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that has the N20. Have the timing chain guides been looked at / serviced? What was the oil change interval - if 15k, just avoid. There hasn't been a recall, but afaik the N20/N26 engines do not have a great record.
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Aug 27, 2022 00:55
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Yea from how Wikipedia puts it, basically don't buy an N20. If you're looking at F30's, get a 330i or don't lol. I think all the diesels in the lower trims are fine though.
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Aug 27, 2022 01:51
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SlapActionJackson posted:Shoes aren't good for oil volume measurement. Use a catch pan. ack!
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Aug 27, 2022 19:39
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Good timing, here's the "Fixing an N20" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XE586-y2LY Spoilers! The engine comes out, and the head comes off.
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Aug 28, 2022 19:08
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I just want to confirm, but I should 100% buy a used 535i instead of a 550i, yes? All I've seen is that the V8s newer than Y2K are complete disasters. A simple tune should give the 535i most of the V8's power anyway. The biggest red flag is that used 550i's are cheaper.
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Aug 28, 2022 21:29
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Yes. The N55 is really solid, the N54 isn't bad beyond the injectors. The turbo V8 has charging problems, and they weren't allowed to software update because that would reduce fuel economy, so the "in maintenance" solution was a new battery with every oil change. I don't know if there's an aftermarket coding solution to that, but yikes.
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Aug 28, 2022 21:37
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Yes
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Aug 29, 2022 04:58
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the n54 has a laundry list of problems. the n55 makes some of those go away.
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Aug 29, 2022 05:48
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Has anyone driven the current Z4? I have one as a rental* in southern Spain for a road trip next week and don't know how liberal we can be with luggage. Looks like with the current soft top there's decent space? * or similar, lol
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Aug 29, 2022 12:44
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KOTEX GOD OF BLOOD posted:the n54 has a laundry list of problems. the n55 makes some of those go away. Yeah, but it doesn't randomly eat timing chain guides, or require battery sacrifice. Plus it's fairly stout for an older design if you want to tune it a bit. The problem now with a lot of N54 cars is that the interior is probably falling apart. 
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Aug 29, 2022 13:09
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KOTEX GOD OF BLOOD posted:the n54 has a laundry list of problems. the n55 makes some of those go away. Thread title
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Aug 29, 2022 13:57
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Alarbus posted:Yeah, but it doesn't randomly eat timing chain guides, or require battery sacrifice. Plus it's fairly stout for an older design if you want to tune it a bit.
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Aug 29, 2022 14:23
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KOTEX GOD OF BLOOD posted:"extremely problematic engine is more problematic than very problematic engine" Now there's a thread title!
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Aug 29, 2022 14:41
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The n55 is a pretty decent engine. Working on it is ‘reasonably’ easy. On mine I’ve done spark plugs, coils, and valve cover gasket and they weren’t too bad. Most common issues with them are oil leaks from the oil cooler (had mine done at 60k miles), valve cover (64k miles), and water pump (60k miles). I’ve had my 535 since 2014 and those are the only issues I’ve had. You can pretty easily tell if the valve cover gasket needs to be changed by turning the heat on after it’s warmed up. If you smell burning while stationary or low speed it’s leaking. If you’re going to tune it you might want to have a spare charge pipe on hand. The original one is plastic and is known to crack with increase boost. It’s super easy to change out and inexpensive. I really need to be not lazy and sell mine but 
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Aug 29, 2022 16:24
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knox_harrington posted:Has anyone driven the current Z4? I have one as a rental* in southern Spain for a road trip next week and don't know how liberal we can be with luggage. Looks like with the current soft top there's decent space? Should be fun. Nobody in Spain drives anywhere and the roads (outside the medieval cities) are winding and scenic. Hope your Or Similar (automatic, is a toyota people carrier) is a fun drive through the hills, my takeaway from Spain is if you drive it like you stole it up those dirt & gravel roads, it's legally "a rally car"
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Aug 29, 2022 16:33
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So my alternator is definitely dead and it's going to be another 2.5 weeks until I can get my car in the shop. Since I don't have any other cars and I don't want to rent something for almost a month my solution has been to put my car on the battery tender all night, and drive 15 miles to and from work every day with all the accessories turned off. No radio, no AC (not even the fan on), no headlights, nothing. Surprisingly, this has worked for the last week, although it's been a sweaty experience since it's summer. Other than my comfort, there's been no difference in drivability and I haven't seen any weird lights or behavior that indicates the electrical system is failing. Anyone know what this is going to do to the battery over the long term? I have no idea how much it's being discharged over the course of a day but I do start at a supply voltage of 12.5-12.6v with the engine off and the battery fully charged and I end around 12.3.
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Aug 29, 2022 23:46
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What is the voltage while you're actually driving around?
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Aug 30, 2022 02:39
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Lowclock posted:What is the voltage while you're actually driving around? 12.2-12.3 to start, drops down to 12.0-12.1 by the time I get home from work
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Aug 30, 2022 13:29
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Pack it up 
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Sep 3, 2022 12:50
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Anyone going to Lime Rock this weekend? I'll be there on Sunday in the E36.
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Sep 3, 2022 14:36
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Finally got around to installing the angel eye kit I bought years ago. Wired in some toggle switches so I can easily flip between white or amber. Think I'm leaning towards leaving them on amber though.  
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Sep 5, 2022 03:28
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Heh, first time I've seen angel eyes that are trying to look like the stock ones in E92s, usually everyone swaps in massively white LEDs for those bulbs but I like the old-school non-LED look (in addition to keeping the car 100% stock). Looks good.
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Sep 5, 2022 04:16
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Thanks, I think they look pretty neat without taking away from the mostly stock look of the car. I bought this kit years ago so I can't remember if they had the option for opaque rings back then but I like the segmented LED look on these, this picture shows it better. My phone camera gets washed out with the white LEDs but they too have that segmented look in person.
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Sep 5, 2022 05:05
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I'm digging the look of the yellows.
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Sep 5, 2022 05:47
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Grille too small
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Sep 5, 2022 17:40
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What do you think I'm compensating for with the angel eyes?
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Sep 5, 2022 18:16
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Just how "bad" of ride quality is an X3 if I'm coming from a WRX? A couple miles of bumpy dirt road is on our regular commute. Don't need it to be plush and cushiony, but people make it sound like it's horrible.
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Sep 10, 2022 17:47
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From my experience with loaners, the x cars have a pretty soft suspension.
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Sep 10, 2022 17:51
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Popete posted:Thanks, I think they look pretty neat without taking away from the mostly stock look of the car. I bought this kit years ago so I can't remember if they had the option for opaque rings back then but I like the segmented LED look on these, this picture shows it better. What brand? I need to replace the cheap aftermarket ones on my e39 M5…
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Sep 10, 2022 17:54
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My x3 m40i is rough off pavement. There's a dirt road by the recycling center that would be a shortcut for me, but I tried driving about 100 ft down it once and just turned around it was so bad.
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Sep 10, 2022 17:55
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Cojawfee posted:From my experience with loaners, the x cars have a pretty soft suspension. Oh okay, sweet... phosdex posted:My x3 m40i is rough off pavement. There's a dirt road by the recycling center that would be a shortcut for me, but I tried driving about 100 ft down it once and just turned around it was so bad. Ahhhh.... that sounds bad. As someone who has done a lot of dirt road in the WRX, how bad does it have to be for you to turn around?
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Sep 10, 2022 17:59
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Internet Explorer posted:Oh okay, sweet... There is a difference with an m-sport/package model versus a normal one, an m package model like they have will have a stiffer, sportier suspension set up for roads way more than bumps. Also I can’t imagine a regular X3 will be worse than a WRX in any way.
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Sep 10, 2022 18:26
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Thanks for the answers so far. And how about the X3 m40i or M? We test drove an X3 m40i yesterday, but the dealership is a far drive and we couldn't test around where we'd normally be driving. And inventory is so short, had to test drive an employees X3 m40i at that.
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Sep 10, 2022 18:32
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Internet Explorer posted:Thanks for the answers so far. And how about the X3 m40i or M? We test drove an X3 m40i yesterday, but the dealership is a far drive and we couldn't test around where we'd normally be driving. And inventory is so short, had to test drive an employees X3 m40i at that. The ‘m’ means m-sport/m-package. Sort of like the difference between WRX and WRX STi, not quite but kind of
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Sep 10, 2022 18:44
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Internet Explorer posted:Thanks for the answers so far. And how about the X3 m40i or M? We test drove an X3 m40i yesterday, but the dealership is a far drive and we couldn't test around where we'd normally be driving. And inventory is so short, had to test drive an employees X3 m40i at that. I'm happy with my m40i. Having moved to a smaller city, I spend a lot of time at like 30 mph though.
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Sep 10, 2022 19:32
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TheBacon posted:The ‘m’ means m-sport/m-package. Sort of like the difference between WRX and WRX STi, not quite but kind of Sorry, I got that part. I meant more on the ride quality. Does anyone who knows if it's a harsher ride than the WRX/WRX STi, similar, a little better, etc. I was a bit shocked by the response that someone felt they couldn't go on a dirt road with an X3 m40i.
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Sep 10, 2022 20:23
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TheBacon posted:Also I can’t imagine a regular X3 will be worse than a WRX in any way. This was my immediate thought too. Going from a Focus RS to even just a plain old rear end 3 series feels insanely more comfortable.
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Sep 11, 2022 00:44
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Here's the dang e61 I thought about buying back in July https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2010-bmw-535-66/
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Sep 11, 2022 02:43
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We have black stained wood in ours and I unintentionally made a frown face and leaned back when I saw the 80s chic jaguar wood trim in that thing 
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Sep 11, 2022 05:30
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Old cars are good and fun on the tight twisty stuff
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Sep 11, 2022 21:45
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