Our new to us 2015 F31 325D M Sport

[d_a_n1979]

Pictures with it back on the ground







If you click on the picture and then click on it again; you'll see the full res image rather than it being compressed & hosted, as above

[d_a_n1979]

OEM BMW Style 397s just landed - 18x8 straight set

Will get them refurbed and shod with winter tyres later in the year

[d_a_n1979]

So the cars in with Bowker BMW again unfortunately (well; fortunately TBH) as it's getting a new rocker cover; all the gubbins and a new intake manifold fitted under warranty as they found a few issues trying to trace an oil leak for me...!

My wife dropped me off at the hospital last Wednesday for a small op I was going in for and I could smell hot oil; had a quick look and low n behold; smoke coming from the rear of the rocker cover, above the DPF...

BMW Assist out that afternoon; declared there was an issue (a way to get around the airbag recall issues currently) and it went in on Thursday morning...

They diagnosed the issues Friday & parts have landed today and hopefully the car should be sorted for tomorrow/Wednesday

Thang goodness for BMW Warranty and the slickness in which Bowker have sorted this! They've both been absolutely superb so far

[d_a_n1979]

The cars back on the drive & in tip top condition... Apparently it went down well with techs there with the full M Performance brakes all round and skirt decals fitted

It came back with the printed invoice an been doing some sums via RealOEM and eBay UK today for prices and all toted up, via BMW resellers on eBay (mainly Douglas Park); the total works out at just over £1400 for parts alone

No idea what the labour rate will have been!

Anyways; it's done and all in good fettle

Thank goodness for warranty & what has, so far, been a superb experience with Bowker BMW in Preston

[d_a_n1979]

CJM36 said:

Excellent result!

Refreshing to hear someone having a positive experience with the service dept in a main dealership.

I had to fight VW Aberdeen to cover the mirror glass for my GTI under warranty; despite it being a cheap enough part and common fault.

Car is immaculate btw!!

Cheers

TBH they've been absolutely faultless and really good to deal with... They've always been good with my cars; even my E39s all had the airbag recalls there and the techs absolutely loved my Japanese import touring when I took it to them a few years back...

The cars filthy TBH but that's the benefit of silver

I'll hopefully be fit enough in a few days to give it a good wash & dry off...

The Chemical Guys banana wax spray carnuba polish has done a great job so far; it rained the other day and it beads very well

[d_a_n1979]

A quick update and will follow up with pics when it all lands

I’ve been house bound, bored & with not a lot to do since my op on 10th May and unfortunately things aren’t as good as they could be, so still having a few tests (stomach issues)

Anyways… That’s a dangerous cocktail as it means I’ve been spending £££ like it’s going outta fashion

So far I’ve bought:

- OEM BMW M Performance alcantara / CF interior trim (dash, dash vent, centre console and all 4 door handles)
- The OEM BMW CF/Alcantara gear lever surround
- The OEM CF gear lever trim & that comes with new badges and screw to fit it all
- An OEM BMW red start/stop button
- OEM BMW M Performance pedal covers inc. the dead pedal

I had ordered the M Performance chrome tail pipe trims too but unfortunately don’t fit even though the part numbers are correct as per RealOEM, so they’re getting sent back to Douglas Park BMW

Anyways; once it’s all in the garage I’ll get pics of it and when it’s all fitted too…

Need to get myself fixed first as the pedals will require footwell gymnastics and I’m not in a position to be doing that currently

[d_a_n1979]

Finally, an update. Hardly touched the car since my op on 10th May and then just had a 6 day holiday in the local hospital due to a delayed reaction to the general!

My liver reacted and created a few issues with my gallbladder; so that's now due to be whipped out

Anyways...

Ordered all this trim over the last week or so; a few bits brand new, the rest 2nd hand/used but immaculate. ALL OEM BMW, no copies/aftermarket etc

I'll fit the pedals when I'm feeling better and up for some footwell gymnastics as there's a bit of drilling to be done etc































Will update ASAP when I've fitted the pedals etc

The car also needs a clean inside & out, it's filthy!

[d_a_n1979]

pmorg4 said:

Looks cracking Dan!

Cheers pal

Really happy with the finish (looks much better now I've cleaned the car inside)

The finish is superb too; much better than the cubed alu trim IMO

I've spugged all that away safely so if I ever come to sell the car; I can revert it all back to factory OEM and sell those bits on again

[d_a_n1979]

pmorg4 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

I've spugged all that away safely so if I ever come to sell the car; I can revert it all back to factory OEM and sell those bits on again

I like the logic. It makes it a lot easier to justify the price if you know you can get a good chunk of that back when you sell the car

Absolutely! Plus it's all in the original packaging which is even better, as you know it'll be safe with the couriers too...

It's all neatly boxed up and stored in the garage, amongst many other parts

[d_a_n1979]

Its Just Adz said:

Firstly, I hope you're recovering ok after the op. Hope to see you up and about soon.

Second, the carbon and alcantara look great!

Cheers pal... All good after the op; that's seemed to have sorted that issue. It was the last week in hospital that was unexpected and now another op looming that's took my feet out from under me, again

Soon be fixed!

Aye; it's a lovely interior now. Nothing up with the alu trim, but it's just plain really and a few pieces were marked; so it's refreshed the interior superbly

[d_a_n1979]

Finally I've managed to give the car a proper wash and wax...

Hasn't been washed since before my op on 10th May!

All fluids checked and all correct (washer fluid topped up)

It was a bit too hot, even at 6pm, so left it at that as it was knackering me out and I'm not 100% yet...

Will do tyre pressures etc tomorrow. Glass needs cleaning too...

It's first trip to Anglesey a week tomorrow. Hoping to go down via Horseshoe Pass as long as its decent weather

[d_a_n1979]

M Performance pedals fitted

Pig of a job IMO, more so if you've shovel like hands like me! Trying to get the fiddly little bolts done on the brake pedal was a mare!

[d_a_n1979]

b14 said:

Looks great Dan - love the carbon interior. Definitely interested in doing the same to my 340i - how easy was it? I've taken apart the dash before but the gear shift area is new to me, plus the door pulls.

Also, was this an ebay purchase, one of the many offered from Lithuania? If so - how was the quality, fitment etc? Certainly looks good on the photos.

Thanks; it does look good! Can't help but think they should offer better options from factory as the OEM alu trim is a bit naff really...

The parts were either used but as new or brand new; none from the like of LLL Parts (who say they're UK based but they're actually Latvia); avoid at al costs as I know a few folk now that have had to spend months chasing eBay for a refund of parts that never arrived etc

All the parts can be sourced brand new; Cotswolds BMW and Dougla Park BMW (both on eBay also) offer the best prices; it's not cheap brand new though!

The only new parts I bought were the auto lever surround and the lever trim

It's all VERY easy; it literally pops off and pops back on again

The only fiddly bit is the leaver trim as you need a pick tool to remove the fascia and then undo one small Torx 8 bolt (so need to make sure you've got that in your arsenal or order one specifically)

Have a decent trim removal kit too; helps a lot, more so with the door handles

There's plenty of How To's on YT etc

One here:



No idea why it won't embed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmx6QvDn4AI&t=...

[d_a_n1979]

Exhaust trim swapped

The OEM chrome tailpipes were corroded/pitted etc and no amount of polishing will restore them

Instead of forking out c£160 for the OEM replacements I've fitted £35 Amazon black chrome specials via a reseller in Germany







Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exhaust-Tailpipes-Stainle...

Bit of WD40 and the OEM ones slide off & the new ones slide on (with the aid of a rubber mallet)

[d_a_n1979]

cerb4.5lee said:

I tend to prefer chrome tips Dan, but those black chrome tips do look very nice though for sure.

I sort of do as well; but as it's M Sport with the gloss trim; they stood out like a sore thumb... So that's why I went with the black chrome ones as they have that sheen to them still

[d_a_n1979]

cerb4.5lee said:

d_a_n1979 said:

I sort of do as well; but as it's M Sport with the gloss trim; they stood out like a sore thumb... So that's why I went with the black chrome ones as they have that sheen to them still

They look very smart Dan. I reckon they would suit my M4 as well. I really like the sheen that they have on them a lot.

If you can find them in that finish go for it pal; they do look well. Subtle too

I bought the OEM M Performance ones, that RealOEM states fit my car; but when they arrived they're far too big unfortunately

Definitely the right ones for that exhaust back box design; so wondering if the larger engines cars have a different bore exhaust?

No idea unfortunately; but they got sent back...

Blessing TBH as they were very polished

[d_a_n1979]

beambeam1 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

b14 said:

Looks great Dan - love the carbon interior. Definitely interested in doing the same to my 340i - how easy was it? I've taken apart the dash before but the gear shift area is new to me, plus the door pulls.

Also, was this an ebay purchase, one of the many offered from Lithuania? If so - how was the quality, fitment etc? Certainly looks good on the photos.

Thanks; it does look good! Can't help but think they should offer better options from factory as the OEM alu trim is a bit naff really...

The parts were either used but as new or brand new; none from the like of LLL Parts (who say they're UK based but they're actually Latvia); avoid at al costs as I know a few folk now that have had to spend months chasing eBay for a refund of parts that never arrived etc

All the parts can be sourced brand new; Cotswolds BMW and Douglas Park BMW (both on eBay also) offer the best prices; it's not cheap brand new though!

Really, really like the interior trim mate. Missus can't stick the aluminium hexagon stuff we have and some of it needs replaced so I have spent an hour or so looking for alternatives but it seems like the carbon options are pretty much unobtanium...

Some fantastic updates to the car, nothing less than expected!

Cheers pal; I didn't mind the alu trim too much, it was just marked and that was annoying me and you know what it's like when you get something like that in your head

The CF/alcantara stuff you can buy new easily; Cotswolds BMW offered the best prices for it all; but you're be close to £1k all in, that's not cheap!

Bloody lucky I managed to find it all used, but immaculate!

[d_a_n1979]

Managed to get it washed and towel dried this morning; wash all the Anglesey (albeit short) trip dirt & dead bugs off

It's tried to rain a few times this morning; but looks like we get hit hard tomorrow; so good timing! Plus it's really overcast here, so ideal car washing weather

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

Always looks well when it’s clean Dan.

I need to remove 500 miles worth of dust and dead bugs from my 335i.

It’s really hot and humid today so it’s a bit grim if I’m honest.

Yeah; it scrubs up well pal... Deffo need to get it to my pals body shop though; front/rear bumpers need doing and he's going to try and polish the tailgate section under the top glass, if that's no good that'll need repainting too

Just scratches/stone chips and the front bumpers had a poor 'smart repair' to it, but fortunately you can only see if if you're close to it/looking for it...

Still; it'll be a good c£800 of work I reckon!

The front end was coated in dead bugs pal; sunny trip down there first thing Monday and then on the way back Tuesday evening; it was sunny, then went black and chucked it down near to Chester; lots of sand on the roads and then red hot/sunny again as we merged back onto the M56/M6 etc...

So all that crud got baked on, on the rear...

It all came off with a good soaking from BHs Autofoam

I went to town on the wheels too; a thorough deep clean on all 4 corners. The Gtechnic C5 doesn't appear to work on satin paint as well as it does on lacquered wheels unfortunately... May try a different wheel wax next time I've the patience to strip them all off

[d_a_n1979]

No updates really

Had my op on Friday; now can't drive for at least 2 weeks...

So it's getting filthy just sat on the drive way and it's been plugged into the CTEK this morning to keep it happy