M3AN

Okay. It would be pretty unusual for gravity to be sufficient to cause a leak in a pressurised system if it's not leaking when it's running. Or to put it another way, if gravity is sufficient to cause it to leak I'd expect it to piss out under pressure.

Are you sure it's leaking from the sump? If the input shaft on the diff needs replacing they'll drip only when pointed nose down... the leak can drip off the driveshaft rather than the diff itself.

But an economy meter instead of an oil temp gauge? That's no way to treat an S50! Lovely car though.

Maaate!

Not sure who stole the link from your post (if it's a mod edit it's an expected courtesy to say so) but that was funny as hell!

Eww, I saw one of the new X7's in the flesh today. SMH, They're obscene in stature and look stupid to boot with the rabbit teeth kidneys but the most striking thing was just how tiny the front occupants looked. They were dwarfed by the 'shipping container' they were in and looked like little bobble-heads on the dash. Classy.

Good to meet you today Andrew and thanks for a positive trade/experience. Now, don't you forget to bring one of those beauties to our coffee meet! ?

It's highly unlikely that the DSC light is related to the airbag work, it would be a convoluted path to connect those dots. Treat them as unrelated unless you find otherwise but that doesn't mean it'll cost $1800 to fix. As a priority get your money back for the clock spring. This is not a wear item and should outlive the car. In cases where they do break it's almost always because somebody has been dicking around with the steering wheel or airbag. If you're too casual it's easy to (re)install the clock spring on the steering wheel/column so that it will tear almost immediately. Talk to the service manager, I'd be stunned if they resisted fixing this at their cost and refunding you. There's literally no other way for this to break. As for the DSC lights, you're best to get another quote from a reliable independent BMW workshop (codes read + diagnosis + cost to fix), you may find they have a different position/cost. Where you go depends largely on where in Auckland you live but @BM WORLD's offer above is probably a good place to start, I'd give Brent a call. Do keep us posted.

Spent some time with her today and made some progress... Non-start looks like it might be a general electrical problem, CPS code might just be because it's one of the more sensitive sensors. The car started again first time but I'm getting some interesting battery results so I've charged and recorded state and we'll see what it's like in the morning. I am getting ~12.5v steady and ~14.6v running but I'm still suspicious as I've also pulled a couple of dead fuses... ? She also had developed a terrible cat/exhaust rattle, like something heavy was loose inside. Turned out to be the harmonic balancer before the muffler was loose, perhaps I didn't torque it properly when I did the rear ARB bushes? ?

Wow, way more complicated DME than on the single-unit MSS50 (S50B32). Only observation/adjustment I'd make is that I'd remove the feeder tube from the expansion tank rather than bending/stressing it - I've had one crumble in my hands before.

The pleasures of a $2k car... As above I replaced the CPS, car started fine multiple times, still had a static CPS code (#65 which is apparently very common), a little while later and the car wouldn't start again. Had to wait until today to have another look... car started first time... argh. So who knows? I can't really rely on the car starting but it's impossible to diagnose anything whilst it is starting fine... ?

I used my mate's spare motorbike helmet years ago. Does the driver training co not supply helmets?

Hmm, I wouldn't start looking for solutions elsewhere just yet - the problem is that if you do so, the original service centre can just wipe their hands of it. We have to assume it was an actual BMW dealership? Totally unacceptable that you were charged for the clock spring, they obviously broke it (edit: or caused it to break). You need to talk to the service centre manager and get your $1000 back. If they won't budge then small claims will be your only option (you're almost guaranteed to win that one). DSC module... well that's more tricky, how long after the airbag work did that happen? Either way, do NOT pay them the $1800, there will be less expensive options (edit: like Brent above). Do you have a copy of the computer scans you can post here? Can you drive the car? Do the brakes work fine?

I missed this, surprised it didn't get picked up sooner. I like mine. If @beemwr doesn't pick it up let me know.

They're alarmingly similar!

That front kidney grill is beyond the pale, wtf are they thinking?

It may be wiring, apparently they break down under the insulation... I only learned that after I'd put it in... need to remove it to check. having said that it did seem in really good condition visually, it was also very clean (unlike my original one). It's a static error (#65), always present, always 1 occurrence, clear it and it comes back as soon as I attempt to start the car... I've got a screenshot at home but one of the sub messages was 'emissions related' which made no sense (it's on the intake cam)... but the same section also say that the error occurred at xxx rpm which is wrong (because zero rpm) so I'm not sure how much i can trust the info in that section. Error 65 is very common apparently. I had that error on the old one, the same error when the car started fine with the "new" one and again, the same error and now the car won't start (exactly as per the first time). The test procedure looks like a real PITA... need to remove the DME which is really difficult on a RHD car.

Having lived in Amsterdam for 6 years I might have something to offer about the city (and country) if you have any questions. I can assure you that you'll be able to fill up 5 days pretty easily. Berlin, Brussels, Paris... they're all train trips, forget looking/waiting for good airfares. And no airports, bonus. Also trains tend to drop you off in the centre of the city, very much unlike airports. It's also easier to carry your awesome Jack Herer or Kush with you on a train... You can skip Brussels, well Belgium altogether actually, it's hardly a destination. Berlin and Paris (opposite directions and opposite experiences) are both "must dos" in my book, especially if you've never been before. Stockholm is awesome, the food and nightlife is stunning... but it's hella expensive, keep that in mind. It's easy to get down to Italy also and it's worth doing Rome if you can, getting there via Munich is an option because as Gareth says that's worth a visit for the Deutsches Museum alone. Although a day trip out to Neuschwanstein is a pretty cool experience. I don't rate Oktoberfest for any length of time for anyone over about 30 but if you're around it's worth a visit for an afternoon/evening. Ahh Europe, so much to see and do. Don't forget to consider Croatia also - one of the best places I've ever visited.

Reset... 328 doesn't start Computer says cam position sensor ? So it's unlikely that both sensors aren't working... and doesn't explain why the car started (about 5 times) as soon as I put the new (used) sensor in. Also the car that the second sensor came out of didn't crash because of a faulty CPS. So, perhaps it's something upstream of the sensor? Will need to wait until next weekend I'm afraid. Open to suggestions...

Ouch. Try SuperPro, Aussie company and they have some good original thinking when it comes to bushes. Am using their RTAB and FLCA poly bushes on the M3 and am happy. Prices were very reasonable when I got mine a few years back.

The team at @HELLBM have a lot of experience at this, up in Silverdale. Forum supporters/sponsors too. Might pay to give them a call.

Today... 328 didn't start Computer says cam position sensor Zebra says $15 Dave says 'yes' 328 starts Win ? Edit... fail, see below...

So, cam position sensor... thank God for computer diagnostics... that would have been one of the the last things I checked for a non-start. A trip to Zebra and $15 later new sensor secured. Lucky because it was the only 6 cylinder E36/34/39 that they had which share the same sensor. Unlucky because that 320i had been in a front end collision and the hood wouldn't open or stay up by itself. Lucky because I'm skinny. Replaced the sensor and the car started immediately, nice. Having said that it now throws a different CPS code (#65) which is 'always present' (meaning it fails the POST) but no noticeable symptoms. I'll drive it a bit and see what happens... I'm not bothered if it causes no problems, it's probably marginally out of range on the expected resistance. At this stage I'm considering this exercise a win. And it was a sunny day in May. Edit: it's broke again... same CPS code and no start... ?

Down low? Not sure... the one with the white inner circle is the rearmost one... does that help?

Interesting... medium case diff then?