BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
- Start date
Well if it's not had the struts done before they're probably a bit tired now, but I wouldn't have thought they're necessary for the current problem you're experiencing. All the bits you're replacing are easy to do even DIY on a driveway so shouldn't cost much more to get the bushes/links done first to see if it cures, before then looking at the struts.
I am amazed when i see one which doesnt have loads of rust to be honest
There are a couple of small bubbles on the back near the sill, will get that sorted. The 320i I had was absolutely mint! Still no where near as bad as my S500 that was appalling!
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 Aug 2012
- Posts
- 4,544
- Location
- S.E Wales
Checking oil levels and other things today on my Z4 and a older bloke that lives further down the street comes up and starts talking to me, know's my father and such.
Says what a lovely car, how long i had it and stuff, long story short he turns out to have a Z4M, which he just let me have a go in, What a fantastic car, the noise, the looks, the POWER, If only I had the money.
Says what a lovely car, how long i had it and stuff, long story short he turns out to have a Z4M, which he just let me have a go in, What a fantastic car, the noise, the looks, the POWER, If only I had the money.
Done 1,500 miles so far 
Loving the car.
Today, bit of an odd one though, I was hooning it around and suddenly, the pictured sensor below 'popped' out, so you could hear the air jetting through the hole from the induction pipe. I pushed it back in and no problems.
Anyone had this before? Is it meant to clip into place? As it doesn't look like it. I'll look properly tomorrow once the engine bay is cool in the morning.
Other than that, car has been brilliant! Averaging around 37mpg over the past 1,500 miles. Which includes central London driving, motorway and usual A roads. I'm pretty heavy footed so I'm very impressed!
Loving the car. Today, bit of an odd one though, I was hooning it around and suddenly, the pictured sensor below 'popped' out, so you could hear the air jetting through the hole from the induction pipe. I pushed it back in and no problems.
Anyone had this before? Is it meant to clip into place? As it doesn't look like it. I'll look properly tomorrow once the engine bay is cool in the morning.
Other than that, car has been brilliant! Averaging around 37mpg over the past 1,500 miles. Which includes central London driving, motorway and usual A roads. I'm pretty heavy footed so I'm very impressed!
This is BS.
1. a lot of BMW dealers have Bodyshops in house, Sheffield is an example of this.
2. That £400-£600 is made up BS also. On the E39 we had a sill, boot lid, rear quarter done for £500. They also fixed my Accord when it was rear ended, they fitted a new second hand bumper, hammered the tailgate and painted the whole back for £400..
Don't make up stuff please.
The Universe doesn't want me to have a scratch free alloy. This happened from no fault of my own. Those familiar with the long single carriageway leading into Lyndhurst before the Maserati dealer will know the area I'm on about. Had the roof up as was on the motorway earlier so figured it would be nice to roof down the rest of the way as those roads are mint. Saw an Audi RS5 parked up on the gravel layby so stopped in front of him all nicely.Went to drive off and heard a crackle from the front tyre, figured a piece of gravel had crumbled under it, but later turned out to be a chunk of gravel that broke and chipped the rim
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If they're Xenons then they have a flat beam pattern that doesn't need adjusting. If not, then I'm not sure, sorry.
Haha
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 11,701
- Location
- Cheshire
You're correct, a lot of BMW dealers do have a bodyshop in house and use the full BMW paint system, but in my experience and research they don't have smart repair facilities (completely different water based system) and so pass the work on to a third party.
Honestly based on work done and quotes I've had I could make the same BS claim about your figures, however I wont. Your BMW Approved Bodyshop is obviously very cheap because the 3 local to me charge £400 a panel and I would expect the repair to be an additional cost. Maybe they charge different rates for out of warranty or non BMW? Which BMW Bodyshop is it as if it's close I'll probably go and get a quote.
I carried out the "golf tee mod" on my e36 328i - it forces the exhaust flap to stay open - and despite many reports of it making it drone at motorway speed, I found it made the car - finally - sound like you'd expect a straight 6 BMW to sound like, loved it, no drone at all.
Not sure if the same mod would work on your e46 328 - it depends on the rear silencer design, they vary - worth a try though, it's a 5minute diy that'll give you a good idea what the sound would be like, you may well like it and leave it, which will save the cost of the upgrade!
http://www.diymybmw.com/e46/golf-tee-mod/
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Ah yes, have had that mod on mine since a week after owning it. It does make a reasonable difference to noise especially on a cold start. Mine drones a small amount at ~1500rpm but I am rarely driving at that rpm anyway.
Exhaust upgrades are now the least of my worries. Had new front tyres and an alignment done, turns out my driverside front tie rod is siezed. Now the steering wheel vibrates quite badly above 65mph. Need to get it booked in to a specialist quickly.
It's BMW Sheffield. £400 a panel? Most likely that quote is to get rid of you as they don't want to work on your car or want to deal with you.
The Sheffield branch carries out SMART repairs.
Anyone got an idea on my post? It's not critical as since I put it back in it hasn't come out.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=28472950&postcount=13672
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=28472950&postcount=13672
Right, AC update guys, maybe someone can confirm I'm on the right item too. My AC Compressor has a slow leak. My indy recovered 25% freon after doing a full flush and dye leak test. the dye residue is visible along the compressor casing. I had the AC re-gassed back in late January so it's lost 25% pressure in 7 months.
Phoned Cotswold up with BMWland discount the compressor comes to £1030
That is for a brand new part from Germany...
Having checked ECP, it seems they have the same part for £375:
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/B...030bc60e7756f36b1efc8af5152c9064717aa0&000077
I will also order a new receiver drier as this has not been changed having read up on these units, it's seldom an item people change during ownership -Should be changed every 2 years or so it seems. Cheap part at £31~ and is vital for keeping moisture away from the compressor.
Phoned Cotswold up with BMWland discount the compressor comes to £1030
That is for a brand new part from Germany...Having checked ECP, it seems they have the same part for £375:
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/B...030bc60e7756f36b1efc8af5152c9064717aa0&000077
I will also order a new receiver drier as this has not been changed having read up on these units, it's seldom an item people change during ownership -Should be changed every 2 years or so it seems. Cheap part at £31~ and is vital for keeping moisture away from the compressor.
You leave AC on 24/7 and let the climate control system handle everything - There is no reason to ever turn it off. I'm betting that because the freon levels were 0% back in Jan, the previous owner never bothered using AC and the seals in the compressor failed causing it to lose pressure over time. Hence now why I'm seeing the slow leak after having it re-gassed.
It's a shame people don't take care of their AC systems, hell I didn't even know about the receiver drier!
It's a shame people don't take care of their AC systems, hell I didn't even know about the receiver drier!
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