BMW and M Power Owners
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Soldato
[TW]Fox;28670122 said:
Only reason for that is, I feel the short journeys (less then 5k miles a year) haven't done it any good and judging by the service history, it was done every 2 years by one of the owners. Previous owner to me drove it 3miles a day to work and back.
I may just do it for the next two services using the same quality oil I have used now and then see from then. I still feel 15k service intervals are a lot.
Fox did you replace the ccv on your 530i?
It was a lot years ago but BMW have used similar intervals for almost 20 years now - plus its variable, 15k is the base but it goes up or down depending on recorded average consumption. Essentially it asks for a service every X litres of fuel. This means if you hammer it around town it gets changed more often than if you cruise the motorway all the time.
Yea I did have the CCV done but never really noticed much difference.
Yea I did have the CCV done but never really noticed much difference.
Soldato
Ah right I didn't know that. Well CCV will be next on the engine side of things. Other then that, car is running fine.
Couple of questions regarding the F10 for those in the know:
-Whats the real life economy of the 520d compared to the 530 and is there a noticeable boost in performance for the economy drop?
-Is there any common issues with the above engines?
-as the car ages, do squeeks and rattles start to appear? The one i had earlier in the year was flawless but brand new at the same time.
-whats the service schedule like for the 8 speed auto and do the padels shift efficiently enough to sing praise for? (Coming from s-tronic/multitronic)
-Any known issues with the above gearbox?
Think my 5 year love[and hate] affair with Audi is winding down and I'm starting to appreciate the f10 more and more particularly for driving enjoyment, refinement and waftability. M sport setups seem to ride better than S line and despite the glitches and ropey nav, i enjoyed using idrive. So, looking at options for next year when my mileage increases...
-Whats the real life economy of the 520d compared to the 530 and is there a noticeable boost in performance for the economy drop?
-Is there any common issues with the above engines?
-as the car ages, do squeeks and rattles start to appear? The one i had earlier in the year was flawless but brand new at the same time.
-whats the service schedule like for the 8 speed auto and do the padels shift efficiently enough to sing praise for? (Coming from s-tronic/multitronic)
-Any known issues with the above gearbox?
Think my 5 year love[and hate] affair with Audi is winding down and I'm starting to appreciate the f10 more and more particularly for driving enjoyment, refinement and waftability. M sport setups seem to ride better than S line and despite the glitches and ropey nav, i enjoyed using idrive. So, looking at options for next year when my mileage increases...
I have a 530d, my Dad has a similar age 520d. His is a slightly heavier touring. His is about 5-10% more efficient than mine. The 530d is significantly quicker - paired with the 8 speed box it's far quicker than you'd expect (It's 0-60 time is a good 2 seconds quicker than the 520d). It is also noticeably more refined - i hate diesels, I can tolerate the 530d.
This is where the problem arises. IMHO the 530d is a noticeably better engine and far better suited to the car but it's also quite significantly more money than a 520d which makes the decision far less clear cut.
The 520d is affected by the infamous chain snapping issue. There are no major known issues with the 530d yet but frankly they are so ridiculously complex I'm not prepared to run it without the BMW warranty therefore don't really care.
No with one exception - the pre LCI cars have the most horrendously crap plastic around the base of the seats that squeeks if you touch it. This is fine on a car with regular seats as you never touch it but if you have Sport seats the side bolsters apply pressure to the plastic when you corner and therefore you get the squeek. Very annoying.
Also the internal door handles creak like you'd expect from a Kia when you pull them.
The rest of the interior is excellent with high quality materials throughout which makes the above two issues a bit bizarre really. I mean.. why?!
The box is 'sealed for life'. The paddles come with Sport Automatic Transmission which also gives you a Sport wheel, a leather shift gaiter with better shift lever and the SAT software programme. The paddles are excellent but as the box itself is so good I find myself almost never using them.
It's a great car. I can't see me wanting anything but F10's until they all get old and crappy.
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Associate
Can i join this thread?
Its only a 420d (sorry guys), but I'm enjoying it a lot, its a big step up from a mini cooper!
One thing that is bugging me a little is the lack of digital speedometer read out on the instrument panel. I became reliant up on this in the mini, but the BMW seems to leave this out for some annoying reason.
Its only a 420d (sorry guys), but I'm enjoying it a lot, its a big step up from a mini cooper!
One thing that is bugging me a little is the lack of digital speedometer read out on the instrument panel. I became reliant up on this in the mini, but the BMW seems to leave this out for some annoying reason.
Man of Honour
You can add it via coding. If you know anyone with a bluetooth dongle and the smartphone app, it takes minutes to add, along with a few other tweaks you might find handy.
Associate
Hi mrk,
I'm glad theres a viable solution, is there a guide you can link me to? Perhaps I can have a stab at it myself, or conversely, do you know anyone in the Midlands area that does this sort of thing?
Thanks
Soldato
MRK, can you link me again to that tool you had which you used on my car. I'm just looking for the obd2 part of it and not the software. Got an android phone now lol.
I very much doubt a bluetooth dongle and smartphone app will work - the current generation cars use an Ethernet based connection method which is very different from the older models.
You will need somebody with a copy of E-Sys and the required cable - it's a very easy job if they have that.
You will need somebody with a copy of E-Sys and the required cable - it's a very easy job if they have that.
Man of Honour
This is the app: http://www.mycarly.com/product/bmw-app/
They have steadily updated the app to support F models, so I see no reason why it shouldn't work for this kind of coding really.
Edit*
The dev responds to emails, so may be worth emailing him just to be sure of course!
They have steadily updated the app to support F models, so I see no reason why it shouldn't work for this kind of coding really.
Edit*
The dev responds to emails, so may be worth emailing him just to be sure of course!
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I must have a heavier right foot, lol. I average 40 on the dot over the last 36k (since new coming on for 2 years ago) in my 530d. That being said, mine is the estate.
As Fox says, they really are an excellent car. I can't really fault mine. Although I am getting itchy feet. Not because there is anything wrong with the car, but because of my attitude towards car ownership (there are so many nice cars out there I don't feel the need to stick to one for a long period of time).
My money would go on the 530d all day long. As Fox mentions, there is a world of difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 diesels, and the fuel savings of the 2.0 is far outweighed by the refinement and turn of pace with the 3.0.
The Sports Auto is fantastic. I love it in mine, as I also love the multi function display. Something I wouldn't be without if I were to get another further down the line.
Mines is the LCI, which I think makes the interior look fresher. But it doesn't add much else really. I can only tell on the exterior because the side indicators have moved to the wing mirrors. Fox also much prefers the pre-LCI xenon package. Which is fair enough, but xenons weren't standard until the LCI, so you're looking for a car with them specced up in the first place pre-LCI.
You will also want to ensure you get Pro Nav as a minimum. And if you can find one with the sports plus pack, it gives you 19's HK speakers, tints and a spoiler on the saloon. It's worth having for sure.
An interior pic of my LCI for comparison...
And of the MFD
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The main benefit of the LCI is that the LCI ones I've driven didn't have the stupid Mr Kipling Plastic seat base surrounds.
The Xenon thing is more about how BMW go about doing lighting - Xenon's on a pre LCI are the upgraded lighting package, Xenon's on the post LCI are the standard lights. Only the upgraded lighting package gets proper LED indicators etc, so therefore only LED headlight equipped LCI cars have that (Which is basically almost none). This creates the odd situation where the Xenon equipped pre LCI has a nicer front end than a Xenon equipped LCI car.
I've no idea why they do stuff like this - it's not a cheap car, just give it LED indicators etc as standard?! LED indicators first appeared on the E46 years ago, it's nonsense they are not defacto fit.
The Xenon thing is more about how BMW go about doing lighting - Xenon's on a pre LCI are the upgraded lighting package, Xenon's on the post LCI are the standard lights. Only the upgraded lighting package gets proper LED indicators etc, so therefore only LED headlight equipped LCI cars have that (Which is basically almost none). This creates the odd situation where the Xenon equipped pre LCI has a nicer front end than a Xenon equipped LCI car.
I've no idea why they do stuff like this - it's not a cheap car, just give it LED indicators etc as standard?! LED indicators first appeared on the E46 years ago, it's nonsense they are not defacto fit.
Man of Honour
[TW]Fox;28672073 said:
Yet the changelog says new F models supported, maybe the website just hasn't been updated? Best just to email the dev to ask tbh.
Any chance you could provide a link to the cable that you use as well please
I have an e46 and I want some coding done on mine!
http://www.bcables.com/
Blue K Line cable for E46
Man of Honour
[TW]Fox;28672106 said:Did you not read this website before showing it to us?It says that F Series is supported for diagnostics only.
Is that like RTFMing?