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Bank posted:but all I'll be missing now is that wrench. I would much rather spend the money on a full set that can be used over and over again rather than on one wrench.. http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Headset-Wrench-32mm/dp/B001VRF0TM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1306184314&sr=1-1 Almost any local bike shop will have the 32mm wrench you're looking for. It's called a headset wrench and you can get it for less than $15. Fermunky posted:Another method I've used was still using a long wrench, but used a long screw driver and wedged it between two of the w/p bolts to hold it down while trying to turn the wrench by hand. This is the method I always use, but sometimes the fan nut is really on there and it helps to have the leverage of the fan nut tool. E: Since this is a new page 
Sterndotstern fucked around with this message at 22:03 on May 23, 2011 |
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May 23, 2011 22:00
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heat posted:I love it.
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May 23, 2011 22:03
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Sterndotstern posted:http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Headset-Wrench-32mm/dp/B001VRF0TM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1306184314&sr=1-1  ) but is much better than $30 for the tool from BMW.
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May 23, 2011 22:30
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I have an alignment question. Is it worth the extra $$ to go to a BMW specialist for your wheel alignment, or can I just take it to any place and get the alignment done? I have an appointment at Edge Motorworks in Pleasanton, but I'm wondering whether any of the local shops in Milpitas might be able to do the same thing for $60-$80.
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May 23, 2011 22:34
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Shadowhand00 posted:I have an alignment question. Is it worth the extra $$ to go to a BMW specialist for your wheel alignment, or can I just take it to any place and get the alignment done? Unless you get crash bushings or camber plates or something, the only thing that's even adjustable on most BMWs is front toe. It should be retardedly simple for any place to align provided they know how to use their system properly.
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May 23, 2011 22:38
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Lowclock posted:Unless you get crash bushings or camber plates or something, the only thing that's even adjustable on most BMWs is front toe. It should be retardedly simple for any place to align provided they know how to use their system properly. Ah... got it. That being said, there's something funky going on with the rear right tire. I am getting weird camber wear where it looks something like this (not my car)  Its a little more worn than that though - its the first time I noticed it. Teaches me for not inspecting my tires more often. The other 3 tires are showing no signs of this type of wear. Has anyone had any experience with this issue? If only front toe is adjustable, does this mean I might have a rear control arm issue? Edit: people seem to say this is a tire pressure thing - I'll have to go pump my tires later this afternoon. Shadowhand00 fucked around with this message at 22:46 on May 23, 2011 |
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May 23, 2011 22:43
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Yeah look around for worn out poo poo back there. That's not just tire pressure. It looks like it's probably toed out because if that wear was from camber you would be able to see how tilted the wheel would be. Lift the whole back end and check bushings and rock the wheel in different directions and see if anything's visibly dented or bent. Sometimes it's hard to tell, but an alignment readout can help.
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May 23, 2011 22:54
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So I still have that slight honking noise one the first bit of throttle. It can be in nuetral, with the belts off and it still does it. I figure its something in intake, when its grabbing that first rush of air, but I have no idea what it could be. Anyone ever heard of this? Its like a small goose is in my air filter. E46 328i 5sp 171k btw.
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May 23, 2011 23:18
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So I finally did it. After months of waiting, watching, and deliberation, the perfect car popped up right near me for a great price.   2004 330Ci 6MT, Sport/Premium/Cold packages, 56k miles, dealer maintained, 2 owners, and with an extra set of wheels with Blizzaks on them. Interior is absolutely pristine - seriously, it looks brand new. Exterior is 9/10 with only some minor expected rock chipping on the front, and a couple very very small dings on the rest of the body. The wheels are almost entirely free of any curb rash. Picked it up late last week, just now finally getting around to posting it. Been too busy driving it around and enjoying it. So far it's absolutely perfect. I've probably put 300-400 problem-free miles on just over the weekend. I know it's due for Inspection II soon, so probably within the next month or two I will schedule it with one of the best independent German shops in town and get it up to date on whatever it might need. I'll be doing typical regular maintenance on it myself, but this first Inspection II I want to have the pros do just so I can have a record of it for the future, and for peace of mind. This car is an absolute joy to drive. The handling, feeling, and precision are just top-notch - and that's a big compliment coming from a good condition NA Miata (discounting things like road noise and comfort, of course). And soooo much faster. I love it.
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May 24, 2011 00:03
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Looking good. The only thing I would ask of you is to fix the glare from those HIDs  I would suggest either getting the old halogen bulbs back or doing a retrofit. You can get a retrofit done fairly cheaply now by reusing your current headlights: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=840919 Just curious, how much was the asking price and what did you get for it? Ballpark would be fine.. One of my friends is looking for one.
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May 24, 2011 00:25
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The HIDs are the factory lights - the car is completely stock. They're auto-leveling (you can watch it when you turn the car on or crest steep hills) and they're also the ones that turn along with the steering wheel. They're just really blown out in the picture since it was a kind of dark garage. Driving around, the cutoff is extremely sharp and proper. I paid about 15 for the car with the extra wheels. VVVV Yeah, adaptive! That's the word I was looking for. Guinness fucked around with this message at 00:34 on May 24, 2011 |
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May 24, 2011 00:29
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Bank posted:Looking good. The only thing I would ask of you is to fix the glare from those HIDs
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May 24, 2011 00:32
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Ah, my apologies. The picture is just a bit misleading. Drive away and enjoy 
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May 24, 2011 04:18
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Guinness posted:This car is an absolute joy to drive. The handling, feeling, and precision are just top-notch - and that's a big compliment coming from a good condition NA Miata (discounting things like road noise and comfort, of course). And soooo much faster. I love it. Your car looks pretty sharp. I've had my '02 330Ci for about a week and a bit longer than yours, and your impressions basically sum up the way I feel about mine. I absolutely love the ride in these cars more than anything else - the perfect balance between firmness and compliance.
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May 24, 2011 04:39
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Speaking of headlights, holy balls do the adaptive HIDs own. Was just out for a spin on some long twisty roads with lots of hairpins and sweepers, and the difference between adaptive and fixed is pretty noticeable. They're definitely not a gimmick. Also, as it turns out, Michelin Pilot Sports just love to hug pavement. Amazing tires. Not sure that I'd personally pay the nearly $300 per tire for them, but I sure as hell will enjoy the nearly new ones on it for a while! Just about the only thing on this car that isn't perfect is that the iPod integration is kind of underwhelming. Sounds great, but the interface (i.e., almost total lack of one) sucks pretty bad. Can I just pop the radio out and swap the aux cable from an iPod connector to a standard 3.5mm plug? I know I'd lose track control from the steering wheel/head unit, but being able to actually see/choose what is playing would be worth it. Edit: At least until the new Android-based Dynavin units come out. 
Guinness fucked around with this message at 07:03 on May 24, 2011 |
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May 24, 2011 06:57
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Bank posted:Thank you, this looks perfect. I found it on eBay for $6.50 + $5 shipping (inflated shipping An auto parts store should have a 32mm/36mm combo fan wrench for similar prices. So you get two common fan nut sizes as opposed to just the one. That's where I got mine. The E30 ones are reverse threaded IIRC. There shouldn't be a huge amount of torque on them. I think I held the alternator belt with one hand and just gave the wrench a yank and that was enough. Not sure about the later cars. The wrench also works great for driving a Pedro's bottom bracket tool I found randomly in my bicycle toolbox, which happens to be the tool for attaching a Middleburn sprocket to its crank arm, for some equally strange reason. So basically my fan wrench has a third and fourth purpose. Only downside is that a full-sized 32mm spanner is a great home defense weapon, whereas a fan wrench is pretty puny.
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May 24, 2011 16:23
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Guinness posted:The HIDs are the factory lights - the car is completely stock. The Stock HID's are BRIGHT as gently caress, I had them on my 01 330Ci because I wanted to save the $800 or whatever it was back then to order the xenon's. I had people flash their "brights" at me all the time thinking I had my brights on. the Xenons on my 02 sedan are very mild in comparison.
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May 24, 2011 18:11
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My 01 330 has stock HIDs and I sometimes get people flashing me, but I think the stock ones are perfect.
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May 24, 2011 18:52
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Man, I need to stop putting money into this. My car is about to hit 80k, and I keep reading E46Fanatics about crap that can go wrong and it's making me paranoid. I just placed an order for a new water pump, thermostat, pulley, belts, washers. Another $250+ down the drain, for something that might not even be an issue. Not to mention I bought the Beisan anti-rattle rings and seals which cost another $100+. I know it's just preventive maintenance, but drat is this starting to get expensive. I'm just happy I have a garage and most of the tools at home already. After I get my tires replaced and aligned (which will be $600 easy), I'm going to stop and just enjoy the car. After replacing the P/S hoses, I've already spent more time working on it than driving it.
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May 24, 2011 19:31
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Test drove my future e46 320ci today. Besides the warning light and central locking buttons not working, a dodgey lcd display on the radio and a bit of wear on the driver inside door handle it's a beautiful car and I can't wait to pick her up next week.
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May 24, 2011 20:29
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Aindriu posted:320ci. Besides the warning light and central locking buttons not working, a dodgey lcd display on the radio I hope you're getting a good deal?
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May 24, 2011 20:34
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Sounds like a basket case bro.. move along. There are better examples out there.
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May 24, 2011 20:36
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Aindriu posted:Test drove my future e46 320ci today. Besides the warning light and central locking buttons not working, a dodgey lcd display on the radio Run away while you still can.
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May 24, 2011 20:42
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Woops, I meant the hazard lights switch, i.e. this component: The radio lcd display and door handle wear isn't too much of a big deal because of the number e46's available for parts in Ireland and I had planned to replace the radio and interior anyway. Other than the few problems listed above, it has a full bmw dealer service history and has just had the front suspension bushings replaced. Aindriu fucked around with this message at 21:18 on May 24, 2011 |
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May 24, 2011 21:07
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Aindriu posted:Woops, I meant the hazard lights switch, i.e. this component: Ahh, I thought you meant the common failure of the GM5 module. When that starts to go, the power locks tend to start failing and the central lock/unlock is unresponsive. I've got that one to deal with right now.
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May 24, 2011 22:10
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Well, after six months parked I finally got my E36 back on the road this morning. Apparently there was a residual charge in the system when I ran it last and then disconnected the battery. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but I only have the valet key and the trunk got locked. Determined to drive it today, I grabbed some speaker wire and hooked up the terminals under the hood to a non-running car. This gave it the juice it needed to open up and reconnect the battery. It fired right up and I put 50 miles on it today with no problems. So glad to have it back. 
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May 25, 2011 04:25
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Keyser S0ze posted:The Stock HID's are BRIGHT as gently caress, I had them on my 01 330Ci because I wanted to save the $800 or whatever it was back then to order the xenon's. I had people flash their "brights" at me all the time thinking I had my brights on. Aren't xenon and HID generally referring to the same thing? Also the lights on your older car were probably improperly aimed - it seems like BMWs (actually a lot of cars but most visibly BMWs and Audis) come aimed too high from the factory.
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May 25, 2011 04:31
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Bank posted:Man, I need to stop putting money into this. My car is about to hit 80k, and I keep reading E46Fanatics about crap that can go wrong and it's making me paranoid. I just placed an order for a new water pump, thermostat, pulley, belts, washers. Don't do preventive maintenance then, I've learned a long time ago that you're extremely likely to simply waste your money that way. Just do basic, vital upkeep like changing oil, keeping an eye on your tires and giving the engine bay, fluids and underbody a quick look each time you're in there; otherwise just wait until stuff breaks or annoys you. It might leave you stranded rarely, but I think that's better than spending thousands of dollars attempting to prevent problems, and you might just miss something anyway. It's not like preventive maintenance on a car is as simple as brushing your teeth, there are hundreds of components to look after. Other people will advise otherwise, but I say save your money and time. Just fix problems as soon as they appear so they don't bunch up. Pilsner fucked around with this message at 13:49 on May 25, 2011 |
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May 25, 2011 13:46
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Shadowhand00 posted:If only front toe is adjustable, On an E46, toe and camber are adjustable front and rear, though the front camber adjustment range is extremely limited.
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May 25, 2011 14:04
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Pilsner posted:Don't do preventive maintenance then, I've learned a long time ago that you're extremely likely to simply waste your money that way. Just do basic, vital upkeep like changing oil, keeping an eye on your tires and giving the engine bay, fluids and underbody a quick look each time you're in there; otherwise just wait until stuff breaks or annoys you. It might leave you stranded rarely, but I think that's better than spending thousands of dollars attempting to prevent problems, and you might just miss something anyway. It's not like preventive maintenance on a car is as simple as brushing your teeth, there are hundreds of components to look after. $250 or $350 now, or $1200+ of "SURPRISE!" engine-go-boom, and a tow to the shop, and out your car for the better part of a week? preventative maintenance is just that — preventative. probably overkill, but in my case (with a 21-year-old E30 coupe) if my dad and I replace something we know now that it's been changed and precisely when. Between not knowing the car's complete history and maybe having original parts, it makes carbon-dating a bit of a pain. Probably not as bit a deal on a newer car like an E46, but the earliest of those are now 10 years old... mitigating risk or being a cheapskate?
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May 25, 2011 17:43
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harperdc posted:mitigating risk or being a cheapskate? My car is reaching 80k on the ODO so I'm just going to do the Inspection II myself and once the parts that get in get replaced, I'll just give it a good claybar/wax and drive the drat thing already
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May 25, 2011 20:18
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I agree that a lot of the preventative maintenance is overkill. Certain items that are known to be faulty should be replaced if a revised, improved replacement part is available. Such as metal impeller water pumps and Audi's timing belt tensioner on the B5's. To just start putting new parts on for sense of mind is a little overkill. My cooling system is start to act up. I know its time to investigate and see where the problem part is. Might be a bad hose or seal. Doesn't mean im going to throw a new radiator, water pump, hoses, tank, thermostat, level sensor in it. I can sense a small shimmy under breaking. Time to check the rotors and FCAB. Not going to replace the entire front suspension though. These cars are great because the bar we set for them is so high. We wont tolerate a small shimmy, or a small idle variance. Every time something goes wrong, you cant help but notice right away and it eats at you every minute the car is making those sounds. Its not like driving a 98' F250 rattling down the road.
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May 25, 2011 20:59
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There's definitely a line to walk between obsessive "preventative" maintenance and just waiting for disastrous failure. When something starts to feel off, starts making a funny sound/smell, or when your car throws up a warning light/message, the time to act is before it turns into a serious problem. Of course keep up to date on all scheduled maintenance items, but completely replacing entire systems/components that aren't exhibiting any signs of problem or failure tends to be a bit heavy-handed unless there is a specific part that is very clearly known to fail spectacularly without warning and there is a revised/improved part to replace it with (e.g., plastic impeller water pump). Yeah, I know there are some particular problem spots on these cars, but I think that being aware of them, knowing what the symptoms are (and how to respond to them), and keeping an extra eye out in watching/reacting is going to keep you in pretty good shape. It's the letting a problem exist and worsen that typically leads to disaster (and large mechanic bills).
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May 25, 2011 21:22
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http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1993-BMW-M5-Sedan-W0QQAdIdZ284568086 http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1991-BMW-M5-Immaculate-low-km-W0QQAdIdZ279080542 http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1991-BMW-M5-Sedan-Excellent-condition-Low-KM-Open-to-offers-W0QQAdIdZ284579813 I know they aren't really any faster than a 540i and the S38 isn't known to be a cheap to repair engine, but god drat e34s are pretty. 7200rpm I6 
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May 26, 2011 01:42
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That last one looks really really clean. Buy it now.
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May 26, 2011 01:49
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Wow, the more I drive and get acquainted with my new E46, the more and more I love it. It's all the little details that are really the icing on this otherwise delicious piece of German chocolate cake. The rain-sensing wipers kick rear end (drove in the rain for the first time today). I know they're becoming more common on newer cars, but it's the first car I've owned with them. Now I'll never be able to go back to a car without them. Plus if they're active they'll flip the headlights on, too. The hugely adjustable electric sport seats are comfy and supportive as hell. The subtle, but functional, ambient cabin lighting around the interior lights switches is a nice touch. Similarly, that all the interior lights fade out gently when turning off is also a nice effect. The stereo that increases/decreases volume with the car speed is neat. Also, the Radio Data System is useful. That the gas door has no release and locks/unlocks with the rest of the car. Kinda cool. Every interior button, compartment, sliding cover, and panel presses/opens/closes smoothly and feels nice to the touch. The whole cabin is such a nice thing to interact with. It's so evident that it was clearly thought out ahead of time, and designed to be one whole cohesive interior. I promise this'll be my last post just rambling about how awesome my new car is, but I'm seriously in love with it. I now totally understand why so many BMW enthusiasts think BMW achieved such perfection with the E46... because they kinda sorta did. My old E34 (prior to the Miata) was super nice, but wow what a difference 15 years make. The only thing that sucks is the OEM iPod integration. Guinness fucked around with this message at 02:01 on May 26, 2011 |
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May 26, 2011 01:56
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Guinness posted:Wow, the more I drive and get acquainted with my new E46, the more and more I love it. Yeah, E39s and E46s are really nice cars that also seem to be fairly durable. 
Sterndotstern fucked around with this message at 02:08 on May 26, 2011 |
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May 26, 2011 02:05
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Crustashio posted:I know they aren't really any faster than a 540i and the S38 isn't known to be a cheap to repair engine, but god drat e34s are pretty. 7200rpm I6 I agree that M5s are awesome, but do you guys get the Euro motor or the US one? The 540i is actually faster than the M5 in the US at least, which is probably why it basically replaced the M5. Much less fiddly, no valve adjustments, cheaper parts, better low end torque, and if you spend the like $10k extra you would have spent on an M5, I'm sure you could end up with a much better car. Might be a little harder to find a stick, but when you do you get an extra gear. Guinness posted:That the gas door has no release and locks/unlocks with the rest of the car. Kinda cool. Haha they've been doing this for a while. The first time I went to fill up my old e34, I locked my doors to get stuff inside before going back out to pump my gas. I tried pulling on the gas door and it didn't open because it was locked, so I hunted around for like 5 minutes in the car looking for a release lever or button that wasn't there. I finally decided to pull on the gas door again after I'd unlocked the doors and it opened, and everything became clear. Felt like an idiot. Lowclock fucked around with this message at 02:47 on May 26, 2011 |
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May 26, 2011 02:42
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Ahhhh double post sorry.
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May 26, 2011 02:47
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Lowclock posted:I finally decided to pull on the gas door again after I'd unlocked the doors and it opened, and everything became clear. Felt like an idiot. Did the exact same thing when I got my E34. Also a couple of months ago I figured out that if you hold the key for second when you lock your doors it will automatically roll up the windows and close the sunroof.
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May 26, 2011 03:15
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