What did you do to your car today?

Karlos20945 · 01-08-2024, 10:43 AM

Annual service and MOT for the 320d today. Passed, but only just. Apparently the rear shocks have oil misting on them. Bilsteins that are three years old and have covered only 27k miles. Quite disappointing really. I shall clean them up and keep an eye on them, just in case the oil has come from elsewhere.

DBShiznit · 01-08-2024, 11:09 AM

Did some work on the e82, finally noticed the water leak on the drivers side was from the hood release cable grommet going through the firewall. Cleaned everything up and put the carpet back in it and drivers seat. Took it for a ride and forgot how much fun the car is. I didn't realize how much I missed the fun of driving it.

Replaced the drivers door actuator on the e90. What an PITA. managed to brake the rod coming from the key tumbler to the actuator too. Ordered that and will be replacing it when it arrives.

Still getting a squeak from the strut bar area. Took everything apart and cleaned everything and tightened everything drove it for 3 miles nice and quiet and then started getting the squeak again

BRG_N54 · 01-08-2024, 11:40 AM

I had some more water intrusion in the drivers footwell, and it was going to rain soon so..

Pulled the drivers door panel to check my re-sealing of the vapor barrier. It looked good, but I found one of the door clips was missing the little rubber grommet to seal from the rain. I had picked up a new set of clips from the dealer, so replaced most of them on the drivers door.

While I had the door card off, I finally completed the drivers door pull refinish. I decided to only drill out some of the rivets to get the arm rest mostly off, enough to remove the handle and window switch panel. Stripped and resprayed the plastics and it came out great! Epoxied the panel back together and it looks like the leaks are sorted, yay!

Also hit 180k in the green monster.

Hoody007 · 01-08-2024, 02:52 PM

Finished the starter replacement last night on the 528i - what a royal PIA!
Few notes:
- the top-mounted DME makes removing the intake an even more annoying job
- looks like someone replaced my whole intake manifold in 2020 with a new part (DISA valve failure maybe?)
- The old starter which came out was a Denso unit. So much for Japanese reliability… New one that went in was a Valeo unit.

Mileage at starter failure: 113K miles

Total time, including a 1 hr break for dinner: 7 hours. Given my E90 has 81K on it, wonder if I should replace it. My old N54 had the original starter at 147K miles, though.

DBShiznit · 01-08-2024, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRG_N54

I had some more water intrusion in the drivers footwell, and it was going to rain soon so..

Pulled the drivers door panel to check my re-sealing of the vapor barrier. It looked good, but I found one of the door clips was missing the little rubber grommet to seal from the rain. I had picked up a new set of clips from the dealer, so replaced most of them on the drivers door.

While I had the door card off, I finally completed the drivers door pull refinish. I decided to only drill out some of the rivets to get the arm rest mostly off, enough to remove the handle and window switch panel. Stripped and resprayed the plastics and it came out great! Epoxied the panel back together and it looks like the leaks are sorted, yay!

Also hit 180k in the green monster.

Do you have any photos? I'll need to do this or order a full set from aliexpress lol

BRG_N54 · 01-08-2024, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBShiznit

Do you have any photos? I'll need to do this or order a full set from aliexpress lol

Photos of which thing?

lalay1 · 01-08-2024, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Put it on quick. Have to wet sand it first. Going to wait a bit. I love it.

How is that attached, bolts/tape?

StradaRedlands · 01-08-2024, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Finished the starter replacement last night on the 528i - what a royal PIA!
Few notes:
- the top-mounted DME makes removing the intake an even more annoying job
- looks like someone replaced my whole intake manifold in 2020 with a new part (DISA valve failure maybe?)
- The old starter which came out was a Denso unit. So much for Japanese reliability… New one that went in was a Valeo unit.

Mileage at starter failure: 113K miles

Total time, including a 1 hr break for dinner: 7 hours. Given my E90 has 81K on it, wonder if I should replace it. My old N54 had the original starter at 147K miles, though.

A data point for you: Our 2011 528i (N52 life!) had the starter go out at 119k. So pretty similar. That said, '06 330i is still on the original one at 233k. Go figure.

Steage · 01-09-2024, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

A data point for you: Our 2011 528i (N52 life!) had the starter go out at 119k. So pretty similar. That said, '06 330i is still on the original one at 233k. Go figure.

One more (confusing) data point: my '06 330i is slow cranking at 56k. Shipment from FCP Euro is arriving today

Cal122 · 01-09-2024, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steage

One more (confusing) data point: my '06 330i is slow cranking at 56k. Shipment from FCP Euro is arriving today

That happened on my '06 325i as well at around 65k. Cranking that got slower over time even after a new battery. Night and day difference once the starter was replaced.

DBShiznit · 01-09-2024, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRG_N54

Photos of which thing?

The handle after you finished with it

BRG_N54 · 01-09-2024, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBShiznit

The handle after you finished with it

Of course!

DBShiznit · 01-09-2024, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRG_N54

Of course!

Wow that looks amazing!

tcphoto · 01-09-2024, 01:24 PM

I have the same color with peeling paint, you did a great job!

Hoody007 · 01-09-2024, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steage

One more (confusing) data point: my '06 330i is slow cranking at 56k. Shipment from FCP Euro is arriving today

Interesting!
For those of you who replaced your starter, what was the manufacturer of the one that came out? It looks like BMW switched to Valeo for all of their N5x starters, superseding the older Denso/Bosch ones.

Karlos20945 · 01-09-2024, 01:58 PM

So my leaking shock absorber I was told had “heavy oil misting” on it and needed changing. I decided to jack the car up and check it out. Now having had leaking shocks in the past, I know they look “wet” permanently, as the leaking oil coats the surface. My shock looks dry. Dirty, but dry. Not a hint of an oil leak, imo. So I’ve cleaned both rear shocks up and will keep an eye on them. I feel the garage was pulling a bit of a fast one. I’d be interested to hear from the court of opinion. I’ve attached a before and after cleaning photo.

StradaRedlands · 01-09-2024, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karlos20945

So my leaking shock absorber I was told had “heavy oil misting” on it and needed changing. I decided to jack the car up and check it out. Now having had leaking shocks in the past, I know they look “wet” permanently, as the leaking oil coats the surface. My shock looks dry. Dirty, but dry. Not a hint of an oil leak, imo. So I’ve cleaned both rear shocks up and will keep an eye on them. I feel the garage was pulling a bit of a fast one. I’d be interested to hear from the court of opinion. I’ve attached a before and after cleaning photo.

Looks good to me... monitor and see how it plays out! Shock oil is pretty obvious when it's leaking.

lowrydr310 · 01-10-2024, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRG_N54

Of course!

looks amazing! What did you use to spray it?

I've been looking into the Colorbond but the black isn't available and I'm open to alternatives. I need to respray quite a few trim pieces.

Seattlesquash · 01-10-2024, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Interesting!
For those of you who replaced your starter, what was the manufacturer of the one that came out? It looks like BMW switched to Valeo for all of their N5x starters, superseding the older Denso/Bosch ones.

I had bad luck with a cheap one, got one from Turner Motorsport and it has been great for 8+ years now. Don’t buy a crappy one, had to do work twice within first week of replacement and never sounded/felt right.

StradaRedlands · 01-10-2024, 02:25 AM

Someone on here swears by the cheap TYC ones... said it's stronger than OE... can't remember who. But it's a thing apparently.

Seattlesquash · 01-10-2024, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Someone on here swears by the cheap TYC ones... said it's stronger than OE... can't remember who. But it's a thing apparently.

Interesting, looked up current ones with Turner and perhaps that’s the one I got. Did not by the oem BMW one from Turner. If so, it’s been so strong and cranks better than I ever remember previous one did.

Leucosticte · 01-10-2024, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Someone on here swears by the cheap TYC ones... said it's stronger than OE... can't remember who. But it's a thing apparently.

If I remember correctly it was mainbearing

01-08-2024, 10:43 AM	#23783
Karlos20945 Private First Class 205 Rep 192 Posts Drives: E90 LCI 320d SE Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Basingstoke iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW 320d [0.00]	Annual service and MOT for the 320d today. Passed, but only just. Apparently the rear shocks have oil misting on them. Bilsteins that are three years old and have covered only 27k miles. Quite disappointing really. I shall clean them up and keep an eye on them, just in case the oil has come from elsewhere. __________________
	Appreciate 1 StradaRedlands6908.50 Quote

01-08-2024, 11:09 AM	#23784
DBShiznit Second Lieutenant 411 Rep 243 Posts Drives: BMW 135i/335xi Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	Did some work on the e82, finally noticed the water leak on the drivers side was from the hood release cable grommet going through the firewall. Cleaned everything up and put the carpet back in it and drivers seat. Took it for a ride and forgot how much fun the car is. I didn't realize how much I missed the fun of driving it. Replaced the drivers door actuator on the e90. What an PITA. managed to brake the rod coming from the key tumbler to the actuator too. Ordered that and will be replacing it when it arrives. Still getting a squeak from the strut bar area. Took everything apart and cleaned everything and tightened everything drove it for 3 miles nice and quiet and then started getting the squeak again
	Appreciate 1 StradaRedlands6908.50 Quote

01-08-2024, 11:40 AM	#23785
BRG_N54 First Lieutenant 410 Rep 359 Posts Drives: Green '07 & Arctic '08 335i's Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Monterey Peninsula iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	Drivers door pull cleanup I had some more water intrusion in the drivers footwell, and it was going to rain soon so.. Pulled the drivers door panel to check my re-sealing of the vapor barrier. It looked good, but I found one of the door clips was missing the little rubber grommet to seal from the rain. I had picked up a new set of clips from the dealer, so replaced most of them on the drivers door. While I had the door card off, I finally completed the drivers door pull refinish. I decided to only drill out some of the rivets to get the arm rest mostly off, enough to remove the handle and window switch panel. Stripped and resprayed the plastics and it came out great! Epoxied the panel back together and it looks like the leaks are sorted, yay! Also hit 180k in the green monster.
	Appreciate 4 Mike K437.00 Cal122485.50 E93Seattle (Racerbruce)805.50 StradaRedlands6908.50 Quote

01-08-2024, 02:52 PM	#23786
Hoody007 Major 1811 Rep 1,331 Posts Drives: 2011 335i ZMZ \| 850i/6 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Finished the starter replacement last night on the 528i - what a royal PIA! Few notes: - the top-mounted DME makes removing the intake an even more annoying job - looks like someone replaced my whole intake manifold in 2020 with a new part (DISA valve failure maybe?) - The old starter which came out was a Denso unit. So much for Japanese reliability… New one that went in was a Valeo unit. Mileage at starter failure: 113K miles Total time, including a 1 hr break for dinner: 7 hours. Given my E90 has 81K on it, wonder if I should replace it. My old N54 had the original starter at 147K miles, though. Attached Images
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01-09-2024, 01:24 PM	#23796
tcphoto Brigadier General 4443 Rep 3,321 Posts Drives: E92 335i 6MT Coupe Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (1)	I have the same color with peeling paint, you did a great job! __________________
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01-09-2024, 01:58 PM	#23798
Karlos20945 Private First Class 205 Rep 192 Posts Drives: E90 LCI 320d SE Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Basingstoke iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW 320d [0.00]	So my leaking shock absorber I was told had “heavy oil misting” on it and needed changing. I decided to jack the car up and check it out. Now having had leaking shocks in the past, I know they look “wet” permanently, as the leaking oil coats the surface. My shock looks dry. Dirty, but dry. Not a hint of an oil leak, imo. So I’ve cleaned both rear shocks up and will keep an eye on them. I feel the garage was pulling a bit of a fast one. I’d be interested to hear from the court of opinion. I’ve attached a before and after cleaning photo. Attached Images __________________
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01-10-2024, 02:25 AM	#23802
StradaRedlands Brigadier General 6909 Rep 4,136 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [8.00] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.80] 2006 BMW 330i [8.45] 2011 BMW 528i [8.70] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	Someone on here swears by the cheap TYC ones... said it's stronger than OE... can't remember who. But it's a thing apparently.
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