BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
- Start date
I know I say it everytime, but I still miss my Z4
And every time you say that I quote you and say I miss mine too
Currently having both turbo's replaced on my E90 335i due to the notorious wastegate rattle – extremely thankful I did my research before purchasing the car & invested in the BMW insured warranty (Thanks to people like Fox & others on here who have posted information on this in the past; if it weren’t for you I’d most likely be stuck with a very nasty bill, 2 weeks after a very expensive trip to Vegas...)
I’ve been given a new 220d Active Tourer in the mean-time, which makes for a very different commute - it has a nicely appointed interior and is (obviously) so much more advanced than my E90 tech-wise.
Struggling to get used to how light the steering is though
I’ve been given a new 220d Active Tourer in the mean-time, which makes for a very different commute - it has a nicely appointed interior and is (obviously) so much more advanced than my E90 tech-wise.
Struggling to get used to how light the steering is though
By all accounts a very good garage to deal with.
Car looks great.
So, the 530 is in the garage having a look at the suspension. The drivers side front looked to be sitting a good inch and a half lower than the passenger side. My local dealer obviously didn't have any courtesy cars available for about a fortnight, and even then it'd no doubt be another ******* 1 series. So I called the emergency breakdown people, who arranged a hire car for me while mine was getting looked at.
So they gave me a 520d. Much better than the 1 series I was no doubt bound to get.
Anyway, initial impressions were that it was ok. Nippy enough. Until I got onto the dualler, where the lack of power really shone through. Then on the B-road back to my house, trying to overtake felt excruciating. Very happy I went for the 530d instead of a 520d now.
So they gave me a 520d. Much better than the 1 series I was no doubt bound to get.
Anyway, initial impressions were that it was ok. Nippy enough. Until I got onto the dualler, where the lack of power really shone through. Then on the B-road back to my house, trying to overtake felt excruciating. Very happy I went for the 530d instead of a 520d now.
Soldato
Look on the bright side, at least you can use the 520d instead of that awful Alhambra without worrying about the mileage allowance on your PCP 
Soldato
Is he wrong?
Yes.
I do drive my 5 series (ok, not the 20k pa I used to do in it, now I have the Alhambra for the daily kids stuff. So the 5 only does about 8k pa now), I have no worries about mileage, and actually like driving my Alhambra. I mean, no other motor I've had could have fitted that sofa I squeezed into it the other night. Or been so good at taking all the kids to the soft play the other day, grandparent with us.
The 5 series is getting VT'd in a few months anyway, so I drive it whenever I want. Hence why it's in at BMW just now for repair. Wouldn't break if it wasn't driven.
Last edited:
I'll see what's floating about, offer wise, at that time. My thinking is really all over the place at the moment.
My initial thinking was a Golf GTI Edition 30, and get it to stage 2+. But then again, I could probably buy an R32 and supercharge it for similar money. Or decide to hell with it, and go for a 2006/2007 DB9.
Or, I could go new again, and get a Golf R estate.
Or, as you say, get another cheap Passat TDI for a couple years. But I doubt it. I fancy something petrol and potent next time round. I have been missing my S4 recently, so a new (er) one of them could get a look in too.
My initial thinking was a Golf GTI Edition 30, and get it to stage 2+. But then again, I could probably buy an R32 and supercharge it for similar money. Or decide to hell with it, and go for a 2006/2007 DB9.
Or, I could go new again, and get a Golf R estate.
Or, as you say, get another cheap Passat TDI for a couple years. But I doubt it. I fancy something petrol and potent next time round. I have been missing my S4 recently, so a new (er) one of them could get a look in too.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Said me about 15 mins ago.
It about what I prioritise at the time really. I could go for a DB9, as I'll not likely lose much more money on one of them over 3 years than I did on the 5 series. So a serious proposition. As would be a 997 or similar.
But then I have always liked the Edition 30, and have always fancied one with around 350 bhp. That would satisfy my "modding bug". Something a DB9 won't do. And would be small, fun and chuckable.
As I said, head is all over the place on this. Do I lose £20k over 3 years on something epic like a DB9, or spend £15k over 3 years doing up an "old Golf GTI" and having a bit of fun with it?
I get what your saying, but at the end of the day, each route equates to a similar cost range over 3 years, (albeit the Golf will still be mine, and paid for, where the DB9 would either have to then be sold, or would cost substantially more to keep it longer). But every option (barring the old diesel passat) is looking at the £15-20k range over 3-4 years.
It about what I prioritise at the time really. I could go for a DB9, as I'll not likely lose much more money on one of them over 3 years than I did on the 5 series. So a serious proposition. As would be a 997 or similar.
But then I have always liked the Edition 30, and have always fancied one with around 350 bhp. That would satisfy my "modding bug". Something a DB9 won't do. And would be small, fun and chuckable.
As I said, head is all over the place on this. Do I lose £20k over 3 years on something epic like a DB9, or spend £15k over 3 years doing up an "old Golf GTI" and having a bit of fun with it?
I get what your saying, but at the end of the day, each route equates to a similar cost range over 3 years, (albeit the Golf will still be mine, and paid for, where the DB9 would either have to then be sold, or would cost substantially more to keep it longer). But every option (barring the old diesel passat) is looking at the £15-20k range over 3-4 years.
The lack of speed when trying to push on in my 2.0 TDI does make me sad at times, but the cheaper tax, insurance and fuel costs are what I need at the moment. Very tempted to remap it but not sure if it's worthwhile given the extended warranty I have on the car...
Just having a look on the .gov site, and the difference between a staggered and square set-up on a 520d with 18's is £110 vs £30 per year for VED. Mental. And another £20 for running the square 19's on the Touring. Which is the way I would have went. Compared to the £160 I think it is I currently pay for the 530d, that aint bad.
Also, albeit on not a very long journey, of only 25 miles or so back home, I only got around 42 mpg compared to around 40 mpg in the 530d on the same route, driven at similar speeds.
As for insurance, I was only £260 last year on the 530d, so the difference there between the 3L vs 2L will also be minimal.
Overall, cost saving dont look to be terribly big for the 2L over the 3L so I am happy in the choice I made at the time for sure. With that said, I'm sure the 2L would have averaged a bit better if I had done 40k in that. But say it was 45 mpg vs 40 mpg, average, I would only have been £560 better off in the last 2.5 years, but hella frustrated with it.
So maybe £650-£700 more in running costs for the 3L over 40k / 2.5 years. Although it cost me an extra grand in monthly payments too IIRC. Correct decision made.
Alas I'm not in the UK and, totally irrelevant to you, here are my figures for 2.0 TDI v 3.0 Quattro Auto.
One-off registration tax: €681.45 v €2,726.35 = €2000
Annual road tax: €405.11 v €776.56 = €375
Insurance: I reckon at least €500
Fuel: I have a heavy foot and as a result am currently averaging 36MPG in a 2.0 Manual. Chances are it'd be a lot nearer 30 in a 3.0 Quattro Auto!
Already done 13,000 miles in 9 months so will be around 17-18,000 miles by the end of the summer.
If tax wasn't so high and my bank was offering 1% APR car loans as it is today (it was 7% last summer), I would've got a 530d Touring no question. Shame I'm not looking for a car today
That 8-speed ZF 'box is just superb.
One-off registration tax: €681.45 v €2,726.35 = €2000
Annual road tax: €405.11 v €776.56 = €375
Insurance: I reckon at least €500
Fuel: I have a heavy foot and as a result am currently averaging 36MPG in a 2.0 Manual. Chances are it'd be a lot nearer 30 in a 3.0 Quattro Auto!
Already done 13,000 miles in 9 months so will be around 17-18,000 miles by the end of the summer.
If tax wasn't so high and my bank was offering 1% APR car loans as it is today (it was 7% last summer), I would've got a 530d Touring no question. Shame I'm not looking for a car today
That 8-speed ZF 'box is just superb.
Last edited:
Associate
Ok i take back all I said, I should really do my research properly and not impulse buy. Turns out the breather valve has gone on my e93 325i. On the N53 it is integrated into the rocker cover and the part is not cheap. My local indy BMW specialist want £640 to replace this. Obviously this seems like a lot of money to me, that is around £200 labour so 4 hours. Anybody with knowledge of this can tell me if that sounds reasonable?
It's the first bill it has thrown up, i hope it will be the last for some time
It's the first bill it has thrown up, i hope it will be the last for some time
Soldato
Ok i take back all I said, I should really do my research properly and not impulse buy. Turns out the breather valve has gone on my e93 325i. On the N53 it is integrated into the rocker cover and the part is not cheap. My local indy BMW specialist want £640 to replace this. Obviously this seems like a lot of money to me, that is around £200 labour so 4 hours. Anybody with knowledge of this can tell me if that sounds reasonable?
It's the first bill it has thrown up, i hope it will be the last for some time
Think I had the same issue on the e46 a few years back and yes, it's a costly operation.
Soldato
Can you knowledgeable people help diagnose an engine noise?
I hear it most when accelerating, regardless of where I am in the rev range. If I accelerate away at 1.5krpm Its noticeable, but it is less noticeable if going at a steady speed at 1500k rpm.
The noise doesn't change in pitch or volume, regardless of the revs or how much I'm putting my foot down. It's noticeable more at low speeds because of reduced tyre noise, I can't hear it at 50mph + I don't think it is vibration based (heat shield) It sounds bearing-y.
Here is a video at idle.
This one might be better as you can hear the noise whilst the rpm idle adjusts link you can hear it really clearly towards the end of the video.
At first I thought it was the vanos but that it over to the right. My noise is more prominent to the left of the block...
It might actually be two rattles- a high pitched fast one and the slower lower pitched one.
I hear it most when accelerating, regardless of where I am in the rev range. If I accelerate away at 1.5krpm Its noticeable, but it is less noticeable if going at a steady speed at 1500k rpm.
The noise doesn't change in pitch or volume, regardless of the revs or how much I'm putting my foot down. It's noticeable more at low speeds because of reduced tyre noise, I can't hear it at 50mph + I don't think it is vibration based (heat shield) It sounds bearing-y.
Here is a video at idle.
This one might be better as you can hear the noise whilst the rpm idle adjusts link you can hear it really clearly towards the end of the video.
At first I thought it was the vanos but that it over to the right. My noise is more prominent to the left of the block...
It might actually be two rattles- a high pitched fast one and the slower lower pitched one.
Last edited:
