M3AN

wow, that looks gorgeous! Both the diff (how satisfying), and the wagon, so shiny... 😍

I can't be much help with the specific errors @Harper bu I do recall having trouble resetting e36 SRS codes with INPA, are we (collectively) confident you don't need ISTA for SRS codes on the e8/9x platforms?

One of your pics is coming up fine, should be enough to start the discussion with anyone interested.

I get your regret, it would be an impossible decision for me to split that from an otherwise good looking M3 vert, the chances of picking up another hardtop in the future is approaching zero. Regardless, if it has to go, GLWS.

Oft, I'm pretty sure virgin angels die any time one of these is destined to be parted out... such a waste.

1 hour ago, AndyB said:

Any recommendations on a good OBD2 scanner, without breaking the bank?

I'd say either the BMW software (ISTA) or BimmerLink are probably the best bets.

If Epsom is convenient to you I'm happy to plug it in to my rig to see if we get any results, at least that'll be free.

4 hours ago, AndyB said:

My car feels like it’s developed a slight loss of power, low down in the rev range. Seems to bog down between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm, then goes fine after that. Engine sounds fine, and no engine management lights on the dashboard. 

Has anyone had a similar issue, or know if this is an indication of a problem?

Probably needs to be plugged in if you want any proper insight, I'm assuming there are no codes or errors?

You could try pulling the vanos solenoids and filters and give them a clean if you're flying blind but YMMV. This is probably a ~2 hour job max if it's your first time in there.

That's ^ a good looking car, well done.

Well, they were selling for low 20's a few years back... buying one now is not a good investment. They're the first of the big, heavy M3's which is not a cool thing, and is an M3 really an M3 if it has a V8? Bottom end is bad, but so was the S54's and that's still iconic.

If it's an emotional purchase and you have the coin go for it, if it's an investment it's a terrible one, if you want to thrash it then yes, if you're not going to thrash it then there's no point in owning it. It's not likely to appreciate with the same trajectory as an E3/4 series M3 because supply is not an issue.

1 hour ago, Eagle said:

I dont see the point of keeping it a garage queen myself, its never going to appreciate much in value and its nothing special to drive in that spec. Id just use the car as intended without caring about the mileage while keeping it garaged and maintained.        

This.

But then it's a $2500 car right?

I wonder what BMW traded it for, $5k max surely, and they're just trying to take the piss.

Ah, no worries Olaf, it's a free bump for an obscure thread, my post history will confirm I'm not so prissy about strict forum discipline... it's the internet after all!

Nevertheless, I totally agree with you... I'm building out my physical 4K collection and the HD audio tracks themselves occasionally have a higher bitrate that streaming 4K video+audio!! That's a crazy difference... 6mb/s audio + 80mb/s video off disc, compared to 5-8mb/s audio+video off Disney+ (and they're one of the better ones!).

It does however go to show just how good compression, especially HEVC, is these days.

It's lovely but surely it'll only appeal to an e46 enthusiast with $20k too much in their pocket? Otherwise, if you're walking into BMW with $20k looking for a small/mid car you're driving out in a nice Fxx aren't you?

Glad to hear at least something improved, keep us posted with the headlights, to be honest they're not something I've ever worried about, as long as they're on when I need them.

Heading down to the 04 myself tomorrow at sparrow's fart actually, we've had shitty weather up in the 09 but I'm not looking forward to the chill!!!

Certainly not a 130...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/135i/listing/4138031298

13 hours ago, Sventastic said:

I have the same issue guys and came across your post. Were you able to fix it with FRM repair?

I have an OBD cable and was trying to fix with short circuit reset but not sure I did it correctly with Tool32..

Have you checked to ensure your FRM isn't wet, or has tell-tale signs of being wet?

You should be able to reset it through the iDrive but I do recall it being a fight on my e87, nowhere near as simple as it should have been. IIRC I had to input a new service interval, I think I set them all to 400,000kms (car is at 135,000) to ensure I didn't get annoyed again. The service intervals in the computer are wildly inaccurate anyway, just intended to generate revenue for BMW... the brakes have physical wear sensors anyway.

I think that's the one I used, did it advise you to clean the windscreen and ensure it was dry and you were out of direct sunlight? I think that's the procedure I followed but I can't remember precisely sorry.

I wasn't aware of the BC menu option, I might look into that one also.

I do know that recalibrating (perhaps it was "initialising") my rain sensor worked wonders for my wonky intermittent wipers!

53 minutes ago, Driftit said:

Kodi and the Sky plugin for it with a shared account.

Sky can't tell how many people are using the account.  So the cost can be shared between however many people you feel is fair.

The Kodi plugin must be using the Sky Go or Sky Sport Now API's so yes, they can tell how many concurrent streams per account and where the traffic is going, they just might not care.

3 hours ago, Olaf said:

Still good with a decent upscaling player.  I run a Pioneer LX500 and am consistently surprised at how well it renders DVD from 1080P up to 4K. 

I agree, I'll be keeping some in DVD format, many don't need state of the art 4K and in some cases, they may never be released in 4K.

Yes, you can recalibrate the light sensor (and the rain sensor FWIW) using ISTA+, I'm not sure about other software though.

BMW will be able to do it for you of course but I'm sure they'll want you to bend over for that.

1 hour ago, Matt said:

My drivers side headlight has just started flickering on and off this morning!! Got caught out by a couple of decent puddles in the rain last week, and my car lives outdoors anyway so I'd say this is exactly what has happened to me! Where did you get your replacement ballasts from, Dave?

I was lucky, my ballasts were fine, I cleaned the wet one out with water displacement spray (WD40, RP7, 5.56 etc) and let it dry. A good replacement would probably be available from Trademe or a wreckers.

That ^ actually looks not terrible.

18 minutes ago, TonyT said:

Have a play around and find out! 

https://individual.bmw-m.com/en

lol - that site is simply depressing, it represents unachievable ambition for me.

BMW M used to talk to enthusiasts, now it's just to milk people with more money than they know what to do with.

Yes, that is a green tinge you see in my reflection... and I've owned an M car for over 20 years.

FTW for Techno, E36 gold.

Oh, and Atlantis Blue!! Also E36 gold, is that still available?

8 hours ago, Driftit said:

Weird.  My car is an outside car.  Always has been.  Had the lights out recently for a proper polish and there was no moisture in them.  But that does look like a silly design.  So why do some do it and others not?  Was the water stagnant like it had been there a long time?  Or was it filled up in a single rain storm?

Also is Valeo OEM or OE?

Caught me by surprise too! Headlight, and all components are OE (Valeo) as delivered from the BMW factory.

There are reports of this happening (UK and DE) from as early as 2 years from brand new vehicle purchases so it is a common and persistent problem. There are reports from Europe that some were "fixed" under warranty whereas other claims were rejected, no pattern is obvious to me in these cases.

The water I drained was clear enough and with no tell-tale 'tide' marks on the housing so I assume this is a recent accumulation over Auckland's wonderful summer. I did drive home during the January floods, I did drive in the wet during the February cyclone, and it was parked outside for ~18 hours during the "atmospheric river" that we had last week... so a terrible set of circumstances. Regardless, the failure is inexcusable from a design and engineering perspective, cars get wet.

Mine verses others? Can't be sure but it's certainly a common problem (heaps of reports on 1er and babybmw), I suspect it's just a matter of time if the car is ever exposed to severe water/rainfall. Apparently the way water runs off the gutters of the car funnels it almost directly to the headlight, which then drains to this housing.

It's an afternoon exercise to check and create the drain holes, I'd recommend that as preventative maintenance, I don't think there's a real downside (unless you're submerging the vehicle).

8 hours ago, Driftit said:

Weird.  My car is an outside car.  Always has been.  Had the lights out recently for a proper polish and there was no moisture in them.  But that does look like a silly design.  So why do some do it and others not?  Was the water stagnant like it had been there a long time?  Or was it filled up in a single rain storm?

Also is Valeo OEM or OE?

Caught me by surprise too! Headlight, and all components are OE (Valeo) as delivered from the BMW factory.

There are reports of this happening (UK and DE) from as early as 2 years from brand new vehicle purchases so it is a common and persistent problem. There are reports from Europe that some were "fixed" under warranty whereas other claims were rejected, no pattern is obvious to me in these cases.

The water I drained was clear enough and with no tell-tale 'tide' marks on the housing so I assume this is a recent accumulation over Auckland's wonderful summer. I did drive home during the January floods, I did drive in the wet during the February cyclone, and it was parked outside for ~18 hours during the "atmospheric river" that we had last week... so a terrible set of circumstances. Regardless, the failure is inexcusable from a design and engineering perspective, cars get wet.

Mine verses others? Can't be sure but it's certainly a common problem ( heaps of reports on 1er and babybmw), I suspect it's just a matter of time if the car is ever exposed to severe water/rainfall. Apparently the way water runs off the gutters of the car funnels it almost directly to the headlight, which then drains to this housing.

It's an afternoon exercise to check and create the drain holes, I'd recommend that as preventative maintenance, I don't think there's a real downside (unless you're submerging the vehicle).