AllanC

Hey Neil, Good to meet you too. Had a real quick google on the vanos stuff that relates to the 2a99 error, you could just clean the vanos solenoids to start with, clear the code and see if it comes back. If it does then get it looked at under warranty and pay the excess - If the vanos solenoids are replaced and then it's still happening then the cam ledges are worn which is what Garett said earlier. Here's a quick youtube clip around it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIRPtA93wxw - as the guy says in that, check if your oil cap is unusually hard to pull up because of vacuum into the crankcase.

Thanks for the info, was just based off a discussion with someone else with an n54 engine who had used a different mix for their coolant than the stock mix and getting slightly better cooling results with it.

Hey people, Looking at using water wetter instead of antifreeze in my coolant - any advice here? Is water wetter anti-corrosive and does it raise the boiling point like antifreeze - I presume it does? We get the occasional frosty night still with Auckland winters, does that require antifreeze or does it need to be colder to really require it? I guess I can do a mix of anti freeze and water wetter but would prefer as much water wetter as possible (needing some additional cooling without an oil cooler or radiator upgrade). Advice appreciated.

Might be a bit late on tis topic but thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.. Recently had to make the call between a 2010 135i auto DCT or a 2008 135i 6MT. The 2010 was only a few grand more expensive and 25k less kilometres on it. After driving them both went with the manual because it's just so much more engaging to drive, and I did really pay a premium for it as the 2010 would have resold better if I ever decided to. The 2008 also has the n54 engine which is easier for tuning than the n55 and was a big part of the decision. The DCT auto is awesome though, if I had to commute in traffic alot would have gone with it.

Hey chap - I use the MHD tuning android app with my n54, it pulls up any codes pretty well, happy to try it if you want to come by sometime? I'm in grey lynn. Might need to be able to reproduce the code if it's clearing it when you turn off the car. I've just messaged the guy that makes the app to check it's not vin locked for checking codes (it's vin locked to my car for ECU flashing). He should get back to me by tomorrow morning. Alternatively if you've got an android phone or tablet just buy an odb cable and I think the code checking part of the app is free - just download mhd tuning from the android / google play shop. Cable is from trademe here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/tools-repair-kits/meters-testers/auction-1142954142.htm Sweeto!

Hi there, i have an irregular misfire at idle on my 2008 135i N54, pulled the plugs and put new ones in (bosch bmw branded ones) and when pulling the plugs noticed that the plug on cylinder number 2 was alot darker and had more carbon on it than any of the other ones. Goes great when driving and no misfires at that stage, it's only noticeable at idle and fairly irregular then anyway. Is it worth chasing this or is it really not a big deal? From what I've read it's likely to be a leaky injector. Any bad long term effects from not sorting this out? Car is new to me but has 90,000km or so on it already. Will put a new set of coils in and do a walnut blast soon as I can justify the spend as unsure when that stuff was last done but doubt that'll fix it. Do you have to replace the whole bank if it's the injector? Any advice appreciated. Cheers, Allan

Hey Jake, Late entry into this thread but just wondering if you had any recommendations on where to get the cables for MHD? Is it pretty straight forwards to just run the datalog and send them the maps of it's current set up and get MHD to do the new maps? Was intending to talk to a local shop but having read through the whole MHD thing a bit more now it seems fairly safe. Will just do a moderate stage 1 tune, haven't done any work to my car yet. Cheers, Allan EDIT - just looked through the app and see there's the standard maps provided in the app, then protune and a few others do e-tunes where you take a datalog and they make you a custom map (standard mhd map probably fine for me tho).

Cool good to know. Had a quick google and reviews well but slightly less range than some of the pricier ones. Good to have a well priced unit that doesn't do false alerts though.

In terms of laser 'parking sensor' went with the blinder hp-905 from the states. They're on ebay for $549usd for twin sensor (just forwards facing) or $729usd for quad sensor which does both back and front, have to use a reshipping service to get it off ebay though as they're a US listing... the legality of these is questionable but you just have a switch and turn it off after you get pinged the first time (and slow down to the speed limit). I actually just decided against the radar detector I was going to get due to problems with shipping and still making a call on that, there's so many in a similar bracket. If you want a cheap but effective option the whistler c90 is on trademe for like $350 or so, it's sensitive but not very good at filtering so does alot of false alerts if not turned down in city areas, should be good (for the money) on country roads though. Might go with one of those as only want it for country roads and long trips etc, I don't drive fast around urban areas. There's valentine 1, passport max and escort redline in the premium price bracket of around $800 to $1000. Not cheap stuff but I've had a couple mates loose licenses for six months or three months getting caught in the 140 to 150 range on country roads.

Definitely, wouldn't mess with plugging something in right out of the box and not having it checked and set up by someone who knows exactly what they're doing. Want to get the charge pipe and other things checked over for pressure leaks, check coils / spark is up to scratch and make sure it's cooling correctly and maybe walnut blast the intakes as best they're pretty crusty at the moment. Still the most fun car I've owned in stock form so will be happy with it as is until there's a bit of money burning a hole in my pocket to do a few things on it. Do you guys go to the bmw meetups? My mate has an '89 e30 with about 60,000kms on it and has been to some of the e30 meetups. Radar and laser 'parking sensor' system ordered and on its way just incase my throttle pedal gets stuck on nice drives in the country....

Hadn't heard of MHD but just googled it, pretty cool working straight from android. Probably come down to whether there's anyone like jtune or eurosurgeon or anyone that has experience using it and happy to check the maps and like prior to running it. The Cobb AP everyone seems to have a bit of experience setting up etc. Any idea who might be good to talk to with experience using the MHD flasher? I drove the N55 and it did feel a bit more punchy in stock form than mine but only had the dct auto models around rather than the traditional manual and I do quite like a traditional manual so ended up sticking with the '08 rather than the '10 dct I drove. Think I'd rather go aftermarket tuning than the bmws performance package.

Thanks for the welcome other Allan! All the allan's should hang out and do doughies in a carpark sometime, haha. And yes, it's pretty fun as it is, but another 80 or so bhp would be more fun : ) My daily ride motorbike is a custom gs1200ss with about 133bhp at the wheel and weighing 195kg, so I quite like having a bit of power on hand personally. I had a chat today with the friend of a friend who had an aftermarket exhaust system approved on his warranty covered car so it is possible, just has to be approved before and negotiated with the warranter. A tune wouldn't get approved but 'hypothetically speaking' with a cobb accessport and a duplicate of the original map set as one of the map option it could just be switched back should any problems arise... (would speak with jtune and get it set up correctly). I also think with the correct map and some thorough engine inspection and testing prior to doing anything the level of risk isn't that high in terms of the engine going bust from running excessive boost or anything stupid. What does the bmw powersport pack consist of? I googled it but didn't get a very specific answer (within the three clicks of time I gave it looking).

Thanks for the input! Yeah was from a dealership, had read there was a factory recall on fuel pumps for a particular range, will double check if mine was in that. Have heard of eurosurgeon or bmworkshop doing exhaust and downpipes / intake work on a 135i or 335 and having it checked with autosure and things so will look into that. Downpipes and intake and an ecu map would be a nice start. Pretty sure suspension work just voids the warranty on the parts that have had work done on them and areas that directly relates to.. if its was full bolt on then probably an LSD would be a good idea too I'd imagine? It has an open diff with the ESD controlling power to the wheels when that's turned on. Some visual stuff would be nice too, going black for the wheels and wing mirrors (paint or plastidip or vinyl?) and a black front lip and the little boot spoiler, maybe some tints too? I'm pretty fresh to the car scene... have mainly been a motorbike person when it comes to performance.

Hey peoples, Just picked up a 2008 BMW 135i 6MT (and yes, am waiting for that water pump to go). All very stock standard currently, in titanium silver. Runs the n54 straight six twin turbo. Time to investigate what modifications I can do without voiding the autosure extreme warranty... anyone have any knowledge or experience around that? Also, anyone here have any good contacts for updating the frequency region on the radio for the CCC idrive? It's in english, country code set correctly, but japanese frequencies on the radio still. Quoted $900 or so from a couple places to update it - have a nav maps dvd and not that bothered about sorting the maps anyway, just the radio. One other question - anyone got any recommendations around a reasonable priced place to get walnut blasting done? Probably could use it. Will take some pics when I get a moment, here's one exactly the same as mine. Thanks! Allan

Good stuff! I moved back to NZ recently and bought a 135i last week. New to the forums here too.