M3AN

You've only got a few days until coffee and cars @sweetm3! ?

Depends what fabric you need? I have a roll of M Rain but I'm unsure of how much I actually want to sell. And it's bloody expensive. There's high quality reproductions: https://relicate.com/collections/bmw-seat-fabric You'll need between 5 and 7 m2 to do a full interior depending on your upholsterer (if you can find someone willing to do the door cards properly, I couldn't).

If not then get free ones from NZ Post and cut off the NZ Post branding strip. They look better unbranded (even BMW) IMHO.

Wow, that actually seems worse than working on my mates late model Cayenne Turbo and that's a bitch! Pop your engine brace in here: http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/50444-official-tools-for-hire-thread/ Nice work BTW!

Interesting, something has changed and unless it's restricted to my account (I've tried different browsers and computers) it's probably worth investigating further. Does 'condensed' view work for you (or anyone else for that matter)? It was fine a week or so ago. Thanks for the reply.

A flush and fill is a risky proposition on these (apparently). The likelihood of dislodging crap and not flushing that crap out is high because you can't get the last few litres out. But anybody that can hold a wrench and follow instructions can do it. The more proper procedure is to drop the pan and replace the filter, gasket and fluid.

There's (at least) three types - hydraulic, hydraulic with active and electric without active. They may have also added electric with active later on (I didn't check). And yes @///M, not all LCI's came with electric (or active): https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?id=UD52-EUR-03-2007-E87N-BMW-130i&mg=32&sg=10&diagId=32_1509&q=32106777464&series=E87N

FWIW not all LCI's have electric steering... mine's hydraulic. I don't know what years/markets/options etc got the electric setup.

Oh, do standard license plates always 'live' with a car even if they've been superseded? I had always assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that standard plates went back into the pool if they were ever replaced.

Fixed the electric tilt/lift function on the driver's seat in the 130, happy with that because it only cost me time.

Sorted the electric tilt and lift on the driver's seat today, that was a bit of a mission. It didn't take me long to get the seat out but I spent about 2 hours trying to disassemble it until I worked out that I could use an e9x seat DIY (couldn't find a suitable one for the e8x). Then 30 mins later I was into it. Lucky I had cricket to listen to. It turns out that some tiny and weak contacts had folded back under themselves and weren't touching the required electrical contacts. I carefully bent them back out and down so they'd provide positive pressure... couldn't test until the seat was mostly reassembled and back in, so fingers crossed. It worked! I promptly set the seat and the memory so I don't need to dick around with that switch too often, I'm pretty sure they'll fold back under again if it's used much. If it does die again at least I know what module to replace.

The 'condensed' option in streams (e.g. unread content) doesn't work, the feed stays on 'Expanded' which means very little gets on the screen. Have there been any software updates or changes since Christmas? Edit: and the share post option has gone... or been moved to somewhere I can't find (it used to be next to the report post link). Cheers.

It appears as if the angel eyes have these in them based on bulb markings: https://www.luxangeleyes.com/products/lux-h8-189 Which is good, they're unlikely to start a fire. Cree panels to boot. They're very, very bright (edit: I can't take a pic from front on). When you unlock the car at night, with the lights on auto, it looks like a cruise ship at party stations on a dark ocean. How to address the crazing on the lenses? Is that on the inside or out? LED puddle lights alone are quite nice, lights on manual... Lights on auto ?... Crazy ? LED's...

Size (scale)? Material? Vehicle?

Avin USA 10.25" Android Display It's been an interesting experience, initially I was not really impressed, even disappointed however that impression is slowly improving. The install was simple enough after disassembling the dash. You'll need a cutting tool (e.g. Dremel) to do the dash, the knife they provided is entirely inadequate. I needed to cut out ~2 cm2 of hard plastic. It squeaks but I think I've isolated that to the actual screen/cradle interface (hard plastic on hard plastic) and have a potential fix in mind. There are no instructions and the supplied kit apparently changes/updates regularly so you might get bits and connections you don't expect, and you might also get parts you don't need to use. I got both. There are no instructions, expect to have to work it out yourself. Their support is (so far) exceptional. I've been in email communication since Christmas and have had all replies within 24h and some within minutes. Mostly the support has been helpful and accurate. I've needed to trim a plastic plug (easy enough) and they sent me a 2GB unit instead of a 4GB unit... they've offered to replace it, let's see how that goes. The screen is exceptional, really, really good. It's clear, bright and responsive, I'm impressed and I didn't think I would be. Startup is fast enough (<20s) and you can have it start instantly in 'original car mode' whilst Android loads in the background if you prefer. The OS/Launcher experience is fine, there are a few good skins and getting to Android apps is simple enough. It comes with the Play Store etc, you just need to log in. It has a default digital dashboard which is pretty but it adds no real value. I can connect to the home WiFi and download offline Google maps and with these, navigation is a dream on this widescreen. Mine came with an external speaker (not pictured/mentioned on their site) that outputs navigation instructions so the main speakers maintain their feed. Initially this didn't work for me but now it does... ? ...it creates terrible static on AM radio though (Radio Sport) when it speaks. You can choose your own navigation app. Bluetooth is less impressive... the connection seems flaky and there's an intolerable amount of lag - to the point where you believe the command hasn't gone through. This could be a firmware or memory problem so I'll reserve judgement but I certainly can't rely on it for calls atm so I don't connect it. The default apps are fine but with them alone I doubt I'd get enough value out of the screen and that's where the Android market comes in. I grabbed a terminal emulator first for reboots because for the life of me I couldn't/can't find a reboot option. I got the WiFi adaptor for the Torque app and set up a default set of gauges for that. I can see more potential in more market apps.

Those wheels are so wrong, they look like they should be on an X5 (or larger). Just check that the airbag light works (comes on and extinguishes as expected) because that's a non-3 series steering wheel (5er) as far as I can tell (it's not the normal 3er 4-spoke).

Somebody should grab this, it's a tidy looking, well optioned car for a reasonable price.

More observations; The rear plate and puddle lights (door handles) are LED's, I don't think they came like that (in 2008 anyway). Angel eyes have been upgraded to (very bright) white LED's also, looks heaps better than stock. Interior LED lighting set is on the way from eBay so everything matches. The stubby aerial is actually aftermarket and has a carbon fibre tube... looks naff up close, will replace with stock. A few hundred km's over the last few days and I'm still smitten, everyone should own one of these at least once. Some comments on the Avin once I've recovered from NYE...

Frivolous for sure... but hey, it's the festive season... And yes, I'm sure 99% of people will ask if I "won" it...

I don't think the 335i ones work, apparently you need the M3 ones... and the M3 ones don't work in the 335i. It would be great if they were all plug and play, they have such similar functions.

Yeah, I've seen that (although can't find it immediately) but I've got something else up my sleeve to see how it turns out before I try that.

It stands to become the current price benchmark, despite being a convertible. It's got an amazing logbook of work for the distance travelled. Great colour.

Yeah, and most cars with paddles, ever. It's not even worth debating.

As you wish. I want conventional paddle shifters.

I'm pretty impressed with the load space too. Even though it's marginally smaller than my e36(s) it's actually possible to get 5 wheels with mounted tyres in easy, space to spare. That's a nightmare in the coupes without using the passenger seat and even then still a PITA! Took it out to some semi-rural roads for a spirited drive today and enjoyed every moment of it. I need proper paddle shifters and I can't just reprogramme my brain to adapt to these crazy ones. At the moment I'll do something stupid if I reach for them in a pinch.