What have you done to your car today?

Had a fun job 30 minute job today turn into a 3 hour slog when 2 torx bolts rounded...

Was replacing the bonnet latch mechanism and the V brace at the same time when one of the bolts on the V brace for the bonnet latch decided to round itself. I swore a lot and told myself I knew I shouldn't have tried this through the kidney grilles!

Anyway, off came the bumper!

PXL_20240623_112443732.MP_edit.jpg

Much easier to access the bolts this way, but despite this I still rounded another one on the left side of the V brace... Why did BMW decide to use bolts with such a shallow torx slot.

Managed to drill out the two offending bolts and re-tap the holes. I can tell today was against me as I broke a drill bit in the process.

All ready now for the new V brace (shrink wrapped old one) and bonnet latch, just awaiting new bolts.

On a related note, does anyone know the best way to sort this area out?

PXL_20240623_112443732.MP_zoom.jpg

Is it just a case of wire brush/sand back and re-coat with Hammerite or similar?
 
TheDan said:
Is it just a case of wire brush/sand back and re-coat with Hammerite or similar?
Click to expand...

Those v-brace bolts are notorious for not coming out cleanly. Almost as notorious as the paint flaking off the v-brace in the first place.

And regarding that rusty box section, that’s exactly what I’ve just done - rubbed down and painted with black hammerite.
 
Had ‘fun’ replacing my CCV mainly because getting this vacuum line back in place is a real pain

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It wasn’t fully back on so I had a vacuum leak and the car running like a bag of spanners. I was so focused on the parts that I’d changed that I neglected this one. :headbang:

Since it ran rough, I’ve had an engine management light on and these codes…

IMG_7873.jpeg

Before loading the parts cannon and replacing the O2 sensors, some googling made me realise that the chance of all four dying at the same time was slim to none and it was most likely a fuse. After much more time on google, I found the relevant fuse (number four in the engine bay).

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I need to grab a new fuse today and that will hopefully be it.
 

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TheDan said:
Had a fun job 30 minute job today turn into a 3 hour slog when 2 torx bolts rounded...

Was replacing the bonnet latch mechanism and the V brace at the same time when one of the bolts on the V brace for the bonnet latch decided to round itself. I swore a lot and told myself I knew I shouldn't have tried this through the kidney grilles!

Anyway, off came the bumper!

PXL_20240623_112443732.MP_edit.jpg

Much easier to access the bolts this way, but despite this I still rounded another one on the left side of the V brace... Why did BMW decide to use bolts with such a shallow torx slot.

Managed to drill out the two offending bolts and re-tap the holes. I can tell today was against me as I broke a drill bit in the process.

All ready now for the new V brace (shrink wrapped old one) and bonnet latch, just awaiting new bolts.

On a related note, does anyone know the best way to sort this area out?

PXL_20240623_112443732.MP_zoom.jpg

Is it just a case of wire brush/sand back and re-coat with Hammerite or similar?
Click to expand...

This is on my list because there is virtually no paint left on my brace and it looks awful.

I was going to remove it and repaint it myself but I’ve just bought a new one from BMW for £40. I rattle canned the canards on my old M140i and they didn’t hold up too well to stone chips etc hence buying a new brace.

I had some surface rust in the t metal panel at the front so it’s been pained sanded, treated with rust converter and painted. It looks better than the rust.
 
She got through another MOT without an advisory… I really need to drive it this summer!
 

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ZeddyTea said:
She got through another MOT without an advisory… I really need to drive it this summer!
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That’s impressive. Everyone hopes for 0 advisories but it’s not so common as the cars mature. My mileage is a criminal sub-1,000 for each of last two years. In part because I bought a Mercedes and in part because ‘she’s’ become a garage queen. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. A cloud sends ‘her’ back into cover!
 
I collected it from Ross at RBM Hampshire after having an Inspection 1 Service, new A/C drive belt and new calipers, discs and pads on the front.

The rear brakes will need doing soonish, but I need to let my credit card recover first!
 
Mr Tidy said:
I collected it from Ross at RBM Hampshire after having an Inspection 1 Service, new A/C drive belt and new calipers, discs and pads on the front.

The rear brakes will need doing soonish, but I need to let my credit card recover first!
Click to expand...
Ouch, sounds expensive
 
Zedebee said:
Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 8:34 pm
I collected it from Ross at RBM Hampshire after having an Inspection 1 Service, new A/C drive belt and new calipers, discs and pads on the front.

The rear brakes will need doing soonish, but I need to let my credit card recover first!
Ouch, sounds expensive
Click to expand...

It was, but I want to keep it spot on to enjoy it properly - especially now I've started doing some of B21s Scottish road trips where it gets to stretch its legs a bit. :lol:
 
TheDan said:
Had a fun job 30 minute job today turn into a 3 hour slog when 2 torx bolts rounded...

Was replacing the bonnet latch mechanism and the V brace at the same time when one of the bolts on the V brace for the bonnet latch decided to round itself. I swore a lot and told myself I knew I shouldn't have tried this through the kidney grilles!

Anyway, off came the bumper!

PXL_20240623_112443732.MP_edit.jpg

Much easier to access the bolts this way, but despite this I still rounded another one on the left side of the V brace... Why did BMW decide to use bolts with such a shallow torx slot.

Managed to drill out the two offending bolts and re-tap the holes. I can tell today was against me as I broke a drill bit in the process.

All ready now for the new V brace (shrink wrapped old one) and bonnet latch, just awaiting new bolts.

On a related note, does anyone know the best way to sort this area out?

PXL_20240623_112443732.MP_zoom.jpg

Is it just a case of wire brush/sand back and re-coat with Hammerite or similar?
Click to expand...

I discovered the hard way tonight that this is going to be an absolute turd of a job on my car too.

I thought that it can’t be that bad and attempted to get those four bolts undone through the grilles. It’s not happening. I’ll order some replacement bolts from BMW and it looms like it’ll be a bumper off job like yours. I need to take my bumper off anyway because my passenger side headlight washer shat itself tonight and started leaking. Joy.
 
Radiator fan change yesterday....surprisingly easy. Picture from a few weeks ago because, well why not?!?!
 

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STC_Zed said:
I discovered the hard way tonight that this is going to be an absolute turd of a job on my car too.

I thought that it can’t be that bad and attempted to get those four bolts undone through the grilles. It’s not happening. I’ll order some replacement bolts from BMW and it looms like it’ll be a bumper off job like yours. I need to take my bumper off anyway because my passenger side headlight washer shat itself tonight and started leaking. Joy.
Click to expand...

Yup I tried this a few weeks back. If you can get the 2 bolts off on the lower part of the brace either side through the grills, then you can just undo two bolts on the bonnet catch drop it down and manoeuvre the whole assemble including bonnet catch through the grills quite easily. No bumper off required.
Those two bolts weren't too bad, the 2 on the top side attaching to the bonnet catch assembly though, those can go to hell. Rounded and destroyed, not a chance.

Put mine back on the car for now until I can be bothered to sort, might just buy a whole new assembly and bollocks to it!

STC_Zed said:
I was going to remove it and repaint it myself but I’ve just bought a new one from BMW for £40. I rattle canned the canards on my old M140i and they didn’t hold up too well to stone chips etc hence buying a new brace.
Click to expand...

Was it £40 direct from BMW? Not too bad seeing as powder coating and the hassle probably isn't far off that.
 
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