Bramz ever changing fleet merry go round.

[bramz7]

£18,290 list price for a new 518i in April 95, and £17,895 for the Rover. Not much in it.

 

That's £33k in today's money.

[wuvvum]

Over-light steering is a standard R800 trait, along with GR9 seats.

 

They have an interesting quirk too - if one of the terminals comes off the battery, you won't notice anything different driving-wise, but the electric windows will start randomly going up and down all by themselves.

[Steve79]

It did that to me a few weeks ago! I thought i'd lent on the switch pack by accident. Started beeping like crazy and the Went down again and then a few minutes later the engine cut out.

 

Negative terminal had popped off (forgot to tighten it)

[bramz7]

The seats in the 800 are superb. Really Rover did what they do best in that era and made a great sofa surrounded by a not so great, if adequate motor car.

Window switches are a bit rubbery feeling too, but they work.

 

 

I've got a lead on a reasonable looking 525tds now. Bah.

[Steve79]

I had that whole switch pack apart just after I bought the car as it was stiff. Loads of dust and crap inside. Cleaned it all out with electrical contact cleaner and cotton buds.

[bramz7]

Just had a gander under the BMW bonnet (not for the first time) and noticed how these have a very windy serpentine belt layout....I think the garage can sort that one out. Belt looks fine, there is a squeaky pulley somewhere though.

 

Took the Rover out this morning just to town and back and I really do like it. I don't think it would suit a manual box at all, they really do feel as if they were made for ploddy old ZF automatics.

[timolloyd]

Maybe some sort of retro Top Gear road test of both is in order, with maximum Woollarding?

[bramz7]

 

I finally have a car that passed its MOT at the first attempt. At long last.

It's not bad right? It drives nice enough, the engine is a bit revvy and non BMW like, and the gearbox is far better when warm, but it'll do. Fine wood* trim and cream leather will do me.

 

In other news, I just managed to get the final new comer to my fleet insured for £26 earlier today, which was mighty pleasing.

[jumpingjehovahs]

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20181205_150840.jpg

 

I finally have a car that passed its MOT at the first attempt. At long last.

It's not bad right? It drives nice enough, the engine is a bit revvy and non BMW like, and the gearbox is far better when warm, but it'll do. Fine wood* trim and cream leather will do me.

 

In other news, I just managed to get the final new comer to my fleet insured for £26 earlier today, which was mighty pleasing.

A roffle prize I was genuinely sad to miss. It is my favourite E46 colour scheme and sounds like a cracker! Many congrats on flying through the MOT!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bramz7]

Only downside...I think there is oil leaking onto the manifold as it stank of burning oil earlier.

Assuming it's the rocker cover?

[Fabergé Greggs]

Well in!! Wasn’t there a problem with oil spraying everywhere which Ken had fixed? It’s probably just that burning off..

[bramz7]

Oh yeah that's a fair point, I did actually wonder if that was the case before I wrote that.

 

Discovered another small niggle...the passenger side window is very lazy if lowered more than a couple of inches, and needs help to come back up. I think that's it as far as faults go.

[Ohdearme]

I had that whole switch pack apart just after I bought the car as it was stiff. Loads of dust and crap inside. Cleaned it all out with electrical contact cleaner and cotton buds.

I’ve found vodka an adequate substitute for contact cleaner on occasion.

 

Or was that the other way round? I forget now.

[bramz7]

This BMW still absolutely hums of oil, especially when up to temperature, and more so when stationary. It hasn't dropped any on the ground, but it's flashing up the amber oil warning periodically too.....

 

Is this any concern? Surely, after 200 miles of driving, any excess oil from the PCV episode would have been burned clean off?

 

Rover continues to be fine, it's a bit crumbly on the front arches but it's fine otherwise.

 

 

On the lookout for some pride yank shite now. Sadly all Japanese stuff is incompatible with insurance.

[Tayne]

Have you checked the oil level, is it losing any?

 

E46 oil level sensors will give false low readings when they fail.

[bramz7]

Oil level was okay when I checked it last time, but the oil smell is incredibly unpleasant.

[cort16]

i've had a couple of e46 that show the oil warning light when you pull the key out when the level was fine it quite common on them. Is there any oil in the under tray?

I'd keep an eye on the levels my Z4 uses a litre of oil every few hundred miles, which I think is the PCV setup. 

 

Edit - I'd change the oil it can't do any harm.

[skattrd]

On the lookout for some pride yank shite now. Sadly all Japanese stuff is incompatible with insurance.

 

Knowing your luck and that were you thinking of a Blazer, have you considered an early-ish Jeep Cherokee?

I've never had one but they keep popping up on the radar for comfy yank cruisers that are easy to source parts for and shouldn't be difficult to fix. The earlier ones might be classic friendly as well.

[bramz7]

A good call regarding the Cherokee. I kind of want something with a hideous interior with button velour or something, but I've got an open mind.

 

Budget will be around £2k, but that's when I've saved up a dash more.

[wuvvum]

I'm pretty sure they did Grand Cherokees with some suitably tasteless interiors.  You can get those with a VM four-headed monster too for added shite points (and 40mpg on a run).

[skattrd]

Caramac leather ftw.

[bramz7]

I've also considered a STS. 4.6 V8 and FWD...and only £250 to insure.

 

They do like to grenade though don't they?

[bramz7]

Hmmm, BMW oil level right at max still, so I presume if there is a leak it's a small one.

 

However...why does my oil cap have what looks like real milky coffee on it?

 

Edited to add coolant also at max, thanks to stupidly easy to use measurement system. God knows how people neglect these cars when they have possibly the most user friendly level checkers I've ever had

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Milky coffee not a great sign - are you using it on decent runs? Need a proper run to rid itself of condensation - short runs don't help that.

Hope it isn't anything worse though.

Sniff test or similar? Reactor in the coolant - check for gases getting in.

[dean36014]

I wouldn't worry about the mayonnaise on the oil cap, perfectly normal this time of year. I might be shifting my XM hatch in the new year, want another french money pit????

[bramz7]

Yeah a quick Google suggests it was just condensation.

I've been doing short runs but let it get up to temperature usually. Helps the box out a bit too as it hangs in gear a bit when stone cold.

 

 

Regarding XM....I'll pass this time but thanks! Set on a yank now.

[dean36014]

I'm not surprised Sam! Trouble is I want to keep them all! Think the trailer tent is doomed as I could convert the estate easily into a comfy overnight bedroom. I know James slept in it a few times with his dogs. If you get a yank I'm coming down for a passenger ride!

[barmatt]

I'm pretty sure they did Grand Cherokees with some suitably tasteless interiors. 

 

Erm, yeah they did, I bought one off you and it was ace, thankfully no VM in that one.

 

 

Caramac leather ftw.

 

Like this?

 

 

I do remember this being one of the comfiest places to sit evah!

[mrbenn]

My brother has an 325 and one of his colleagues has a 318, both E46 model. Each do 7-8 miles twice a day and both suffer with mayonnaise every winter. It clears when the weather warms up and is (usually) nowt to worry about.

[Steve79]

I've also considered a STS. 4.6 V8 and FWD...and only £250 to insure.

 

They do like to grenade though don't they?

Cracked blocks and heads aplenty on these.

 

Almost bought a 99 sts before I got the xj8. Was only £750 but had quite a few previous mot advisories for blue smoke at idle.

 

Neadless to say I walked away.