dj1233

was that in store, or online?

it depends, as it might be luck. Or they know who you work for and the frequency of pay/pay dates. Check previous statements for smaller transactions (as in a few quid) as usually thats how they know a card is valid before trying bigger transactions. have you used any petrol station or shop in the past month you wouldn't normally go in to?

yeah, its the next safest way due to the protection PP give. No payment can be authorised without you logging into paypal and pressing pay. Plus its on a DD so its not an instant payment from you and you can stop a payment before it comes out of your account.

Have you changed the main thermostat, or only the EGR one?

if you use your CC through paypal you forfeit your credit card protection and only have PP to use for protection. If you're using PP use it as a normal transaction to come out of your bank using a DD. Then you're covered under the DD guarantee.

Check GSF, currently they have a 60% off sale on . . . .

You can buy the parts and do it yourself, the price is then reasonable considering BMW's labour is circa £120 an hour and probably quote for 1 hour each side.

Have you tried places such as EuroCarparts/GSF/Carparts4less, they do most the major manufacturers. Have you checked the price form BMW for discs & pads as they can be effectively priced too (ask Cotswolds on here)

Plenty of other options out there for a cheaper tyre set up. Having a dedicated set of Winter wheels is usually cheaper in the long run as your mileage is spread across the tyre set, and Winter tyres last a decent while. Check eBay for people selling sets of Winter wheels, you could probably pick up a full set for £200 with decent tyres on to see you through.

Have you untethered it and reconnected it? usually the best way of fixing it.

My last 5 was a 520D touring, with the M47 2 litre engine. And i would say that variant is certainly underpowered. To get the best out of it, and its performance you had to drive it like a petrol and use the revs. Lower down in the speeds you could surf the torque band, it is not enough at higher speeds to quickly gain speeds - dropping down a gear is far more efficient. You also felt that the engine was continuously working, it was always at mid range (if that makes sense) and you have to be aware of where you are in the rev range. Perhaps in an auto it is slightly different, but i don't think it would be much different. I say all that in comparison to my 530D. Where you can feel the engine is ticking along nicely and is not stressed 70% of the time. Only when you're increasing the speeds from 30> with hard acceleration it is, but even where surfing the torque wave from 40>60 you can tell the engine is easily adapting to the increase. The main differences i feel/have found is i feel the weight up front more with the bigger engine vs the 520D, so handling wise the front end does not feel as nimble when on fun roads. But the counter to this is the bigger engine gives good stability at the higher speeds and under heavy braking. Pulling out of junctions, the 530 has me all day long - more than enough power to move 1.8 tons of metal with ease. The 520, as mentioned above, you had to really work it to get that momentum going. A big car like the 5 series needs a torquey motor, and the 2L in the E6X series only had a top of 250ish lb ft. 300, IMO, is the right number to make the drive more effortless and easier on the engine/gearbox.

It was CHF11S found out. Got a bottle and topped it up.

I was checking the temperature of the car yesterday and last DPF regen status. Noticed the car was struggling to hold 60 C. So today i did a coolant change & Main thermostat + EGR thermostat. It now holds nicely at 90 C.

i have Continental WinterContact TS830 & 850's. Great tyre in the colder weather, and when/if it snows. Also good tyre life too, i've covered about 20k on them so far and they still have 5mm plus on them. But i do only put them on the car when the temperatures are never above 7 degrees.

yes, Swirl flap in to cylinder 3. Still managed to drive it roughly 400 miles (when i say drive, i mean dragged it) before it really gave up the ghost. But it was a needs must situation.