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BozzaFC

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Posts posted by BozzaFC

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Consider the alternatives: buy a new set of wheels, or find two new style 81 wheels; both of which would have cost vastly more. Also, other repair shops I looked at other were charging around the $300 mark for each wheel, and had at least a week turnaround. 

    I actually over exaggerated the time it took. Dropped them in in the morning, and got a phone call the next morning. So really closer to one day. In any case, a couple days and a few hundred dollars to get my favourite wheels back in perfect condition I am going to be a happy chappy

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Had my two buckled rims repaired at Advanced Wheel Repair this week and now she’s driving 100x smoother than before! Very pleased with the results. 

    Also would highly recommend Advanced Wheel Repair to anyone with damaged rims. Took them only 2 days to fix mine and only charged $180 per wheel. 10/10!

    Now time for new rubber ?

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    • Like 1

  15. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/2/2018 at 9:04 PM, Mikan said:

    Card carrying, but yet to show up at one of the many appealing events. I'll make a real effort to get along to one soon and you can have a go and see what you think.

    I've found it hard to quantify that difference - it's clearly much better now, and certainly smoother, but because it took a few drives (Jon reckons up to about 500km) to settle in the change has been gradual enough as to not be stark. 

    Those old seals were absolutely rooted though. Shrivelled, brittle, broken - a real feel-good replacement :)

     

    How are you finding it now with a few more kms on the clock, @Mikan ? 

    I'd love to have a go in it/you have a go in mine to see if mine are due for replacing :)

  16. Posted · Report reply

    On 5/2/2018 at 7:23 AM, Olaf said:

    I'm thinking VANOS seals are on the near horizon for my e46/M54.  One of these days I'll have someone who's done the change, drive mine.  It's not throwing codes, though my impressions are that it's lower on torque than it used to be...

    Do you ever attend the Wellington BMW Car Club/Bimmersport events? 

    Have you had this done yet, @Olaf ?

  17. Posted · Report reply

    On 12/2/2018 at 9:23 PM, adro said:

    More than welcome to take my E39 for a spin.

    I haven’t done my shocks yet but my tyres are new and it might give you an idea of what a 214,000 km on original shocks feels like..... @Mikan recently did the shocks in his M- Sport touring (OEM Sachs) ....probably more relevant as to what you are trying to figure out than mine but the offers there. 

    Cheers @adro, I would be really keen to try an E39 with the m-sport suspension. You're more than welcome to have a go in mine, too

  18. Posted · Report reply

    15 hours ago, Olaf said:

    I've a slightly different perspective:  I just wouldn't re-use bump stops under any circumstances.  They're not expensive, and if the closed-cell foam hasn't died in the previous 15-20 years, it certainly won't be performing as new... and a failure in the next year or two requires removal to replace.  Same goes where bellows-type dust boots are in use, the plastic goes hard and brittle, and if it hasn't failed yet it soon will.  Why risk $40 of parts on a thousand dollar job?  YMMV.

    Yeah, I agree. I don't mind spending a little more for the peace of mind and convenience of already having the parts, and not having to re-order when they're inevitably found to be worn

  19. Posted · Edited by BozzaFC · Report reply

    On 12/2/2018 at 6:10 PM, Olaf said:

    Hey Bozza, you're welcome to try both vehicles when we can find a mutually convenient time.  The e46 is bog-stock, standard springs, Sachs OEM shocks; the only changes are the thicker ARBs (Msport front, Cabrio rear), and the staggered rims with wider rubber.  So standard ride height.

    Here's Jane on RealOEM (based on your VIN?https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=DT62-EUR-10-2000-E39-BMW-530i 

    To give you some idea of standard shock refresh parts, looking up 2001 530i on FCP:

    Rear (Sachs/OEM) https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-shock-absorber-kit-rear-170855kt 

    Front (Sachs OEM) https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-strut-assembly-kit-front-556832kt-kit-556832kt 

    Plus your springs, as you've indicated they need doing.  Hopefully your tension struts etc are sound and you can do those another year.

    You may get away saving on a few bits... but then you get it apart, didn't buy the shims, find them worn... many of the fasteners are single-use, so better not to try and scrimp on those.  The feel of a car when it's been fully done is superb; most reckon my e60 is driving like a new one.  You might get away without some of the hardware like "shock mount plates" and "shock mount supporting cups", take advice.

    If you're keeping the car for a number of years, you'll get the value out of it.  It's not a cheap job, though, and I understand your caution.  You don't want to fire 'the parts canon' at it unnecessarily.  Comparatively speaking, around USD100 per corner for OEM shocks is pretty reasonable.  It'd be interesting to see if Sachs OEM for e39 have Alu shock bodies; I think the Bilstein touring are steel (it was this way for the e60), which saves a few bucks and adds a little weight.  Going Meyle shocks/struts and carefully selecting Lemforder/Sachs/Corteco/Rein/Meyle parts may save you $100-200 or so on your overall parts cost, so worth considering.

    One thing's for sure, with your suspension refreshed, you'll get much better wear out of your tyres, assuming sympathetic driving.  Another area you may be able to compromomise budget a little is Bridgestone RE003s in place of Michelin PS4.  Not as good, though still very good for the money, and should save you a further $200+?

    Hope that helps.

    3

    Cheers Olaf, I'll flick you a message once I get my rims repaired so you can have a go in mine too. I'd be keen to get your thoughts on it.

    Apart from springs, are those kits missing any parts? 

    Thanks

  20. Posted · Report reply

    7 minutes ago, balancerider said:

    Probably some performance benefit in running 98 (as long as it's not the horrible Gull biofuel rubbish) - car looks nice, though is the tow bar removable?

    Thanks! Unfortunately, it's built into the bumper. Personally I would prefer not to have one as my dad has a Hilux if I ever need to tow anything, but at least it will stop the bumper from being damaged!

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Today: quick clean, vacuum, fresh coat of Rain-X applied, 68 litres of 95 swallowed whole, topped up the tyres and went for a cool summer evening cruise; Jane is a happy, thirsty girl!

    Last top up I put 98 in her because the BP in Otaki only offered that or 91 and it could well have been a placebo, but I swear she pulled harder with the 98. Am I crazy, or should I change Jane's diet?

    image2 - Copy (2).jpeg

    image1 - Copy (2).jpeg

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks a lot for the advice guys.

    It seems to me that the most cost-efficient and effective thing to do would be to replace the springs first of all, and get new shocks and mounts etc while I am in there.

    My question is, should I just go standard OEM springs and shocks, or go m-sport? If I were to choose m-sport, is it necessary that I do the ARBs and essentially overhaul the entire suspension? I'm not sure if I want to fork out that kind of money on a daily driver. Ultimately, I'd have to take one for a drive to know if it's worth it.

    @Eagle @Young Thrash Driver do you guys have the list of parts from when you upgraded your suspensions? I could probably find a list with some research, but if you lads have already been there you might have something? And do both of your cars sit flat? Before upgrading the suspension, do you recall them ever sitting higher on one side??

    @Olaf cheers for that. Is your E46 an m-sport? I'd be really interested to have a go in that with just the m-sport ARBs and staggered wheels. Your E60, too, would be very helpful with just the refreshed OEM setup. Would help me to decide whether the gains in handling/ride will be worth the pennies spent to do it. Just keep in mind I am under 25, but in saying that I've driven Jane for four months without so much as a run-in with a curb. Even so much as a ride in them would be invaluable I would imagine

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