project SiC's consolidated moderns - 2004 BMW Z4 2.2 and 2005 BMW 330i

[JakeT]

It pushes the inboard pad into the disc, which is in turn pushed into the outboard pad. While there may be some compliance, this is through the rubber bushes. And the pins themselves don’t slide.

[SiC]

5 minutes ago, JakeT said:

It pushes the inboard pad into the disc, which is in turn pushed into the outboard pad. While there may be some compliance, this is through the rubber bushes. And the pins themselves don’t slide.

The rubber bushes will have some compliance but I can't believe they'll have 4cm worth of compliance over the whole thickness of two pads? The pins don't slide as they're bolted in but the calipers must be sliding over those pins. 

Same ATE design calipers are used on other manufacturers. Some say use grease, some say don't. 🤷‍♂️

[JakeT]

Yep! Can’t argue with it, lube or no lube it will be fine, and a seized caliper will happen either way.

[SiC]

Pollen filter has arrived but not the pads+discs. It doesn't need a pollen filter but I want a carbon activated one as it reduces the smells pumped into the cabin when going through cities or stuck behind a diesel car with it's DPF ripped out. 

I had the last few days off as it was our wedding anniversary. Today we went to Watchet in the 330i. Lovely part of the world. I really need to go on the steam railway sometime. Didn't get time today as needed to be back for my wife's PT session.

 

A few classics parked about. Like this 'vette just chillin' on a side road.

Also here and open today was the Radio museum. Free to enter just a donation. Somewhere that I reckon some of our electronics nerds ( @Zelandeth ) and radio nerds would really enjoy ( @BorniteIdentity ). Plenty of not only old radios but transmitters and old broadcast radio desks.

[High Jetter]

Shh, don't tell @LightBulbFun

[SiC]

The wipers on the 330i don't park properly. Always with a gap. Google says that the wiper control relay fails and causes this issue. It lives in the fuse box behind the glove box.

Easily enough pulled out.

Looking inside it was all blackened on the contacts. I tried cleaning it but testing the relay found some of connector contacts were failing too. I think the act of removal killed it off.

I raided my relay stash to see if I had something to replace it. 

Found this one which had the correct number of contacts and just importantly has the flyback diode to protect the driving electronics. Not sure if the right amperage on the contacts but at least gives a chance to make my wipers work again.

I think this was from a fusebox on a haunted Laguna II that Hooli scrapped but kept the fusebox control unit which he gave to me when he bought my old Saab 9-5 (the one with the dodgy changing auto box). Yeah I have a pretty specific memory at times...

Anyway that fixed it and it now parks properly.

I have the same issue on my Z4. Perhaps the same thing. I'll have to check at some point...

Incidentally the original relay was a little bit special as the contacts are designed to engage silently. So you don't get a click from the fusebox every time it wipes. I might get a proper replacement. The new style is green to make it obvious it's different.

While I was in the fusebox, I pulled the fuse for the headlight washers. So at least I don't get the sticking out headlight washers problem for now. I did try spraying them with silicone spray but it didn't fix them. I think they'll need replacing.

For those that wonder, I don't need these for an MOT as this car has Halogen not Xenons. So a nice to have rather than a must have.

Used the Z4 today as the weather was cracking and haven't used it for a while. Went down to Sidmouth and had an ice cream. 

[cort16]

Are you sure this isn't the BMW dealer diagnostics machine>

[purplebargeken]

Nah it’s SiC’s home made one.

[95 quid Peugeot]

18 hours ago, SiC said:

I have the same issue on my Z4. Perhaps the same thing. I'll have to check at some point...

I believe on the Z4 , on the motor there's a copper ring and it gets grease on it, which fools the thing into not knowing where its meant to stop,  i got a MOT fail for that on Mrs 95's Z4 several years ago 

Cant post youtube link, work firewall!!!  But its on there as i thought

[95 quid Peugeot]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=55535#:~:text=Using the soft cloth %2F bog,interferes with the electronic circuit.

[SiC]

Anyone ordered from Parts In Motion recently? I put an order in for pads+discs+wear sensor on Tuesday last week but it hasn't even left their warehouse yet. 

[straightSix]

21 hours ago, SiC said:

Anyone ordered from Parts In Motion recently? I put an order in for pads+discs+wear sensor on Tuesday last week but it hasn't even left their warehouse yet. 

I had a thermostat for my X3 arrive within a few days when I ordered it last week 

[SiC]

56 minutes ago, straightSix said:

I had a thermostat for my X3 arrive within a few days when I ordered it last week 

I've just phoned them. Apparently packing error and my order went to someone else. They can't explain why my tracking code didn't get any updates.

Anyway they did apologise for that and not getting back to my messages as they've been very busy. Order being resent today but unfortunately the wear sensor is now out of stock. (I've ordered a cheapy off Amazon, not exactly a complicated thing to be cheapen out on)

Hopefully it'll all arrive tomorrow and I can crack on with getting them changed. Especially as I have the day off too.  

[jim89]

6 minutes ago, SiC said:

I've just phoned them. Apparently packing error and my order went to someone else. They can't explain why my tracking code didn't get any updates.

Anyway they did apologise for that and not getting back to my messages as they've been very busy. Order being resent today but unfortunately the wear sensor is now out of stock. (I've ordered a cheapy off Amazon, not exactly a complicated thing to be cheapen out on)

Hopefully it'll all arrive tomorrow and I can crack on with getting them changed. Especially as I have the day off too.  

🤞🏻🤞🏻 The replacement "despatch" starts moving 👍🏻

[SiC]

Parts arrived late yesterday afternoon.

I bought an Amazon special brake sensor. Tbh I am not sure why I didn't spend the extra £3 for a Febi. It doesn't have to do much though as it's basically a bit of wire moulded in plastic. Just if it fails, I'd rather not be doing this again.

Looks alright to be fair.

Front up. Little jack is to get enough rise to get my big jack in. I really need to invest in a low profile jack.

Wheels off

Genuine BMW brake pads and discs!

Not a lot of meat left on the pads.

However I reckon I could have reused these discs as not that much of a lip on. Oh well.

Caliper off. These are massive.

Pad retaining screw was a bit of a fight. Just about did it without rounding it off. I should have ordered replacements really.

Clean up and copper grease the face.

Slide pins I cleaned up. Trick I learnt is to use WD40, scouring pad and spin them with the tool to undo. Gets them clean in no time.

 

Re-assemble. Pins came out dry so I put them back in dry. BMW recommend to have them in dry. Tbh if they've been greased, I've found it hard to ungrease the lot. So I would have put them back in greased. 

Same job the other side.

Reset the service warning.

And clear the ABS code for it.

Finally went for a test drive.

 

Got home and literally turned into the drive. *Bong*

REALLY

I've only just cleared all the warnings, you bugger.

Plugged in the code reader again that permanently lives in the glove box.

Basically it has a emergency disconnect on the battery terminal to shut off power in a big accident. Like everything BMW electrical this age, it appears to be a common problem. Yes there is just about a battery under there.

This connector is what causes the grief. I disconnected and reconnected which seemed to allow the code to be cleared. I suspect this won't be the last of this problem...

This is why I'd hate to be a professional mechanic. Fix one thing and another completely unrelated breaks just after the first job is done. Also I guess this sort of shit is why these age BMWs gain a reputation to be expensive and complicated to run. No doubt most dealers would have shoved a whole new battery disconnect and battery computer on this. 

[Split_Pin]

I find that in order to live with the A8 (and no doubt the 5er) is to balance what you can fix cheaply yourself, what you can live with and what needs to be done at a garage. 

I need to get that code reader before doing the oil and filter on mine.

[JakeT]

Nice stuff, you’re basically there with it now. I reckon you’ll get more than 29k from the brakes too, the computer seems to reset low.

 

The BST can be a mega pain, I’ve seen someone with a 320d who had the terminal go while driving. Filled the cabin with smoke and disabled most electrics bar hazards and locks. There’s gonna be loads of them used if you do need one mind. Also still a BMW battery in yours too. They seem to last very well.

[cort16]

This was the final straw on my E60. I went over a pothole and this came on. It's at this exact moment I decided it could go in the sea.

[busmansholiday]

11 hours ago, SiC said:

Front up. Little jack is to get enough rise to get my big jack in. I really need to invest in a low profile jack.

Wouldn't it be easier to just invest in cars that weren't f****d instead?

[SiC]

17 minutes ago, busmansholiday said:

Wouldn't it be easier to just invest in cars that weren't f****d instead?

I do, it has a Honda badge on the front. Just it's not very interesting to post about me taking it for it's yearly oil change service and not needing anything or that it's passed its MOT first time with no advisories. So I don't really ever post about it apart from occasionally acknowledging it's existence.

[purplebargeken]

Is it a Lupo in disguise??

[Jenson Velcro]

11 hours ago, busmansholiday said:

Wouldn't it be easier to just invest in cars that weren't f****d instead?

But where’s the fun* in that. I enjoy following @SiC posts and have learnt a lot. There’s also plenty of ( mainly electronic) things I haven’t got a clue what he talking about. One major lesson learnt is to steer clear of BMWs, although owning a r50 MIni I knew that already.

[SiC]

2 hours ago, purplebargeken said:

Is it a Lupo in disguise??

Hopefully not! I filled up yesterday. 36.48l went in after just over 200 miles. Indicated 25.2mpg, calculated 25.17mpg. 

Then went off to Sherborne Castle for the afternoon. Was going to take the Z4 but while sunny, it wasn't that warm at 15c. The 100 miles or so was a good chance to bed in the pads and discs with a varied mix of driving. 

 

Didn't seem to give any bother. Everything (nearly) all works. Gearbox definitely not silky smooth with imperceptible gear changes like I expect a ZF to be, but I don't want to fiddle with it as really not that bad.

A second hand proper wiper relay has arrived too, which will be the next job. Not really much else to do apart from fix any new issues that come up.

 

32 minutes ago, Jenson Velcro said:

But where’s the fun* in that. I enjoy following @SiC posts and have learnt a lot. There’s also plenty of ( mainly electronic) things I haven’t got a clue what he talking about. One major lesson learnt is to steer clear of BMWs, although owning a r50 MIni I knew that already.

There is a lot to like about them. Quick, comfortable and good handling with manageable running costs. Yes they have their fobiles and at this age start becoming maintenance heavy. They are more complicated to work on compared to similar aged vehicles but imo not that bad still. All the tools are readily available out there (often cheaply) to sort pretty much every issue. Parts are generally well available both new and secondhand. Even second hand auto gearboxes can be had for under £200 now. 

Just the labour needed to replace the bits and keep on top of issues. This is where being able to DIY makes these a viable proposition at this age. 

I guess this is why they call them "enthusiasts cars"!

[Split_Pin]

It depends what you're used to. I've had all sorts of flaky cars such as a Clio 172, 3 Rover 75s, various Audis, including an A8 and of course the dreaded R56 Bini. The issues my E60 has thrown up in the week I have owned it are therefore neither surprising or daunting.

A sensible person would have kept my reliable Saab but I need a change and a new challenge, much like what Si is saying.

I'm definitely warming to the idea of a higher spec E90 on seeing this one. I do like a 'compact executive'.

[SiC]

Small update. Gearbox/Engine has played up twice in the last week. 😒

First time I was in a car park and a taxi driver came down the wrong way. I had to hard turn to get past the twat. Engine decided to start revving despite no commanded input on the accelerator. Like a misfire but no engine warnings. I suspect it was the gearbox fighting with the engine. It sorted itself once I went past, stopped and drove absolutely fine afterwards. I had got stuck in stationary traffic for 20 minutes previously so everything got a good heatsoak.

Second time was this morning after picking our cat up from the cattery. When I trusted it to not play up (because having my cat in the car makes it a huge issue if I breakdown) it did. When going up a slight hill just coming off a set of traffic lights, I pressed the accelerator harder. No rev changes, no gear changes, just nothing.

Push nearly all the way to the floor. Still nothing. Revs sticking at around 1250 and slowing down.

A slight heart palpitation and surge of adrenaline that you get when a car plays up in the worst possible place at the worst possible time.

Then bam, it decides to downshift and start accelerating again as if nothing was an issue. 😐

Shit like this doesn't help with trust in a car. I knew I should have taken the Honda...

Anyway Suki is now home, happy (but pissed off being away) and wasn't the slightest aware.

 

Not sure what caused either. No codes stored on either the gearbox or engine ECUs. Nor was the change after the incidents was hard or coarse.

There is one connection between the last weird incident and this. I was right near Bristol airport. Now I've done enough EMC testing to know weird stuff can happen with strong RF fields nearby electronic stuff. However I find it hard to believe that the Airport radar could do that. Inverse-square law means the RF should be pretty low especially given the shielding from buildings and terrain. Also this stuff is type approved with high levels of immunity needed. But always a possibility that I can't discount, even though I think unlikely.

Old BMW fun eh?

Also I've yet to have a older automatic that hasn't had some sort of weird trouble. They never do age well. I suspect it's because of most garages not wanting to touch them and so the fluids never get changed. You can get away with it when only a few years old but once at 10+ years they start to dislike the lack of fresh fluids.

[SiC]

Unexciting update. I charged the 330i battery last week, it broke again so I had to fix it and drove both cars!

You're supposed to do charge it up using the points under the bonnet rather than directly on the battery in the boot. However those seemed to not play ball properly with my ctek and it's fast charge mode. It needs a charge as I'm getting the occasional battery low message on the iDrive if I've sat in the car for 15mins with the radio on but engine off.

So I removed the battery. 

All this bollocks needed to be removed. Battery computer, fuse board and pyrotechnic disconnect. 

Despite using this regularly and on some longer drives, I've found that the battery computer seems to only have got to 75% max charge in the time I've had it. I've had this before where a discharged battery takes a long time to get to full just by driving. Usually a charge only put a few tens of amps max in. Couple that with the power to start the engine and shutdown power from sitting, it doesn't always get a chance to fully charge. 

Hence using a charger over the space of a few hours to properly charge this pack. I also think this battery is a bit on old side and lost some of its capacity.

A BMW "Value" battery ...

Once fully charged I put it all back together.

Turned the ignition on and heard the chime that modern BMW owners dread. 

FFS. I only reconnected a battery. Yeah I know minor but this car really likes to test my patience.

New bulb for £4.50 from the local petrol station was acquired and fitted. While I usually like to go for Osram night breakers, I wanted to use the car the next day. I've also experienced when one bulb goes, another goes shortly after. Having two dipped beams out is really not ideal.

Day after I took it down to my parents in Sidmouth for fathers day. Nothing to report really as it did the job just fine. 

Today I've just been to my in-laws in Newbury. Again absolutely fine. 

Those journeys plus some running around to the gym has taken the fuel from full to just under quarter left. An indicated 31.3mpg. I'm perfectly happy with that figure. Interesting that it's not too dissimilar to the E320 S211 I previously had on a run. The 330i is definitely better on shorter runs. Usually 23-25mpg. Mostly I imagine as it locks up the torque converter far more. However it doesn't shift as smoothly as the Merc and I suspect that's down to more wear in the box. 

Yesterday I took the Z4 out for a quick spin to have a walk down the sea front. 

With the sun setting, we heard a lot of clapping and came across the finish line for this year's "Chase the Sun" event. Basically cyclists start out at the Isle of Sheppy at sunrise of 4:41am. Then cycle 205miles and 16 hours or so across the entire width of the country in a day. The target is to get to the destination before sunset. 

Honestly they desired a round of applause. That's one hell of a ride for any individual, especially as most will just be amateurs who have trained for months just for this day. Quite amazing that just your average human can achieve such a feat with just a lot of training and a half decent road bike.

Something that I'd possibly like to do myself sometime. 

Right now I'm really getting into resistance training. It started with me getting a Personal Trainer at the local gym to learn how to properly learn how to lift weights. Previously I did a lot of cardio but I knew I needed to exercise my top half more. Mostly so I can wrench better and do stuff eventually like pick up engines.

However it's kind of snowballed into pushing myself more and seeing how far I can go. Think of it as levelling a character up in a game. Except it's yourself. 

While not cheap, it's probably the best thing I've done personally in a long while for my health. Mrs SiC started last month too with the PT as well. She started off reasonably interested but now really enjoying the gains. I've personally basically doubled my bench press weight in 3.5 months, nearly tripped leg press and started on similar path with deadlifting.

Basically it's one massive dopamine hit. As someone who craves that hit, it's gets damn addictive!

What this has meant is even less time for car tinkering. Hence my MG Midget being untouched for months now. I'm hoping that these two BMWs will play ball (hahaha) as both basically do everything I need with cars and I don't really want to change to something else at the moment. Both because of time and maybe because my dopamine hit is being satisfied elsewhere?

If they can stay unbroken for long enough, I might get some more time soon to work on the Midget!