[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Nice work! Actually, those old hoses don’t look too bad considering the lack of maintenance from the DPO.

Agreed! If the thermostat wasn't throwing codes, I would have left them!
Well, and if the radiator wasn't cracking.
But if I'm that far into it the system, might as well do the hoses as well.

[StradaRedlands]

The coolant hose finally came in on Saturday... I ordered it 12/20, so Santa must have had too much egg nog, but finally found it in the bottom of the bag. Got home from taking Middle Child back up to SC at 6:30 in the afternoon, had it installed and refilled by 7:30! Finished up by putting everything back together today and it seems to all good! I also installed the alarm siren and hood switch, so all three portions are good to go and I have the blink and the beep!

Next up small job: windshield washer leak!

Next up big job: valve cover gasket!





I'm around $5,600 into it, and at this point think it will end up being a good car! Suspension is solid-ish. Will need shocks at some point in the near-er future. I'm questioning the battery and hoping there isn't a parasitic drain. A couple warnings in that direction. Paint is the only real expense I'm looking at now, which is fixable, just can't DIY it.

[StradaRedlands]

First glamour shot, missed the sun by about two minutes to really make it pop!

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I went ahead and bought the switch/button from the UK on my other car, on this one I just swapped in the plunger. Maaaybe will upgrade at some point, but that's down the line! This LCI switch does not have the LED for illumination on it, while my '06 did. Good times.

I'm hoping to start in on the heavier mechanical items the next few days after focusing on the easier/cosmetic ones. Rad/pump/oil cooler/hoses/flange/belt are all kind of related and make sense to do at the same time, but a lot of moving puzzle parts to keep organized! Still waiting on one hose for the oil cooler upgrade which hopefully comes in Wed. Otherwise everything is ready to go!

Given the dash indicator, I don't see much need for the button to be illuminated - you can barely see it anyway. Or at least I can't being very tall, the wheel blocks much of my view of that side of the switch. But I do have a Euro switch in my 328!, and that car's switch in my 128i to get the silver trim that matches the rest of the dash. 2011 1-series got the new silver trim everywhere BUT the headlight switch.

Though really, I would rather have old school matt black everywhere.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Given the dash indicator, I don't see much need for the button to be illuminated - you can barely see it anyway. Or at least I can't being very tall, the wheel blocks much of my view of that side of the switch. But I do have a Euro switch in my 328!, and that car's switch in my 128i to get the silver trim that matches the rest of the dash. 2011 1-series got the new silver trim everywhere BUT the headlight switch.

Though really, I would rather have old school matt black everywhere.

Yeah, it's pure vanity/mild OCD to get those switches imported, but hey, it is what it is! I think I'll be content with this one though! :-)

New drama on the car is a really slow start. I looked at the battery and it's some super-generic thing that's undersized and doesn't have any label on it. I think it's lead acid not AGM because of some plugs across the top. So I'm going to replace it for fun and hopefully that's it. Car has CA, so hopefully no parasitic draws on it. Joy.

[StradaRedlands]

BMW experts, the E91 is a Oct '08 build, so as an '09 model is supposed to be LCI. But I don't think my seats are? They have the nets in the back and the seat heater button on the lower center panel. So sort of changing over half way? Has the LCI's CIC as well as updated sheet metal.

Anyway, long/short question is if I'm looking for plug and play sport seats, should I be looking pre LCI or LCI?

Grazie!

Real OEM

Pics:

[Fireball5657]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

BMW experts, the E91 is a Oct '08 build, so as an '09 model is supposed to be LCI. But I don't think my seats are? They have the nets in the back and the seat heater button on the lower center panel. So sort of changing over half way? Has CIC as well as updated sheet metal.

Anyway, long/short question is if I'm looking for plug and play sport seats, should I be looking pre LCI or LCI?

Grazie!

Real OEM

Pics:

There was some interlap for the 2009 cars. From what I know, all 2009MY seats have the nets in the back, that was removed for 2010MY cars. I had saddle brown seats from a June 2009 E90 and they had the nets on the back. The seat heat switches in the pre-LCI spot is a weird one though, I haven't seen that combo before. Must be a really early 2009!

That being said, you should probably go with LCI seats. Pre-LCI seats don't have the active headrests, and the car will throw a code if you put them in an LCI. But, if you find a smoking deal on a good set of pre-LCI seats and you have to have them, you can remove the active headrest check to get rid of the codes.

Check out post 5 below if you want to code out the active headrests:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=884236

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Fireball5657

There was some interlap for the 2009 cars. From what I know, all 2009MY seats have the nets in the back, that was removed for 2010MY cars. I had saddle brown seats from a June 2009 E90 and they had the nets on the back. The seat heat switches in the pre-LCI spot is a weird one though, I haven't seen that combo before. Must be a really early 2009!

That being said, you should probably go with LCI seats. Pre-LCI seats don't have the active headrests, and the car will throw a code if you put them in an LCI. But, if you find a smoking deal on a good set of pre-LCI seats and you have to have them, you can remove the active headrest check to get rid of the codes.

Check out post 5 below if you want to code out the active headrests:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=884236

Yeah, this is really a sort of one-off with the changeover! The ashtray also has the cover & accessory outlet, vs. the LCI's open tray.

So it would be easier to get LCI and if I have AHR, great, but if not, no big deal. But reverse means I would have to code out (which isn't happening).

But are the plugs the same under the seat? I'm looking at as close to plug and play as I can get. Trying to avoid re-pinning wires if I can help it!

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yeah, this is really a sort of one-off with the changeover! The ashtray also has the cover & accessory outlet, vs. the LCI's open tray.

So it would be easier to get LCI and if I have AHR, great, but if not, no big deal. But reverse means I would have to code out (which isn't happening).

But are the plugs the same under the seat? I'm looking at as close to plug and play as I can get. Trying to avoid re-pinning wires if I can help it!

This is correct. Plugs are the same, though not sure about the wiring 100% - you may need to repin.

[eljay]

Your car is definitely LCI. Get LCI seats.

The buttons being where they are was a 2009 thing. 2010 and higher moved them up to the climate control panel.
Then they also changed the roof rails to flush style in 2011 MY.
That's how you can tell the various revisions of LCI. 😀

[StradaRedlands]

Thank you Tambohamilton & eljay!

I actually kind of like the heater buttons being isolated down below rather than integrated with the other controls... a little easier to punch one without having to look as closely!

[StradaRedlands]

End of the long-weekend wrap up! Sandwiched some wrench time in between plumbing funtastic, a trip to L.A., and the life stuff.

Started out by putting a spare kit together. Them promptly pulling it out, as I have runflats! But I can use it if I want to!



Then updated the door gasket with the one I pulled at the yard. Eww:



Much better!



Cleaned out some more oil and checked the coils and plugs. I suctioned another 10ml out! The plugs seem nice and clean and the oil is only in the external cavities. I tried to clean everything really well to determine where it's coming from. Fingers crossed it's just from spills, but I have a hunch it's from the valvetronic gasket football. Maybe also the back end of the VCG as well, but that's just a guess looking back there.



Freshened up the brake fluid, but no pictures. I used an electronic quality/moisture tester and it went all the way up to red with >4% moisture content. Tried to use INPA to run the bleed, but that didn't work. So instead I had The Baby pump the brakes with me opening and closing valves. Worked good and I reset the CBS which was down to 6%. My guess is that this was the first flush.

Finished up by spending some time swapping out the accessory socket for this double USB socket with a built in voltmeter... I really like it and if you're interested, I recommend getting one! It'll give you a nice readout of how your alternator is doing, plus provide USB. $14 on Amazon!



I had a moment after installing it when it wouldn't work. Took it apart, re-crimped the terminals, nada. Checked the rear one, and dead as well. A-ha, probably a fuse. Yep, fuse #8... no idea if I did that, or it was blown already, but a quick fix.

Went for two big loops today, and everything is great so far. Really wanted to give the transmission, radiator, and water pump a solid test before I fully checked off it's availability as the kid's car. It earned high marks all around, should be able to drive it anywhere!

Right now the only known problem is the possible VCG oil leak. Some point in the future it will need a suspension refresh. But other than that, everything now is just cosmetic: Paint, clearcoat, window tint!

[Onizukachan]

Really enjoyed reading over your adventure. Congrats on saving the ole gal.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Next up small job: windshield washer leak!

Good luck with those. I own an E90 and E93 and both have leaks somewhere in the system that have been bugging me. I attempted to fix both before; my 330 had a leaking windshield pump but the headlight washer pump looked OK so I only replaced the windshield pump. That helped, but there's another leak somewhere. The 335 only has one pump and no headlight washers (despite the holes/covers in the bumper - was this some odd 2007 thing for the E92/93?). I had a spare pump ready to install but the pump didn't look like it was leaking, though the rubber grommet didn't look good. Not having any spares I used some Teflon tape inside and outside the rubber grommet. Just few weeks after that theres a huge leak somewhere - if I fill the tank it drains it within minutes.

Lesson learned. Do it right the first time.

So I have new grommets for all the pumps on both cars, a new pump for whatever car needs it. and new fill hoses. Those fill hoses are cracked on both cars. $25 seems crazy for a cheap piece of plastic tubing though. Now I just need to find the time to do the work.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Good luck with those. I own an E90 and E93 and both have leaks somewhere in the system that have been bugging me. I attempted to fix both before; my 330 had a leaking windshield pump but the headlight washer pump looked OK so I only replaced the windshield pump. That helped, but there's another leak somewhere. The 335 only has one pump and no headlight washers (despite the holes/covers in the bumper - was this some odd 2007 thing for the E92/93?). I had a spare pump ready to install but the pump didn't look like it was leaking, though the rubber grommet didn't look good. Not having any spares I used some Teflon tape inside and outside the rubber grommet. Just few weeks after that theres a huge leak somewhere - if I fill the tank it drains it within minutes.

Lesson learned. Do it right the first time.

So I have new grommets for all the pumps on both cars, a new pump for whatever car needs it. and new fill hoses. Those fill hoses are cracked on both cars. $25 seems crazy for a cheap piece of plastic tubing though. Now I just need to find the time to do the work.

Maybe the headlight washer itself is leaking? Park it somewhere dry/indoors and see what's wet after sitting overnight with full fluids.

[whyzee125]

You've got the correct seats and buttons! Normal for an 09. One other oddity of the early LCI cars is the early 09s have color matched windshield surround pieces while later 09s and all LCI going forward just have black.

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

End of the long-weekend wrap up! Sandwiched some wrench time in between plumbing funtastic, a trip to L.A., and the life stuff.

Started out by putting a spare kit together. Them promptly pulling it out, as I have runflats! But I can use it if I want to!



Then updated the door gasket with the one I pulled at the yard. Eww:



Much better!



Cleaned out some more oil and checked the coils and plugs. I suctioned another 10ml out! The plugs seem nice and clean and the oil is only in the external cavities. I tried to clean everything really well to determine where it's coming from. Fingers crossed it's just from spills, but I have a hunch it's from the valvetronic gasket football. Maybe also the back end of the VCG as well, but that's just a guess looking back there.



Freshened up the brake fluid, but no pictures. I used an electronic quality/moisture tester and it went all the way up to red with >4% moisture content. Tried to use INPA to run the bleed, but that didn't work. So instead I had The Baby pump the brakes with me opening and closing valves. Worked good and I reset the CBS which was down to 6%. My guess is that this was the first flush.

Finished up by spending some time swapping out the accessory socket for this double USB socket with a built in voltmeter... I really like it and if you're interested, I recommend getting one! It'll give you a nice readout of how your alternator is doing, plus provide USB. $14 on Amazon!



I had a moment after installing it when it wouldn't work. Took it apart, re-crimped the terminals, nada. Checked the rear one, and dead as well. A-ha, probably a fuse. Yep, fuse #8... no idea if I did that, or it was blown already, but a quick fix.

Went for two big loops today, and everything is great so far. Really wanted to give the transmission, radiator, and water pump a solid test before I fully checked off it's availability as the kid's car. It earned high marks all around, should be able to drive it anywhere!

Right now the only known problem is the possible VCG oil leak. Some point in the future it will need a suspension refresh. But other than that, everything now is just cosmetic: Paint, clearcoat, window tint!

well done strada!
the blue baby is stradafied and approaching 110% road worthiness....great work.

by the looks of the cash cache found in the tray next to the newly installed volt meter....you are on the way to repaint!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Onizukachan

Really enjoyed reading over your adventure. Congrats on saving the ole gal.

Thanks! It's gonna' be a good one. A lot of neglect, but no actual abuse. Paint is a bummer, but that can be fixed eventually.

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Good luck with those. I own an E90 and E93 and both have leaks somewhere in the system that have been bugging me. I attempted to fix both before; my 330 had a leaking windshield pump but the headlight washer pump looked OK so I only replaced the windshield pump. That helped, but there's another leak somewhere. The 335 only has one pump and no headlight washers (despite the holes/covers in the bumper - was this some odd 2007 thing for the E92/93?). I had a spare pump ready to install but the pump didn't look like it was leaking, though the rubber grommet didn't look good. Not having any spares I used some Teflon tape inside and outside the rubber grommet. Just few weeks after that theres a huge leak somewhere - if I fill the tank it drains it within minutes.

Lesson learned. Do it right the first time.

So I have new grommets for all the pumps on both cars, a new pump for whatever car needs it. and new fill hoses. Those fill hoses are cracked on both cars. $25 seems crazy for a cheap piece of plastic tubing though. Now I just need to find the time to do the work.

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Maybe the headlight washer itself is leaking? Park it somewhere dry/indoors and see what's wet after sitting overnight with full fluids.

I need to get into it and figure out where the source is. It just ran out after my filling it up... draining somewhere at the reservoir just with gravity. My '06 has the light sprayers disabled, so I'll probably do the same with this one.

Originally Posted by whyzee125

You've got the correct seats and buttons! Normal for an 09. One other oddity of the early LCI cars is the early 09s have color matched windshield surround pieces while later 09s and all LCI going forward just have black.

Ha, I've never had such a new car! All the E90 permutations have a lot more variability that what I've experienced before with an '06, an early '07, and an '08!

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

well done strada!
the blue baby is stradafied and approaching 110% road worthiness....great work.

by the looks of the cash cache found in the tray next to the newly installed volt meter....you are on the way to repaint!

I'm up another $.50 piece as well... found a second one under the seat rail! So I'm up $2.76 so far!!! So far haven't found any bags of coke in the quarter panels, but there's still time!

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by eljay

Your car is definitely LCI. Get LCI seats.

The buttons being where they are was a 2009 thing. 2010 and higher moved them up to the climate control panel.
Then they also changed the roof rails to flush style in 2011 MY.
That's how you can tell the various revisions of LCI. 😀

StradaRedlands: +1 ^

Mine E91 seats/buttons/net is exactly the same as yours.
I swapped factory seats into sports from E90 MY2010
It was bolt-on replacement, zero harness work.

The net and net-less rear seat cards are interchangeable, see note:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...&postcount=470

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

greetings strada,
as DIY-proficient as you are, what about leaning to wrap the car....or is the wrap material as expensive and repaint??

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by POBEP

StradaRedlands: +1 ^

Mine E91 seats/buttons/net is exactly the same as yours.
I swapped factory seats into sports from E90 MY2010
It was bolt-on replacement, zero harness work.

The net and net-less rear seat cards are interchangeable, see note:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...&postcount=470

Music to my ears!!! If it's plug and play, I can do it... anything beyond that exponentially increases the complexity for me! Thanks!

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

greetings strada,
as DIY-proficient as you are, what about leaning to wrap the car....or is the wrap material as expensive and repaint??

I think there's a pretty big learning curve, and it's not really a DIY job. And the rest of the paint is really nice, it's just those few panels. I need to find a good local body shop that wants to take on a smaller project like this. Most if not all are just there to do insurance work, not private stuff like this. :-/

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Music to my ears!!! If it's plug and play, I can do it... anything beyond that exponentially increases the complexity for me! Thanks!




I think there's a pretty big learning curve, and it's not really a DIY job. And the rest of the paint is really nice, it's just those few panels. I need to find a good local body shop that wants to take on a smaller project like this. Most if not all are just there to do insurance work, not private stuff like this. :-/

The trick is to find a BMW body shop that will eventually paint a BMW with your color. Once they set the paint booth up to shoot that car, they will shoot your car for a reduced price.