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If you thought the Sony Carplay tablet install was a bit of a far step from OEM you're gonna love the latest changes to this one.

Hello Bimmersport world, I wasn’t planning on joining team BMW as they always seemed too expensive and complicated for me (but fantastic cars). However a friend was selling his 2016 118d F20 after being deported/relocated to the West Island (Australia) and I have got to like the 118d a lot. Although I have always hankered for an M car especially after seeing an M5 wagon (the V10 version) at Continental Cars Parts department the other day and the M3 CS at CC-BMW looks the business but $283,000 although East Auckland BMW has one for $270,500. The 118d it is a nice package for not much money. She has done a few kms (150k) so I am working through a list of maintenance items to attend to (I will be posting a few questions if I can find answers already in the forum). I am hoping on getting 300k out of it before anything major is required (optimistic?). I am more familiar on running pre 2000 Japanese cars (WRX, MX5, Corolla, Demio,…) which all need 6month WOFs and don’t have OBDII so the 118d is quite different. (See my separate post on fixing my disappearing iDrive). The 118d has the ZF 8speed Auto which seems a fantastic gearbox both to use and own/maintain. It is my first auto so hopefully I can get my iDrive back so my left hand has something to do, other than changing the Drive Mode button (another great feature). Do some cars have steering wheel paddles for manual gear changes with these gearboxes? I am not sure about the run flat tyres and I will probably look to change them if that makes sense…..although no spare wheel location. A diesel engine is also a new thing for me, so lots to learn about these and EGR and DPF and dodgy timing chains (or is that just the N47 and not the B47) I am looking to get the engine uprated to 165 kW / 450 Nm at Autoupgrades.co.nz on the North Shore. This would make the 118d almost as quick as my WRX but with half the fuel cost. This is more than just a rechip and seems like excellent value. Although I still need to research brake capacity and transmission strength etc. They also do a gearbox reprogram for the ZF 8 speed for quicker/better changes. When and if I do this I will report back. That’s probably enough waffle from me at this stage and I look forward to using the Bimmersport NZ Forum in the future.

The engines back out sooner than I had hoped.. Fortunately with the front end already off it took <2 hours to get it out. Love how easy the E46 is. Split the gearbox in search of the leak from the bellhousing and as suspected it was the input shaft seal. I replaced it while the box was out the first time since it was weeping but it was leaking a lot of fluid now and the seal wasn't happy. Couldn't see anything wrong with it, so I tried my luck and tapped it in a bit further. No luck. Had to bite the bullet and remove it and get another one ordered. $60 seal, ouch. I could see the slightest imperfection on the lip of the seal once it was out but have a hard time imagining that was causing the drip, hopefully the next one has no issue otherwise I'm out of ideas. Took a bunch of photos but lost them somehow so here it is removed. . In the meantime I've reassembled the rear end. subframe and arms in with all new bushings, ball joints, and bearings, 330 diff, 330 rear brakes, new brake lines all round. 330 cluster rings and manual cluster panel panel added. Technically since this is a coupe it should probably have the grey dial faces but I actually prefer the look of the black ones. The smoke tester arrived, it works good. No complaints except for the smell of the smoke, and it gets everywhere, on your clothes hair, skin etc. I tested with the motor removed and just plugged the purge valve and sucking jet pump but it revealed absolutely zero vacuum leaks. The thing is air tight. Pretty much only leaves a brake booster vacuum leak, bad MAF sensor, or bad O2 sensors, as my rough idle issue. I will have a look at the fuel trims once the motor is back in the car and see what the next step is. Tempted to just order a MAF regardless since it's nice to just rule it out and have a fresh one, I already have O2 sensors on order but they're not due until the end of march.

check the date, some of them sit on the shelf too long

Try another (big brand) battery. I bought a strip of generic batteries for Air tags and they show 'low' out of the packet.

Cheers mate, Haven't driven it in so long and prefer to have something that I can drive and have fun.

No bro! The vert dream is the best dream but good luck with the sale. I thoroughly loved your car so much all those years ago but I understand that life happens my guy

I do consider myself fortunate, been a combo of good luck and hard work with long work hours. Wife included. I think you’re right in enjoying the present. Father’s life got cut short before he got to retire, but he still had an excellent life and pursued interesting stuff. But he was certainly looking forward to retirement and was planning travel etc. Almost joined him but got a second chance due to the skill of the medical profession and determination to recover. Life 2.0 I call it. Make a point of living in the present and doing stuff that I enjoy. Also trying to justify spending habits 😀.

as long as you enjoy doing it and your not living on bread and sausages who cares, its healthier than spending it on P

I totally get it, back of the napkin says I'm at about 2100% of purchase price 🤣 We're very fortunate that we can mess with such things in the pursuit of enjoyment and satisfaction for sure. I think too many people are obsessed with the 'and then' mentality where you're always chasing that next then that's going to unlock some magical level of happiness ... waiting to retire to take that holiday and then we'll be happy ... slaving for that promotion and then i'll be satisfied ... etc. Full disclosure: Not saying I'm any different and I probably say this to justify my own spending habits hah

https://www.bmwblog.com/2024/02/04/bmw-zbf-luxury-sedan/

Few pics from Kura of BMWs in the '80s

Good points. Although it is a bit hard to pin-point the time period in NZ from that particular attire - good old Kiwi bloke in T-shirt, jeans shorts and no shoes - could be any time from 1970 - date.. The cars are a bit more telling, and I did miss that they are facelift E30s which would make it a bit later in time.