hotwire

Yep he knows that. He means E30

Occupancy sensor - 1 hour... really?

Two posts & still we don't know the actual car. We are all wasting out time without that knowledge - how long is a piece of string?

No one will know anything without yo mentioning the vehicle as to battery reconfiguration. Seems random to me. Occupancy seat sensor will have nothing to do with battery change & i am assuming you are meaning rear brake pads & if so neither will have anything to do with those lights

Talk to Kayne Barrie

Try Anything Electronic in Nelson

Nup only drivers door. Both doors seemed to stop at E36. E39 locks are a prick to pick too. I haven't even managed to on my car. Irony is though - i can pick the later car locks relatively easily too

In the case of this one - if you don't want to fix it then just swap with a non bag wheel & say nothing. There is nothing else on the car to suggest it originally had one fitted.

Yep as Andrew says - in this case removing the wheel removes the entire system. Edit: & no one will be any the wiser. Have researched this for jobs at work. After a certain age (15 yrs comes to mind but not sure) the system can be removed but ALL related components must be removed, airbag signage removed & a sign on the dash indicating the system is no longer installed - that is the ugly part.

Talk to Joe @ Euro Surgeon. When i was last talking to him, he was not overly impressed with Dynavin for reliability. Not sure what he has.

Can't help sorry but I am bemused as to why you turned it right around to Valet position again without first confirming the reason of the first failure. Particularly after Allan's post above.

Sounds as if it was originally a non monitor vehicle - radio in the dash. These aftermarket screens are designed to plug/play into the original radio plug. If the vehicle was fitted with a factory monitor, there would have been different plugs - the blue & white i mentioned above. In this case the radio, TV etc modules are all in the L/H rear of the vehicle so if fitting an aftermarket screen in place of the OEM, it needs an extra loom run from the dash (connected to the new monitor) back to the radio in the rear. So, if your vehicle was originally non monitor, it is a big procedure to retrofit to OEM. Aftermarket is the easiest/ most economic option in this case, assuming you want a screen in the dash. Otherwise just revert it back to the dash radio.

As above, If going back to factory option - make sure with the seller that it IS FROM an E53. Plenty of sellers miss represent that they fit E38/39 & E53. Also E39 units (although viewing angle is the same) don't properly fit into the early E38 aperture - a ventilation duct fouls with the unit. First off (again as above) - remove that unit & check the wiring behind. If there are spare blue & white plugs there - it would have had a factory monitor, if factory plugs connect to that unit then it was originally a non monitor car. If the latter is the case then it is a mission to retrofit a factory monitor in place of.

Be aware that although E39 & X5 factory monitors physically interchange, the differ in that they both have different screens to allow for the different viewing angles in each vehicle. I have seen an X5 monitor in an E39 & you need to be viewing from ceiling level to see a proper image. E39 sits virtually vertical whereas X5 is near horizontal. Don't know how the Dynavin views though

^^^^^ All very true Andrew. Off topic to EV's but look what has happened to listening to music - done the full circle back to turntable. Not all new tech is best...

You are still missing my point - I am not against EV's but just the way most manufacturers are powering them.

No problem with a minimal amount of CRC in the lock, I have fixed multiple locks with it. There is also a specific lock lubricant (like CRC) that can be had. Yes I agree with graphite as an option but most people don't have direct access to it & it can be messy.

Maybe the switch jamming against the seat shroud. Have had this on other vehicles

I am aware of the operation of electric vehicles. I am not denying they will emit less greenhouse than a diesel My reading of that - there is talk of the resources to produce the battery as being not so attractive. My point. Imagine the resource required if half the worlds fleet switched to battery powered electric. It still seems somewhat backward to me (for the future) to run a petrol (assisted) electric vehicle or a fully electric (battery powered), which in context, has a very limited range. A fuel cell powered electric makes much more sense. yes there is an infrustructure to set up but once its done its done.

I can't see that a new battery will jack up the value of an "old" electric car anymore than a new engine will an "old" petrol car. Both scenarios just make the vehicle usable again. Cars (most) are simply commodities now & devalue with age. I really can't grasp this "electric" thing yet, the Hybrid still has a petrol engine producing pollution but this concept is required if you need any form of decent range which a fully electric vehicle cannot produce. Also with electrics, almost no one, including the greenies, think of the resources required to both produce & dispose of these batteries. Doesn't make for a very environmentally friendly option. I do see electric vehicles as the answer BUT running on via a fuel cell & NOT by batteries.

No point in cutting a key off the original - you are simply copying a worn key. Some specialist Auto Locksmiths can produce the key & code it, otherwise via BMW You really ought to have a spare - it becomes a pain in the arse when the only coded key is lost. I strike this quite regularly on AA call outs.

Stunning car!! The silver Cristchurch trademe one you refer to now resides in the Waikato. Have had it in the workshop the last couple of days. It too is stunning but the difference is that it has done 260k but had a no expense spared ground up rebuild unlike this one - hardly run in.

Chicken / egg situation me thinks

How worn is the key? You should have a spare, if so - have you tried that? Otherwise spray some CRC into the barrel & see if that helps. Failing that - get it checked by a locksmith

Have in the workshop a certain Silver E30 M325i from Christchurch that had the 37K price tag attached a few weeks back. Have to say it is a stunning car, drives brilliantly. Is fully rebuilt but still can't come to terms with the price, although talking to the new owner it was somewhat less than the asking. Even still, has a few things needing sorting, my mission in the next few days....