What have you done to your car today?

Confirmed there is no saving my starter motor, it obliterated the brushes, the current collectors are shot and even the solenoid seems unreliable... Now to find a decent one at a reasonable price and delivery time!
On a positive note, I got the technique dialed to pull it out by just removing the sound generator :)

PXL_20260208_152618439.jpg

Crazy how much that deteriorated over two and a half years and 15k miles! I guess it was the start of the downhill when I did take it apart back then and gave it a clean...
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I managed to ”rebuild” the original starter I pulled from my coupe last summer. Replaced the brushes, gave everything a good clean and put some new grease where required. Will not need it as replaced with a new one so probably will be just gathering dust in the basement.
 
~86000 miles. Mine did not fail but it was quite slow to spin, there was a big difference to when I installed the new one.
 
Mine was at 120k miles and was slow to start since 105k so that gives you an idea of how they decline. Funny how it had a couple months of very good starts before the final hurray.
 
Fitted new inner and outer Delphi tie rods. With a break in the middle to go buy a massive 34mm spanner to finish the job.

Also noticed the top bolt on the nearside brake shield had worn through, so slapped a couple of washers in there to hold it in place. Very fiddly without taking the brake disc off, but managed it.
 
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Micke said:
I managed to ”rebuild” the original starter I pulled from my coupe last summer. Replaced the brushes, gave everything a good clean and put some new grease where required. Will not need it as replaced with a new one so probably will be just gathering dust in the basement.
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I might do the same to the one I replaced in my zed. Can I ask, where did you get the brushes? Thanks.

Edit: Mine failed at 39k.
 
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@abar121 I bought them from a place in Estonia called Aeromotors, I buy most of the parts from there. The part was from Bosch 1004336526. It was easier to replace the holder with the brushes, did not want to solder new brushes in (too lazy).
 
I've got a N52 refurbished starter sat in my parts bin that stopped working and I replaced, was only about a year old and I think it was the solenoid that failed rather than the motor itself, so presumably the brushes are good. Think it was on the car for under two years and probably about 10k miles. It's waiting to be chucked, if anyone wants it they'd be welcome to it for postage costs. Part number 0986021500 on it, Bosch branded refurb.
 
Took both z4s out as his 'n' hers in a mini convoy of 2, to see my parents and to give them both a run (cars, not the parents). Filled up both tanks £121, mine was ½ full. The 2.5 was on the fuel light, both 99 octane.
Both ran beautifully. There's a squeak coming from the 2.5 somewhere, suspect a pulley.
Got home, scanned the 2.5 as a couple of lights appeared and got them cleared, nothing that surprised me but everything monitorable.
Applied silicone grease to the o rings at the top of both dipsticks.
Going to have to let the wife drive my 3.0 so I can get to appreciate how good it looks from behind.
 
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Changed the oil, cleaned the oil level sensor meanwhile, but without success, it still triggers the yellow oil light although there is enough oil. Is there anything I can do about it or is it calling for replacement? It's been acting up for a couple of months, more and more often.
Also cleaned the wiper motor to solve the minor wiper parking issue.
 
x-driver said:
Changed the oil, cleaned the oil level sensor meanwhile, but without success, it still triggers the yellow oil light although there is enough oil. Is there anything I can do about it or is it calling for replacement? It's been acting up for a couple of months, more and more often.
Also cleaned the wiper motor to solve the minor wiper parking issue.
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Sounds just like my coolant level sensor in my expansion tank. Going to have to change it eventually. I'd try to do mine in situ by there's a hose in the way. Grrrr
 
Cv6benplus said:
Sounds just like my coolant level sensor in my expansion tank. Going to have to change it eventually. I'd try to do mine in situ by there's a hose in the way. Grrrr
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I'm not happy at all, I won't remove the faulty sensor before next oil change which won't happen anytime soon, but the annoying light will keep flashing 😅 not to mention the price for original oil sensor - 250€+. Is it safe to use aftermarket sensor or will it be unreliable?
 
x-driver said:
I'm not happy at all, I won't remove the faulty sensor before next oil change which won't happen anytime soon, but the annoying light will keep flashing 😅 not to mention the price for original oil sensor - 250€+. Is it safe to use aftermarket sensor or will it be unreliable?
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I changed mine when I did the sump gasket.
I bought this. I checked my eBay purchases.
ebay.us

Oil Level Sensor For BMW 1 3 5 7 Series E46 E81 E87 E90 E91 Z4 X3 X5 12617508003 | eBay UK

Part Number： 12617508003, 12611439810. Bmw 1 Series E81 Hatch from 2006 to 2012. Bmw 1 Series E87 Hatch from 2004 to 2012. Bmw 3 Series E91 Estate from 2005 to 2012. Bmw 3 Series E90 Saloon from 2005 to 2011.
ebay.us
 
Went out in my 2.5 auto today. I learnt that the wipers were crap so I bought 2 new ones from Halfords and fitted them.
Left it on its ignition too long at home when scanning for the dash lights and gave myself a flat battery, think I have intermittent brake pressure sensors.
I also swapped the GM5 module for one I had in stock and successfully paired both keys to it and resolved the central locking issue. Also diagnosed that the original gm5 module has fault 24 and 27 relays for central locking and unlocking drivers door. I think it's worth getting it repaired.
I also learned that intermittent wipe works on this car which confirmed to me that it doesn't on my 3.0 and now I have to understand why. Rain sensor, gm5, wiper motor or a separate relay elsewhere?
 
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Last Friday, my passenger window decided to fail while halfway open! So today, I have fitted a new regulator. Not a fun job at all, very fiddly and took me about 4 hours start to finish (including fitting sound deadening and preventive rustproofing in the door skin).

Not helped by the fact that I carefully refitted the door card, clipped it in perfectly, patted myself on the back for a job well done, only to find the door airbag was still in the footwell.

Door card off again, fit the airbag, carefully refit the door card, go to connect the tweeter, only to find that I hadn't connected the main door speaker.

Door card off again. 🤬

Finally finished about 2 minutes before the rain started!

By the way, BMW wanted over £500 for the regulator; I found a pattern part for £75. You can get a repair kit for about £12, but I reckon that it would be a real faff to fit, and that the extra £63 for the pattern regulator is well worth the money!

Not a job I want to repeat anytime soon, though!
 
GreySquirrel said:
Last Friday, my passenger window decided to fail while halfway open! So today, I have fitted a new regulator. Not a fun job at all, very fiddly and took me about 4 hours start to finish (including fitting sound deadening and preventive rustproofing in the door skin).

Not helped by the fact that I carefully refitted the door card, clipped it in perfectly, patted myself on the back for a job well done, only to find the door airbag was still in the footwell.

Door card off again, fit the airbag, carefully refit the door card, go to connect the tweeter, only to find that I hadn't connected the main door speaker.

Door card off again. 🤬

Finally finished about 2 minutes before the rain started!

By the way, BMW wanted over £500 for the regulator; I found a pattern part for £75. You can get a repair kit for about £12, but I reckon that it would be a real faff to fit, and that the extra £63 for the pattern regulator is well worth the money!

Not a job I want to repeat anytime soon, though!
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OMG what a pain, got there in the end though. Sorry, it did make me laugh though :rofl:
 
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