[SamM140]

The chap I bought my exhaust from had a 130LE and it was interesting to see the paint differences between the two when parked side by side. Mine was much glossier with a nicer depth of colour despite being a bit grubby. Looks like the effort with the DA and some nice wax has made a difference. Mine isn't too bad on the swirl front but it's carrying 14 years of general marks etc.

Sounds like a few from the FB group want to sort a mini meet at C&M which would be good.

 

[MED]

Yes, it's happening...
Thursday 26th.. 630-7pm. Weather pending.

I'll be looking forward to having mine parked next to another Carbon Black, to compare 'blueness'.

 

[wrevilo23]

Great work with the paint!

 

[MED]

Great work with the paint!

Thanks.
I got the other side done this evening.
And hopefully the roof and boot by the end of the week... By the time I get finished, it will be ready to start again. !

 

[MED]

No news... It's cold, damp and dark. So no car driving, fixing, cleaning or modifying.
I just thought I'd add a photo of my 2.. A 12 cylinder BMW, just broken up into 2 cars.

 

[SamM140]

Both cars look great bud.

I seem to be spending a lot of time cleaning mine; I've never known a car to get a dirty rear like this does!

 

[MED]

Both cars look great bud.

I seem to be spending a lot of time cleaning mine; I've never known a car to get a dirty rear like this does!

:lol: :lol: :lol: My previous 130i above..

 

[Nyxeris]

Looking ace! The more I see LEs, the more the chrome window trim grows on me. Not enough to swap it but enough to wonder :lol:

 

[MED]

Looking ace! The more I see LEs, the more the chrome window trim grows on me. Not enough to swap it but enough to wonder

I was unsure when initially looking, but it's really grown on me.
It's a good look compared to all the black on black or all body coloured cars around.
Satin chrome is the new black; you heard it here first!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

 

[MED]

I met up with a fellow 130i owner this evening, and got the big camera out for a socially distanced photo session.
Then the rain came, and my tripod decided to break too. So only a few good ones.
I've never taken pictures of cars in the dark before, I think they've turned out OK.

Oh and the LE Carbon Black is such a nice colour in the correct conditions. It really came to life under the white LED street lighting.

 

[SamM140]

Some great photos there dude. Carbon Black is such a good colour, I love the way it changes depending on the light.

 

[holland130i]

beautifull pictures mate!!!

:worship1:

Mark.

 

[CalvinNismo]

Really nice photos, you've really managed to capture the blue in Carbon Black. Great lighting!

They're the same length, but somehow the E87 looks longer than the E81.

 

[MED]

I've been keeping an eye on a little oil leak since having a new valve cover installed nearly a year ago..
I narrowed it down to the valvetronic area, the void between sparks 3 and 4 was filling up with oil from what I suspected was the gasket.
If I left the oil to build up (over 100miles), it would overflow during hard left hand bends and drip onto the hot exhaust, yuk..
So every 50miles or so I'd pipette the oil out from the void and I just lived with it. Until last week.

I got the Valvetronic out to inspect the gasket. The gasket was fine but look at the Valvetronic face that mounts up to the gasket, it's bent up on the RH side. I suspect the BMW specialist who installed the new valve cover either dropped the Valvetronic motor at some point. Or maybe screwed the Valvetronic to the head before winding the splined gear into position. Who knows.

Before (notice the bent up plate?) and after some gentle persuasion:

You can see where the oil was collecting under the Valvetronic:

I put a new gasket in anyway, added some more 'bite' to the gasket screws with some chopped up plastic zip ties (the valve cover is made from cheese it seems and the previous gasket installer (the same BMW specialist) must have torqued them a little too much, they were OK, but not great.. Much better now) and I re-installed the motor with new bolts following the guidance to screw the splined gear in the correct direction when removing/installing.
Ignition on for 30s, off and on again for 30s.
It started fine with zero lumpy timings. Nice.

Its been 50miles with no new oil appearing. Problem solved.
I still dont know if it was the gasket, the bent Valvetronic motor plate, or the less than perfect gasket threads.
I'll give it another 50 miles and if it's still dry, the engine cover can finally be installed for good. (it's been kicking around my office for months)

 

[Courtathor]

I have exactly the same oil leak as you, and the valvetronic gasket (and valve cover gasket) was replaced by the previous owner just over 2 years ago. I wonder if I'll find something similar to you. Have a new valvetronic gasket to fit just in case.

 

[MED]

I have exactly the same oil leak as you, and the valvetronic gasket (and valve cover gasket) was replaced by the previous owner just over 2 years ago. I wonder if I'll find something similar to you. Have a new valvetronic gasket to fit just in case.

It's really common on the N52. Apparently this engine is bombproof but everything that screws onto it with a gasket between, leaks at some point.
The Valvetronic removal is easy.

Remove all the plastic under the windscreen
Remove engine cover
Unplug all coils and the nut between 5 and 6, and move their connectors aside by unclipping the cable tray from the cover.
Remove coils from 3 and 4
Tie back all the pipework that goes over the top of the engine (I tied them to the wiper arms)
The bolt under the valetronic was a pig to get at.
Then turn the 4mm bolt on the end of the motor clockwise until is resists, then turn anticlockwise until it stops (this took many, many turns for me, I thought it was doing nothing)
Then loosen the 2 valvetronic bolts
The valvetronic may 'pop' out with some force, it made me jump.

Then you can swap/inspect the gasket.

Re-assemble in reverse.
Careful with the threads for the gasket (if you run the black top, LCI engine) they're no stronger than bluetack and strip really easy.
Ignition on (not starting the car) 30s
Ignition off
Ignition on (not starting the car) 30s

Done.

You may have a crack in the cover somewhere, I did and so did Sam140 recently. Along with hundreds of other owners with the plastic cover LCI N52..

 

[MED]

I updated the maps today to 2019.
To be honest the DVD stays in the glove box 99% of the time.. But why not eh?

 

[MED]

I made good use of the weather last weekend. Some metal polish for the exhaust tips and a good wash with wax top up. I hadnt washed off the Sahara dust since months back so it was well overdue.
It's dusty again now after a week sitting on the drive. :x

My Performance calipers are still at the paint shop, they've had them months and despite numerous chase ups with the same excuses of being busy etc, I might ask for them back and locate somewhere else to give them the refurb they need.
I have a set of Eibach springs, M3 control arms, top mounts, BMW Performance bump stops, Brembo drilled discs, new pads and wear sensors ready to be fitted once the calipers get done in phoenix yellow with all new pistons and seals fitted.
I really want to get that little brake and suspension project completed this summer, so I need those calipers pronto. :lol:

 

[pem10]

Hi MED

I used this place to get all mine refurbished and powder coated and they came back as new. Took 3 to 4 weeks but that was the promised time frame.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...MQFnoECCgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0zA3nQ9o9WN0RstA01EGI6

 

[MED]

Hi MED

I used this place to get all mine refurbished and powder coated and they came back as new. Took 3 to 4 weeks but that was the promised time frame.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...MQFnoECCgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0zA3nQ9o9WN0RstA01EGI6

Thanks, I've seen them before and will start to investigate if the current bodyshop are still dragging their heels after a few more weeks..
He seems to be busy with full resprays on Astons at the moment so a box in the corner with some calipers in isnt a priority for him. Grr.