Discussion
So nice to have it back. Drive back was largely terrible due to bad weather. There was an accident so sat nav diverted me down some stupidly thin roads which were covered in crap. The last 20 miles were fine though.
I've missed that engine!
I wouldn't say there is a real tangible difference, perhaps the DCT is a tiny bit smoother, but maybe it's my imagination. I've got the old bearings back and they look in really good shape so I suspect it's been treated well from cold by the previous owners.
The indy said if I treat it well from cold there's no need to replace them in the future.
I've missed that engine!
I wouldn't say there is a real tangible difference, perhaps the DCT is a tiny bit smoother, but maybe it's my imagination. I've got the old bearings back and they look in really good shape so I suspect it's been treated well from cold by the previous owners.
The indy said if I treat it well from cold there's no need to replace them in the future.
So on Wednesday I dropped the car at the paintwork place. As some already know I have been loaned a brand new, 23 plate M4 to run about in. I now know my E90 is going to feel dog slow when I get it back 
I had email confirmation today saying it'll be ready today, but I cannot collect until Monday as I finish work tonight at 7pm and they aren't open over the weekend.
Possibly the most impressive thing about the M4 is the brakes, they are absolutely remarkable. The E90 brakes are strong, probably the best of any car I've owned, but these really are noticeably stronger. I will see how my brakes fair up on my Scotland trip next month, if they struggle a bit I will get uprated fluid, Ferodo DS2500 pads and Goodridge braided hoses fitted before I go to my trip to Brecon Beacons in September.
It's all coming together, next Friday is goes in for the infotainment upgrade (I can wait whilst they do that, it's only 2-3 hours and I can do some work whilst I'm there). After that it's all done for now. The advisories from the indy will be addressed soon. When I need new front tyres (won't be long) I'll get most done, but the rocker cover gaskets will be done in August, I suspect. The front tyres are down to 4mm in places, and considering I'll be doing 2500 miles or so by the end of May I suspect they'll need doing then. I will be getting Michelin PS4S, like I have at the back.
I had email confirmation today saying it'll be ready today, but I cannot collect until Monday as I finish work tonight at 7pm and they aren't open over the weekend.
Possibly the most impressive thing about the M4 is the brakes, they are absolutely remarkable. The E90 brakes are strong, probably the best of any car I've owned, but these really are noticeably stronger. I will see how my brakes fair up on my Scotland trip next month, if they struggle a bit I will get uprated fluid, Ferodo DS2500 pads and Goodridge braided hoses fitted before I go to my trip to Brecon Beacons in September.
It's all coming together, next Friday is goes in for the infotainment upgrade (I can wait whilst they do that, it's only 2-3 hours and I can do some work whilst I'm there). After that it's all done for now. The advisories from the indy will be addressed soon. When I need new front tyres (won't be long) I'll get most done, but the rocker cover gaskets will be done in August, I suspect. The front tyres are down to 4mm in places, and considering I'll be doing 2500 miles or so by the end of May I suspect they'll need doing then. I will be getting Michelin PS4S, like I have at the back.
bolidemichael said:
I've been reading your thread on this topic with interest. There is quite a good amount of chat and also experience.
It is hard to summarise the car, and I'm not sure how I'll feel getting back into mine. Ultimately I think as a driving experience the E90 is better. The engine sounds much, much better and nicer to rev out. It is much slower mid-range. The difference is remarkable, and the E90 is far from a slouch. There is too much tech, and I don't like the instrument cluster. It's too cluttered. I'm sure if I was to own the car I could configure it a bit more. I like the heads up display, it is very good. The steering is very sharp, but lacking in feel and heft. It'd make mince meat of the E90 on a fast A road or track, but which would I be having more fun in? I suspect the E90. The G82 would make a monster fast motorway or autobahn blaster though. Its gearing is very short for the first 5 gears but then it gets very tall. 8th is geared at approx 2k rpm at 85mph, so it's geared to just over 300, whereas the E90 is only geared to around 205-210mph or so.
bolidemichael said:
Can't wait to see the before and after! 
I'm quite pleased with the dent removal, too. For some reason I can't directly upload the image, but here is the before, for any doubt
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o_c_KsEh3dK8K0MWX...
bolidemichael said:
That's some serious titivation!
Yep, he said he'd had needed to spray the bootlid anyway to blend it well, so fortunately all done under the old bint's insurance company. I'm pleased, the boot was the worst panel, the rest of the car's paint is in good condition, save the odd stone chip, especially around the sills.jackcactii said:
the f80/82/87 brake retrofit (blue calipers) is proven and popular. it'd be a worthwhile upgrade
I run an f80 with girodisc rotors and ferodo ds1.11 pads and the stopping power is great
Yeah I've seen someone has done that, looks like a good upgrade, although what is the cost, and where would you find those calipers etc without going to BMW? Can't imagine they're cheap, or otherwise easy to get hold of elsewhere.I run an f80 with girodisc rotors and ferodo ds1.11 pads and the stopping power is great
In reality for the use I intend I'm sure uprated fluid, pads and lines will be more than enough!
cerb4.5lee said:
Great pic Ross. That looks like a nice road too.
Thanks Lee.Whilst at the audio specialist I did enquire about audio system upgrades.....The LS460 I had had a fantastic sound system. He basically said the world is your oyster but one of the better kits he sells is £1200, but where mine is a standard system I need the panels for the HK BMW system for the new speakers, which he said are around £140 each, so then you're talking £1500 plus fitted.....so quite the upgrade!
To be honest, this car is one that I listen to the radio/media least often, it is nice to just listen to the engine
So 2 weeks tomorrow I'll be heading to the Cairngorms via Wiltshire. Approx 620 miles. With the driving I anticipate doing there, I think it'll be approx 2k miles Saturday-to-Saturday.
When back I'll get it booked in with my usual garage for the following:
New front tyres
NSR shock absorber dust cover (missing)
Bank 2 exhaust clamp (missing)
Front suspension top mounts
Rear anti-roll bar bolts (the ones are the incorrect size apparently)
Tighten hand brake (it works fine, but on a steeper incline you really need to pull it up so I suspect it needs tweaking)
Potentially replace the OSF brake pipe which is beginning to bubble with corrosion.
Depending how the brakes cope with some spirited driving in Scotland I may choose to upgrade the pads, fluid and hoses at the same time too, but the front discs and pads are relatively new (around 10k miles) so they'll have loads of life left. There must be some service history missing because I couldn't find anything to suggest the rear brake discs and pads have ever been changed, yet obviously they have, and the indy didn't say they were running low and the idrive suggests they have plenty of miles left - so I'm not sure whether to bother upgrading or not. I have another holiday in Wales later in the year, so perhaps I could wait until just before then, the current set up in more than adequate for normal driving, but some have said they can be made to overheat under relatively heavy use so I wouldn't mind better performance.
Hopefully I can get some good pictures in Scotland.
When back I'll get it booked in with my usual garage for the following:
New front tyres
NSR shock absorber dust cover (missing)
Bank 2 exhaust clamp (missing)
Front suspension top mounts
Rear anti-roll bar bolts (the ones are the incorrect size apparently)
Tighten hand brake (it works fine, but on a steeper incline you really need to pull it up so I suspect it needs tweaking)
Potentially replace the OSF brake pipe which is beginning to bubble with corrosion.
Depending how the brakes cope with some spirited driving in Scotland I may choose to upgrade the pads, fluid and hoses at the same time too, but the front discs and pads are relatively new (around 10k miles) so they'll have loads of life left. There must be some service history missing because I couldn't find anything to suggest the rear brake discs and pads have ever been changed, yet obviously they have, and the indy didn't say they were running low and the idrive suggests they have plenty of miles left - so I'm not sure whether to bother upgrading or not. I have another holiday in Wales later in the year, so perhaps I could wait until just before then, the current set up in more than adequate for normal driving, but some have said they can be made to overheat under relatively heavy use so I wouldn't mind better performance.
Hopefully I can get some good pictures in Scotland.
Court_S said:
Sounds like a good trip; I loved driving through the Cairngorms. It was very pretty, with some good roads. Hopefully the weather is kind to you.
If this was a coupe, I have a set of door cards with the extra holes that I’ve still not done anything with.
I don't think I'll be upgrading the sound system to be honest, certainly no time soon. I'd rather spend my money on the mechanicals to be honest If this was a coupe, I have a set of door cards with the extra holes that I’ve still not done anything with.
EVOTECH3BELL said:
I've just got back from a few days in Scotland in a different German v8 saloon.
Did the Nc500 and came back through the Cairngorms on the 9hr drive home.Just make sure you avoid the A9 as it's all average speed.
Oof. I'll be going the A9 on the way there. Not a chance to avoid it. If my trip there or back was, say, 300 miles, I'd go across the Cairngorms and down, but it's going to be over 600 miles each way and I won't fancy taking a detour on a drive that long.Did the Nc500 and came back through the Cairngorms on the 9hr drive home.Just make sure you avoid the A9 as it's all average speed.
The dual carriageway sections are not actually averaged, it's only the single carriageway sections.... But even so, yes, a pain.
Well I arrived in the Cairngorms in VERY good time..... Car was magnificent, although definitely not as good as the Lexus LS460 was for long distance drives, but it was great. I shall not post my trip data, but suffice to say Google maps estimation was very, very pessimistic
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
d_a_n1979 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
Well I arrived in the Cairngorms in VERY good time..... Car was magnificent, although definitely not as good as the Lexus LS460 was for long distance drives, but it was great. I shall not post my trip data, but suffice to say Google maps estimation was very, very pessimistic
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
Sounds like a good journey overall Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
How was the A9 for busyness?
The average speed cameras are well covered on there now aren't they
I had some great fun driving up (and down!) the Cairngorm mountain road earlier. Really got the chance to experience the chassis..... What a fantastic bit of kit, truly. It feels so sharp for an old 4 door saloon car.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
d_a_n1979 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
I had some great fun driving up (and down!) the Cairngorm mountain road earlier. Really got the chance to experience the chassis..... What a fantastic bit of kit, truly. It feels so sharp for an old 4 door saloon car.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
That's a superb road; the road between Dunkeld and Braemar is superb also if you get chance... What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
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