Tuvoc

I don't know about these particular engines, but I think it is often more than just being de-tuned with a different map - there are other differences usually as well to go with that. An old example on the petrol side - the Audi TT, two models 180bhp and 225bhp. Same block but many differences, including different exhaust, and a different turbo.

I don't believe in remaps either. BMW have some of the most skilled engineers in the business. If that level of power was available safely and reliably, it would leave the factory that way. Yes I get the point about compromising to minimise emissions but in my opinion if we care about the planet and people's lives then we should respect that compromise as well.

Yeah, the manufacturers would never sell any turbo cars if they had to advise people to do that. 20 odd years ago I had a petrol turbo and I would always do that - when a couple of miles from my destination, drove gently if possible so the turbo had less work to do, and then let it idle for a while before I switched off. Technology has improved a lot since them though, both turbos and engine oil, they are more tolerant now of just being switched off immediately, but it is still good advice and I'd do the same today.

Speedo is out 2mph at 60mph ? I don't see that as a problem in itself.

It was £20 I think. https://www.themasterlocksmith.com/product/bmw-key-repair/

Nice !!

I switched to 5w-40 from 5w-30 a couple of years ago and the engine is quieter when cold but about the same when hot which strangely is the opposite of what I'd have expected. 5w-40 seems the right thing to do for an older high mileage engine but in reality I'm sure it is fine on either.

Ah ! I did not know that

He didn't buy the service pack.

The first E60 I test drove was a 2006 N52 525i. In hindsight I should probably have bought it, although it had 20k more miles on it and was more expensive than the 2004 530i M54 that I ended up buying a couple of months later. Quite hard to find the N52. By that time most were buying diesel, and the N52 was only available for a couple of years before the impressive but flawed and troublesome N53 arrived.

Congrats ! So how was the 3.0l N52 ?

Great good luck !

I've seen it said here before, and oh so true The garage I use has the standing instruction to use non-BMW parts where it makes sense to do so to save money, but always decent OEM quality and no cheap and nasty parts. Just has to replace my water pump for the second time. The garage last replaced it about 5 years ago not long after I bought the car. On the face of it a 5 year life is quite respectable, but not even 40k miles in that time is not so respectable. Not so much fun to have the water pump fail on the motorway. lose all your coolant and have the car recovered on a truck. Fortunately the engine did not get hot, so no problems in that respect, all is well.

Very compelling. But how many times have you ever aquaplaned ? Never in my 40+ years of driving. If you drive to the conditions, then that shouldn't happen. In real life you wouldn't go that fast in that situation. So I think that is mostly theoretical. Perhaps they should have done some emergency braking tests in those two cars ? The car with the new tyres on the front may stop safely. The car with the half worn tyres on the front may slam into the car in the front. For me there is no choice - staggered set-up so I cannot choose. Currently my fronts are due for replacement in the next 12 months. They will get new tyres, and yes the rears will be half worn. I have no concerns about that.

This appeared briefly today and then went away. I can't find an explanation for it anywhere.

Perfect, thanks ! Yes I see now it is the pic of the door and window

It says N52 in the ad. That may well be a better choice than the later direct injection N53 which can be a nightmare.

I've done a lot of mileage with different brands front and rear, never been a problem for me the cars have always felt fine. I'd be inclined to put the better tyres on the rear, although if you get into an emergency braking situation I guess you'd wish you had the newer ones on the front. Individual choice.

45/40mm too low for my liking.

I've used these guys twice, great service and saved me a lot of money. Mine is the diamond key. Worth giving them a call. https://www.themasterlocksmith.com/

A second hand door in the same colour so wouldn't need spraying might do the trick. although I guess no guarantee of the colour match. There are specialist BMW breakers, google it and try them EDIT: I had the same thing a few years back. A serious dent about that size but in the rear panel. Asda carpark. A note was left on my windscreen so that the perpetrator was seen to be doing the right thing by any onlookers, but it was a false name and number. I elected not do do it on insurance and paid it myself.

I fitted Pagid disks and pads a few years back, no complaints with them except a bit of squealing sometimes, but I've also had that with genuine BMW pads anyway. There was a big thread on here somewhere a while ago about low dust pads with some good suggestions - might have been the E39 section.

Interestingly, I looked at a Meyle part on ebay, and in the description it says 100,000 miles minimum performance guarantee (for terms of guarantee see www.meyle.com) So then, either I was unlucky with the failure of the previous part at 40,000 miles (which I don't know the brand of) , or else it was poor quality. Anyway in less then 2 years time I won't have the car, so it doesn't matter next time around.

Yes I hate the no temperature gauge thing ! Anyway thanks to my alertness and quick action the car survived to live another day. In terms of the waterpump life - I replaced it shortly after I got the car over 5 years ago because the garage noticed it was noisy at the service. That was about 105k miles and might have been the factory original, If so then the aftermarket part that was fitted lasted less than half as long. Or else that was already the second pump so 40-50k miles is about it for them. Whatever, I won't have the car another 40k miles so I won't need to replace it again.

No temp gauge but you would get a warning about the engine temperature being high and there wasn't one. I got the warning light about low coolant so I pulled over soon enough before the engine got hot. I pulled over when there was still loads of coolant left, evidenced by the flood underneath the car afterwards ! New water pump and a couple of new belts fitted today and all is well, engine is sweet and car driving perfectly exactly as before. Good save. Same thing happened to me with my old E36 years ago, although in that case I felt the water pump let go, and saw the temp gauge rise so was able to avoid engine damage there as well.