Your fleet running reports

[Mito Man]

I got lucky with my electrical gremlin. The car had a drain of 50 watts when parked up and sleeping. Something that big can’t be a stuck fan so I just unplugged the alternator overnight which is super easy on BMWs. I was immediately suspicious as the cable end was warm to the touch. Checked the battery this morning and it had not further discharged.

Guess the only decision now is do I just take my current alternator to get rebuilt or just buy a rebuilt one. And amongst all the rebuilders and already rebuilt ones do some companies do a better job than others?

[Jobbo]

Cloth wears better, feels better and doesn't have the issue of extreme temperatures.

Not great for sicky kids or clawy pets, mind.

I still recall the pain of getting my Leon ready for sale one weekend, heading off on business on the Monday and prepping an ad to post around the Thursday and allow me to take viewings from Friday evening onwards once I was back home. It was spotless inside and out. Perfect.

On the Tuesday mrs mik advised me that she had decided to take the Leon rather than her car - for absolutely no reason whatsoever - and my eldest sprog had thrown up all over the (fabric) rear seat. She'd wiped it up as best she could, but couldn't do a thorough job as she was mega busy. As I was away. Thereby rendering it both my problem, and my fault.

Delayed my ad by about 2 weeks as I had to do multiple passes with the wet-vac to get rid of the bloody stench.....

@Mito Man, has it ever had an alternator before? I assume it'll be the same as the one on my old 545i which played silly buggers. I replaced the battery, the intelligent charging lead and something else before doing the alternator because it was the expensive option. But obviously it was the alternator in the end.

[Mito Man]

Yes, had a replacement about 10 years ago although back then the alternator was properly dead and not charging the battery. This time it’s still charging normally but from what I can tell one or more of the diodes has gone bad, so when the car is off the current from the battery is feeding the alternator.

[16vCento]

Autoelectro have always been my go to for recon alternators.

They've been going since the 80s and I've never had a problem with them, been buying off them for 20 years.

[integrale_evo]

I have a few longer journeys planned in the Alfa this year, including a trip to goodwood next weekend.

Decided as I’ve had it 4.5 years I should really change the cambelts, the kit has been sat in my shed for a couple of years…

“While you’re there” takes over so decided to change the waterpump too.

This was not straightforward, it’s a tight fit into the engine block and no room to get a puller in or anything to lever against. Internet wisdom suggests tying to hammer it back and forward to get it to rotate in the block. This did not work. Used a pipe wrench on its nose and proceeded to break the housing. Now past the point of no return, I removed the front grille and attacked it through there with a lump hammer and chisel. Being careful not to smack the bonnet or front panel.

Eventually it came out in several pieces.

Cleaned up a few bits and pieces including some manky brackets, swapped the hose clips for new stainless ones, new cambelts and tensioners. Put it back together and it runs

[Beany]

M135i has been written off after being assessed as repairable twice

Decent market value has been offered without quibble (within a few hundred quid of an ad I was going to use as a 'now, hold on and look at this' example of the market ) so that's also a bonus.

Won't have the money till next week, and need to work out the craic with courtesy cars/hire cars etc, I'm a few hundred quid down for excess etc, but overall, I'm now far less annoyed.

[Matty]

Probably for the best, to be honest!

Z4 then? I've also heard there is a nice Boxster for sale somewhere. Bet you'd get it for a good price too.

[speedingfine]

I have a few longer journeys planned in the Alfa this year, including a trip to goodwood next weekend.

Decided as I’ve had it 4.5 years I should really change the cambelts, the kit has been sat in my shed for a couple of years…

“While you’re there” takes over so decided to change the waterpump too.

This was not straightforward, it’s a tight fit into the engine block and no room to get a puller in or anything to lever against. Internet wisdom suggests tying to hammer it back and forward to get it to rotate in the block. This did not work. Used a pipe wrench on its nose and proceeded to break the housing. Now past the point of no return, I removed the front grille and attacked it through there with a lump hammer and chisel. Being careful not to smack the bonnet or front panel.

Eventually it came out in several pieces.

Cleaned up a few bits and pieces including some manky brackets, swapped the hose clips for new stainless ones, new cambelts and tensioners. Put it back together and it runs

Good work Harry

Hope things work out much quicker now that decision's been made Beany!

[Beany]

After the pain in the arse that was keeping the roof of the E46 free of wildlife where I park, I've rather gone off soft tops!

Deposit offered (edit- and accepted) on the PH car Simon linked to earlier in the thread.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18330537



Just need to see if I can bribe me neighbour for a (cough, 200 mile) lift, or if it's easier to just get it transported, once balance has cleared etc.

Yeah it's not got the N52K motor with the little detail fixes it has, but has had (and has evidence of in the PH thread) lots of other things cleaned up and fixed on it that I'd have to do on literally any other car I'd buy so it seems like a sensible choice.

[Mito Man]

Very noice

[John]

Cool looking car.

[Beany]

Just need to sort out transport etc. It's down Zummerzet way, and there's a PH thread with all the work it's had so I think I'll just get it transported up - unless my neighbour (who currently has three project cars on the go ) fancies giving me a lift. A 200 mile lift...

[Jobbo]

Get the train and enjoy driving it home!

Though it will cost nearly £100 for the cheapest ticket and take over 6 and a half hours.

[IanF]

People could play “Pass the Beany” and pass him from pillar to post across the country?.. or the train, I suppose, if you want to be boring and logical about it!..

[Beany]

Get the train and enjoy driving it home!

Though it will cost nearly £100 for the cheapest ticket and take over 6 and a half hours.

....yeeeeaaaaah, there's the rub.

Even if my neighbour offered a lift (which he's potty enough to do, honestly), it's a full day lost for both of us.

Transportation seems most sensible.

@IanF a bag of chips and a bottle of wine and anyone can play with me

[Matty]

Though it will cost nearly £100 for the cheapest ticket and take over 6 and a half hours.

100% this is the way to go - it's part of the fun and the journey home is a great time to learn the car.

[Jobbo]

Yeah, it was great fun flying to Belfast to get my 535i Touring and bringing it back on the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead.

[Carlos]

Absolutely need to get your ass there. It's part of the ownership experience and importantly an opportunity to walk away or haggle if your disappointed.

[Jimexpl]

Nice purchase. I remember my Z4s more fondly than my M140i.

As others have said, take the train down and pick it up - a great bonding session with a new car.
Treat yourself to a genuine BMW ZHP gearknob - so much nicer to use than the standard one on it at the moment.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Nice Beany. Welcome to the N52 club. If there's anything you want to know about them ask away. There's not much different between the early ones and the N52K (mainly the CCTV and inlet manifold).

Main things to look for are whether it's had the water pump done and have the DISA valves been changed.

ETA - I'm not sure it's an N52K as it has the silver top of the earlier N52 and not the black top