Gabe79

Replacing control arms. Do I need to order hardware to replace all bolts/washers/nuts? Looking at this diagram: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=DT63-USA---E39-BMW-530i&diagId=31_0617 I've got 4 and 11 in the cart. Do I need 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, and 20?

When I was looking to buy an e39, I asked this question. We discussed it here: It's the chain guides that evaporate. The service would then involve replacing those, as well as the other bits and bobs in between. It's a very involved job, 20-50 hours, depending on level of skill, likely closer to the top end. Numbers range from $2-3k for DIY, (Part alone can run you $1500ish...) up to $7k. I've read many differing accounts on this. Personally, I stayed away. That said, there are thousands of these motors out in the wild and we certainly don't read about all the ones that lasted a long time, so there must be some measure of confirmation bias happening where the perception these self destructing is probably stronger than the reality...

His does look grimy in the picture too. This is really obvious on a close inspection. Mine had goo all over it before being replaced.

This might show up in a scan with BMW Scanner.

For minimum hassle, $1 auction buyer must pick up. For maximum profit, part it out. (also maximum hassle...)

These keys are dual frequency. You can switch between frequencies with a button press sequence.

It is true there are a lot of differing metrics, and even the studies on this topic acknowledge this. That said, broadly speaking. At worse, EV production is as damaging to the environment as extremely-efficient combustion engines, or diesels, when the EV ends up using coal-powered electricity. This is accounting for the production impact of the batteries, and taking into account the impact of recycling the batteries. For study purposes, they compare end to end production to disposal of EVs and ICEVs with 100k km, 150k km and 200k km. Generally speaking, the longer the car lasts, the more dramatic the impact difference between the two. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00532.x/full - European mix, 10-24% decrease in emissions end to end. EVs make a lot more sense in clean-power countries they find https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-012-0440-9 - On balance, EVs produce less emissions end to end. Coal powered electricity flips this around pretty hard. I just cite the two with a healthy number of subsequent citations, there are many. Google scholar: environmental impact ev battery production Note Coal is being phased out almost everywhere, natural gas beats it pretty hard on a cost basis, so that'll shift the numbers. Fossil fuels being finite, there is a heck of a lot of research into improving efficiency in electricity production, as well as improvements in how rare earth metals are mined. (also a finite, yet recyclable resource) The production impact of EVs currently is actually larger than that of ICEVs, the subsequent 100k KM or so make all the difference. It's comparing something that is less than 30% efficient for the most part, with something that is 80%+ efficient. Given NZ's power grid, EVs beat ICEVs hands down on every metric, minus fun, or satisfying sound.

Is it? lame. Thanks for correcting me.

The Schmiedman key is around $200. They just need your VIN and proof of ownership. Not in Wellington, but if you ship your EWS, I can code keys for you if you post EWS. AK90 I use is this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/AK90-Key-Programmer-V3-19-Match-Tool-For-BMW-EWS-CAS-From-1995-2009-New-2017-/232397879728 Keys, make sure to get the correct blade type for what you have: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Button-EWS-Remote-Key-For-BMW-3-5-7-Series-E38-E39-E46-433MHZ-315MHZ-PCF7935/172098543489 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/EWS-Remote-Key-For-BMW-3-5-7-Series-E38-E39-E46-433MHZ-315MHZ-W-Chip-HU58-3BTN/172103766805

I see, you only want to hear things you already agree with? This is a thread about an EV. Is this not an appropriate forum for an EV discussion?

I understand. I like the feel too. It's something I can live without. For me, it's like the SR71, it's amazing and cool, and obsolete* (Ironically, it's uneconomical to run, go figure...) That's where the ICE is going...

If you're not in a rush, I can get them brought here for free early December, saves you the shipping at least.

I find it extremely ironic to have this picture linked here, when the peer reviewed academic article I posted in a different thread is called propaganda. One doesn't have to like EVs to understand they are cleaner. One doesn't have to like EVs to see they are objectively better for the environment, even when you account for the batteries, and the entire manufacturing process, including disposal. (This is precisely what the academic article I posted is all about.) Anyone wanting to stick with their ICE because it sounds better, all the power to you. I have one too. But let's not pretend they are cleaner, in any way. I presume everyone understands fossil fuels are a finite resource. One can perhaps debate how much longer it'll be an abundant resource like it's been in the past 150ish years, but that it is finite is not a debate at all. Shall we stick heads in the sand and pretend otherwise because of this picture? Please.

As opposed to an internal combustion engine? I'm confused.

If it's how the car sounds... we can have speakers. I think Tesla's shown performance, or power delivery, in EVs is quite not bad. In fact, even in the Leaf, pushing the gas pedal to the floor results in quite a satisfying feeling, even as compared to my 530i.

Total cost of ownership tends to be relatively trivial. EVs and hybrids have very few moving parts and near-no wear and tear items. The Volt, and Prius have some of the lowest cost of ownership in the US. Life expectancy, the only real data point we have for this in a longer-term sort of way is the Gen1 Prius (1997-2003). Those batteries started suffering severe degradation after 10 years. The current generation batteries seem to be degrading slower than expected (true for the Leaf, unsure for others, I expect the same as Nissan isn't exactly heavy on battery R&D) with the Gen 1 Leafs still having near full capacities in many instances 6 years on. The car itself will last just like any other, it's the battery that'll degrade. No battery for a Leaf has ever died in NZ. If you look in that link I pasted, there is very good work that has been done towards battery diagnostics. It's really as simple as run LeafSpy, look for SOH (State of Health) of the battery, above 80% and you're doing great. Most places selling EVs will provide this info proactively, or on request, any that don't, just go elsewhere. The reputable ones all do. What's a 'good buy' is eye of the beholder, I think. I paid 10k for my Leaf, 2011, 10 bars (out of 12) I know someone who paid $22k for his and he's happy. Knowing what I know now, I think 13-15k is the right price point for a newer model with a 30kw battery. Charging costs even less than we thought it would, so the difference could have gone into a newer car. That said, for our needs, our Leaf is perfect. I have to make an effort to drive the BMW now, it was always intended as a second car, but it sits most of the time.

If you want to post your EWS, I'd happily code a transponder for you. They cost $5ish on ebay, if you want to go the route above.

Not all electrics have crap range. The Leaf sure does, and we don't have a lot of options here in NZ, but there are good EVs with meaningful range in other countries, excluding Teslas. The Chevy Bolt has range that's quite alright, 370km on a charge. The Renaut Zoe can go 400km on a charge. The bottom end Tesla model S can go 330km on a charge. I think it gets pedantic to say the range isn't as good as a ICE car. Who cares at that stage? Note, even the relatively limited Leaf, in the right situation has no real range issues, it just has to suit your needs (and would never be an only car...) Also, obviously, battery technology is improving by leaps and bounds every year. The Leaf batteries were originally projected to degrade a lot faster than they have been, and they are improving and gaining capacity every year. Current model Leaf batteries have 3 times the capacity my 2011 model has. I don't imagine that come 2020, or much less 2030, or 2040, range for EVs will be an issue at all. I do wonder what else will be available then though. Ah, the future is bright.

A lot of greenies do think about the process end to end... there is a thread about this and some good research gone into the topic posted of end to end emissions for EVs here. The numbers don't back up your claim that it is not an environmentally friendly option, to the contrary... There are a couple options in the 'Electric' space. There are EVs, which have relatively short range, and are fully electric, no petrol whatsoever. Range per charge varies. I have an old-ish Leaf, with my style of driving, I get 80km to a charge. On a fast charger, it takes 20 minutes to charge back up to 80%, or I plug it in overnight at home. There are Hybrids, and their newer brethren, Plug-In Hybrids. These run mostly off petrol, but for short distances (varies, but 10km is a safe bet) these can run off their electric battery and use no petrol. Older hybrids charged the electric battery off the petrol engine, newer ones still do that with the additional option of charging that electric battery from a wall socket. Because of how hybrids operate, they can get really amazing range/petrol efficiency, this is why so many taxi companies, and uber drivers choose the Prius. 800km range is not bad.

If you know what type of key you had (there are two blade types for that generation car, you can also buy a blank on ebay ($15ish landed) and get a locksmith to cut it for you from the cylinder. Then get it programmed. Your costs will be lower than a new key from BMW I wager. (although the BMW key option is zero hassle, you just pay for that convenience...)

The longest mass-market hybrid around, the 1st gen Prius, had batteries that last 10ish years. Even if you factor in a new battery as costing, say, $10k (they don't cost that much) and your Leaf lasts you 10 years (note the batteries will last longer than that, just with lower range and we're nearly 20 years on in battery technology from the 1st gen Prius... these numbers are guesstimates) factor in $1000/year on maintenance over the cost of the car. You will have saved a lot more than that number in petrol alone over that time period. My point was not that you'd have to replace an engine over a car's lifetime. I was simply suggesting that it isn't too different in scope, with the major difference that replacing an engine doesn't really jack up the value or your car, whereas replacing an old battery with a brand new one does jack up the value of an EV. I think folks are really missing the economics here. Electricity is vastly cheaper than petrol, in every sense. Even dirty electricity is cleaner than petrol when it comes to EVs. It costs maybe 30% of the petrol cost. Figure out how much you spend on fuel+maintenance. EVs cost 30% your fuel bills and your only maintenance items are tyers and breaks. It doesn't compare.

This isn't right. Batteries can be replaced. The cost is not too dissimilar to the cost of replacing an engine. Major difference being you get no benefit from a cost perspective from replacing an engine, where replacing a battery not only gives you all the financial benefits of EVs back (cost to run/maintain is massively smaller than any ICE car), but the value of the car goes right back up.

Almost everything you'd want to know from a NZ context is contained here: https://samholford.github.io/leafguide/ If you have any questions it doesn't address, I can try to address for you, just ask.

If your use case involves round trips of shorter distance than the range of a Leaf (80-125-150km, depending on many factors, not least being how new it is and what the battery capacity is) then a Leaf makes total sense, will save you a lot of money and will add longevity to your precious car's engine too! It's amazing as a short distance car, which is how we use it. My most common 'commute' is to my son's school and back, it's a 4 minute drive each way. It is the worse kind of driving for fuel economy, or engine life and the Leaf doesn't care one iota about those factors.

Haha. It's what I do too, but I do see a future where I replace my 530i with a hybrid/EV wagon or some sort, for longer-range driving...