What have you done to your E89 today

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Reamesy said:
Where did you get your replacement struts?
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Ebay, first pair i saw Car parts in motion, said only 2 left, like they are doing now with Stabilus 499514. ??.

£23 each.
Does the job.
But the writing is different on each strut.Think they would supply matched pair.
 
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Put what may be the last BMW road map update (02-2025) into my repaired CIC unit.

Updated the Mr 12 Volt MMI box to their latest official release.

Then applied their patch for iPhone 17 / IOS 26

Tested various connectbity and systems before putting things properly back together.

All BMW parts worked OK apart from no GPS fix..but I assume in my garage with a metal roof and last reported position in Poland can't get a first fix.

Tried out the new direct USB feed to the DSP amp with mixed results..android phones and earlier iphone OK but no cigar with later iphones.

Since I'm only every going to use it as a media player with high res musak then no real issue.IMG_1116.JPGIMG_1115.JPG
 
B21 said:
Put what may be the last BMW road map update (02-2025) into my repaired CIC unit.

Updated the Mr 12 Volt MMI box to their latest official release.

Then applied their patch for iPhone 17 / IOS 26

Tested various connectbity and systems before putting things properly back together.

All BMW parts worked OK apart from no GPS fix..but I assume in my garage with a metal roof and last reported position in Poland can't get a first fix.

Tried out the new direct USB feed to the DSP amp with mixed results..android phones and earlier iphone OK but no cigar with later iphones.

Since I'm only every going to use it as a media player with high res musak then no real issue.View attachment 289210View attachment 289211
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Did the update work as the iPhone appears not to like it?
 
Reamesy said:
Did the update work as the iPhone appears not to like it?
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I've not tested the call feature on the MMI box with the two updates..both of which successfully installed..I'll check that in due course..it was more of a wiring check and any gotchas before I button up the trim etc..

The issue is the direct feed via iphone / lightning / usb to the optional USB add in card in the DSP amp..this allows you upto 192KHz/32 bit data transfers for your audio..since a CD uncompressed is about 44.1 KHZ at 16 bit gives the audio purists a bit of head room..with your ears you should appreciate the improvement..

Apple changed internally the lightning / usb interfaces around iphone 10 / ios 18 which now causes issues..I'll just use a larger older iphone as the media player..simples..here's the diagram ..pay attention!-:)PB Z4 Media connections.jpg
 
Dropped my car off at BMW Lookers Stoke for warranty work. I noticed when carrying out the DCT service, the engine sump has a weep and its not work me dropping the sub frame and buying a bridge mount to support the engine when its all covered. Picked up a 330e M Sport 75 plate. Nice, but has no theatre. It just feels too nice!
 
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Installed my newly painted kidney grills (semi gloss black) one thing I found out everybody lies about how easy they are to remove lol. I’m a car guy and have done my own work for years including a resto mod TR6 and replacing the grill on the Z3 I had. I have every tool in the book for removing the grills, like plastic wedges, bent tip flat blade screw drivers and others——they lie that just remove the front bumper screws or the front intake plastic, whilst that all helped it was still very tough to get to the clips. It took some lucky probing to get them. The outside ones near headlight were not the hardest, the toughest ones were the bottom 2 out of 3 that are hidden by metal rail. They also lie that once you get one off the other one is much easier—-not by much!! Some have said removal is a 5 minute job, another lie. So after 2 1/2 hours and with scraped up hands and arms I got them out. They look great reinstalled. Well anyways I though my grill story would give you a laugh.
 
Fyreball said:
Installed my newly painted kidney grills (semi gloss black) one thing I found out everybody lies about how easy they are to remove lol. I’m a car guy and have done my own work for years including a resto mod TR6 and replacing the grill on the Z3 I had. I have every tool in the book for removing the grills, like plastic wedges, bent tip flat blade screw drivers and others——they lie that just remove the front bumper screws or the front intake plastic, whilst that all helped it was still very tough to get to the clips. It took some lucky probing to get them. The outside ones near headlight were not the hardest, the toughest ones were the bottom 2 out of 3 that are hidden by metal rail. They also lie that once you get one off the other one is much easier—-not by much!! Some have said removal is a 5 minute job, another lie. So after 2 1/2 hours and with scraped up hands and arms I got them out. They look great reinstalled. Well anyways I though my grill story would give you a laugh.
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Second time it’s easy…
 
I'm not sure what folks who are not IT literate do with todays tech in cars?

I had issues with my Audiotec Fischer USB card in my Match 10 DSP/amp.

Most iphones didn't seem to want to play.

The AF web site referred obliquely to an 'update'....

After downloading said update and about an hour of faffing around I managed to get the laptop speaking directly to the USB card to update its firmware...

The LED turned out to be orange not green..looked green to me!

And ..voila..all my iPhones on all os versions now work..no soft or hard errors!

So that's 3 firmware updates (one on the Mr 12 Volt MMI, one on the MEC, one on the DSP), 2 major s/w updates (MMI and DSP) and a map update on the E89!

So all system bar GPS on the iDrive which I assume is the GPS engine can't see the sky..time to button up!IMG_1122.JPG

Pay attention..
 

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Mr Tidy said:
I don't go near it! :LOL:
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I do, as IT guy since the early 80th. :rofl:

And what Peter says is absolutely true. But we're talking about cars whose technical concept was developed more than two decades ago!

Who in the world will be maintaining the rolling smartphones, that are currently being sold, in the coming decades? Our children?
 
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This E89 has the not so nice loud 'thunk' when the roof pack parks in the boot.

It's caused by the two very strong gas strut dampers that limit the speed of the roof pack closing, losing their damping.

Two issues..the dampers are rated at 800nm equal to trying to push 80+ kg over a metre!

Secondly because they are buried tight in the boot between the roof mechanism and the rear wheel well there's very limited access, especially with the force needed to preload the new gas strut before fitting.

Cue a BMW special tool..

Most of us try to avoid these as

a) they are always expensive
b) you'll only use it once or twice
c) there's a work around of some type

Sadly a) and b) are true but others have shown that c) isn't viable..

So here we are ..two new struts for around £40 each and a BMW tool from Germany for around £300!-;)IMG_1124.JPGIMG_1123.JPGIMG_1087.JPG
 
Congratulation. It took me some sleepness nights before ordering this fine tool. ;)
B21 said:
It's caused by the two very strong gas strut dampers that limit the speed of the roof pack closing, losing their damping.
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It's much more than that!! These struts have an active part in the roof moving process:

a) Closing: with their combined force of 1.600N/160Kg they indeed lift the roof package out of the trunk, the hydraulic pump just has to push it a little bit forward while closing.
b) Opening: in that case they work more or less as damper to avoid crashing into the trunk. That's something that hardly can't be conrolled by the hydraulics.

a) is a typical fault on the E93 convertibles with 3 roof shells: if their struts get weak over time (you know: 2x 1.300N, 2.600N ~ 260Kg), the hydraulic system no longer is able to take the roof package out of the trunk. That is a clear indicator for more than "only damping".

B21 said:
Two issues..the dampers are rated at 800nm equal to trying to push 80+ kg over a metre!
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But there are 2 pieces mounted: 160 Kg. :)
 
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