LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 24, 2012 Hi all, Just thought I'd introduce myself, I'm Lily, just bought a 2004 320i this week. Took me ages to find one I liked with the leather and woodgrain trim. I love my european cars, I've had Audis, VWs, Citroens and my odd we Honda in the past but thought I'd try something new. Anywhooo that's about it. I'm using the forums to get tech help and all that jazz, any suggestions for it? I'd be welcome to hear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaseNZ 53 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 Hi all, Just thought I'd introduce myself, I'm Lily, just bought a 2004 320i this week. Took me ages to find one I liked with the leather and woodgrain trim. I love my european cars, I've had Audis, VWs, Citroens and my odd we Honda in the past but thought I'd try something new. Anywhooo that's about it. I'm using the forums to get tech help and all that jazz, any suggestions for it? I'd be welcome to hear Welcome to the band, A lot of helpful hands on here , Some pics of the car would be great then perhaps we could give you some thoughts of things you would be able to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 Hi there, Here's a pic of the car Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 Welcome! E46's look really nice in white.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 Mmm nice and clean in white. A great daily driver. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 Yeah I was really tossing between the option of silver with black leather with wood trim or white with grey leather and wood trim, glad I chose the white one, I love how clean it looks, I'm thinking of tinting the windows a tiny bit but can't think of anything else it really needs at the moment. Love this car already Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 I'm thinking of tinting the windows a tiny bit but can't think of anything else it really needs at the moment. Welcome, it could do with a nice set of Motorsport wheels IMO! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mutiny 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 agree with diesel guy, looks sharp, nice set of wheels would really set it off Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 Ok guys, having massive issues with this car today, and I only just picked it up a 1130am. Two warning lights have come on, when i'm either at idle or going slow around corners it makes this horrible vibration in the front and its like the power steering kind of turns off all together. Any ideas? Its such a shame that i've only had 4 hours driving this beautiful car and I'm already having some really expensive issues turn up... Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaseNZ 53 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 Ok guys, having massive issues with this car today, and I only just picked it up a 1130am. Two warning lights have come on, when i'm either at idle or going slow around corners it makes this horrible vibration in the front and its like the power steering kind of turns off all together. Any ideas? Its such a shame that i've only had 4 hours driving this beautiful car and I'm already having some really expensive issues turn up... Cheers Hell that's no good, What warning lights are coming up ???. Did you purchase private or a dealer. Either way I would be getting in contact with them straight away and telling them there is a problem and they need to sort it out. Did you get it inspected at all before you bought it ??. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 Yep I got it inspected by VTNZ and everything seemed perfect. I bought it privately. I think the issue came from me pressing the DSC button but I turned it off straight away. then half an hour later I had these issues. The warning lights are:: - that circle around the triangle with the ! inside it - Circles around a circle with ! inside it. I've been told that it may be the ABS and the power steering. But whenever I go around corners the entire car shudders and makes this absolutely horrible noise which sounds like the tyres are rubbing, but thing is it happens even when stationary so I dont think its rubbing. Any good BMW mechanics in Chch? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2956 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 The warning lights are:: - that circle around the triangle with the ! inside it - Circles around a circle with ! inside it. I've been told that it may be the ABS and the power steering. But whenever I go around corners the entire car shudders and makes this absolutely horrible noise which sounds like the tyres are rubbing, but thing is it happens even when stationary so I dont think its rubbing. Hello and welcome to the forum, from a fellow E46 owner. I know how you feel when you start getting the lights up on the dashboard.The good news is that while you have two lights showing up, threre is probably only one fault, the triangle with the circle arrow around it is to say there is a problem, the other light tells you what it is. The first question is what colour are the lights coming up - if the triangle is yellow it means drive with caution, a red triangle is more serious? From the other ((!)) light it is indicating a problem with the brake system, it could be the hand brake is not releasing properly (make sure the lever is fully off), low (or high) brake fluid level, or something more serious. If it is nothing obvious then get it checked by a good mechanic to make sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tmase 19 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 Any good BMW mechanics in Chch? Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience I use Kevin Burt Ltd on St Asaph St. He specialises in Mercedes, BMW and Audi servicing. I found his team extremely friendly and knowledgeable and would recommend him highly. He did my pre-purchase inspection and first service on my E39. He has all the diagnostics gear and am sure could help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 Thank you so much for everyone's help! I now believe its actually just a power steering issue, the car seems to be working perfectly except for the grinding noise when I turn corners and the complete lack of "power in my steering". Luckily the lights are all just orange, but I'm definitely taking it in to mechanics on Monday. Also when I first picked it up I pumped up the tyres because they were only at 22psi all around and I put them all up to 37 which is when the issues first started to arise. Can't wait to have it fixed, this is a beautiful car! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaseNZ 53 Report post Posted April 28, 2012 +1 on Kevin Burt plus Geoff Gray the bmw dealer is not as expensive as you would think and last time I used them they gave me a late model mini to zip around in Let us know how you get on and I hope the repair so soon for your first time bmw is not a put off as its not always like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted April 29, 2012 just ask for a scan first...see what they reckon the problem is then come back here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2012 Okay so this is what has happened quote: "It looks like one of the hose pipes has come out of it's brackets and is vibrating on the engine guard. Which has caused the pump for the power steering to fail, which now needs to be replaced" Also the ECU is having some issues because of this and I'm getting it scanned tomorrow. Sounds like something to make my bank statement a bit scary... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liyi_92 37 Report post Posted May 1, 2012 Hi Lily, Welcome to Bimmersport. Sorry to hear about the problems, as Tmase said, Kevin Burt is very good at BMWs and Mercs. Hoses on BMWs seem to be a pesty problem. I had a similar case with power steering as my E39's hoses leaked and made a horrible grinding sound when turning. Hope you get your car fixed soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted May 12, 2012 So I'm getting my E46 back next week, here's what was wrong: - One of the power steering hoses had come out of its bracket and had caused the power steering pump to fail - Hoses were adjusted and pump was reconditioned - Hoses still faulty, hoses replaced - Steering sensor needs replacing Taken 2 weeks to get to the bottom of it, looking forward to actually driving the beauty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted May 12, 2012 This doesn't sound correct or you have misinterprated what was said to you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2012 This doesn't sound correct or you have misinterprated what was said to you Why's that? That's exactly what was told to me, maybe they dumbed it down because I'm a young female? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted May 13, 2012 Who is doing this repair ? 2 weeks to find a problem with a power steering hose ?? I don't believe the explanation youv'e been given is correct Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaseNZ 53 Report post Posted May 13, 2012 Why's that? That's exactly what was told to me, maybe they dumbed it down because I'm a young female? They should not be dumbing anything down if that is what they are doing. Who has done the work for you ?? Who is doing this repair ? 2 weeks to find a problem with a power steering hose ?? I don't believe the explanation youv'e been given is correct +1 something sounds strange here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LJJane 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2012 They should not be dumbing anything down if that is what they are doing. Who has done the work for you ?? +1 something sounds strange here. I'm not sure who's doing it, the previous owner of the car has taken charge of the car and I'm not sure where he's taken it to, this is just what he told me was wrong with it. As far as I know they first thought that the hose had just come loose so they re-attached it by the steering pump was faulty by this stage. The pump then was reconditioned and refitted. Car still make a screeching noise when turning wheel so they found out that the "inner hose" which is inside the hose (?) was the thing causing it so they just ended up replacing the entire hose. Then it was taken to the people that read the error /ecu info to try and figure out why the lights on the dash hadn't gone away yet and they found that the steering sensor had also had some kind of fault so thats needing replacement too. So hopefully I'll get it back this week, this is going on the 3rd week, which is a bit ridiculous, I agree. Even with my old Citroen it'd never take this long to fix. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JaseNZ 53 Report post Posted May 13, 2012 Make sure when he gives it back to you that you ask him to give you the reciept and invoice for any and all work done. Still does not sound right to me but here is hoping all is well when you get it back. Let us know how you get on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
