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JJ0063’s current steed - Life of an impulsive car owner [N47 CHAIN GANG]


JJ0063

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2 minutes ago, Bren said:

Looks nice. What does it go like?

Don’t dare put my foot down in case the chain lets go 😂 

I did put it in sport when I test drove it though and it did shift, it’s the 181bhp model so it’s fine, not going to pull your socks off but it goes.

Having said that, as I drive the T5 daily, even driving Mrs JJ’s 1.4 TDCI fiesta feels quick now 😂

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Oh and I’ve just paid the deposit for the timing chain to be done on the 11th, so I’ve only got to wait until next Thursday before I can relax and enjoy it!

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  • JJ0063 changed the title to JJ0063’s current steed - Life of an impulsive car owner [T5 & N47 ANXIETY]

So far so good. I feel sick each time I start it with my N47 worries but driving it is bloody beautiful. Big fan, forgot how nice the ZF 8 speed is.

Can’t wait to get the chain done next week. Debating whether to pay an extra £399 for a ZF box service whilst I’m there as I doubt it’s had one. Changes lovely but it’s a lot of miles on it..

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Had time after work today to give it a quick wash before it got dark, lovely having a car again that looks different when it’s clean unlike the T5 which is just green regardless 😂

Also fitted my front and rear dashcam.

Looking forward to getting the chain done on Thursday, I’ve also said to them as long as nothing else crops up when they do the chain, to also do a gearbox service too then it’s just all done and good to go.

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On 22/12/2023 at 18:01, JJ0063 said:

Ah it’s £120 on trade for the 3t, I can order for collection if you need a trade card? I didn’t realise I was logged in as trade - just assumed there was an offer on!

Got this sorted locally (well, mail order + a voucher + a wait for a 35kg parcel)
Thanks for the offer.
Looking forward to post chain-changing writeups

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14 minutes ago, Matty said:

Fucks sake man, you're not selling it already? 🤣

That space on the driveway while it's in having the chain done will need filling!! 😅

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13 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

That space on the driveway while it's in having the chain done will need filling!! 😅

Luckily the chain is a same day thing or you’d probably be right 😂 

Last chain they did for me I arrived at 8am and was driving home by 2pm

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15 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Luckily the chain is a same day thing or you’d probably be right 😂 

Last chain they did for me I arrived at 8am and was driving home by 2pm

Quite impressive if they're able to do them anywhere near as quickly as that, must be doing them all the time? 

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3 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Quite impressive if they're able to do them anywhere near as quickly as that, must be doing them all the time? 

Oh god if you have a look at their instagram, they do chains all day every day.

https://www.instagram.com/bmminitech?igsh=ODl6ZTh6cmpuNnQ3

 

I mentioned it when they did my 5 series but genuinely, less than 40 mins in the workshop he had my engine out on a crane - one bloke on his own doing it. Madness. 

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When I had the valve stem seals done on my 545 it was done for set price. They do them every day.

It's a pity that many cant do things this efficiently - other BMW specialists ran a mile which says something.

 

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11 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Oh god if you have a look at their instagram, they do chains all day every day.

https://www.instagram.com/bmminitech?igsh=ODl6ZTh6cmpuNnQ3

 

I mentioned it when they did my 5 series but genuinely, less than 40 mins in the workshop he had my engine out on a crane - one bloke on his own doing it. Madness. 

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Very very impressive, it's just proof that for certain jobs it's better to go straight to a specialist, they'll have a set price for doing it and they know all the shortcuts 

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1 minute ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Very very impressive, it's just proof that for certain jobs it's better to go straight to a specialist, they'll have a set price for doing it and they know all the shortcuts 

Absolutely. I think I paid £1000 in 2021 and it’s £1099 now but that’s out the door with all genuine uprated parts, obviously things like an oil change, air con regas and a health check, they were also good enough last time when they found the 5 series on the original clutch and DMF, to change for just the cost of parts and no extra labour charge as it was of course already in bits.

This is why I’ve said that as long as nothing else crops up when they do the chain that they can do the ZF service too as they use all genuine BM parts and I know it’ll get done properly!

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Knocking one of those out a day would be a decent earner. Presumably they manage to do two if it only takes 40 mins to whip the engine out.

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Hard to find good workers like that. Like @RoverFolkUs says, they're set up to do exactly that job so its their bread and butter. Car looks sweet bud, its making me think that a 320d might not be a bad shout for us if i could get into one at the right price.

Though im currently giving serious consideration to buying my work Hilux when the lease is up. Which gives an insight into my state of mind 😆

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What's the requirement on the timing chain?Just a precaution or a service item.Interested because I had chain related fun and games last year.

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9 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

What's the requirement on the timing chain?Just a precaution or a service item.Interested because I had chain related fun and games last year.

N47 engines are famous for having issues with the chains/guides, I’ve heard of people doing 280k+ without any issues but I’ve also seen a few with under 50k on the clock end up with a snapped chain.

I personally can’t live with the anxiety of each time I start the car wondering whether it’ll let go, and this being on 168k it’s of course high mileage regardless of it having full history.. I purposely set out to find a car that was cheap enough to warrant buying it and then paying for the chain to be done so at least that way I have peace of mind that it’s been done and been done properly by a reputable place using decent parts

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Can’t decide on what plate to run on this one.. any thoughts? 
 

If I run J77 it’ll be on a standard size plate rather than shortened due to the F31 running a plate holder on the front so I cant use a shorter plate.

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I run a 6 digit on my 4 series, standard plate size on the front and shorter on the rear, does not look out of place and tidies the rump up nicely!

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BM looks a great buy, even when factoring in the inevitability of you wanting it in the first place.

Whatever you do, don't go for the raised gel/4D plates, please.

PLEASE.

For a modern car, this looks classy. I'll accept a debadging this time, because I am kind and considerate and I know a man has needs (and it might stop you buying black wheels). But don't go Full Dweeb. Nothing good ever comes from going Full Dweeb.

Yes yes yes, I know it's his car and he can do what he wants. 

Would I like someone telling me what I should and shouldn't do with my cars? Absolutely not.

Is this a tiny thing in the grand scheme of things? You flipping bet it is.

But @JJ0063 look into your heart and you'll see deep down, right at the core, right in that very centre where our loves and our lives are lived - I'm right.

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45 minutes ago, mercedade said:

BM looks a great buy, even when factoring in the inevitability of you wanting it in the first place.

Whatever you do, don't go for the raised gel/4D plates, please.

PLEASE.

For a modern car, this looks classy. I'll accept a debadging this time, because I am kind and considerate and I know a man has needs (and it might stop you buying black wheels). But don't go Full Dweeb. Nothing good ever comes from going Full Dweeb.

Yes yes yes, I know it's his car and he can do what he wants. 

Would I like someone telling me what I should and shouldn't do with my cars? Absolutely not.

Is this a tiny thing in the grand scheme of things? You flipping bet it is.

But @JJ0063 look into your heart and you'll see deep down, right at the core, right in that very centre where our loves and our lives are lived - I'm right.

I love you for this post

 

Black wheels certainly won’t be happening and I’m even leaving the 320d badge!

 It won’t be lowered, I will be replacing the front splitter as it’s got the two side bits but missing the bottom middle piece so I have it to fit.

Plates 100% won’t be 4d I can assure you. I am however a sucker for gel I’m afraid…. We’ll see though 

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Only thing missing from the car for me to be completely happy with it was Apple CarPlay, I ordered an Android screen from Amazon at the weekend but it was horrible quality, screen was too big and it barely worked. 

After a bit of research I found something called an MMI box which is basically a 6” square box with a loom that you put between the existing screen and stereo. This means I keep the nice OEM screen but it adds wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired / wireless Android Auto. 
 

It’s £205 new but I searched on eBay and a second hand one had just been listed for £100 so I grabbed that and fitted it today. Much nicer, all looks OEM, original stereo and menu is all still there, you just hold the menu button down for 2 seconds and it switches to the MMI display. 

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27 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Only thing missing from the car for me to be completely happy with it was Apple CarPlay, I ordered an Android screen from Amazon at the weekend but it was horrible quality, screen was too big and it barely worked. 

After a bit of research I found something called an MMI box which is basically a 6” square box with a loom that you put between the existing screen and stereo. This means I keep the nice OEM screen but it adds wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired / wireless Android Auto. 
 

It’s £205 new but I searched on eBay and a second hand one had just been listed for £100 so I grabbed that and fitted it today. Much nicer, all looks OEM, original stereo and menu is all still there, you just hold the menu button down for 2 seconds and it switches to the MMI display. 

IMG_2917.jpeg

These are brilliant and a bargain really when you consider what they do.

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So today’s the day, I’m in Colchester for the chain and possibly gearbox service. Waiting room is freezing but I have Ricky Gervais on Netflix.

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Engines out, he said the internals are immaculate for the miles and the chain is nowhere near as bad as they’ve seen with half the mileage so in reality I probably could have left it longer but hey, once it’s done its done and I haven’t got to worry about it. 
 

There’s still a decent amount of slack in it but bar that he’s said it’s clearly a well maintained engine, no oil leaks or anything.

Hes now fitting the new kit then I’ll try and grab a photo as forgot to grab one, then it’ll be having a gearbox service before I go too.

 

Only thing he mentioned was the crank pulley is just starting to perish so will need to keep an eye on it but that’s not anything hard to change so I can do that myself if it ever gets worse

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