Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
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I just don't want to spend a large sum of money on something like that if you see what I mean given it's an 11yr old cat d car 
I'll maintain it sure!
Speaking of maintenance, some OEM bushes dropped through today.
And like clockwork, ANOTHER expense. The sunglass holder cubby tray door literally snapped off as I was getting to my sunglasses earlier today:
Apparently an ill thought out design flaw with the way the area that has snapped folds, like bending a piece of metal repeatedly until it snaps.
Oh well, an excuse to get the cupholder insert instead now I guess. But then I'd have nowhere to put my sunglasses safely and within easy reach...
I'll maintain it sure!
Speaking of maintenance, some OEM bushes dropped through today.
And like clockwork, ANOTHER expense. The sunglass holder cubby tray door literally snapped off as I was getting to my sunglasses earlier today:
Apparently an ill thought out design flaw with the way the area that has snapped folds, like bending a piece of metal repeatedly until it snaps.
Oh well, an excuse to get the cupholder insert instead now I guess. But then I'd have nowhere to put my sunglasses safely and within easy reach...
Sodding typical!I have the portable power bank, cables and lighter socket charger and stuff do do with "power" in there, though 
I liked the slider tray and they fit perfectly and didn't move around, so were completely protected when not being worn.
I could just bung them in the cupholder I guess, and in the pouch so they are somewhat protected.
The plus point is I could DIY in a Qi fast wireless charging pad into one of the cupholders for my phone. That would be cool.
OEM Lemforder bushes for all core points
I liked the slider tray and they fit perfectly and didn't move around, so were completely protected when not being worn.I could just bung them in the cupholder I guess, and in the pouch so they are somewhat protected.
The plus point is I could DIY in a Qi fast wireless charging pad into one of the cupholders for my phone. That would be cool.
OEM Lemforder bushes for all core points
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Just because Lemforder manufacture some of BMW's OEM parts, doesn't mean non OEM-stamped stuff from them is equal. Fox is going to go nuts.
Having replaced many, many items on my car with OEM parts, I can confirm there is no difference with the parts which are often absolutely identical down to the last marking.
Hell, a few of the OEM parts have even had the BMW logo and BMW part numbers still partially visible. Car manufacturers make an absolute killing on parts with the markup they put on them.
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Just because Lemforder manufacture some of BMW's OEM parts, doesn't mean non OEM-stamped stuff from them is equal. Fox is going to go nuts.
You'd have to be nuts to buy genuine BMW bushings over Lemforder.
Man of Honour
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Yet you all want OEM windscreens when Pilkington make the OE equivalents and the OEM parts
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 13 Nov 2009
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- 11,633
- Location
- Northampton
Tongue in cheek, in fairness I would agree QC is a bit more hit and miss with OE equivalents, but I genuinely think you've just been rather unlucky with your windscreen replacement experiences
Associate
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Bloody hell, you're not having the best luck. My tray is broken in exactly the same place. They're £50 if I recall. I've just pushed the handle section forward on mine and continue to use it fine. To be totally honest, you can't tell when its closed and its not causing me any issues. I've left it as it is for now.
Gotta open it with your nails though, which is a bit of faff I guess.
£58.20 on eBay if you include the coin holder section, which is required. Will phone Cotswold tomorrow and see how much they want with discount. Will end up cupholder it anyway I think.
But you would say that!
£58.20 on eBay if you include the coin holder section, which is required. Will phone Cotswold tomorrow and see how much they want with discount. Will end up cupholder it anyway I think.
But you would say that!
Had all my suspension stuff I mentioned the other day fitted today:
2 x Front Control Arms (Lemforder)
2 x Front Wishbone Mounts with new bushes (Lemforder)
2 x Track rod assemblies (Lemforder)
2 x Front drag links (Lemforder)
1 x Headlight Angle Bracket/Arm (BMW)
3 x Upgraded Diff Bolts (BMW)
That's the last 'job' completed that I knew about when buying the car (Perished dust covers and slight play in the drag links), and amazingly I've got a bit left over of my original target budget to get the front seats refurbed so will get that booked in for late august!
2 x Front Control Arms (Lemforder)
2 x Front Wishbone Mounts with new bushes (Lemforder)
2 x Track rod assemblies (Lemforder)
2 x Front drag links (Lemforder)
1 x Headlight Angle Bracket/Arm (BMW)
3 x Upgraded Diff Bolts (BMW)
That's the last 'job' completed that I knew about when buying the car (Perished dust covers and slight play in the drag links), and amazingly I've got a bit left over of my original target budget to get the front seats refurbed so will get that booked in for late august!
I think you can buy just the roller cover itself (p/n 51167038333)which should be under £10 although no idea how to fit it!
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No improvement on handling, the play was quite small in the drag link, and the track rod end was only just moving, no real slack in it, not enough to feel loose or vague. The main difference is to have tightened up the ride a touch, so marginally less shake when on a very rough road.. I did think the scuttle shake was a little more than I expected, and it's now as i'd expect from a convertible (having driven many E93's now, it's on par with those).
The old stuff looked original and had worn surprisingly well, it was the perished dust covers that had started to just split, so it wouldn't have been long before they'd have noticeably worn, and they'd keep coming up as MOT advisories..
Yet you all want OEM windscreens when Pilkington make the OE equivalents and the OEM parts
I didn't at all. In fact I said several times on here that I didnt care if I got a Pilkington screen for this exact reason. However if someone is going to give me a genuine one just by me typing "Please can I have a genuine screen" - I'm not going to say no.
I did exactly the same to mine when I got it, with the addition of new shocks, rear mounts and RTABs also.
Provided you don't have a 150k mile car that has never had suspension work, there is no night/day improvement. However it all gives you much more confidence when driving it. It's so neutral and you approach corners at faster than you think is capable and the car digs in, and just glides round with no drama. There's no pulling from the steering, wobbliness or sudden darting and in high speed bends it just grips the road and glides round. These high speed moderate bends can give you a great idea as to how in tune the suspension, tyres and geometry is.
In short, you won't get in and say "wow a brand new car!" but you will smile when you taking it around some bends and it just.... works.