gjm

The Scanner is a purely diagnostic tool - it reads codes and reports them, but doesn't interact in the way INPA does. That's where I need a new cable in order to 'talk' to the car. It's planned, but small expenditures have to be planned at the moment! I'll try extended cranking again and see if that gets me anywhere. Thanks.

Engine was running, and cut out while travelling at around 95km/h. Dry day, cruising, absolutely no warning. Once recovered to home, DDE reported code 4B90. Consulting with BMW revealed this is reported when mi fuel pump fails - the in-tank pump and HP pump have discreet error codes; the mid fuel pump does not. Replaced mid fuel pump. DDE no longer reports any errors of any sort whatsoever. Today I paralleled a second battery and cranked the engine for 30-40 seconds (may have been longer - I wasn't timing it). Cranking speed seems fine, and at one point it almost seemed ready to fire, but no. Air bubbles are, I think, the most likely cause but I've don't know how to bleed the HP pump. (Apparently BMW have all sorts of problems with this, too...)

Amazon... When I was receiving stuff from HP (Hewlett Packard) at work, we'd have a go at them about their over-sized packaging. Huge boxes for certificates for kit, that sort of thing. It seems Amazon subscribe to the same policy. One 3.5" hard disk drive. Package size - 36 cm × 31 cm × 8 cm !!! (For comparison - the drive is 15cm x 10cm x 2.5cm.) Of course, this is then reflected as 'volumetric weight' (which works out to be 3x actual weight) in the on-shipping costs from MyUS (and NZPost YouShop, and all others), and they'll not repack because it is a single item. Shipping direct to NZ from Amazon in the US is not available. And then, when it does finally get here, the NZPost (or whatever courier/carrier) won't deliver it because it's either too big to go in the post box, or because we're Rural Delivery and heaven forbid a courier should have to deliver to somewhere they're driving past anyway, so it'll be left in a depot somewhere instead, waiting for me to go and collect it in person. So I get to pay more for less, extra $$$ for slower non-delivery! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Nothing is ever quite as simple as it could be, is it?

W10 can require BIOS changes (certainly needs specific USB port config) in order to work properly with many diagnostic cables. I've been given an old(er) Compaq Presario V2000 running WinXP. No serial ports, but haven't had an issue with the USB and Scanner 1.4.0 (so far). The real test will be if it'll work with a 'proper' cable and INPA.

And... Matt LeBlanc is leaving Top Gear, citing "the time commitment and extensive travel" as his reasons. The usual suspects including Guy Martin are being proposed as replacement.

Given the non-runner, previous-owner-abused status, it could be an expensive car. But if easily fixed, it is a lot of car for that sort of money.

Contactless? Hardly! And being a little older it has it's 'quirks'.

My landlord does... But I am a mere padawan. I have much to learn.

Changed the front tyres on the 318i. They may have passed the WoF, but that doesn't mean I'm entirely happy with them. And I'm learning how to use a tyre-changing machine. And a wheel balancer. Fun times.

Thanks bud. Very much appreciated. I shall shortly have use of a shed to work on cars (assuming I don't get a job on the other side of the country and move!) so it'll be full steam ahead.

You don't need an excuse! Come down, offer moral support, suck teeth... Food will be supplied.

I have a USB->square plug, and a square plug->round plug adaptor. <sigh> I didn't try your kit on the car - didn't want to use up the chassis number allocation. And... Didn't htink I needed it because I thought I'd fixed the problem! Lol I'll talk to Mrs M about investing in a USB->square plug cable for INPA.

I'll go through the process and see if it helps. ?

Square connector. I suspect I will have to invest more of my no-income in a cable that will work with INPA- the lead I have came with and works with the BMW Scanner v1.4.0.

The fact that it does crank spoils that solution!

Checked compression using the rudimentary technique of blocking the inlet while cranking the engine - remove the obstruction showed a huge 'suck,' so compression looks to be good. Wondering if the starter motor is a bit tired, but it certainly turns the engine over fast enough for it to start. Problem is almost certainly after the mid-pump I installed, but as said - there are no errors indicating an HP pump issue. No DDE-related errors whatsoever. I'm going to try following the instructions in the attached doc, but does anyone have any suggestions for a home mechanic? M47 DIESEL DIAGNOSIS GB-13-004-03 kw.pdf

Obviously so very pleased Nathan's car is running again. ? Could I have some suggestions for the problems we have? Pretty please? ?

I think the two-piece seal is joined on the sides, a couple of inches back from the front edge. Perhaps have the single strip join in the same location? A seal at the back could be susceptible to having water pushed towards the back of the opening panel, and possibly collecting where the seal join is. Maybe.

I know that feeling!

NZPost... Inconsistency exemplified. Yesterday morning I posted three packages in Pukekohe. These were destined for Invercargill, Riccarton, and an RD address in Dargaville. Delivered this morning applies to the parcel to the RD address. Well, it did cost more than the others... Because it is RD. But what is going on with the others? I wasn't expecting any of them to be delivered today, but surely it's reasonable to expect them to get further than 'Picked up', or even 'Processing' at the first place it goes to after pick up?

@Palazzo - where in Auckland are you? If James - @thorburn - can help, I may be able to relay the 'pattern' to him.

Can there be such a thing as a 'universal' fit sump guard - M10, M20, M30, M5x, M6x... ?

A couple of gravestones. One carved, and very slightly worn. The other blank, and very, very new...