Olaf

selfie ommitted! opportunity missed 😲. next time, my friend.

Date: 14 Sept 2021 Distance: 263337 kms 1. WoF Gave it a wash, drove to trusted workshop where it flew through another WoF, renewed rego on-line. Lovely day to get out in my e30 in the spring sunshine with friends 🙂👍 e30 ahead of being put to bed last night

@aramoana it took me more than six months, but then I got lucky. I’ve been seeing them coming up in Australia. I only went for 51mm as the shocks I found were 51mm. @Deano1968 I’d be surprised if a 316i would have ABS? @aramoana you may have totally lucked-out!

@aramoana pretty sure you can get 45mm struts in high performance varieties (Koni certainly do); look for 45mm Bilstein B8 if you can't find 51mm housings, and you'll sell your 51mm easy enough. If you're changing housings, you might as well refresh the wheel bearings while you're at it. Mine was also pretty grumpy when I first got it - esp when cold. Plugs, cleaning up the leads, coolant temp sensor all helped a lot. HTH PS: pleased to see my project thread is useful, thanks 😀

That perspective hardly accounts for tensioner or guide wear in general (in addition to the chain itself). One would be foolish to apply that logic to, say, an M60 or M42. @balancerider good to hear you're enjoying positive ownership with N47.

@balancerider could be, mate. I've heard of - and seen evidence of - intake manifold and glow plug issues on N57. Seems there was a recall on the intake manifold? Still digging.

This from Autocar: The 2.0-litre diesel engine in pre-2014 facelift X3s is codenamed N47. According to reports, it has a reputation for excessive timing chain wear leading to premature failure. BMW took action to fix the problem, culminating in the fitment of the new and uprated B47 engine from 2014. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1826001 discusses N47 & N57 this is sobering viewing! I'm about to buy an N57... though he takes a sensible approach to preventative maintenance. Other reports on a basic google search indicates the N57 is largely reliable... Earlier version:

as I said, "to a lesser degree".

Back around '99-'01 in UK M20 (and M30 to a lesser degree) had a reputation for head gasket failure, cambelt and water pump failure. Clearly a result of neglect (or not updating the head bolts?), but now we're past that, it's understood. Get you A-B with minimal maintenance => reliability? I think that's a great distillation!

@Herbmiester you may have some useful experience/info here?

This is complete gold Murray @NZ00Z3, banking that one away for (near) future reference!

Having run an N62B44 for 4.5 years and nearly 30k kms, my experience is that the N62 V8 is fekkin' brilliant. Sure, valve stem seals are a given (mine were replaced), and this is bad news. The coolant tube is a risk, though that risk has two mitigants in the form of annual coolant flush and replacement, and the collapsible tube replacement. For context, this replacement - should it be needed - is less costly than the M6x and it's timing chains and guides! The N62B44 is smooth, very powerful for it's capacity (just compare with M6x), lightweight, and bloody economical on a trip. In short, another sophisticated modern engine. It compares very favourably to the N4x motors (which I agree are a disaster). The N62 needs gaskets to stem oil leaks, and plugs/coils just like M5x motors (or most other BMW non-diesel motors). What's the big deal? People were bagging the M54 just five or six years ago; now they're understood. N52 is approaching the same status (yes, you all know you were freaking out about failing expensive electric water pumps until recently!), and is now becoming accepted and respected. The N54 is approaching the same (do fix your vacuum and exhaust leaks, don't fack it up with outrageous MHD tunes). In summary, the N62 is rather good and should absolutely not be lumped in with N42/N46. N62 simply needs regular maintenance, and does not respond favourably to neglect (like pretty much any BMW except perhaps the M10?). The N62 is frequently encountered in poor condition after some oik has tried to run them like a Camry. If you want bullet-proof out of a BMW you're shopping the wrong badge, buy a Landcruiser. PS: One assumes you meant SATAN, not Satin?

How did I miss this thread? Where did you end up @dirty doogle - Yaris GR sourced? What a cool project. A little more 'fun' with the whole global cycle of Covid...

Date: 7 Sept 2021 Distance: 263271 kms 1. New Battery The batty had become increasingly less cooperative in storage since June, despite the gentle pulsing care of the CTEK MXS 5.0 in maintenance mode. No sense in flogging the dead horse. I consulted the schedule on on RealOEM, and found they equipped 46, 50, 55, and 65Ah battys for the 316i and 318iS. Existing batty was an AA 3552, which is a DIN53L, 510CCA, 50AH. (interesting AA no longer recommend this, favouring a DIN55 instead (heavier). There are plenty of options out there, and I've completely given up on AA Battery Service following really crappy service by them in 2019/20. The DIN53L is a relatively small batty, both dimensionally [L=242, W=174, H175, TH=175, all in mm], and in capacity (around 50AH). A really stonking version can put out 600CCA/60AH, though ~500 CCA/50AH is more commonplace in Niu Zild. Prices between about $195 (Repco 40 month on special) to over $350 for a Century with 36 month warranty, were found via a quick search. What's a fella to do during Lockdown v2.0 eh? So we ordered a Koba as the quality is good (my e60 is still very happy) and price is reasonable. Many thanks to @Autoglym for arranging. The MF55457 is a DIN53LMF. Time to get a WoF and some rego. Spring is here! PS - it's three years of ownership on 9th Sept. Somehow there's always a necessary anniversary purchase whether I like it or not!

@E28E30 as it's your pride and joy and not a daily, you might want to talk with Jon for a longer-term view of preservation and maintenance.

Auto 38 has closed up. Jon & Keren will be taking on project work from Marton in the near future. If it's got to be Wellington, I can firmly recommend All European Service, in Fifeshire Ave. I had my 855-T5 and e46 Touring serviced by Peter for years before he closed up. He's recently re-opened in Te Aro. @E28E30

yep, I agree Alan @Kodachrome there's a few things that are standard maintenance in any e60/61, including ensuring the sunroof drains are running clear (weed whacker line is ideal for this, on a battery drill), the cabin filter intakes being cleared of leaves, and all door and boot seals! Got to keep the water on the outside of these rather complex vehicles. [deleted - not modular] And yeah, taking that S85 up toward the redline is very satisfying, and ohhhhhhhhh that sound! Sex on wheels personified. Having looked up from beneath e60 M5's on the rack while the essential maintenance is being done, it's certainly packed as tightly as one of my suitcases at the end of a trip abroad. The N62-powered 545i is comparatively roomy in the engine bay.

I've used Colorlock Leather Care system on my old Volvo 855-T5 to great effect, and for maintenance on my BMWs. It's great stuff, just follow the instructions. Needs to be cleaned and (sometimes, abraded with fine sandpaper) before thin layers of toner (dye), before finishing off with the protectant. I always use Elephant Leather Preservative on top. I've done steering wheels as well. I've also used this on leather jackets and bags. It's excellent system, producing lasting results. If you're not keen on doing it yourself, contact your local Fibernew rep. Here in Wellington, Andrew does a brilliant job. HTH

at the risk of plugging BMW Car Club NZ again, the next issue of DIXI Magazine contains an excellent article on S85 (and 65) Rod Bearings. Join now, the 36 page colour glossy quarterly magazine is included with your membership! I guess I'm in the sub-set; I've always been a wagon guy, and I still like to work on my own vehicles (though confess to doing less these days!).

Luckily, someone else has done the work so you don't have to! BMW Car Club NZ magazine DIXI had an excellent article a couple of issues back where an owner compares the e63 M6 with the F13 M6. I was fortunate enough to enjoy a brief drive of them both. The e63 is fabulous, visceral, unique, a great experience. The F13 is more powerful, waaaay quicker, smoother, a supreme experience. Two sensational and exciting cars, with different characters; many of the differences not aparrent until you get behind the wheel.

The flipside of that viewpoint is "it's honest, I'm not hiding anything, there's a table full of main dealer receipts, you can see yourself in the side paint. It's a high-speed touring machine and traveling on NZ roads attracts stone chip at the front; it's not a museum piece as I've travelled the country with my family. You can see what you're buying, and take it to your trusted painter, or just enjoy it". If I had the courage to own the totally brilliant e6x M5/M6 - and a garage to put it in, I'd buy this in a heartbeat.

I think he's bought it.

though now - if there was any doubt before, it's gone - you're endorsing drifting. 😐 For the sake of clarity: no drifting was involved in the rollover I mentioned. We went from forward motion to rotate 90 degrees/on two wheels sideways in less than half a second... and then bullet time ended and it all sped up.

You're gonna need exhaust hanger hardware too. Might as well replace your rubbers while you're there.

Git her scanned, could be water pump/thermostat/cooling service time.