What'd you do to your BMW today?

[euroriffic 619]

8 hours ago, Vass said:

Nice! Which EGR delete kit did you get? Haven't received mine yet but got a Bimmertune one on its way. Didn't manage to find any local or much cheaper that that.

Which mechatronic seal kit did you get also? Have ordered a full Vaico kit but @Eagle apparently had some issues with his so am dreading it a bit. 

That kit looks pretty good! 
I just got some cheap one off trademe as mine doesn’t have a egr cooler, so was just the blank and new front pipe I needed.

and got a genuine zf seal kit off a UK place on EBay. Was pretty straight forward to do, just took a bit to get an end of the seals out enough with a pick to grab onto them and pull them out. 

[Eagle 1702]

8 hours ago, Vass said:

@Eagle apparently had some issues with his so am dreading it a bit. 

Yeah i was going to go with these guys but their shipping seems overpriced. In hindsight should of just bit the bullet.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2971]

After a few sunny days and feeling that summer is around the corner I have started to get the vert out of hibernation ready for summer. 
Battery on charge, a few bits off for panel and paint, some bits to bolt back together.

So, it will probably start to rain for the whole summer once it’s all back together and on the road? 🤣

[euroriffic 619]

So took the X5 for its first decent drive from Dunedin to Timaru and back. Was a joy to drive, apart from finding out the ac didn’t work. So got a recharge kit in timaru but still couldn’t get it working. 
Was almost home, coming up the second last big hill before the decent into Dunedin, and went to accelerate into the passing lane, auto went to drop down a few gears, but seemed like it missed a gear and just went into neutral for like 5-10 seconds, then eventually found third while going into limp mode. Got to the top of the hill and pulled over, gave it the ol’ off/on trick and was good as new again, and didnt do it again for the last 10mins home. 
I’m wondering if one of the solinoids has got some crud in it after the fluid change, and yet to be able to get it scanned.
So I’m tossing up weather I take the Mechatronic solenoids out and clean them and hope for the best, or do I just replace them/rebuild the whole mechatronic unit.

[Goose 45]

On 5/4/2017 at 10:40 PM, BM WORLD said:

 

Just found this old post while searching for something else. 
My old e36 325i manual, looks like it happened around 12 months after I sold it, sad to see. I was thinking about it the other week and wishing I never sold it🥺

 

When I owned it……..

 

[euroriffic 619]

So been playing around with INPA and did some scanning and came up with a few fault codes on the X5. First being the glow plug controller has gone since have a recurring faulty on all cylinder glow plugs.
Transmission issues come up as 4F80, 4F85, 4F86 and 4E87. So did a reset, did a test on all solenoids and bits and came back fine.
Went back out for a drive today to check if it’s doing it again, and was happening going from 4-5 or 6-5 under a bit of load,  and has the standard rough shift 2-1, and even 3-2 it jolts into gear. So looking like I’m up for a mechatronic rebuild. 
also did some “soft roading” in it while out, and goes alright considering it’s in 19” road tyres!

[euroriffic 619]

Spent today fixing squeaky doors and door cards, and going over all the seals with gummi pflege, so now that’s all done is super quiet inside. also got AC working again. I was just retarded and didn’t read the instructions correctly

Edited January 3 by euroriffic

[Vass 925]

On 1/2/2025 at 10:17 PM, euroriffic said:

So been playing around with INPA and did some scanning and came up with a few fault codes on the X5. First being the glow plug controller has gone since have a recurring faulty on all cylinder glow plugs.
Transmission issues come up as 4F80, 4F85, 4F86 and 4E87. So did a reset, did a test on all solenoids and bits and came back fine.
Went back out for a drive today to check if it’s doing it again, and was happening going from 4-5 or 6-5 under a bit of load,  and has the standard rough shift 2-1, and even 3-2 it jolts into gear. So looking like I’m up for a mechatronic rebuild.

Keen to hear how far down the rabbit hole you'll end up going with this and what the outcome is. Think I stumbled upon your post in some FB group on the topic as well, looked like some knowledgeable suggestions in there, Sonnax Zip Kits and all. 

Just took our X5 on its first roadie to Nelson, halfway through went for an overtake and got hit with the transmission failsafe error as well, got stuck in third. Pulled the codes (screenshot saved on the laptop but something to do with 5th gear), cleared them, off-on and has been fine since but does seem to have a very slight thump going from 5th to 6th. I've got the mechatronic sleeves and new filter on hand but am yet to do a service on the transmission, still on the fence as to how far to take it. Just accelerating gradually doesn't seem to be an issue, only when really stepping on it. But then again has only happened once so far. 

[euroriffic 619]

13 hours ago, Vass said:

Keen to hear how far down the rabbit hole you'll end up going with this and what the outcome is. Think I stumbled upon your post in some FB group on the topic as well, looked like some knowledgeable suggestions in there, Sonnax Zip Kits and all. 

Just took our X5 on its first roadie to Nelson, halfway through went for an overtake and got hit with the transmission failsafe error as well, got stuck in third. Pulled the codes (screenshot saved on the laptop but something to do with 5th gear), cleared them, off-on and has been fine since but does seem to have a very slight thump going from 5th to 6th. I've got the mechatronic sleeves and new filter on hand but am yet to do a service on the transmission, still on the fence as to how far to take it. Just accelerating gradually doesn't seem to be an issue, only when really stepping on it. But then again has only happened once so far. 

Yes that was my post in the x5 diy page. 
Yours sounds the same as my fault, as long as you go easy going into 5th it’s alright, otherwise will “miss the gear” and then go to fail safe.
All roads seem to lead to rebuilding the valve body, which doing DIY will be about $1000 with Sonnax zip kit, upgrading the pistons and seals, new seperator plate and solenoids. 
If you do just the seal kit, get the separator plate number off the valve body while it’s out. I didn’t, and pretty sure I have to drop the pan again to be able to get it, so might be out of action until that arrives since I don’t wanna pay for another round of fluid again!

[Harper 579]

Piecing together my M42/44 hybrid. Ended up ponying up for some valve springs so I can rev the nuts off it. Schrick cams are backordered and the exchange rate sucks so that will be phase two. The flywheel weighs nothing and everything's been balanced so it should be pretty zingy.

 

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2971]

Inspired by @CSET and the Facebook series “playing with cars” I decided to use some spare bits to get the convertible back together so I can at least take it for a WoF while I wait for the parts to come back from panel and paint.

So I now have a “rat rod” style Vert, fingers crossed for the WoF!

Edited January 20 by E30 325i Rag-Top
Added pics or didn’t happen

[CSET 595]

Im faymus. Looks awesome, love the boot. Very dreadlocks 911.

[balancerider 798]

On 1/20/2025 at 9:47 AM, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

Inspired by @CSET and the Facebook series “playing with cars” I decided to use some spare bits to get the convertible back together so I can at least take it for a WoF while I wait for the parts to come back from panel and paint.

So I now have a “rat rod” style Vert, fingers crossed for the WoF!

Even with the non matching panels it looks so good on the Alpina rims

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2971]

As predicted, the day I took the ‘vert for the WoF it was pissing down! I had forgotten how much “fun” it is to drive a classic car in the wet.

And to cap it all off, failed the WoF has the bump stops had completely disintegrated. Luckily they were in stock in NZ at the BMW parts warehouse, so both have been fitted. Off for the re-check tomorrow morning, hoping to pass so I can take her to the E30 meet up on Sunday.

Chances of it raining anyone..???

[dln 16]

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!

Edited February 1 by dln

[Neil McCauley 404]

Sub 300km until the 180,000k mark.

[akapjay 44]

Changed out the nylon motor gear in an E70 X5 transfer case actuator.

What a c**t of a job on the ground, with basic home garage tools.

 

1. Move heat shields out the way to gain access
2. Drop cross brace as there's still not enough access to the E10 bolts
3. Remove worm gearing from actuator to remove E10 bolts
4. Curse a lot while getting to that last E10 bolt
5. Cuppa tea to cool off, and begin to disassemble actuator casing
6. Soak in WD40 to help split press casing
7. Curse more as pocket knife which would've been perfect to split casing is in E91 with your partner across town
8. Finally get it all apart, replace nylon gear and reassemble
9. Curse some more getting all the fiddly bolts back in their fiddly holes

 

Highly recommend only going ahead with this if you have access to a hoist. Otherwise budget around 4 hours for as many cups of tea as it takes to not throw it across the room.

[nath 146]

Fitted my new spoiler…

Paid a pretty penny for it from Alpina to replace my (probably fitted at dealer when new) M3 item, only to find that the sedan spoiler is the same as coupe and I could have used the one I found on a Jap import 318iS coupe a couple of years back! Ah well. Will probably replace the boot with a non-spoiler one and have it repainted, as the holes are very different to the M3 ones.