Fair. Very fair pointBeany wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 11:37 pmIt's a BMW in disguise!Sundayjumper wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 11:25 pm
Funny you should mention it, the 360 was up in the air today because I was wondering why the undertray is full of oil
It really is a BMW in disguiseSundayjumper wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 11:25 pm As best I can tell, it's probably the cam cover gaskets.
Add in another 10 years of heat cycles to all the plastic brackets and cable runs etc and it would be a nightmare to do any work on.Sundayjumper wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 10:34 pmThe seals are literally barely more than £1 each. There's some incidentals too of course, but it's mostly all down to the massive amount of labour, which in turn is due to it being a V8 and the heads being very close to the side of the engine bay, making access difficult. I did valve seals on one of our MINIs, they're right on the top and dead easy. Relatively.Mito Man wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 10:13 pm Unbelievable about of work for something that you’d think would be simple!
There is a special tool kit available - CLICK - that makes it possible to do it in-situ but it's $2k+shipping+tax, and this very good video of it in use says it took him 20 hours not including removing the cam covers to get there in the first place. Or putting it back together after. And he says that his 6-Series has better access than the 5-Series. Engine-out obviously gives full access to everything so overall, that's the better way to do it. Evidenced ^^^^ by that specialist that shows an engine very much not in the car.
Not exactly full time but yeah, I guess I am. Fortunately I lost my job at the end of March so I currently have the time to tackle a few jobs without time pressure, while the weather is decent too. I absolutely would not have done the M5 if it was midwinter and I was working a full time job as well.
Bad darts on the job front. Good darts on the spannering.Sundayjumper wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 8:47 amNot exactly full time but yeah, I guess I am. Fortunately I lost my job at the end of March so I currently have the time to tackle a few jobs without time pressure, while the weather is decent too. I absolutely would not have done the M5 if it was midwinter and I was working a full time job as well.
Annoying but should be easy to fix. FWIW I'm using generic Aliexpress hoses. The originals had hardened and gone completely solid on the turbo inlets. I had to scrape them off. The jubilee clips feel a bit flimsy but they're doing the job OK.Jimmy Choo wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 8:47 am My car"s turbos areTOO EXTREME for 21 year old boost hoses.
Ta. 'tis the nature of contracting, I'm not looking for sympathyJimmy Choo wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 8:48 am Bad darts on the job front. Good darts on the spannering.
It should be noted that this put the 360 in Limp Home mode just as Gavin exited a motorway.Sundayjumper wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 11:25 pmFunny you should mention it, the 360 was up in the air today because I was wondering why the undertray is full of oilGG. wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 10:36 pm ETA - more importantly I presume the 360 is not in bits for Gav to use on Sunday and are you coming along? I presume the Aston needs another run out…
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As best I can tell, it's probably the cam cover gaskets. Not the crank seal, fortunately, because that would end up being a new clutch.
I took the opportunity to refit the Capristo tail pipes, but still with the standard main box. After a quick drive it seems like a reasonable compromise to me, it's a bit louder but not as bad as the full Capristo system. Looks better too.
Nice.
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Lame.
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In Mysterious Circumstances.Sundayjumper wrote: Fri May 22, 2026 10:10 pm Funny story - I figured I'd drop a line to that specialist to see if they could put me in touch with the good owner. I have copies of the invoices but the owner's details are redacted. Turns out the specialist is dead, after a short illness in March.
I’m not entirely sure what caused it. I strongly suspect it’s just being Italian and is jealous of the attention I’ve given to the M5. It also had a bit of a gearbox paddy the day I first went to view the M5. I drove gently for a while and explained that the M5 would be an addition to the family and wasn’t going to replace anybody. It was then fine all the way to Bristol & back.Explosive Newt wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 7:02 pm It should be noted that this put the 360 in Limp Home mode just as Gavin exited a motorway.
Sundayjumper wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 8:37 pmI’m not entirely sure what caused it. I strongly suspect it’s just being Italian and is jealous of the attention I’ve given to the M5. It also had a bit of a gearbox paddy the day I first went to view the M5. I drove gently for a while and explained that the M5 would be an addition to the family and wasn’t going to replace anybody. It was then fine all the way to Bristol & back.Explosive Newt wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 7:02 pm It should be noted that this put the 360 in Limp Home mode just as Gavin exited a motorway.
Maintaining a car is very much like making love to a beautiful woman… you open up her manifold, lubricate the seals and take back her Bristols.Sundayjumper wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 8:37 pmI’m not entirely sure what caused it. I strongly suspect it’s just being Italian and is jealous of the attention I’ve given to the M5. It also had a bit of a gearbox paddy the day I first went to view the M5. I drove gently for a while and explained that the M5 would be an addition to the family and wasn’t going to replace anybody. It was then fine all the way to Bristol & back.Explosive Newt wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 7:02 pm It should be noted that this put the 360 in Limp Home mode just as Gavin exited a motorway.
