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Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Best Regards,
Shipo
I've seen several UOAs that indicate that the N54 sometimes kills the oil in less than 3000 miles. No way would I run the oil five times that mileage. As a further data point, the NA M54 in my wife's E83 depletes the additive pack(TBN=0.4) in less than 8400 miles. And guess what? That SI system calls for a 15000 mile change interval as well. Note that in both cases the oils in question met the BMW LL-01 specs.
The(sic) is a lot of fun.
Enjoy it now- while you still can; I suspect that following the 15000 mile OCI will turn most N54s into boat anchors before they reach 100000 miles.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
This reminds me of the events leading to our recent CPO X3 purchase. The very first X3 we nearly purchased (back in early September) was an '04 2.5i from a BMW dealer near San Diego. They had certified this car with about 43K miles on it. However, upon further inspection, I discovered they had no record of any oil change prior to 27K miles! When I pressed for an explanation, they couldn't give me any. I'm paraphrasing, but their response was something like, "Well, it obviously must have met BMWNA's criteria for certification. So, I'm sure everything is just fine."
That was the first of a couple of warning signs that caused me to back away!
Edit: For those who don't know me, I'm definitely not anti-BMW! We eventually pulled the trigger on an '04 X3 3.0i from a dealer in downtown L.A. My wife is very happy with it, and I'm very pleased with my '05 325Ci. Both were purchased as CPO vehicles, after significant research.
Best Regards,
Shipo
The recent upgrade has made this restriction more critical, unfortunately. (And please, the messenger had no control over it, so please don't shoot! :-P)
Please make sure your pictures do not exceed the text area. If they do and you are not able to reduce them, just give us a link.
Thanks!
You have notes from 7 years ago on how much you paid for wiper blades? You must be a database guy.
The reason I'm guessing that: I am too, and I keep the same level of detail.
That makes three of us... :P
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
- Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (Linux)
- Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere (Win2K Server)
- Informix SE (SCO Open Server Unix)
- Informix Online (Linux)
- Oracle 10g (Linux)
- MY-SQL 5.0 (Linux)
- MS-SQLServer 2000 (Win2K Server)
Yeesh, I need to get a life. :-/
Best Regards,
Shipo
What is the difference between a maintenance schedule for a contemporary 3-series used for 100% public roads vs. 25% track. The computer tracks and measures the routine stuff but what goodies wear faster and need more attention?
Regards,
OW
Best Regards,
Shipo
Also, sometimes my driver window doesn't roll-up all the way to seal when I close my door. It'll stay in the adjusted position as when I opened the door. If I turn the car on and go through the exiting process again, it corrects itself. Ideas??? :confuse:
Best Regards,
Shipo
VMWare, dude... the only way to fly. Also great for testing DG and RAC with 10g.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I'd change the brake fluid every six months using ATE Super Blue Racing Fluid. According to the SI system in my B7 loaner, 90 minutes on the track took 900 miles off of the oil life... :P
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
I an still skeptical of these automated systems to accurately monitor fluid life. For a seasoned maintenance pro, the experience of visual and olfactory sensory checks still make sense to me over a computer calculation matched with the experience of how the vehicle systems were operated during the operating period.
Regards,
OW
10.2.0.3 running just jim dandy on FC5 and 6 under VMWare on XP Pro for me...
And to add some on-topic: also running jim dandy for me is my new Escort SRX in my 535i. :shades:
FWIW #1, Sybase ASE 12.5.3 and ASE 15.0.x behave the same way on anything above FC4.
FWIW #2, my FC4 server has Sybase, Oracle, Informix and MySql all running on it and I'm in no hurry to upset the apple cart and try an upgrade. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Edit: Possibly answering my question from above, I don't believe I'm running a release as current as the 10.2.0.3 that you are running. I may well install the latest rev, but given how well FC4 runs, I'm in no hurry to upgrade that bit. ;-)
Sorry about that Pat.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I own an 04 325i and recently the (I believe it is anyway) radiator light came on. I don't have my owners manual handy to reference, but it looks like a tank and water at the bottom. It has only come on twice and has turned off almost as quickly. I went to have it scanned and the autozone folks said it was fine. I am close to needing service on it anyway, but am wondering should I worry about this and take it in asap? Or should I just add a little bit of coolant and wait until the 2500 miles are up and take it in for service then...
Thanks and if you need more info, let me know!!
Best Regards,
Shipo
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
I have a 2000 323i with about 136K mi on it... I had my oil changed at the local BMW dealership about 10K miles ago and right after that, everytime I start my car, the yellow oil light comes on for about 5 to 8 seconds and goes off. I called the dealership shortly afterwards and he said not to worry about it...
Does this sound right???
Shipo knows the details and i'm sure will help you. I felt the same as you but since they use synthetic oil, i'm ok with the intervals. I have an '06 330xi with 28 k and 1 oil change so far. Due for a change in Feb. '08.
Regards,
OW
That said, I am not aware of any oil filler tube on late model BMWs, if such a thing exists, and if it provides an unobstructed path to the oil pan, then the oil extractor will work perfectly well. Anybody?
Best Regards,
Shipo
Regards,
OW
I was going to get a set of Rino Ramps, but then I saw these: Race Ramps
Expensive, but it looks like the will work just fine, and would work for almost any car I'll own now or in the future.
Also, the lip on the Rino Ramps was a bit too small for my comfort level - I think it would be too easy to make a mistake and go off the end of it. The lip on the Race Ramps is larger and, IMHO, a lot safer.
After a few visits, the dealer said they had to rewire the trunk release from the front to the back of the car. It worked fine after that for about 4 years. Although, sometimes after pressing the release button, the car had to 'think' for about 3 seconds before releasing the lock.
Yesterday, it started acting up again. It would refuse to open, but then would work again for a few times. But sometimes, if I pressed and held the button it would open.
I am not convinced that the new wiring is the problem. Otherwise, pressing and holding the release shouldn't matter. I tried lubricating the latch, but that did not help. I also listened to the trunk lock, but I don't hear anything when I press the key fob. No relay, no sound of binding, nothing.
Is it possible the car's computer is not allowing the trunk to open? I know there are conditions where the opening is suppressed. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, but that did not help.
Any ideas on what else to try? The car is out of warranty, and this could be a very expensive repair. Thanks!!
My wife encountered a similar problem with her 1997 528i. The cause was the electric lock actuator. On your car I think that the actuator is incorporated into the latch assembly.
You wouldn't happen to have the glove box locked would you? I believe that also disables the trunk latch on convertibles.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Obviously this is incorrect. Do I need to take the car in to a dealer so that they can tell me the actual date of the last service? Will the dealer have to "re-set" the computer? One important note here: I did not purchase from private party or dealer, I purchased from auto wholesaler.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Best Regards,
Shipo
Thanks for helping out this "Newbie".
Happy Holidays!
First, find the part and its number here.
Second, take the number to your dealer, get a price, and see how it compares to online dealers such as Circle and Pacific.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
If I have to replace it, is it a DIY or do I have to bring it to a mechanic?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=72_0330&hg=- 72&fg=05&hl=38
2- car appears to be burning oil... not sure what else to think given that the oil light has come on again (last time was ~ five weeks ago; I added 1/2 a quart then). I did wait for the car to cool down and checked the oil level (via dipstick) and it was closer to the minimum mark. I added another 1/2 quart and it's now reading about 2/3 up from the minimum mark. Anything I can do to minimize this consumption, or is it something I have live with?
3- while I had the hood up, I decided to check the coolant level via the expansion tank [recall that I had my radiator replaced approx. 6 weeks ago (preventive meausre)]. The "stick" was below the cap line, so I added some distilled water. Should I be monitoring the level of coolant on any regular basis?
Thanks,
Sunil
It's a DIY; you'll have to pull the B-piller cover, and you may need larger Torx drivers. Before you do that I'd pull the belt out ALL the way to make sure that the belt isn't twisted- that could be the problem...
Anything I can do to minimize this consumption, or is it something I have live with?
Probably not; how many miles per quart do you get?
Should I be monitoring the level of coolant on any regular basis?
Check it monthly, when the motor is dead cold. Use a 50-50 mix of distilled water and BMW coolant.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive