dln

Not just hidden under the plate surround?

Today's task was pulling, cleaning and reinstalling both vanos solenoids, followed by oil and filter change. Managed to spill about 2l of old oil on the drive by using a shitty, bendy, too small drain pan. 2 hrs and 1/2 bag of kitty litter later, good news is that limp mode and error codes all gone again Spirited test drive and seems good so far. Have spent the last week frightening myself with everything that can go wrong with N54 vanos.

Go 3rd party and bank the premium difference. If it's stacked, you still have the wreck to extract parts to tart up your replacement.

Recently put the Bilstein B4's all round on a 135i and can recommend. Primarily driven on shitty roads, so didn't really want anything stiffer. They are a million times better than the shagged old Sachs, but that was how it came, so I don't have a like for like comparison. Web wisdom claims the Bilstein B4's are "10% stiffer than stock". I'm very happy with them. Edit: ended up getting them from FCP as Spareto took my order then a week later said they couldn't supply them, last December. (Well, they could do 3, but not front right ... which wasn't much good to me!).

Give the car a weekend run and go pick them up

I thought the same thing when I first got mine and determined to do the same fix at some stage. But the more I've driven it the more I like it - up or down with either (or a single) hand. Not looking forward to going back to "normal" on a future vehicle now ...

Fresh shocks in front (rears a couple weeks ago - had to borrow some spring compressors for the fronts). Bilstein B4's. Pretty painless process. Hardest bit was getting the boot carpet back in!

I ordered a set of front and rear struts and a towing flap just before Xmas. The box arrived in 12 days, with 3 struts, 2 rear and one front... Week later, last strut arrived. Another week later a medium sized box with just the towing flap! An email after each arrival was answered promptly, assuring me the rest of the order was still coming, so that's ok, but it all seemed a bit silly.

Hi all Looking for an under tray and front right pressure lip for an e82 135i (2008). https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=UC73-USA---E82-BMW-135i&diagId=51_6995 Part no's 51758046494 & 51758046128 The 'pressure lip' seems to be NLA - some sites list it but turn you down when I've tried ordering. The tray looks to be a shipping hazard so thought I'd see if anyone's got one in a shed first. In Chch so shipping hassle might still apply.

Need to take your brave pills and check wallet depth before buying that ...

Social Media Narcissist fits the bill.

Front brake pads - TRW GDB1802's Contrary to popular belief, it's much easier to remove the entire caliper with the 18mm bolts in behind, rather than splitting the caliper with the 10mm hex that's looking at you. You also don't need to remove the 4 holding pins or the spring clip - the pads can be wriggled out and new ones in without much hassle. Also broke the brake wear sensor getting it out, so cut and twisted the wires and taped up out of the way. New tyres too - Bridgestone Potenza Sport 225/40/R18 NON runflat. Initial impression is MUCH better NVH than the runflat R050A's that came off.

Sorted out today by Elite Wheels (thanks @Gaz!). 5 stars - would recommend. Dropped off this morning, picked up this arvo. Just need to get some new rubber on now (not related to pothole - just old and shagged).

Cheap and nasty - just twisted (tightly with long nose pliers) and taped over. Access is pretty restricted and the wires are very small and short - I was worried about getting a soldering iron in there without touching the other ones.

Reco has sale on until tomorrow Sun 24th. Picked up a 20l ecobox of Penrite HPR5 5w40 for $246

So ... nasty pothole hit, followed by vibration @ 60k+ Limp home and wheels off. (PSA: People, please remember to apply a little copper grease or such to the mating faces when fitting wheels - I had to chock them against the frame rail and crank on the steering wheel to pop them!) One of these things is not like the other ... grim looking buckle on the inner side of FL. For repair options I've searched up Elite Wheels on Annex Rd or Royce Clive Engineering on Blenheim Rd. Any experience's, good or bad, with either? On the plus side, tyres needs replacing anyway and I can get the kerb-rash seen to at the same time.

1. Replaced old faded side repeaters - was unsure about how black the "smoked" looked in the box, but I think they look ok on the car. Shout out to @Olaf who saved me from breaking the old ones ... https://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/67760-blue-zoo-olafs-lci-e46-325i-touring/page/3/?tab=comments#comment-724975 2. Oil and filter. 3. Bent FL rim on 'test drive'. 😫 F**k - anybody know where to get it fixed in CHCH?

Excellent, thanks for the detail - mine just arrived and I was planning on attacking it with a trim tool!

Probably better off putting the cost one into your "oh sh*t" fund.

Meant to take some pics, but got in mission mode ... 2008 E82 135i. Shift lever to the left no longer engaged sport/manual mode. Internet says broken wire in the gear shift loom so... Centre console out - YouTube saved me some breakage when I thought it should come out but wasn't - under dash covers on both sides hold the front in... Release loom from stupid factory location that flexes with each movement, strip back sticky tape on loom. Sure enough, two disconnected ends looking at me. Strip, twist, tape and re-position to reduce flex. Reassemble console, testing function prior to buttoning up. Nothing broken or missed or left over. Spirited drive to confirm/celebrate. Win.

Bahaha ... I've got a Disco 3, an old VW and just bought an old 135i ... What could possibly go wrong!

+10 hsprs - thanks @E30 325i Rag-Top

Pm sent.

Still got these? It's the only chrome bit on my car and could do with swapping out.

Cheers guys! Yes N54, and yes, fun. Bit of an adjustment from a 4wd wagon with sticky feet! I've been feeling my way into it, and this weekend was the first decent send around some scenic twisties with all the nannies off - much grins had. A bit shocked by the front end with old struts and runflats (RE050A's oldish and half worn) - jarring over bumps was quite unsettling - will be replaced with likely RE003's with a bit more width and sidewall soon. Rears are brand new (I guess the cheapest WOF pass for sale ...) GoPro's - anybody else had the misfortune of running on these? Bad in the dry and shocking in the wet - also look like they will last forever! Might just have to bin them. I've had a squizz through your build thread too @Elias - that is a very nice example and looks like it's been a journey!