Hello all,
After introducing myself recently, I thought I'd do a quick history of where I am with the E85, just to see if anyone has any "you need to do XYZ" thoughts that will be helpful. I picked the car up pretty much this time last year, with about 56,000 miles, and a huge stack of service history data. Everything worked as it should, but it was notable that the roof motor was struggling a bit, so pretty much as soon as I got the car home I relocated the roof motor. Sure enough, the drains were blocked and it was sitting in a bucket of stagnant water. It's amazing that it was working at all. And for a year, I just drove it. And so far it's always driven very well indeed - the six speed manual gearbox can sometimes be a little notchy getting into 1st from cold, but otherwise, no problems at all. The heated seats were lovely over winter, and the air con works just perfectly. It lives outside and gets used in all weathers, so I'm aware that I'll need to keep an eye on water leaks but that's OK. It's proven itself already to be a lot more waterproof than my old MX-5, and the colander on wheels that was the Austin Healey Sprite.
The valve cover and gasket have been replaced. I was originally going to replace just the gasket, so I ordered one, and then realised that the cover was warped in the front corners. So, I bought a cheapo eBay aluminium cover, which came complete with gaskets. The cover needed a bit of work to clean up the casting and reshape the breather spigot, but nothing that couldn't be achieved without a Dremel and some hand files. And actually, this was quite relaxing work. For now, I've fitted it with the gaskets that came with the cover and a smidgeon of Reinzosil where the timing cover meets, on the grounds that if it does leak again in the near future I can whip it off, fix the problem (or more likely, buy a better cover...) and fit it with the 'good' gasket that I ordered originally.
The parking sensors have fixed themselves... I'm 99% sure this must have been water ingress in that case. They failed after a six hour drive through a monsoon a couple of months back, and now after a few warm(ish) days recently they've started working again. I've got the spares now, so they can stay on hand. I don't like it when problems just go away like that, but in this case I think I can make a good enough case in my mind for things just drying out.
The roof motor feels like it needs the commutator cleaning. There seems to be one position where if it stops, it needs a tap with a rubber mallet to get it moving again. And I keep a small mallet in the boot for just this purpose.
I fixed an awful clattering noise over the local bumpy Fenland roads by the simple act of closing the boot lid.
Shocks, I think, could do with replacing. I can't find anything in the extensive service history that came with the car that indicates that they've ever been replaced, and they're 22 years old now. And here I could do with a bit of advice - are there any specific recommendations for the E85? Normal road driving, I don't go anywhere near racetracks (not on four wheels, anyway) and I'm best described as a steady, rather than spirited driver
I was initially thinking B4s, but I'm sure that there are others out there that work just as well.
Brakes are still working well, but I'd like to change the fluid and check out the disks and pads while I'm there. And at the same time, even though the oil service indicator is still showing 10000 miles I'd like to change the oil and filter, just for peace of mind. Gearbox and diff oil, I'm unsure about - are there any E85 specific requirements that make replacing these awkward?
The airbag light is still on - but I'm not expecting that to miraculously fix itself like the parking sensors! Enuff_zed, I'll drop you a note soon to try to sort out a mutually convenient time to pop over if that's still OK?
Is there anything else that I should just be checking as a matter of course? As previously mentioned, I relocated the roof motor to the boot, and have also given the hood a good cleaning and reproofing with Renovo. The central locking works 99% of the time but occasionally the passenger door doesn't unlock - which will need looking at soon. I've ordered a BMW Scanner 1.4 so I can look at any stored codes. I've tried in vain to get something to play with the UniCarScan 2100 that I use on my bike, but so far nothing I've installed on my phone will talk to the car.
Thanks all,
After introducing myself recently, I thought I'd do a quick history of where I am with the E85, just to see if anyone has any "you need to do XYZ" thoughts that will be helpful. I picked the car up pretty much this time last year, with about 56,000 miles, and a huge stack of service history data. Everything worked as it should, but it was notable that the roof motor was struggling a bit, so pretty much as soon as I got the car home I relocated the roof motor. Sure enough, the drains were blocked and it was sitting in a bucket of stagnant water. It's amazing that it was working at all. And for a year, I just drove it. And so far it's always driven very well indeed - the six speed manual gearbox can sometimes be a little notchy getting into 1st from cold, but otherwise, no problems at all. The heated seats were lovely over winter, and the air con works just perfectly. It lives outside and gets used in all weathers, so I'm aware that I'll need to keep an eye on water leaks but that's OK. It's proven itself already to be a lot more waterproof than my old MX-5, and the colander on wheels that was the Austin Healey Sprite.
The valve cover and gasket have been replaced. I was originally going to replace just the gasket, so I ordered one, and then realised that the cover was warped in the front corners. So, I bought a cheapo eBay aluminium cover, which came complete with gaskets. The cover needed a bit of work to clean up the casting and reshape the breather spigot, but nothing that couldn't be achieved without a Dremel and some hand files. And actually, this was quite relaxing work. For now, I've fitted it with the gaskets that came with the cover and a smidgeon of Reinzosil where the timing cover meets, on the grounds that if it does leak again in the near future I can whip it off, fix the problem (or more likely, buy a better cover...) and fit it with the 'good' gasket that I ordered originally.
The parking sensors have fixed themselves... I'm 99% sure this must have been water ingress in that case. They failed after a six hour drive through a monsoon a couple of months back, and now after a few warm(ish) days recently they've started working again. I've got the spares now, so they can stay on hand. I don't like it when problems just go away like that, but in this case I think I can make a good enough case in my mind for things just drying out.
The roof motor feels like it needs the commutator cleaning. There seems to be one position where if it stops, it needs a tap with a rubber mallet to get it moving again. And I keep a small mallet in the boot for just this purpose.
I fixed an awful clattering noise over the local bumpy Fenland roads by the simple act of closing the boot lid.
Shocks, I think, could do with replacing. I can't find anything in the extensive service history that came with the car that indicates that they've ever been replaced, and they're 22 years old now. And here I could do with a bit of advice - are there any specific recommendations for the E85? Normal road driving, I don't go anywhere near racetracks (not on four wheels, anyway) and I'm best described as a steady, rather than spirited driver
I was initially thinking B4s, but I'm sure that there are others out there that work just as well.Brakes are still working well, but I'd like to change the fluid and check out the disks and pads while I'm there. And at the same time, even though the oil service indicator is still showing 10000 miles I'd like to change the oil and filter, just for peace of mind. Gearbox and diff oil, I'm unsure about - are there any E85 specific requirements that make replacing these awkward?
The airbag light is still on - but I'm not expecting that to miraculously fix itself like the parking sensors! Enuff_zed, I'll drop you a note soon to try to sort out a mutually convenient time to pop over if that's still OK?
Is there anything else that I should just be checking as a matter of course? As previously mentioned, I relocated the roof motor to the boot, and have also given the hood a good cleaning and reproofing with Renovo. The central locking works 99% of the time but occasionally the passenger door doesn't unlock - which will need looking at soon. I've ordered a BMW Scanner 1.4 so I can look at any stored codes. I've tried in vain to get something to play with the UniCarScan 2100 that I use on my bike, but so far nothing I've installed on my phone will talk to the car.
Thanks all,
Attleborough, Norfolk
beograd
North West Surrey