Discussion
Having ticked over 40 earlier this year I thought it was time to put the fact that I'd never owned a v8 right. I'd narrowed it down to either an e92 m3, a Jag xkr, or a c63. Heading in to start shopping and test driving I was 90% I wanted the BMW. I've always swayed to BMWs having numerous e36/e46 an e63 630i and the current car an f20 140i.
The 140i was a great thing and really made it tough to move on to something else. Quick enough, cheap to run and hadn't put a foot wrong in 15 months. Problem is it never really got under my skin, it really needed a diff and a suspension kit to sort it, but I decided to go for a change instead.
Test drive a few cars, a couple of e92s (manual and dct) and an xkr. The BMW's were great but I don't know just left me a bit well cold. The dct was better than the manual which disappointed as I thought the manual v8 would be the perfect option, but prob should've known as BMW aren't exactly known for great manuals in recent times. The Jag was great. But then I got to drive a c63 and I was sold. The noise the drama that engine. So the hunt was on.
To cut a long story short I ended up going for a car 450 miles away In Southampton (I'm near Glasgow). A very kind ph'er E90m3ross went and gave the car a once over for me and a deposit was paid. A one way flight to Southampton on a Sunday and a 450 mile drive home without seeing the car in the flesh, what could possibly go wrong
Luckily the seller was a very nice bloke and the car was exactly as described. Car is a 2012 with 55k on the clock. It's been a bit of a garage queen since 2018 with only around 8k covered since then. It's standard bar a set of ispiri wheels and a quaife diff and some trims wrapped gloss black.
In its natural habitat just after collection.
Didn't do too bad on fuel really.
On the drive up the only issue was a wheel vibration from the front. Didn't seem too bad and was worse at motorway+ speeds so just took it easy. Then 50 miles from home the cruise kicked out and it flashed up an ABS fault message. Balls.
Other small niggles are it has a seemingly standard rocker cover weep on the LH side and it's due a service (overdue on time but not mileage as was only a thousand or so miles since it was last done) and there's a couple of rattles in the rear cabin to sort. All declared by the seller and negotiated in so I wasn't too concerned.
The 140i was a great thing and really made it tough to move on to something else. Quick enough, cheap to run and hadn't put a foot wrong in 15 months. Problem is it never really got under my skin, it really needed a diff and a suspension kit to sort it, but I decided to go for a change instead.
Test drive a few cars, a couple of e92s (manual and dct) and an xkr. The BMW's were great but I don't know just left me a bit well cold. The dct was better than the manual which disappointed as I thought the manual v8 would be the perfect option, but prob should've known as BMW aren't exactly known for great manuals in recent times. The Jag was great. But then I got to drive a c63 and I was sold. The noise the drama that engine. So the hunt was on.
To cut a long story short I ended up going for a car 450 miles away In Southampton (I'm near Glasgow). A very kind ph'er E90m3ross went and gave the car a once over for me and a deposit was paid. A one way flight to Southampton on a Sunday and a 450 mile drive home without seeing the car in the flesh, what could possibly go wrong
Luckily the seller was a very nice bloke and the car was exactly as described. Car is a 2012 with 55k on the clock. It's been a bit of a garage queen since 2018 with only around 8k covered since then. It's standard bar a set of ispiri wheels and a quaife diff and some trims wrapped gloss black.
In its natural habitat just after collection.
Didn't do too bad on fuel really.
On the drive up the only issue was a wheel vibration from the front. Didn't seem too bad and was worse at motorway+ speeds so just took it easy. Then 50 miles from home the cruise kicked out and it flashed up an ABS fault message. Balls.
Other small niggles are it has a seemingly standard rocker cover weep on the LH side and it's due a service (overdue on time but not mileage as was only a thousand or so miles since it was last done) and there's a couple of rattles in the rear cabin to sort. All declared by the seller and negotiated in so I wasn't too concerned.
The 140i was now sold and went off to a dealer in Manchester via motorway. Totally hassle free and I pretty much got my money back. Cheap motoring
First port of call was the wheel wobble. Had them rebalanced. The fronts were way out. Infact the front left was really out and needed a good chunk of weight. The wheel was nearly new and straight and the ps4s are less than 1000 miles old but are 2019 date. So wonder if the lack of use has maybe put the tyre a little out of shape.
Next was on to the ABS. My crappy OBD app flagged up front axle speed implausible and front right sensor. My local dealer had a sensor in stock so went to pick it up. On the way I had a very strange gearbox issue in it was like it was slipping with the revs rising and falling. s
t. Turned it off and on again and it was ok until I'd picked the part up and it did it again. By this point I'm thinking the worst, what have I done etc.
Got home fitted the sensor no joy. I'd only been scanning the abs/esp system so far, so did a full scan and it flagged up front left sensor but on the transmission control unit this time. Ah ha!. So fitted the removed Rh side one in the left hand side and all the messages cleared and the gearbox issue had gone too. Guess the TCU gets it's speed signals from the front LH sensor. Should've known it'd be the LH one with that wheel vibrating it's tits off. Least I could stop looking at recon gearboxes
After the schlep back home I finally had time to get it cleaned.
No real major plans as yet. The rocker cover now it's getting regular use seems to be barely weeping, so I'll keep an eye on it and it's booked in for a service mid July when we get back off holiday. The original wheels came with it and will get a refurb and a set of winters putting on. The current ispiri wheels I really like although they'll probably get a colour change as I've really gone off black wheels, but they do work against the red.
Only a few miles in but the car is really getting under my skin. Far more capable than I expected on the twisty stuff and the noise above 3000 revs is addictive.
First port of call was the wheel wobble. Had them rebalanced. The fronts were way out. Infact the front left was really out and needed a good chunk of weight. The wheel was nearly new and straight and the ps4s are less than 1000 miles old but are 2019 date. So wonder if the lack of use has maybe put the tyre a little out of shape.
Next was on to the ABS. My crappy OBD app flagged up front axle speed implausible and front right sensor. My local dealer had a sensor in stock so went to pick it up. On the way I had a very strange gearbox issue in it was like it was slipping with the revs rising and falling. s
t. Turned it off and on again and it was ok until I'd picked the part up and it did it again. By this point I'm thinking the worst, what have I done etc.Got home fitted the sensor no joy. I'd only been scanning the abs/esp system so far, so did a full scan and it flagged up front left sensor but on the transmission control unit this time. Ah ha!. So fitted the removed Rh side one in the left hand side and all the messages cleared and the gearbox issue had gone too. Guess the TCU gets it's speed signals from the front LH sensor. Should've known it'd be the LH one with that wheel vibrating it's tits off. Least I could stop looking at recon gearboxes
After the schlep back home I finally had time to get it cleaned.
No real major plans as yet. The rocker cover now it's getting regular use seems to be barely weeping, so I'll keep an eye on it and it's booked in for a service mid July when we get back off holiday. The original wheels came with it and will get a refurb and a set of winters putting on. The current ispiri wheels I really like although they'll probably get a colour change as I've really gone off black wheels, but they do work against the red.
Only a few miles in but the car is really getting under my skin. Far more capable than I expected on the twisty stuff and the noise above 3000 revs is addictive.
SpaceshipEarth said:
Nice! I really fancy one of these in estate form - I also am yet to scratch that V8 itch!
Like the red too but agree with you on the black wheels - every man and his wife seems to have them nowadays.
The problem with the wheels is they do tie in to the black wrapped trims. So am debating removing the black wrap on the trims and going anthracite on the wheels. Or maybe leaving the trims and just doing the wheels. Or maybe do nothing Like the red too but agree with you on the black wheels - every man and his wife seems to have them nowadays.
as you can tell I'm a little undecided! Wheels do look nice in a grey tho.
Mrinsignia said:
Very nice, I love the sound of these! In terms of speed and acceleration how does it compare to the m140?
It's obviously different being NA Vs FI. Although the 140i didn't really have lag there was the low down torque shove in the back. The 63 is just linear and quite deceptive as it just relentlessly gathers pace and before you know it your in license losing territory. I'd say by the bum G meter theres not a great deal in it up until motorway+ speeds then the c63 just keeps going where the 140 would tail off.The one aspect ive been surprised with is the handling. Out of the box it's way more capable than I expected. The one aspect of the 140 that always slightly disappointed. Although comparing like for like is a bit unfair with the cars not being a direct comparison.
That’s one nice motor! Congrats.
Agree you don’t see many in red, and in coupe spec they look good. Of course I’m biased, I used to have an opal fire red 507 Edition. To this day remains a regret of mine selling her. It had most factory options ticked (including the LSD).
Agree with the points around it handling better than expected. Mine drove extremely well. That engine is something to cherish and hold on to!
My old one :-(
Agree you don’t see many in red, and in coupe spec they look good. Of course I’m biased, I used to have an opal fire red 507 Edition. To this day remains a regret of mine selling her. It had most factory options ticked (including the LSD).
Agree with the points around it handling better than expected. Mine drove extremely well. That engine is something to cherish and hold on to!
My old one :-(
Well this is the least interesting RR thread
Car has been great so far. It's been for a service and brake fluid flush at TJ o Neil, a Merc indy in Glasgow. I asked them to give the car the once over for me and bar a heat shield that needed a small repair (which they did FOC) it got a clean bill of health and they were complimentary on its condition. They also confirmed the exhaust was stock as I'd half suspected it may have been tweaked.
The oil weep from the LH rocker cover was next on my list, the smell was getting worse from under the bonnet. A new rocker cover and a pair of air filters were ordered from Merc Glasgow.
Old one off, all looks nice and clean.
New one in and torqued up
Filters were definitely due
And all back together.
I also completed my first mod. Blatantly copied 8bit for this one
So as it stands the car wants for nothing, well except I need to look at the cig lighter socket as it's currently dead, hopefully just a fuse. Also need to sort out what I'm doing for winter wheels.
Last winter I switched to run a set of goodyear all seasons on the 140i as I was fed up of the compromise of full winters for 4/5 months for a couple of snow days. They were bloody brilliant and very capable on snow. So I think I might do the same. Just need to decide whether to use the original multispokes (which are a) made of chocolate and b) valuable) a set of replicas, or drop down to a set of the original non-option twin spoke 18s which don't suffer the cracking issue.
Car has been great so far. It's been for a service and brake fluid flush at TJ o Neil, a Merc indy in Glasgow. I asked them to give the car the once over for me and bar a heat shield that needed a small repair (which they did FOC) it got a clean bill of health and they were complimentary on its condition. They also confirmed the exhaust was stock as I'd half suspected it may have been tweaked.
The oil weep from the LH rocker cover was next on my list, the smell was getting worse from under the bonnet. A new rocker cover and a pair of air filters were ordered from Merc Glasgow.
Old one off, all looks nice and clean.
New one in and torqued up
Filters were definitely due
And all back together.
I also completed my first mod. Blatantly copied 8bit for this one
So as it stands the car wants for nothing, well except I need to look at the cig lighter socket as it's currently dead, hopefully just a fuse. Also need to sort out what I'm doing for winter wheels.
Last winter I switched to run a set of goodyear all seasons on the 140i as I was fed up of the compromise of full winters for 4/5 months for a couple of snow days. They were bloody brilliant and very capable on snow. So I think I might do the same. Just need to decide whether to use the original multispokes (which are a) made of chocolate and b) valuable) a set of replicas, or drop down to a set of the original non-option twin spoke 18s which don't suffer the cracking issue.
Cooper7 said:
You realise the filters that you removed were aftermarket BMC filters which could have been cleaned, re-oiled and refitted?
Yeah I've kept them. There was no mention or receipt for them so was going off the history, the rubber seals are not in the best shape though. The Merc ones were surprisingly reasonable tbf.bmwmike said:
I like these a lot, looks great in that colour.
What are the rear seats like for legroom? I really need a four door but don't like the saloon version of these so much.
Thanks
I'm tall so I consider the car to be a 3 seater really as there's not much room behind my seat. I can at a push get a kid in behind me if I shuffle forward a bit. If your not so tall it's not too bad.What are the rear seats like for legroom? I really need a four door but don't like the saloon version of these so much.
Thanks
ajap1979 said:
Looks amazing in that colour, but I do think the previous owner has gone a bit far with the black bits, 4D plates etc. Silver wheels would suit it perfectly.
I both agree and disagree. The black/red combo works but am in agreement it's a bit too much. I think the window trims are better in black Vs the red paint. If it were a silver/grey/black car they'd have been back to chrome already. I think I'm going to start with the grille badge back to std and the black wrap removed from the spoiler and std silver badging. After a few weeks trying to keep the black wheels clean they'll definitely be changing colour over the winter. I think to an anthracite of maybe a little lighter such as a ferric grey shade.
Without this sounding decidedly dodgy, I've done the first bit of de-blacking today. This was a bit enforced as the corner of the wrap on the rear spoiler was starting to lift. Happily no paint damage underneath. Have ordered some new rear badges to replace the black ones too.
The paint on the spoiler was a bit swirl marked so gave it and the rest of the car a going over. The paint on this car was in the best state I've ever had on a used car, clearly been looked after, only some very light swirls on the bonnet and boot lid needed correcting with menz med cut polish. The rest just needed a very quick once over with menz finish polish then a coat of collinite to finish. Just the glass and wheels to coat next time I get chance.
The paint on the spoiler was a bit swirl marked so gave it and the rest of the car a going over. The paint on this car was in the best state I've ever had on a used car, clearly been looked after, only some very light swirls on the bonnet and boot lid needed correcting with menz med cut polish. The rest just needed a very quick once over with menz finish polish then a coat of collinite to finish. Just the glass and wheels to coat next time I get chance.
Nice work! Merc paint does seem to be pretty tough, my wife had an ML 320 a few years ago and the paint on that was like armour. My own C63 is in very good nick too, enough that I've got it booked in for detailing and ceramic coating to try and keep it that way.
I do like a red car with minimal chrome but I think I'd probably follow the same approach as you're doing.
I do like a red car with minimal chrome but I think I'd probably follow the same approach as you're doing.
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