What have you done to your BMW today?

[Court_S]

bodhi said:

Funnily enough whilst we're having this conversation - and a week after I had the front right ABS Sensor replaced, I've had the usual Xmas lights on the dash to say another one has gone. Plugged in Carly to see which one, hoping it was a duff sensor fitted on the front, sadly not it's the left rear one that's gone.

Car drives absolutely fine other than the warning lights and no hill hold, but as we're going on holiday on Sunday and need it to get to the airport the wife is less than impressed. Hoping it's just the sensor and the ring doesn't need redoing again....

Have you tried the spacer trick if you’re chewing through sensors? Might buy you a bit of time.

[Court_S]

Took advantage of the longer evening to replace the passenger side front wheel bearing due to a stripped disc retaining bolt thread (it was boring having the disc fall off when the wheel was removed).





A new dust sheiks was fitted because it was held on with zip ties.



New FAG bearing fitted.



I then replaced the crappy NAPA discs and pads for ATE power discs and ceramic pads



Hoping to replace the rear discs and pads tomorrow because they’re really crusty.

[bodhi]

Court_S said:

bodhi said:

Funnily enough whilst we're having this conversation - and a week after I had the front right ABS Sensor replaced, I've had the usual Xmas lights on the dash to say another one has gone. Plugged in Carly to see which one, hoping it was a duff sensor fitted on the front, sadly not it's the left rear one that's gone.

Car drives absolutely fine other than the warning lights and no hill hold, but as we're going on holiday on Sunday and need it to get to the airport the wife is less than impressed. Hoping it's just the sensor and the ring doesn't need redoing again....

Have you tried the spacer trick if you’re chewing through sensors? Might buy you a bit of time.

I'll need to check my receipts however I suspect that the one that has just gone is the only one on the car that hasn't been replaced since I've had it so I'm not too bothered, just bad timing with having to get to the airport on Sunday.

Guess we'll be going in a 15 year old Civic instead

Great work on the bearings/brakes tho - definitely not a job I'd be attempting on the drive!

[Court_S]

bodhi said:

I'll need to check my receipts however I suspect that the one that has just gone is the only one on the car that hasn't been replaced since I've had it so I'm not too bothered, just bad timing with having to get to the airport on Sunday.

Guess we'll be going in a 15 year old Civic instead

Great work on the bearings/brakes tho - definitely not a job I'd be attempting on the drive!

At least you won’t need to worry about the Civic at the airport!

The bearing was actually pretty easy to do - I was expecting it to be an absolute turd of a job.

[RichardM5]

Fixed my creaking rear doors by replacing the 30 year old door checks.



Replaced the pins too as they looked like they had been in and out a few times. The retaining tang had been broken off which meant they tended to work their way out over time.

[roadie]

Court_S said:

Took advantage of the longer evening to replace the passenger side front wheel bearing due to a stripped disc retaining bolt thread (it was boring having the disc fall off when the wheel was removed).

Wow that part is crusty! What is it and is it being retained?

[JakeT]

roadie said:

Wow that part is crusty! What is it and is it being retained?

It’s the Upright/spindle/steering knuckle.

They’re made if cast iron and solid, that corrosion is superficial. A wire wheel and paint will see it looking fine and it’s safe even in the current state it’s in.

[E63eeeeee...]

JakeT said:

roadie said:

Wow that part is crusty! What is it and is it being retained?

It’s the Upright/spindle/steering knuckle.

They’re made if cast iron and solid, that corrosion is superficial. A wire wheel and paint will see it looking fine and it’s safe even in the current state it’s in.

Indeed, they're fairly chunky bits of metal. The rust is now providing a layer of protection against further corrosion too.

[Fermit]

MOT re-test yesterday. Needed a suspension leg, rear arm bush and a brake pipe replacing to pass.

In other news, the damn thing has thrown up more electrical wobbles. Filling for fuel last week, it wouldn't start after, dead battery. First problem to light, is that last year I changed the battery myself, apparently they need coding in to the car with a laptop, FFS. Smacks of BMW trying to force customers to use them instead, for a job which otherwise only takes removing and refitting two nuts.

Now there are certain electrics not working. No indicators or hazards, or ability to flash the lights/ put on full beam. The electric windows aren't working, and it's sods law that the drivers window was down when all this went off. Also there's now no instrument binnacle back lights, and the angel eyes and rear lights don't light when opening by remote.

It's in at a local BMW specialist on the 29th, will update in due course.

[JakeT]

Fermit said:

MOT re-test yesterday. Needed a suspension leg, rear arm bush and a brake pipe replacing to pass.

In other news, the damn thing has thrown up more electrical wobbles. Filling for fuel last week, it wouldn't start after, dead battery. First problem to light, is that last year I changed the battery myself, apparently they need coding in to the car with a laptop, FFS. Smacks of BMW trying to force customers to use them instead, for a job which otherwise only takes removing and refitting two nuts.

Now there are certain electrics not working. No indicators or hazards, or ability to flash the lights/ put on full beam. The electric windows aren't working, and it's sods law that the drivers window was down when all this went off. Also there's now no instrument binnacle back lights, and the angel eyes and rear lights don't light when opening by remote.

It's in at a local BMW specialist on the 29th, will update in due course.

Your battery shouldn’t die within a year if you don’t code it, but nowadays there’s plenty of aftermarket solutions that can code a battery easily enough.

However, it sounds like your electrical issues could be related to the footwell module dying. They have a habit of dying when the battery is disconnected and reconnected. German engineering.

[Court_S]

JakeT said:

roadie said:

Wow that part is crusty! What is it and is it being retained?

It’s the Upright/spindle/steering knuckle.

They’re made if cast iron and solid, that corrosion is superficial. A wire wheel and paint will see it looking fine and it’s safe even in the current state it’s in.

I had a wee go at it with a wire brush and very little cane off it. It’s 18 years old and spent some time by the sea which probably hasn’t helped it.

[Court_S]

JakeT said:

Your battery shouldn’t die within a year if you don’t code it, but nowadays there’s plenty of aftermarket solutions that can code a battery easily enough.

However, it sounds like your electrical issues could be related to the footwell module dying. They have a habit of dying when the battery is disconnected and reconnected. German engineering.

Yeah, sounds more like a dead FRM. I’m guessing it’s an FRM II which are generally a bit more reliable than the three, but it sounds like the dead / dying battery fried it (pretty common from what I’ve seen on owners groups etc. A replacement from somewhere like Quarry Motors isn’t too expensive but it’ll need coding to the car.

Re coding the battery, assuming it’s the same size as the old one it’s registering it rather than coding. All to do with the IBS.

[Sofa]

Court_S said:

bodhi said:

Funnily enough whilst we're having this conversation - and a week after I had the front right ABS Sensor replaced, I've had the usual Xmas lights on the dash to say another one has gone. Plugged in Carly to see which one, hoping it was a duff sensor fitted on the front, sadly not it's the left rear one that's gone.

Car drives absolutely fine other than the warning lights and no hill hold, but as we're going on holiday on Sunday and need it to get to the airport the wife is less than impressed. Hoping it's just the sensor and the ring doesn't need redoing again....

Have you tried the spacer trick if you’re chewing through sensors? Might buy you a bit of time.

I think that's what I'm going to do for now- the garage I'm booked into next Weds really aren't keen on replacing the reluctor rings and basically said there's a chance they'd knacker the driveshafts getting them out at which point I have a 3.0 straight-6 paperweight... that way at least I can get the car back on the road (which is quite necessary as I'm meant to be moving house within the next month) and either find someone to sort my existing driveshafts, or source some GKN/Lobro/Spidan replacements- which seem to be the only ones that actually match the OEM shafts, but are priced accordingly and also not easy to source.

The 125i does share driveshafts with the 128i/328i which are seemingly dime a dozen in the states (being the base models over there) so getting some replacements from that side of the pond may be a possibility...

Edited by Sofa on Thursday 16th May 20:44

[Stillstand]

Got around to fitting my new steering wheel (by Royal Steering Wheels) on my G31.

Easy job - less than 20 minutes. I cannot bear the material on the standard wheel after it goes shiney and sticky when warm. Had an alcantara wheel on my F31 and whilst good, wanted something a little more durable this time round, so went with perforated leather. Looks OEM enough I think, and certainly feels much nicer.

Edited by Stillstand on Friday 17th May 16:21

[d_a_n1979]

Stillstand said:

Got around to fitting my new steering wheel (by Royal Steering Wheels) on my G31.

Easy job - less than 20 minutes. I cannot bear the material on the standard wheel after it goes shiny and sticky when warm. Had an alcantara wheel on my F31 and whilst good, wanted something a little more durable this time round, so went with perforated leather. Looks OEM enough I think and certainly feels much nicer.

That looks superb; Jack & Co's work is superb at RSW

They did my Alcantara wheel for my F31, which I really like and glad I went for it...

Only do low miles; so it'll wear well

Plus I kept the original and trim for when I sell the car on etc

[Stillstand]

Had exactly the same as yours (alcantara) on my F31, it did last very well considering the material - but I did keep ontop of it with a brush and cleaning it regularly.

[d_a_n1979]

Stillstand said:

Had exactly the same as yours (alcantara) on my F31, it did last very well considering the material - but I did keep ontop of it with a brush and cleaning it regularly.

Exactly what I do when I clean inside; the wheel gets a good brushing too

I've had many an alcantara wheel in JDM Honda's I used to own when I was younger; but all got trashed by my rough hands and chalk from training

That's no longer an issue as I train in the garage; so no driving after it all

[rottenegg]

Fitted a bigger screen, laughed at BMW's pathetic attempt at creak control on the AC vent panel, fitted more felt and threw it all back together.



LAME!!



What they should have done!

[d_a_n1979]

rottenegg said:

Fitted a bigger screen, laughed at BMW's pathetic attempt at creak control on the AC vent panel, fitted more felt and threw it all back together.



LAME!!



What they should have done!

Get back on Bimmerpost where you belong...

[Fermit]

Gave it a post holiday clean. After 600 miles of driving, half in the wet, it was dirty as a very dirty thing. Every time I look at the alloys I know I made the right choice on the colour.