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Gabe79

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Posts posted by Gabe79

  1. Posted · Report reply

    2 minutes ago, gjm said:

    Jeez...

    Piston rings can carbon-up and need replacing, along with PCV.
    Cooling system can be a problem.
    Hydraulic lifters can carbon up and cause a misfire, and if so, will need replacing.
    Not the longest-lived of BMW engines, but easily good for 300k+.

    It's a solid $600 for a new pair of front Bilstein B4s, but they'll then probably outlive the car.

    But at the price... I'm tempted.

    At $1500 you can budget in a lot of things to do to it and still come out well under $5k...

  2. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, hotwire said:

    But the owner says it runs & drives well. It can't have a blown head gasket:ph34r:

    I'm tempted for shits & giggles. Not that i need another car...

    For that price, if I didn't have wife considerations, I'd buy it. You could wreck it and make money back at $1500. Also... if he's asking $1500, he'll take $1000-1200. :)

  5. Posted · Report reply

    7 minutes ago, M3AN said:

    I think people are jumping to conclusions about getting it (re)scanned. We have no information to suggest it wasn't done by a competent mechanic the first time around.

    That picture you posted @Bendy says "faults listed" and then "recorded" - did they give you a copy of that record? i.e. did you get the fault list? Post that here.

     

    Absolutely. We need proper diagnostics done here. Proper scan results would be swell too. Take it to a BMW shop, not an Euro shop, or some other kind of car shop...

  6. Posted · Edited by Gabe79 · Report reply

    Does the N54 have a CCV system like the M54 does? What you are describing is almost to a T what I was experiencing and it's all gone away since replacing CCV, cleaning ICV+Throttle Body and replacing the fuel filter (which was the original one... from 2001...) This all got rid of misfires too. 

    Sometimes, going up a hill, I'd have massive loss of acceleration, to where the car felt like it was going to stall. 

     

    EDIT My car's an automatic, note. :)

  7. Posted · Report reply

    4 minutes ago, Imbaladis said:

    Just double checked realoem and it still doesn't appear to have its own part number and comes as part of the valve cover itself. 
    Thanks for the help anyway :)

    That sucks. Call Brent, or Ray at HellBM. Or check wreckers on trademe? 

  8. Posted · Report reply

    6 minutes ago, Bendy said:

    Thansk Allan.

    I might get myself a scanner. The Foxwell NT301 looks pretty good. The more I can learn about my car and can understand what the mechanics are talking about the better going forward so I can have a clear record and understanding of what I’ve tried and could try.

    I bought the car as first owner in NZ from Japan at 109,000km. I have the service manual which has a lot of services recorded but of coarse I can’t read Japanese. So unsure what has actually been done. 

    I just had the air filter replaced last week.

    Spark plugs have been replaced with Bosch so they’ve been done at some point but may change them again now.. how often would you change spark plugs? If recommendations have been followed then It’s probaly close to requiring second replacements right? 

    Still enquiring on some fuel filters to feel for average price. BMW have quoted $420 for part only which seems ridiculous.

    May pull my Vanos solenoids out and give them a clean. 

    I noticed a few days ago while I replaced the valve cover gasket that the valvetronic sensor had a little oil inside it. Didn’t know anything about this at the time but I will clean this out. 

    Any other fairly basic maintenance things you could think of before any parts need replacing?

    If you pay carjam, they'll give you that service history in English, or you can get a translations service...

    Fuel filter sounds ridiculous at $420. Mind, I got mysel to the medical centre with fume/petrol poisoning when I changed mine, I wouldn't say that it is actually hard if you're not stupid like I was. :) It shouldn't cost more than ~$120NZD or so. Spark Plugs are maintenance items, but you can actually check them here:

    sparkpCHART.jpg

    What you're describing sounds to me like what I had one mine (different engine altogether, note) and it was decidedly fuel filter/dirty ICV/throttle body. 

     

  9. Posted · Report reply

    18 minutes ago, Imbaladis said:

    Hi guys,
    I was replacing my PCV valve when the housing (cap) fell apart on me as i undid it. My problem is that the cap has no part number as it is apart of the valve cover itself.
    Does anyone have a cheap/broken N54 valve cover that still has this cap in tact? 

    Cheers,
    Ben

    Preface: I don't know the N54, I only know the M54. On the M54, all the plugs, and even supports, have individual part numbers, even though they also come with the valve cover itself. Have you checked on realoem?

  11. Posted · Report reply

    54 minutes ago, eliongater said:

    Body kit, normally better spec'd, sports seats, Shadowline, anthracite headlining, better wheels etc. The actual suspension is not normally a consideration if it's original, as any suspension that old has probably seen better days regardless of if it's Mtech or not.

    Ok, valid. :) I give.

    • Like 1

  12. Posted · Report reply

    35 minutes ago, gjm said:

     

    I'm regularly passed by Prii (official Toyota plural of 'Prius') which must be travelling at 130km/h+...

    Not police ones, admittedly, which would be weighed down by huge amount of kit.

     

    The Prius is not an electric car, like the Leaf. The Prius has insane range, like 1000km. The electric motor charges off the petrol engine. (Note this year's model can be plugged in to charge the electric motor as well.)

    Just now, eliongater said:

    Yes, but it did take them all day to get there. I was driving the work Prius once, tried to overtake a truck on a passing lane, gave up... (I was used to driving cars that still had some acceleration left after 50Km/h)

    Ironic, the Leaf has amazing pickup. Just won't last very long. Electric gives you all torque up front, it's lovely. There are good videos of Tesla's beating all the big names in drag races. 

  13. Posted · Report reply

    Just now, eliongater said:

    @Gabe79 a bumper is not what I would class as a wear and tear item (ie general maintenance), but I will give you that.

    However regards to suspension, a quick look on FCP suggests there's not too much in it, but why not go bilstein, koni or similar (and eibach, h&r etc)?

    I will eventually. I just like the idea of keeping things stock. I mean... if I go with an aftermarket solution anyway, what was the point of getting mtech2 in the first place?

  14. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, eliongater said:

    @Gabe79 I'm not sure this msport tax exists like you think it does (m tax yes, msport no).

    I fail to see how cosmetic features, parts that don't break (springs, sway bars etc) and other options that you can have on non mspec cars cost more to maintain. The one exception might be sport shocks cost more, but this has self levelling suspension which is equally expensive if not more so, making it a moot point.

     

    Edit: I'd like to see your more expensive parts on your mtech 2. And I agree with your wife that this isn't the most visually interesting e39

    Maybe it's perception on my part. The bumpers specially are harder to replace, or source.

    Sway Bars don't break, true, moot point on bushings.

    Springs cost more, sports shock for Msport2 costs a lot more. Air springs are not that expensive on balance. The air supply device does cost an arm and a leg, but unlike sport shocks/struts, can be replaced individually. 

    Maybe you're right. I'm just bitter about how much my damn bumper costs to replace. :) (and my comment about msport not really benefiting me stands otherwise.)

  17. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, hotwire said:

    Dunno on the Tourings having less appeal or being priced cheaper than the sedan, Decent examples that i have seen have had a premium over a sedan. Even though having a sedan, I think the touring has better lines & is more practical.

    I fully agree that the wagon is more practical, and that's my goal at some stage to end up with a pretty-blue (wife requirements, I can't argue too much...) e39 wagon.

     

    3 hours ago, hotwire said:

    It certainly doesn't look like a well loved car, condition described as "average" which looks to be that at best.

    Gabe - whats the issue with the Msport?

    No real issue with Msport. Just not something that makes that much of a difference to me and my driving, but it does make parts more expensive. The positives are nice to have, the negatives are too expensive. :)

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Just now, qube said:

    I dont see the appeal myself tbh

    It is quite cheap and if I was able to live with the cosmetics of a non msport with tan interior it might be alright but if I wanted it nice with msport kit etc and the maintenance side of things etc, i could spend $6000 on this car and still wont be happy with the outcome.. 

    If it was really a bargain I reckon it would have been sold long ago, the fact that its still available shows its not that desirable imo.

    For a daily driver, even if you have to replace the engine and transmission, you wouldn't spend another $3k on it. 

    I understand the appeal of Msport, even if it isn't for me... But it has only been for sale for a couple of weeks now, and it's quite out of the way, so I wouldn't judge it on how long it's been for sale alone, at least not yet.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    1 minute ago, boy benz said:

    Oh sorry. Year 2000 320i . Cool cheers for the heads up

    On FCP Euro, you're looking at something like this:

    https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-oil-filter-stand-flange-gasket-11421719855-1

    Check your VANOS hose, does it leak?

     

    $10 on trademe, plus $15 shipping

    https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/engines/auction-1422593777.htm

    Or $20 on trademe with free shipping

    https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/engines/auction-1422321031.htm

    I'm a big fan of FCP Euro. I like buying things once, and never having to buy them again...

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Just now, allan said:

    You mentioned that you were going to remove the rear bumper to look at some PDC sensors.Since you have found this upps it is easier i think to remove all six nuts in your case five undo the necessary clips etc holding it to the side. Then remove the bumper impact plate and bumper shocks all in one. Just remember to disconnect the PDC loom as well. The missing nut was attached to a stud which passes through a flange on the rear shock absorber so could easly be replaced with a similar size bolt and just welded back on. A pic of mine when i had it off replacing the standard bumper to a M sport one. Might give an idea of what things will look like hope it is of some help.

     

    new bumper 017.jpg

    new bumper 019.jpg

    Thanks for that. I think I’ll plug that hole with dab off tomorrow and will tackle this when I get back on the 19th. If I get a chance to remove stuff this week, I might still do, just to plan the repair later. This will also give me a clear idea if I have any other leaks or not with he car parked while away. 

  25. Posted · Edited by Gabe79 · Report reply

    I put myself into my boot today and closed the lid with my wife outside. The risk was worth it (and she didn't even leave me in there too much longer than needed...) I found one leak. We used a water jet from the hose full on, all up and down, no water on that pillar again, but I did find this gem gifted to me by the previous owner:

    37227915162_12d72612d9_h.jpg

    Check out the missing stud on that rear right shock absorber... It is basically a hole through to the outside. Water slides nicely down my tail lights (which don't leak even a little bit... over my bumper and right into that nice hole there. Now, I am sure there is another leak somewhere. It is not possible for water from this hole to end up in that space behind the pillar from earlier... But c'est la vie eh. I'll be taking the bumper cover off this week and will be in the market for a new-to-me absorber sometime this week, or mid-October when I'm back from a trip.

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