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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/15/18 in all areas

  1. 2 points
    I read that Pelican have been quietly swallowed by the ECS hegemony, who previously acquired Turner Motorsports. I read a blog post by a senior manager from Turner Motorsports recently, something to do with "Why I hate ECS tuning". I couldn't find it, though I was disturbed to find the Facebook group "why I hate ECS Tuning" FCP Euro are still doing right by me after around 12 years. ?
  2. 2 points
    Hi Folks. Yes, as @Eagle Jared points out, my 2004 e60 545i was diagnosed and subsequently sorted. I think e60 V8's are inexpensive because they're unfashionable and don't have a Holden Commodore on the badge! They're an amazing car, and well optioned-up cost around $160-180k new? We're buying them under $20k with deferred maintenance; they're going to need some lurrrvvvvvv. So put on your Barry White (or your Marvin Gaye), settle in, and read a little about my case. ⛑️ oil leaks were all sorted under previous custodian's care. @TermiPeteNZ had already addressed plenty of the maintenance items; I took up the mantle when I bought it, and expected there'd be more to do. I wasn't disappointed. The good thing was it wasn't covering hoses with oil, or ruining the alternator, like it sounds is the case in yours, Geoff @awake On we strolled, taking care of the systems that might be smokey, while catching up on other items. Firstly the PCV diaphragms were were replaced. They're an inexpensive part, on top of each head. They get old and brittle. Secondly, vacuum pump replaced. it was weak, Brakes were not firm enough, and was not scavenging oil as expected. Oil consumption was increasing, and it was 'puffing billy' after sitting at traffic lights.?️ Valve stem seal failure was subsequently diagnosed. Yes, Valve Stem Seal failure an issue with the N62 V8's... though the same seals are used in MANY, MANY BMW engines. Don't be in such a hurry to roll out smugfaces, you M54 owners! Oh, yeah that's me too. Damn. ? Fortunately, I have kept up** maintenance, and the MBI is still valid. Thank you Autosure Extreme. Seriously. Thank you Autosure Extreme. And Page European, here in Wellington. Yes, you may have been following my SS Commodore in German suit thread. 'kept up' maintenance is probably an understatement! ? Now a little about the actual job. Valve Stem seal replacement is a labour-intensive job. The parts are relatively inexpensive; a couple of boxes of seals, a bunch of gaskets. The cost is in the labour. During disassembly the auxilliary water pump crumbled (love that 14 year old BMW plastic); it will likely happen on yours. Around $400 here. Yes, this job is more often done in with the heads in-place. Saves additional cost of head gaskets, bolts, and all that fun. Special tools are available to help with doing the job in-situ. The shop I use hires in the tools when they're needed. Cooling system out. Cams removed, etc etc. Compressed air to hold the valve closed, to allow remove the collet, extract the seal, replace the seal etc. I understand the new valve stem seals are made from a different material. Elring brand were used. I think there's a 'revision' number indicated on the BMW Parts schedule - check it out on in the BMW parts catalogue. It's tight - space-wise - but do-able. Patience required. Need to re-time the Valvetronic setup when the job is done; this is not a backyard job unless you have all the puter stuff. It's quite the jigsaw puzzle to get the shooting match back together. I don't know how much it cost the insurers, I paid for the pump, insurance excess, and cost of Wurth intake cleaner and associated labour with the intake clean. Phew, that's a relief. I knew it'd be a good few grand plus GST, based on what I'd read on the US sites, labour cost, parts estimate, and a guestimate of renting the tools. It would have been around 3 days labour give or take, plus it was in the shop for a couple of weeks; I was in no hurry for the car so preferred they work on it when they wanted to. The old seals were totally flogged-out; your eye-ometer™ is all that's needed to see that. No sealion is going to be happy with those baggy-old worn out items, and nor is your N62 V8! After, all any sea lion wants is a good tight seal, right? ? Outcome: Oil use is down. Puffing Billy effect is gone. Performance is improved. Fuel economy is better. Perhaps the latter two are more attributable to the intake clean? I'm sure vacuum loss wasn't helping things. It hasn't helped dad-jokes in my posts, either! ? I know there are better cars, newer cars, flasher cars. As an allround package, I totally love driving my e60 545i. I'll buy another MBI policy when this one expires. I'm not ready to move this car on yet, and am about to do brakes at all corners, and tension struts at the front, so am planning on keeping it for a while. I can't think of a car I'd rather drive for the purposes I use it for, on my wallet (forget fantasy garage or Lotto wins). If you're fussy on your maintenance like I am, a tough year could cost you $5k. Perhaps this is one of those years for you; hopefully you'll find it less wallet-burning. Whether it's worth doing your vehicle is a value judgement for you to make. I agree with the earlier comment from @Gaz that you want to find a shop that's done it a few times before. They'll know the ins and outs, and can price it accurately, and do the work efficiently. Hopefully that was helpful. I really must finish editing my movie on this job! It'll make ya'll laugh. Cheers Olaf. PS: I mentioned before that Patience is required. Dunno if they were spinning Lloyd Cole in the workshop, but this could have been soothing, particularly toward the rear cylinders. Not my favourite Lloyd Cole song; if you don't know it, you owe yourself to at least listen to the whole of Rattlesnakes. One of the coolest albums of 1984.
  3. 2 points
    It works out better for everyone if I stay out the kitchen.
  4. 1 point
    It is with great sadness that I must part with this half completed project. Loads of money spent on it, but obviously still work to do - over $15k spent or more 186k km new parts: Genuine LuK clutch, flywheel, release fork, bearings, metal pivot ect - everything needed and more when you drop the gearbox. gearbox selector indent springs all brand new and replaced with BMW items new engine mounts, gearbox mounts, rear trailing arm bushing Brand new subframe carrier bushing also including front differential mount new idler and tensioner and idler bearings New Alternator installed Newly rebuilt SMG pump new exhaust hanger rubber new sump gasket new power steering hose New Carbon fibre engine cover Genuine M3 csl aluminium lower control arm (spherical bearing) - very rare Full M3 CSL front brakes 345mm with CSL specific brake pads (NLA) Runs M3 CSL DME setup without airbox (ie standard airbox) CSL SMG control module Genuine near new (fresh rebuilt in Germany a few years back) KW 2 Ways competition shocks and springs (two sets for semi and slicks) plus additional brand new front spare shocks - adjusters ect all included near mint standard M3 leather interior (Car will be reverted back to stock M3 interior) Alcantara Steering wheel Genuine LED rear tail lights (sought after!!) BMW NZ strengthened rear subframe floor with Redish plates - fully welded and primed (we did not install sound underseal as the original intention was to turn the car into a racecar) UK imported rear GTR subframe strengthening brace bar - picks up rear subframe points and braced against the tower. FULLY certified for rear floor strengthening and coilovers - other items do not require certification as they are OE equipment. Full main dealer service history also This is a well sorted car with all the hard work already done (of course there are more that needs doing so I am not making this out to be a maintenance free car!!!) for eg I’ve yet to tackle any of the engine and vanos related stuff but they are easy items and don’t cost a lot to do. SOLD ps paint does need some tlc!!! It didnt bother me when I got it but no rust, just peeling clear and lot of fading - it need repainting to be honest. Priced to reflect paint condition. Car on Stock OE 19s with good condition Continental Tyres 2 keys!
  5. 1 point
    I've used Raj Kumar at Greenlane Panel Beaters in (strangely enough!) Greenlane. Really nice bloke, listens to what you want doing, turns out great work. If you do speak to him, please mention my name.
  6. 1 point
  7. 1 point
    Personally id do the arms\bushings\balljoints first. Subframe bushings can be done later on easy enough and they seem to last on the E38\E39's . New ones would probably yield some result but its more of a somewhat subtle difference in my experience unless they are really bad.
  8. 1 point
    Are you doing the subframe bushings too? FCP are on point with their item prices though esp when things are on sale (seems to be often) and shipping prices. Rarely use Pelican these days with their near 2x the price of FCP shipping the same stuff with the same carrier.
  9. 1 point
  10. 1 point
    https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1697618967.htm?rsqid=12d20117a4dc42d086b80c2f8b758668
  11. 1 point
    if you can read a car manual you can read a cook book
  12. 1 point
    My interview went well, but much experience tells me that means little or nothing. On my side, the hiring manager did say that there was nothing that gave him any cause for concern, and had he thought I wasn't in the running, I would have been out much sooner. (I was there for 2 hours.) So... Now we wait. Some more. In the meantime, here's a pic of a nice-looking E46 coupe in New Plynouth.
  13. 1 point
    Finally got there! At long last as! Will try post some more photos and possibly a sound test over the weekend. Back yesterday and out the same night for my first drive and one I'm sure ill remember for the rest of my days. Induction sound to die for! How it was meant to be. I cant thank @HELLBM and @M3_Power enough for there time, knowledge and putting up with me and my impatience, just a young fella with a vision but no idea how to achieve it - without them it wouldn't have been possible.
  14. 1 point
    Saw a Stinger on the road for the first time today, they look much better proportioned in reality than they do in pictures. I initially thought it was a quattroporte until got closer! Whereas the new commodore looks like an old hyundai accent crossed with mazda 6
  15. 1 point
    Minor but noticeable update on the interior, LED upgrades for all the internal lights. Love the sharper white light these give off. Noticed a big difference in heavy traffic crawling as well, with AC on it’ll idle along at around 14kph, with the AC off it’ll tick over at 4kph, big difference on the draw and lift in idle that isn’t normally noticeable. Been mucking around with the coding, DRL setup on, 3 Stage indicators etc. Pulled the trigger on a full suspension refresh kit, all control arms, bushings and tie rods on its way. Can’t wait to return to a 1999 ride, little bit bumpy and crashes over some roads etc so this will go a long way all going to plan.
  16. 1 point
    the extra weight on the seats from the dye probably triggering the airbag light
  17. 0 points
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