der Mumienwagen; E91 330i Touring
Discussion
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
More good work there Sam 
Good to see you've got decent safety footwear on in case you drop one of those discs
Brakes look spot on as per usual...
Good to see you've got decent safety footwear on in case you drop one of those discs
Brakes look spot on as per usual...
all you need is flip flops! I was moving a load of hardcore non them Friday night and have some quality tan lines now!I was filthy after today.
At least they’re not crocs! 
I believe the power steering pump could possibly sling oil up to the bottom of the airbox but I’d expect there to be lots of evidence of oil around it if it’s doing that.
Re the sump gasket - definitely definitely don’t attempt it on your back. It’s easier in a manual but it was quite honestly a derrière of a job! You need the subframe down by a good 10cm+ as the oil pickup sits above the subframe.
I wished I’d followed the advice of -if you can’t see it and it doesn’t smell, leave it alone
I believe the power steering pump could possibly sling oil up to the bottom of the airbox but I’d expect there to be lots of evidence of oil around it if it’s doing that.
Re the sump gasket - definitely definitely don’t attempt it on your back. It’s easier in a manual but it was quite honestly a derrière of a job! You need the subframe down by a good 10cm+ as the oil pickup sits above the subframe.
I wished I’d followed the advice of -if you can’t see it and it doesn’t smell, leave it alone
nipsips said:
At least they’re not crocs!
I believe the power steering pump could possibly sling oil up to the bottom of the airbox but I’d expect there to be lots of evidence of oil around it if it’s doing that.
Re the sump gasket - definitely definitely don’t attempt it on your back. It’s easier in a manual but it was quite honestly a derrière of a job! You need the subframe down by a good 10cm+ as the oil pickup sits above the subframe.
I wished I’d followed the advice of -if you can’t see it and it doesn’t smell, leave it alone
Could never do Crocs! I believe the power steering pump could possibly sling oil up to the bottom of the airbox but I’d expect there to be lots of evidence of oil around it if it’s doing that.
Re the sump gasket - definitely definitely don’t attempt it on your back. It’s easier in a manual but it was quite honestly a derrière of a job! You need the subframe down by a good 10cm+ as the oil pickup sits above the subframe.
I wished I’d followed the advice of -if you can’t see it and it doesn’t smell, leave it alone
I’ll whip the air box out and look around in more detail. That was the one that I thought it could be. Need to try and decide if it’s actually engine oil or something else.
I’ll happily do the rocker cover, oil cooler and filter housing gaskets myself but I’m not touching the the sump. I’ll pay someone to do that. It doesn’t smell of hot oil, doesn’t leave patches in the ground and the oil level seems steady so I don’t think it’s a massive priority. The under tray is caked, so bad that I think buying a clean used one might be easier.
Court_S said:
Could never do Crocs!
I’ll whip the air box out and look around in more detail. That was the one that I thought it could be. Need to try and decide if it’s actually engine oil or something else.
I’ll happily do the rocker cover, oil cooler and filter housing gaskets myself but I’m not touching the the sump. I’ll pay someone to do that. It doesn’t smell of hot oil, doesn’t leave patches in the ground and the oil level seems steady so I don’t think it’s a massive priority. The under tray is caked, so bad that I think buying a clean used one might be easier.
No me either - not even around the house I’ll whip the air box out and look around in more detail. That was the one that I thought it could be. Need to try and decide if it’s actually engine oil or something else.
I’ll happily do the rocker cover, oil cooler and filter housing gaskets myself but I’m not touching the the sump. I’ll pay someone to do that. It doesn’t smell of hot oil, doesn’t leave patches in the ground and the oil level seems steady so I don’t think it’s a massive priority. The under tray is caked, so bad that I think buying a clean used one might be easier.
Yeah that’s probably the best way, I believe the pressure hose is on the bottom of the pump and is held on with a banjo bolt/union and the feed from the reservoir goes on at the top.
If it helps - there’s an image of mine with the air box removed.
I did my sump on a lift and it was still an arse
never again. For the book time it’s definitely worth paying someone to do it lolnipsips said:
No me either - not even around the house
Yeah that’s probably the best way, I believe the pressure hose is on the bottom of the pump and is held on with a banjo bolt/union and the feed from the reservoir goes on at the top.
If it helps - there’s an image of mine with the air box removed.
I did my sump on a lift and it was still an arse never again. For the book time it’s definitely worth paying someone to do it lol
Thanks; I’ll have a look. Mine is gold, so I wonder if it’s been changed before and not done up properly etc. Yeah that’s probably the best way, I believe the pressure hose is on the bottom of the pump and is held on with a banjo bolt/union and the feed from the reservoir goes on at the top.
If it helps - there’s an image of mine with the air box removed.
I did my sump on a lift and it was still an arse
never again. For the book time it’s definitely worth paying someone to do it lolFinally had the A/C sorted this morning. A nice chap called Dave came out and fitted the new A/C condenser (which having hung around and watched him it was something that I could have done myself in all fairness).
Replacement condenser from AUTODOC. Lucked out with a 41% day, so it was £70 or so.
The old one came out with a bit of jiggling and looked pretty battered.
The old oil was removed, new oil added with some dye (just in case) along with 590g of refrigerant and voila lovely cold air again.
Whilst the airbox was out, I had a nose around to see what could be squirting oil onto he bottom of it but the power steering pump looked dry. A couple of other lines were grimy.
The oil cooler / filter housings are leaking so I’ll try and get those changes this summer as it’s not a bad DIY.
Replacement condenser from AUTODOC. Lucked out with a 41% day, so it was £70 or so.
The old one came out with a bit of jiggling and looked pretty battered.
The old oil was removed, new oil added with some dye (just in case) along with 590g of refrigerant and voila lovely cold air again.
Whilst the airbox was out, I had a nose around to see what could be squirting oil onto he bottom of it but the power steering pump looked dry. A couple of other lines were grimy.
The oil cooler / filter housings are leaking so I’ll try and get those changes this summer as it’s not a bad DIY.
The A/C on this car is proving testing; having replaced the condenser and regarding the system, it’d lost coolant within a couple of days again. Not a happy bunny, especially with it looking so s
te on the loan wheels from Wheelnania.
First up was incurring one of my neighbour’s wrath by giving the car a clean (I’ve been subject to a noise complaint via the council…..
). I repolished type drivers side with the heavy compound and a finer compounds before applying wax. It’s definitely better than it was before, but still leaves a lot to be desired.
I then popped to the badlands of Birmingham to retrieve my wheels which have been done in a slightly darker shade of silver (dusk grey). They were had a grey powder coat base layer before being painted silver and getting lacquered. The finish is really very good so I’m very happy despite cocking one of of the wheel decals.
I was very grumpy with the car today because it was warm and very humid, but on the way back from Wheelmania I had to find about her way back because the M42 north was closed. I stumbled across a nice road and I began liking the car again. It has quite a nice flow to the way it gets down a road; not as fast as the 335i but it rides better and I enjoy the interaction of a manual gearbox.
When I got home, a very apologetic A/C man was waiting for me and we quickly set about having a good poke around. It turns out that the high pressure line that sites on the chassis rail was also dead. Behind the heat shield that protects the washer fluid filler neck was manky and full of debris.
It seems like a st design with a hole going straight through to the wheel arch next to it. The Lowe pressure line was inspected and that’s all good. I’ve asked BMW for a price and the A/C chap isn’t charging me for a regas. He was genuinely very apologetic having been convinced that it was just the condenser that was at fault. Although he’s stacked out, he’ll squeeze us in as soon as I can get hold of a replacement pipe. Hopefully, it’ll be third time lucky with the A/C!
te on the loan wheels from Wheelnania.First up was incurring one of my neighbour’s wrath by giving the car a clean (I’ve been subject to a noise complaint via the council…..
). I repolished type drivers side with the heavy compound and a finer compounds before applying wax. It’s definitely better than it was before, but still leaves a lot to be desired.I then popped to the badlands of Birmingham to retrieve my wheels which have been done in a slightly darker shade of silver (dusk grey). They were had a grey powder coat base layer before being painted silver and getting lacquered. The finish is really very good so I’m very happy despite cocking one of of the wheel decals.
I was very grumpy with the car today because it was warm and very humid, but on the way back from Wheelmania I had to find about her way back because the M42 north was closed. I stumbled across a nice road and I began liking the car again.
It has quite a nice flow to the way it gets down a road; not as fast as the 335i but it rides better and I enjoy the interaction of a manual gearbox.When I got home, a very apologetic A/C man was waiting for me and we quickly set about having a good poke around. It turns out that the high pressure line that sites on the chassis rail was also dead. Behind the heat shield that protects the washer fluid filler neck was manky and full of debris.
It seems like a s
t design with a hole going straight through to the wheel arch next to it. The Lowe pressure line was inspected and that’s all good. I’ve asked BMW for a price and the A/C chap isn’t charging me for a regas. He was genuinely very apologetic having been convinced that it was just the condenser that was at fault. Although he’s stacked out, he’ll squeeze us in as soon as I can get hold of a replacement pipe. Hopefully, it’ll be third time lucky with the A/C!
cerb4.5lee said:
So frustrating Sam to hear about the A/C woes that you're having(especially with the current high temps). I really hope that you get to the bottom of it for sure.
Yeah, it’s really annoying but hopefully it’ll be sorted this week. Driving around with the windows down on a hot day sucks if I’m honest. It certainly didn’t help my slightly grumpy mood! d_a_n1979 said:
That's a good result Sam; as frustrating these things are, you know you're near to sorting it
The wheels look superb too; great colour! It's not far off OEM silver IMO; which isn't bright, but not dull either...
Yeah, I was grumpy about it but he’s been good about sorting it so no need to be a prick. These things happen and I guess what are the chances if two leaks in one system?The wheels look superb too; great colour! It's not far off OEM silver IMO; which isn't bright, but not dull either...
I like the colour, it’s just dark enough to look different to the OE finish but not too far. The depth of the colour is really good too.
Hey up Sam,
Great to hear that your a/c man is being so supportive. Good (and a rare thing for a lot of mechanics) that he was out on a Saturday afternoon to investigate.
The 330 is looking great with the refinished wheels.
But Sorry to hear about your neighbour taking exception to the noise of you car cleaning. Presumably that’s the noise the polishing machine makes? Sounds a bit unreasonable of the neighbour when it will only be for a few hours a few weekends of the year and during the day. I would have thought the Council would have had to be sensible about the duration of the noise before serving an order. But these things can get tricky, so probably best to forget about the rights and wrongs of it and do what you can to de-escalate it. I hope that situation improves very soon.
Great to hear that your a/c man is being so supportive. Good (and a rare thing for a lot of mechanics) that he was out on a Saturday afternoon to investigate.
The 330 is looking great with the refinished wheels.
But Sorry to hear about your neighbour taking exception to the noise of you car cleaning. Presumably that’s the noise the polishing machine makes? Sounds a bit unreasonable of the neighbour when it will only be for a few hours a few weekends of the year and during the day. I would have thought the Council would have had to be sensible about the duration of the noise before serving an order. But these things can get tricky, so probably best to forget about the rights and wrongs of it and do what you can to de-escalate it. I hope that situation improves very soon.
Court_S said:
cerb4.5lee said:
So frustrating Sam to hear about the A/C woes that you're having(especially with the current high temps). I really hope that you get to the bottom of it for sure.
Yeah, it’s really annoying but hopefully it’ll be sorted this week. Driving around with the windows down on a hot day sucks if I’m honest. It certainly didn’t help my slightly grumpy mood! 
That AC line was about £130 for me I think only a couple of weeks ago. Comes with o-rings so no need to buy separately but it’s worth mentioning that to get to the bolt on the evaporator end, you need to remove the other hose above (at least I did) in which case it might be worth picking up an o-ring for that. I can find the part on real OEM if it’s not obvious what I’m talking about. The actual hose swap is nice and easy.
Tom4398cc said:
Hey up Sam,
Great to hear that your a/c man is being so supportive. Good (and a rare thing for a lot of mechanics) that he was out on a Saturday afternoon to investigate.
The 330 is looking great with the refinished wheels.
But Sorry to hear about your neighbour taking exception to the noise of you car cleaning. Presumably that’s the noise the polishing machine makes? Sounds a bit unreasonable of the neighbour when it will only be for a few hours a few weekends of the year and during the day. I would have thought the Council would have had to be sensible about the duration of the noise before serving an order. But these things can get tricky, so probably best to forget about the rights and wrongs of it and do what you can to de-escalate it. I hope that situation improves very soon.
Thanks Tom. Great to hear that your a/c man is being so supportive. Good (and a rare thing for a lot of mechanics) that he was out on a Saturday afternoon to investigate.
The 330 is looking great with the refinished wheels.
But Sorry to hear about your neighbour taking exception to the noise of you car cleaning. Presumably that’s the noise the polishing machine makes? Sounds a bit unreasonable of the neighbour when it will only be for a few hours a few weekends of the year and during the day. I would have thought the Council would have had to be sensible about the duration of the noise before serving an order. But these things can get tricky, so probably best to forget about the rights and wrongs of it and do what you can to de-escalate it. I hope that situation improves very soon.
The A/C chap basically works seven days a week in the summer and doesn’t do much for the rest of the year.
I don’t know who down has complained but annoyingly no one has said anything first. The council have just written to say that they’ve had a complaint and are seeking more info. When I slow to the person who wrote the letter, the complaint was about the jet washer and vacuum. Apparently it’s every few days and early in the morning which is b
ks. Gad-Westy said:
That AC line was about £130 for me I think only a couple of weeks ago. Comes with o-rings so no need to buy separately but it’s worth mentioning that to get to the bolt on the evaporator end, you need to remove the other hose above (at least I did) in which case it might be worth picking up an o-ring for that. I can find the part on real OEM if it’s not obvious what I’m talking about. The actual hose swap is nice and easy.
I’ve asked the pat’s department for a price already, LLL Parts might actually be on the money for once price wise. It looks easy enough to change, almost as if they expected issues with the line sitting in a dirt trap! I’ll be checking that area on my 335i and cleaning it up for sure.
Loving the banter in this thread
Car looks great though, and when i was reading through the AC issues, and how it leaked but you'd done pressure checking, remeinded me a friend had the same issue, but he'd not had any joy finding the leak. That was till i mentioned check the valves given you can't test those during a pressure check.
He wasn't sure, but couple of days later, he checked them, and low and behold
As for the oil leaks, seems the rocker cover gasket and oil filter housing seems to be a common theme on the later engines as well as my M54
Car looks great though, and when i was reading through the AC issues, and how it leaked but you'd done pressure checking, remeinded me a friend had the same issue, but he'd not had any joy finding the leak. That was till i mentioned check the valves given you can't test those during a pressure check.
He wasn't sure, but couple of days later, he checked them, and low and behold
As for the oil leaks, seems the rocker cover gasket and oil filter housing seems to be a common theme on the later engines as well as my M54
Court_S said:
Gad-Westy said:
That AC line was about £130 for me I think only a couple of weeks ago. Comes with o-rings so no need to buy separately but it’s worth mentioning that to get to the bolt on the evaporator end, you need to remove the other hose above (at least I did) in which case it might be worth picking up an o-ring for that. I can find the part on real OEM if it’s not obvious what I’m talking about. The actual hose swap is nice and easy.
I’ve asked the pat’s department for a price already, LLL Parts might actually be on the money for once price wise. It looks easy enough to change, almost as if they expected issues with the line sitting in a dirt trap! I’ll be checking that area on my 335i and cleaning it up for sure.
A few others I know have had similar issues...
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