What did you do to your car today?

lordbmw · 10-12-2021, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhaseP

There is a small door, similar to the oil drain access small door at the belly pan under the car, on the fender liner that you can remove and access the headlight bulbs from inside without removing anything else. I replaced headlight bulbs multiple times from there. It's kind of awkward but they thought about it. I have halogen headlights.

No, there is no access panel on my car. May be your car but not mine.

RWD_6MT_Wagon · 10-12-2021, 10:06 PM

Installed an Active Autowerke header. Praying that I got the hard to reach flange bolts tight enough. Enjoying my new modest power gain and CEL.

PhaseP · 10-13-2021, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordbmw

No, there is no access panel on my car. May be your car but not mine.

Interesting, sedan vs coupe difference turns out.

Sedan wheel liner with access panel for headlight bulbs:

Coupe wheel liner without access panel for headlight bulbs:

I heard other cars that require bumper to be taken down for headlight bulb removal, it was a Cadillac if my memory is correct.

lordbmw · 10-13-2021, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhaseP

Interesting, sedan vs coupe difference turns out.

Sedan wheel liner with access panel for headlight bulbs:

Coupe wheel liner without access panel for headlight bulbs:

I heard other cars that require bumper to be taken down for headlight bulb removal, it was a Cadillac if my memory is correct.

Yup. Coupe here. Wonder why they did that? Cost savings?

Hoody007 · 10-13-2021, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordbmw

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhaseP

Interesting, sedan vs coupe difference turns out.

Sedan wheel liner with access panel for headlight bulbs:

Coupe wheel liner without access panel for headlight bulbs:

I heard other cars that require bumper to be taken down for headlight bulb removal, it was a Cadillac if my memory is correct.

Yup. Coupe here. Wonder why they did that? Cost savings?

Could be that all coupes come with xenons standard. The access port for the sedans doesn't line up with cars equipped with xenon's, only halogens. The fender liner (or the bumper, which is actually easier) must still be removed to replace the xenon bulb.

E92_William · 10-13-2021, 10:54 AM

Decided I need to find the short in the wiring in my adaptive headlights, can't be driving without them turning.. took the bumper off and headlight off and started messing with the internal wiring.. what a massive mess this is. However I think I've found what the issue is. The power and ground wires for the motor are touching behind the adaptive headlight module connector because of the insulation coming off. This connector can't be removed because BMW so I will figure out some roadkill way of doing so

Gregrobin · 10-13-2021, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister_R

took me forever to find one in Saddle Braun. Good work.

Where'd you find yours?

Hoody007 · 10-13-2021, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92_William

Decided I need to find the short in the wiring in my adaptive headlights, can't be driving without them turning.. took the bumper off and headlight off and started messing with the internal wiring.. what a massive mess this is. However I think I've found what the issue is. The power and ground wires for the motor are touching behind the adaptive headlight module connector because of the insulation coming off. This connector can't be removed because BMW so I will figure out some roadkill way of doing so

Oof. Went though that with my 330Ci as well - it was a facelift coupe with adaptive xenons and the wiring similarity disintegrated.

You should be able to take a small flathead screwdriver and disassemble the connector and run new wires. I'm pretty sure there's a wiring repair kit available from BMW as well.

nsjames · 10-13-2021, 03:53 PM

trailer wiring installed.
I couldn't bear to see t taps every time I opened the storage compartment, so cut and splice it was.
I tapped the cargo area power socket for power.
I never use it anyway and it's a heavy duty switched power source. Convenient factory ground right next to it. Stashed the box against the body behind the ampbracket. Ran all the wires behind it so I can still pull the amp without messing with trailer wires.

profeshunal.

colorado.e9x · 10-13-2021, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsjames

trailer wiring installed.
I couldn't bear to see t taps every time I opened the storage compartment, so cut and splice it was.
I tapped the cargo area power socket for power.
I never use it anyway and it's a heavy duty switched power source. Convenient factory ground right next to it. Stashed the box against the body behind the ampbracket. Ran all the wires behind it so I can still pull the amp without messing with trailer wires.

profeshunal.

I was thinking of retrofitting a cargo area power supply.. Hmm. Might have to connect it directly to the battery. I also want to do a trailer hitch in the future, what kit did you use?

Mister_R · 10-13-2021, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister_R

took me forever to find one in Saddle Braun. Good work.

Where'd you find yours?

eBay...I set email and push alerts for certain things and caught it for $165 shipped, brand new in OE box and all from Arizona.

nsjames · 10-13-2021, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

I was thinking of retrofitting a cargo area power supply.. Hmm. Might have to connect it directly to the battery. I also want to do a trailer hitch in the future, what kit did you use?

it's a tekonsha modulite HD.
works. didn't make the FRM mad. 14V at the trailer light plug.
the hitch is a curt and I got the bumper unbolted today and I'll get it installed tomorrow.

fazm · 10-13-2021, 09:20 PM

I love this discussion. I'm leaning toward doing the stealth hitch soon. We'll likely need a utility trailer for next summer's Colorado trip.

This car is so full of projects!

Rivers · 10-13-2021, 09:43 PM

Put the split armrest on today, man do I regret not getting this sooner.

fazm · 10-13-2021, 10:01 PM

I enjoy mine, but I don't really use it in city driving. I drove ~700 miles this past weekend and loved it, however.

JonOhh · 10-14-2021, 11:36 AM

Left the parking lights on for six hours while I was out on a date. Got back to where we met up and...well, it wasn't a good feeling when we pulled into the parking lot and I could see the halos from 500ft away.

Thankfully, fired right up, although it took a bit longer for the starter to turn it over the first turn. Pretty impressive.

4 Doors · 10-14-2021, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonOhh

Left the parking lights on for six hours while I was out on a date. Got back to where we met up and...well, it wasn't a good feeling when we pulled into the parking lot and I could see the halos from 500ft away.

Thankfully, fired right up, although it took a bit longer for the starter to turn it over the first turn. Pretty impressive.

Maybe she/he thought you had pretty angel eyes

Gregrobin · 10-14-2021, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

Maybe she/he thought you had pretty angel eyes

Who cares about your lights/battery, tell us about the date ;-)

Gregrobin · 10-14-2021, 02:46 PM

Finished painting the rear calipers

JonOhh · 10-14-2021, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

Who cares about your lights/battery, tell us about the date ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

Maybe she/he thought you had pretty angel eyes

Thanks to the Lux V7s+ prelci headlights, there was a bit of "damn that's sexy" mixed with the dread of potentially making an absolutely awful first impression by needing to be jump started. Whatever. He thought they looked good. It could have been a lot worse... surely the car would shut off power to everything before draining so much that it'd need to be jumped...right?

And it went well, thanks for asking.

Gregrobin · 10-14-2021, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonOhh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

Who cares about your lights/battery, tell us about the date ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

Maybe she/he thought you had pretty angel eyes

Thanks to the Lux V7s+ prelci headlights, there was a bit of "damn that's sexy" mixed with the dread of potentially making an absolutely awful first impression by needing to be jump started. Whatever. He thought they looked good. It could have been a lot worse... surely the car would shut off power to everything before draining so much that it'd need to be jumped...right?

And it went well, thanks for asking.

Good to hear. I met a girl once about an hour from my house for a first date. The date went very well. Back at my car the battery was dead and the car would not turn over. She was driving away but luckily she had jumper cables. And let's just say fortunately the date did not end at that point, it continued...

nsjames · 10-14-2021, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonOhh

Thanks to the Lux V7s+ prelci headlights, there was a bit of "damn that's sexy" mixed with the dread of potentially making an absolutely awful first impression by needing to be jump started. Whatever. He thought they looked good. It could have been a lot worse... surely the car would shut off power to everything before draining so much that it'd need to be jumped...right?

And it went well, thanks for asking.

the car will indeed disconnect the battery if the voltage gets too low.
Happens all the time when I leave the hatch open for hours.
You have to reset your clock.

Don't buy a curt hitch.
It did not bolt on and I am currently less than impressed with curt customer service.
oh, and if I want a replacement I have to wait another 90 days because apparently they made one on 9/28 this year, two months after I ordered it.

10-12-2021, 10:06 PM	#18856
RWD_6MT_Wagon New Member 3 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Touring Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0)	Installed an Active Autowerke header. Praying that I got the hard to reach flange bolts tight enough. Enjoying my new modest power gain and CEL.
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10-13-2021, 10:54 AM	#18860
E92_William Captain 1405 Rep 882 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328xi Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	Decided I need to find the short in the wiring in my adaptive headlights, can't be driving without them turning.. took the bumper off and headlight off and started messing with the internal wiring.. what a massive mess this is. However I think I've found what the issue is. The power and ground wires for the motor are touching behind the adaptive headlight module connector because of the insulation coming off. This connector can't be removed because BMW so I will figure out some roadkill way of doing so Attached Images __________________ Airplane Mechanic BMW Masochist
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10-13-2021, 03:53 PM	#18863
nsjames Brigadier General 2461 Rep 4,330 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	trailer wiring installed. I couldn't bear to see t taps every time I opened the storage compartment, so cut and splice it was. I tapped the cargo area power socket for power. I never use it anyway and it's a heavy duty switched power source. Convenient factory ground right next to it. Stashed the box against the body behind the ampbracket. Ran all the wires behind it so I can still pull the amp without messing with trailer wires. profeshunal. Attached Images
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10-13-2021, 09:20 PM	#18867
fazm First Lieutenant 627 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW E91 xDrive Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (2)	I love this discussion. I'm leaning toward doing the stealth hitch soon. We'll likely need a utility trailer for next summer's Colorado trip. This car is so full of projects!
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10-13-2021, 09:43 PM	#18868
Rivers Old Man 248 Rep 131 Posts Drives: DGM 335xi Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 335xi E90 [0.00]	Put the split armrest on today, man do I regret not getting this sooner.
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10-13-2021, 10:01 PM	#18869
fazm First Lieutenant 627 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW E91 xDrive Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (2)	I enjoy mine, but I don't really use it in city driving. I drove ~700 miles this past weekend and loved it, however. Last edited by fazm; 10-13-2021 at 11:53 PM..
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10-14-2021, 11:36 AM	#18870
JonOhh Captain 684 Rep 736 Posts Drives: 06' 330i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 BMW M3 [10.00] 2013 Fiat 500c Abarth [0.00] 1985 Fiat/Bertone X1/9 [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i [0.00]	Left the parking lights on for six hours while I was out on a date. Got back to where we met up and...well, it wasn't a good feeling when we pulled into the parking lot and I could see the halos from 500ft away. Thankfully, fired right up, although it took a bit longer for the starter to turn it over the first turn. Pretty impressive.
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10-14-2021, 02:46 PM	#18873
Gregrobin Captain 583 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Vir ginny ya iTrader: (0)	Finished painting the rear calipers Attached Images __________________ VRSF Performance Intake Kit / XS Power Charge Pipe V2 / ARM 5" Intercooler FMIC / MHD Stage 2 V10 / FTP N54 PCV Valve / VRSF 3" Catless Downpipes / xHP Stage 1
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