M Service History advice

[Beedub]

i do mine every 2 years... wether its done 5 miles or 2000 or whatever i just stick to the schedule which is in money terms... a total waste.
service book looks great for only 12k miles tho... lmoa!! !!! my car more than most needs to be seen to have had this level of care which if i ever sell will hopefully lend towards the efforts to keep it perfect. I just dont think you can strap this type of power out of the motor and still stick to the normal servicing... you pay to play i guess.

TBH there is no point getting your car serviced anywhere. The fact you have done the shims yourself and will continue to do so means any other stamps are worthless. Having these set right is probably the most important item on a service schedule, and you have now done this yourself so any buyer cannot rely on the service stamps.

dont get me wrong, I'll be doing mine when due, but from that point forward I will be doing all servicing. The car will be 15 years old by then and a well documented service diy history with pictures etc shouldn't be an issue.

utter Bollox . the shims are done interimly by myself and it is still done at a an indie as per the normal schedule in the book.... anything i do is between the regular intervals set by bmw... cant be better imo. Every single stamp in my book is per the proper schedule and not done by mileage markers. The checks i do are photographed and evidenced and are purely for additional piece of mind for myself and to keep an eye on whats happening with my engine due to the additional stress, it also lets me keep a really detailed accurate tally of movement on the valve clearances.

you choose to do yours mileage based which means to some that wouldn't understand it looks like your skimping and avoiding the costs... it should be done very 2 years for this type of vehicle i think thats very reasonable. Anything between that schedule is over servicing and at the owners discretion. If i did things your way my car at 12k miles and a decade old wouldn't have had a inspection 2 yet... which is madness on a specialist engine like this.

These things are not getting any younger, over servicing is not doing any harm at all..... each to their own, ill continue to pay every 2 years at an indie for the service due at that time, i have an oil service due this year.. piss easy to do and ill still take it to an indie for the stamp id probably take way more care doing it myself at home.... it may be a waste of money to some, but to me its not. As said above anything i do is above and beyond and cant ever be deemed as an issue.

 

[srhutch]

Your missing the point. Nothing to do with time or mileage.

What I'm saying is that if I did all the servicing on my car now it would be seen as a detriment according to virtually everybody. The fact you have opened your engine and done the shims has to be treated in the same regard. If your car was under warranty, the warranty would be null and void.

As for checking the shims every two years :lol:

 

[Machine monkey]

Out of interest beedub do VF advise harmonic damper upgrades or crank bearing services due to the blower? Just straight six engines and s54's especial struggle with harmonic issues. And obviously your putting more stress through the crank to drive the blower???

 

[Mangozac]

As for checking the shims every two years :lol:

Especially if doing such low mileage!

 

[LostBoy_84]

Ok, rather than start a new thread as this one is similar to the question I was going to ask anyway...

Can I have thoughts/comments on a SH that reads like this please:

15/5/16 Running-in 1490 miles

19/11/08 Oil Service 14236 miles

19/08/09 Insp I 24183 miles

08/03/12 Oil Service 37569 miles

17/5/14 Insp I 44163 miles

08/04/16 Oil/Insp I 45318 miles

(currently on about 45700 miles)


Many thanks in advance

It's not strictly to schedule like others have said.
I doubt there'll be any real negative impact mechanically.
The downside IMO is that it may take longer to sell on or not keep its value as well as one which has been serviced exactly to schedule.

When I was looking to buy I'd say around 75% had some kind of discrepancy.

 

[mr wilks]

Ok, rather than start a new thread as this one is similar to the question I was going to ask anyway...

Can I have thoughts/comments on a SH that reads like this please:

15/5/16 Running-in 1490 miles

19/11/08 Oil Service 14236 miles

19/08/09 Insp I 24183 miles

08/03/12 Oil Service 37569 miles

17/5/14 Insp I 44163 miles

08/04/16 Oil/Insp I 45318 miles

(currently on about 45700 miles)


Many thanks in advance

When I was looking to buy I'd say around 75% had some kind of discrepancy.

Id say that will only get higher as time goes on & in reality i bet even the low milers would fall down somewhere if the history was scrutinized
Buying a car over 10 years old common sense has to prevail at some point & judge each car on its overall condition , history , spec
Its unrealistic to expect every coolant , brake , oil change to be done bang on time , its the biggies that really need to be close

 

[Babw]

From a financial point, spending X amount on servicing looking at time elapsed rather than mileage may cost you more than what you might lose come sale time; taking into consideration time off work etc These are 15-20k cars after all.

Also considering these cars use fully synthetic oils everywhere what can "go off" if you're not using it?

 

[Beedub]

Your missing the point. Nothing to do with time or mileage.

What I'm saying is that if I did all the servicing on my car now it would be seen as a detriment according to virtually everybody. The fact you have opened your engine and done the shims has to be treated in the same regard. If your car was under warranty, the warranty would be null and void.

As for checking the shims every two years :lol:

whatever you say, you do it your way and ill do mine.... and for even bigger LOL... i check the shims yearly... its quick its easy and i can build a real detailed picture on movement on my highly stressed motor, which may be low mile but has seen alot of high rev use. The car will have an oil service as per the schedule this year then in another 2 years an inspection 1.

simple concept really.

 

[Darren Slone]

Out of interest beedub do VF advise harmonic damper upgrades or crank bearing services due to the blower? Just straight six engines and s54's especial struggle with harmonic issues. And obviously your putting more stress through the crank to drive the blower???

This is interesting, what are the harmonic dampers?

 

[srhutch]

Your missing the point. Nothing to do with time or mileage.

What I'm saying is that if I did all the servicing on my car now it would be seen as a detriment according to virtually everybody. The fact you have opened your engine and done the shims has to be treated in the same regard. If your car was under warranty, the warranty would be null and void.

As for checking the shims every two years :lol:

whatever you say, you do it your way and ill do mine.... and for even bigger LOL... i check the shims yearly... its quick its easy and i can build a real detailed picture on movement on my highly stressed motor, which may be low mile but has seen alot of high rev use. The car will have an oil service as per the schedule this year then in another 2 years an inspection 1.

simple concept really.

Still missing the point, it's got nothing to do with how often they are changed, but the fact you are doing it. Once you start tinkering with shims then a service stamp is pretty worthless going forward.

 

[Machine monkey]

Out of interest beedub do VF advise harmonic damper upgrades or crank bearing services due to the blower? Just straight six engines and s54's especial struggle with harmonic issues. And obviously your putting more stress through the crank to drive the blower???

This is interesting, what are the harmonic dampers?

They can be quite complex or simply a rubber ring of the correct density. On the m54 they fall in to the rubber ring category. They degrade and where out over time like all rubber parts. And it can lead to some big problems with unwanted vibrations transited through the crank.

 

[TomK]

Still missing the point, it's got nothing to do with how often they are changed, but the fact you are doing it. Once you start tinkering with shims then a service stamp is pretty worthless going forward.

I think I'm missing your point?
Are you suggesting that because he checks him shims over and above the service schedule that any services which check them also are null and void? If so, for what possible reason?
It's like suggesting putting an additional oill service on the car voids any stamps. Nonsense surely? To check the shims is not some particularly difficult job, it just takes time. I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of it.

 

[tomscott]

My INSII was done at 46k but again like others needed doing 2-3k further down the line but had it done early for similar reasons to above.

 

[Z4M-2006]

For what its worth i dont think you can throw too much attention at an S54....

Checking the clearances often is a good indicator of any impending wear on the cams and followers..


Byron had his clearances done and still had to rectify a problem by himself,so i can understand his way of working.


Nothing is guarenteed unless you have witnesses the clearances being done with your own eyes.Its super easy to concoct a piece of paper with readings scribbled down.

Ny Z4Mc had an insp 1 at a main dealer up in Cumbria 6k before i bought it,the cam cover had a weep as they hadnt replaced it during the "supposed" valve check....
I replaced the cam cover but decided to check the clearances as it was only an extra 40 mins....found 3 out of spec..

 

[Beedub]

Still missing the point, it's got nothing to do with how often they are changed, but the fact you are doing it. Once you start tinkering with shims then a service stamp is pretty worthless going forward.

I think I'm missing your point?
Are you suggesting that because he checks him shims over and above the service schedule that any services which check them also are null and void? If so, for what possible reason?
It's like suggesting putting an additional oill service on the car voids any stamps. Nonsense surely? To check the shims is not some particularly difficult job, it just takes time. I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of it.

woaaa thought i was loosing my mind... Glad other see it this way..

Hutch.... you do it your way and ill do mine. i totally disagree with you... this car is getting no younger... ill keep over servicing as long as possible and the over service bits will always be done my myself... The by the book every 2 years stuff is done by an indie as i want the stamps... if i have a potential buyer thats put off by me doing it that way then s**t.... he's probably not really interested in the car.
i would guess I'm one of the very few on here that follow the 2 year schedule as per the book time based as opposed to mileage, the s54 is not your average run of the mill motor and has some issues... anything done above and beyond is a major plus and to still keep it at an indie for the book stamps shows what type of owner a potential buyer is dealing with.

 

[Beedub]

For what its worth i dont think you can throw too much attention at an S54....

Checking the clearances often is a good indicator of any impending wear on the cams and followers..


Byron had his clearances done and still had to rectify a problem by himself,so i can understand his way of working.


Nothing is guarenteed unless you have witnesses the clearances being done with your own eyes.Its super easy to concoct a piece of paper with readings scribbled down.

Ny Z4Mc had an insp 1 at a main dealer up in Cumbria 6k before i bought it,the cam cover had a weep as they hadnt replaced it during the "supposed" valve check....
I replaced the cam cover but decided to check the clearances as it was only an extra 40 mins....found 3 out of spec..

this pretty much ends the conversation for me. With my experiences i trust no-one, but still want the book to be stamped up correctly.... i make my own checks in between to keep a really detailed eye on things... i call it cheap insurance, and actually i enjoy it so its no hardship. Especially once i realise how easy the VC are to do!! Redish didn't change valve gaskets or anything that was needed i a bid to get that headline price down which i dont and didnt agree with. Way to many of these dealers and indies are cutting corners, even the most respected ones. i Trust no-one.

how anyone finds my way of working laughable is beyond me.

 

[tomscott]

For what its worth i dont think you can throw too much attention at an S54....

Checking the clearances often is a good indicator of any impending wear on the cams and followers..


Byron had his clearances done and still had to rectify a problem by himself,so i can understand his way of working.


Nothing is guarenteed unless you have witnesses the clearances being done with your own eyes.Its super easy to concoct a piece of paper with readings scribbled down.

Ny Z4Mc had an insp 1 at a main dealer up in Cumbria 6k before i bought it,the cam cover had a weep as they hadnt replaced it during the "supposed" valve check....
I replaced the cam cover but decided to check the clearances as it was only an extra 40 mins....found 3 out of spec..

Bet that was Lloyds worst dealer on this earth.

 

[Z4M-2006]

Yes Tom,

I think it was Lloyds actually..

Didn't realise they was bad

 

[Beedub]

Out of interest beedub do VF advise harmonic damper upgrades or crank bearing services due to the blower? Just straight six engines and s54's especial struggle with harmonic issues. And obviously your putting more stress through the crank to drive the blower???

This is interesting, what are the harmonic dampers?

They can be quite complex or simply a rubber ring of the correct density. On the m54 they fall in to the rubber ring category. They degrade and where out over time like all rubber parts. And it can lead to some big problems with unwanted vibrations transited through the crank.

they do deteriorate and need replacing. ATI do a very nice liquid filled unit but they dont work with the s/c pullies i believe. These are imperative for engine life and longevity and often overlooked!

 

[Machine monkey]

Out of interest beedub do VF advise harmonic damper upgrades or crank bearing services due to the blower? Just straight six engines and s54's especial struggle with harmonic issues. And obviously your putting more stress through the crank to drive the blower???

This is interesting, what are the harmonic dampers?

They can be quite complex or simply a rubber ring of the correct density. On the m54 they fall in to the rubber ring category. They degrade and where out over time like all rubber parts. And it can lead to some big problems with unwanted vibrations transited through the crank.

There is a company near me that make uprated dampers for a lot of TVRs they do a product for bmws too. I will look there name up and post a link. But your right very over looked component in my opinion. I can't help but think some of the bearing isues with the s54 maybe related. And especial with yours and all charged cars.