BMW and M Power Owners

panthro · 13 Oct 2014 at 08:33

Would that be a direct swap for your car? The difference between CIC iDrive and NBT iDrive is negligible. If it were me I'd take the 650i without hesitation for a direct swap.

panthro · 13 Oct 2014 at 08:54

If the 650i is possible then an M6 might not be that much further away........

Out of every car in BMW's current line up, the 6 Series is hands down their best car.

panthro · 30 Oct 2014 at 10:30

Selling cars really is a massive ballache. That is all.

panthro · 30 Oct 2014 at 11:08

No my Z4. Not the best time of year to sell, but this is probably the most hassle I've had selling a car! Not many takers and those that are want to pull your pants down.

panthro · 30 Oct 2014 at 13:58

Cheers, banks are doing good interest rates on loans at the moment

panthro · 6 Nov 2014 at 14:39

The track rod ends have seized on my E46. Apparently heating them up to free them is an MOT failure? True? Would rather just heat them up and use a breaker bar to loosen them up than replace them completely.

panthro · 6 Nov 2014 at 15:14

I need the get the tracking done. I don't want to replace them if they can be freed, lubricated and tightened again.

panthro · 6 Nov 2014 at 15:25

How easy can this be done myself? I have a trolley jack and axel stands but never attempted anything like it. I presume replacing the rod ends means I don't need to free them first?

panthro · 6 Nov 2014 at 15:58

If I had a garage and all my tools in one place this would be easy, but because I live in a flat I'd have to go round to my mums house, find all my tools etc. I might just get the local garage to do it. I'll have a think about it when I go home and watch the tutorial videos.

panthro · 7 Nov 2014 at 19:22

Housey said:
Thoughts?

Tempted....

That particular colour? I seem to remember you telling me when I bought my PY E46 that is was a "brave colour". I'd go for it if I were you.

panthro · 12 Nov 2014 at 11:41

Think I'm going to do both the track rod and track rod ends myself. That video makes it look easy, so with a bit of plus gas and following the guide step by step I'm sure I can do it.

panthro · 17 Nov 2014 at 11:45

I changed the track rods (both sections) on my 330d on Saturday. Took quite a long time due to some rusted bolts etc, but nothing some heat and leverage couldn't solve. Thanks to those who gave me some advice

I've got the bug now so the discs and pads will be done next. Hopefully (he says wishfully) they should be a little more straight forward.

[TW]Fox;27215061 said:
I can see why you opted for the 20's now - they dont look huge at all in that photo, looks like the correct sized wheel.

How does it ride? I wish they did a decent looking 18 inch wheel for the F10 - I drove my parents 520d for the first time in a while last night and it still rides noticeably better than my 530d - it's on 18 inch non RFT's versus my 19 inch 351M's on non RFT's. More refined, better at absorbing imperfections on the road surface, etc.

This is the main reason I chose a Z4 with the 18's instead of the 19's. The 19's do look better, but the ride was so stiff and you could feel every single imperfection on the road.

The ride is still a little stiff with 18's and non runflats but comparitively it's much more comfortable.

panthro · 19 Nov 2014 at 11:34

hurfdurf said:
Z4M, £15k, anyone got a buyers guide?

I'd prefer an E89 for a few grand extra.

panthro · 20 Nov 2014 at 14:27

alx said:
Saw your E89 for sale on the Z4 forum, getting something else?

Yep, a new house

I've got an E46 330d Touring too so I'm not without a car thankfully.

panthro · 1 Dec 2014 at 21:34

mOdO said:
Anyone else just get a letter from BMW about the passenger airbag recall?

2005 330ci here.

That was announced in September. The previous owner got it done before I bought my 330d.

panthro · 7 Dec 2014 at 21:53

Nocturne_sa said:
Hi guys

Need some quick advice. About to place an order for a 428i m sport GC and can't decide between Estoril Blue and Mineral Grey. EB looks awesome on the coupe but not too sure about the GC. Also I don't want the car to stand out too much and attract unwanted attention (getting keyed, scratched etc). Will go for a black leather interior plus the m sport plus package which includes the blue callipers which I think will go well with MG.

I know its a personal preference etc but wanted your thoughts.

Cheers

Did you get one of those ridiculously cheap £250 pm deals I saw on pistonheads?

panthro · 8 Dec 2014 at 08:26

Nocturne_sa said:
yep

428i M sport GC
sport auto
m sport plus pack
pro nav
surround view
rear camera
lumbar
folding mirrors

£350/month

I think same spec 430d was £390 but couldn't extend my budget plus I only do 5k pa so doesn't justify a diesel (although a straight 6 would have been nice !)

Decent, I saw the 420 GC for something like £269+VAT. Mental.

I'd take mineral grey. EB is far too common now. MG works better with red leather too

panthro · 22 Dec 2014 at 07:27

I think a 6 series GC is my perfect all round car. I absolutely love them; diesel or petrol the 6 is damn near perfect all round for me.

panthro · 22 Dec 2014 at 09:35

J1nxy said:
The main reason for not going for the GC, as it would have cost me pretty much exactly the same as my Coupe, was the length. The 6 Coupe struggles to fit into a lot of parking spaces and the GC is 5-6 inches longer so is even worse. Why anybody would spec a GC without at least the reverse camera is beyond me.

Well I'd take a coupe or a GC, but I enjoy the practicality of the GC.

panthro · 22 Dec 2014 at 12:44

Ricochet J said:
Why do BMW still use joysticks?

The interior of a BMW cabin usually looks great - and then you get to that silly joystick which lets it down.

The automatic transmission is no longer mechanically controlled is it (i.e. there isn't a physical lever to take it from park to drive)? So you could have a small electric wheel or something.

I prefer the auto stick. You also change up or down with the stick, another nice option (I like it, not everyone does). I much prefer it to the wheel that Jags come with now.