Tuvoc

Christ, how long did all that take ?

Yes I have the MXS 5.0 as well, excellent unit. Just to say that repeated short journeys won't be very good for that lovely V8. Said to be a contributor to valve seal issues on that engine.

I'm really surprised that although I've done a lot of work on the front suspension on my car, I've done nothing at all on the rear, and as far as I know it is all still original at 145k miles. I keep expecting at each service and MOT to be told that rose joints need replacing, or that the shock are leaking etc, but no advisories at all. I got the car at 104k miles so potentially there may have been some work before than, but I'm pretty sure not.

Very nice indeed ! Could be the uneven ground that is causing the issue you mention. Is it the same on normal tarmac ? The rear does look low though. As they left the factory I doubt that the top of the rear tyre wasn't visible, but could be wrong. e.g. https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=xe7rfwtT&id=94C00C9D13475BB6E35F84662C5E51958BE068D3&thid=OIP.Bc2VEFyw9e0eP71sXxFefwHaED&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fwikipedia%2fcommons%2f1%2f12%2fBMW_E34_520i.jpg&exph=1221&expw=2226&q=bmw+e34+pics&simid=608035400138622915&selectedIndex=33&ajaxhist=0

A respectable Indie told me that my car had VANOS noise around 110k miles. I took it to another Indie (CPC, Phil Crouch) who did the VANOS work including the anti-rattle kit, rocker cover gasket, some sprockets and the auxiliary timing chain tensioner. Result ? The noise that the first Indie thought was VANOS noise is still there, and the engine felt no different at all. Anyway, that was some 4 years ago so it probably would have need doing a bit later anyway.

Indeed I've had intermittent PDC for about 3 years as well. In very dry hot weather they tend to work some of the time, and very rarely in cold damp weather. And yes it is bone dry in the boot. They were perfect for a while, and then what I would get when driving along the motorway in the rain sometimes was a bong to say PCD error, which would then re-set itself. Eventually a permanent PDC error except for above in summer At the very least I should look at the module in the first pic in the post and make sure the connectors are tight and secure. A nuisance being without them, especially the rear, but I never had them before this car so can do without.

carparts4less are the same as Eurocarparts and are nearly always cheaper online. Basically it is ECP but with permanent offers.

I think that is a post-LCI problem is it not ?

Yes I found out subsequently, but it doesn't matter too much because by the time you pay the garage an hour's labour to fit the repair kit, you aren't that far off the cost of a brand new one anyway.

Indeed. I did have the autobox serviced as soon as I got it, and have done 40k miles since. That was common sense. I also get the engine oil changed very 12 months regardless of mileage, which in my case is 6-7k miles per year. If I was to go by CBS, it would be every 2 years. I don't believe in that.

My M54 has needed Vanos rebuild - £500+VAT job from Phil at CPC, which included new seals, anti-rattle kit, sprockets and whatever, plus rocker cover gasket change and auxiliary timing chain tensioner. It has also needed all the CCV stuff replaced - lots of labour - as well as a new DISA valve, the total bill for that was about £700. (DISA valve itself is £200+). Reason for all that was the check engine light. So even the M54 can give you big bills. My M50 cost me nothing in 13 years. Not even as much as a sensor. I took that car from about 58k miles to over 190k with zero expense on the engine. What BMW is supposed to be like, and what it very definitely is not these days.

Yes, N52 had less issues. It wasn't direct injection for example. Very hard to find though, it was only in the E60 for about a year or 18mths, around 2006 between the M54 and the N53 ? Does the valvetronic give problems at higher mileages ? It certainly can do in the 2.0 4 pots. When I was looking for mine, I did test drive a 525i N52. Should probably have bought it, although it had more miles and was £1,500 more expensive than what I eventually bought. It didn't seem that quick at the time but now I realise that in fact it was, it was just the smoothness and quietness that was deceptive. The 3.0 M54 is obviously stronger - more bhp and torque - but in hindsight I like the way the N52 does its thing better.

Add the high pressure fuel pump to that list as well. I really despair at the state of BMW engines in the last 20 yrs or so. The days of bulletproof reliability e.g. the M50 are long gone. Complex technology, full of expensive problems, massive risks buying anything out of warranty. BMW engineering is not what it used to be, and that is painful.

No - nothing and then lots of MAJOR things

MOT passed today, that is two years in a row. Crikey.

Great that you found the problem. Hopefully all is sorted now.

Yesterday I ran Torque-Pro on our Sunday drive in 30C heat. Delighted that the cooling system working perfectly, mostly 95-96C, in traffic briefly showing up to 98C before the thermostat kicked in and lowers it. On the motorway I briefly saw 93 a couple of times but usually 94-96C. Car has had the water pump and thermostat replaced a few years ago, and one or two hoses, plus the cap, but radiator is the 14 year old original. I'm not losing any coolant, fingers crossed that remains the case.

Yes I was originally looking at 525d and 530d as well. I got scared of all of the above (turbos, injectors, glow plugs, DPF and don't forget thermostats that constantly need replacing) plus the noise and harshness compared to a straight six petrol was hard to take. In terms of mpg, honestly I'm pretty happy with around 35mpg on a trip for the size of the car and the luxury. A 530d might do 40mpg or a little more, but not worth it for me.

I bought mine at 104k miles, now 144k miles. I've done a lot of work on front suspension but haven't touched the rear. As far as I know it is original. MOT and service next week though, fingers crossed on that.

At that mileage 1 litre every 5k is not unreasonable I'd say. Is it using it, or losing it (i.e. a small leak somewhere perhaps)

Yes I had the entire tie rods replaced when I had some wok done on the front suspension. I had shocks, top mounts, drop links, anti-roll bar links and complete tie rods replaced as well as 3 of the 4 upper and lower suspension arms. Only 3 because the garage forgot about my instruction to replace in pairs.

Yes main issues with the V8 are oli leaks and valve stem seals, but also the cooling system as I understand BMW run the V8 a few degrees hotter in an attempt to improve fuel economy, so the entire system is under a lot more stress.

Nice to see another M54 E60. I think normal temp is 97C but do a search here and you'll find it. Touch wood I have had no such issues yet. I think a previous owner did the thermostat and I've done the waterpump and a couple of hoses and a sensor. Radiator has been removed and cleaned, but it is still the original.

I don't think that is a bad thing. On a box that is several years old with lots of miles, I think a "refresh" of the fluid (some of the old stuff left behind plus majority of new fluid) is less of a "shock" for the box and could be better than trying to extract every last drop of old fluid. Just my opinion, could be wrong.... I have no idea what was done on mine (Stephens Engineering) but it has been 40k miles for me since the service, and touch wood all is OK so far.

Yeah the M50 engine in my previous car was still sweet at close to 200k miles when I scrapped it because of rust and a very worn autobox. I'm not so sure that the M54 is as long lasting and bulletproof as the M50, but yours has certainly done fine so far ! Mine is at 144k. It is a bit noisy at idle, but once past about 1,000 rpm is sweet and quiet and sounds gorgeous when revved. With the Vanos rebuilt, new DISA valve and all the CCV stuff replaced, I don't see why it won't do another 144k but I won't see that myself.