American cars that have rear fog lights, besides Tesla. It's usually an Audi, MB, or a Range Rover, and all I can think is that some dumb ass American driver thinks he paid top dollar for all those extra buttons so he's damn well going to use them! The problem is that they're blindingly bright, especially the ones on Teslas, and the people using them have no frickin idea what they are. Good job on BMW physically blocking the switch for the US market. Those who want them can easily enable them - I've done it for the three E90s I've owned.

[oVeRdOsE.]

I was planning to put the engine back, but I have enough today, transmission will wait for tomorrow.

[Hoody007]

Fixed the hood on the E31. Needed to adjust the latches on the hood side (thanks dad!). Clearly someone else was in there and messed with things. All fixed now. Glides right up.

Also put some nice finishing touches on the ignition coil covers. $10 from BMW and so worth it

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Fixed the hood on the E31. Needed to adjust the latches on the hood side (thanks dad!). Clearly someone else was in there and messed with things. All fixed now. Glides right up.

...name checks out...

[Serf27]

The general E9X side of the forum as well as the FB groups.

[oVeRdOsE.]

engine in