Private Reviews

I bet you owners of newer BMW cars with that start/stop engine button did not know you could run your car without the key in ignition lock. Apparently if you had your engine running and when you turn it off, remove the key from ignition lock you then have 15 seconds to push start engine button and drive away without your keys.
Some say it is anti hijacking feature some say it is BMW new comfort access option. Hmm, I guess if hijackers got your keys and you are still sitting in your seat you can drive away… that is of course if you are still conscious and without gun pointing at your head. But by all means though if your life is in danger don’t try to be a superman and drive away from gunpoint. Your car is most likely insured, but scientists yet to discover way to resurrect people from death.

After a brief struggle with my parsimony, I have finally decided to buy original BMW transmission fluid. Sticker on side of gearbox was worn out, but it was of yellow color indicating that I needed MTF-LT-2 fluid. Local BMW dealer had it for MSRP price about $140 for 5 liters. It is a bit more expensive compared to everybody’s’ favorite Red Line MTL, which one could buy from for example OGRacing for just under $9 per liter.

The manual gearbox fluid change is really easy DIY project.

You will need the following tools:

• 17 mm 6pt socket
• Some ratchet
• 17 mm box end or combination wrench, 6pt is the best in my opinion since plugs made from some very soft metal and you can very easily strip plug’s flange if using open ended wrench.
• Torque wrench
• Some hand pump
• one or two feet of clear plastic tubing
• Floor jack or similar to jack up the car

First of all you’ll need to jack the car up. I usually just drive rear wheels onto ramps and jack up front of car with floor jack, then secure jack stands. Some people drive front wheel onto ramps and jack up the rear. I personally find it a bit dangerous since car can roll away once rear wheel s are off the ground and besides my E39 has rubber jacking point in the front and nothing except rear differential on the back that I could use as jacking point.

Find transmission under the car after car is off the ground and leveled. Read the label and make sure you are going to use the right fluid for you gearbox. Here is view of transmission from under the car.

Photo from BMW325i.NET

Before you remove drain plug make sure that fill plug is not seized. And definitely use either sockets or box-end wrenches to break seize. I almost stripped my fill plug flange when tried to use open end of wrench. Believe me it is very soft.

Here is what color fluid came from my gearbox after 52000 miles. I seriously doubt that it is healthy to have it in the gearbox for the life of car. Well I have to agree with thought that the lifetime fluid is most likely BMW marketing gimmick to attract more customers. It is very unlikely that BMW cares what happens to our cars after 50000 mile warranty and they will gladly offer us replacement transmissions for one forth of car price.

Once plugs are removed and old fluid drained. Replace drain plugs and torque it, on my BMW E39 car it is to 70 Nm. Using hand pump and plastic tube pump transmission fluid into fill hole until it overfills and it starts to leak out of the fill hole. Replace fill plug, tighten it to same torque as drain plug (70 Nm). Check for leaks and you are done.

One more thing, do not forget to lower your car on the ground.

I have discovered some unusual sound from my BMW E39 with M54 engine. I have noticed it when applying gas slightly in second, third and forth gears. I think I do not hear it on fifth gear or first or whenever it is in neutral or whenever gas is not applied.

Could you please listen to this Unusualy loud sound sound I recorded while I lightly shifted from first all the way to forth gear. And please let me know what could be the source of it.

I have changed transmission and differential fluids last weekend, but it did not help at all. Could that be the engine noise and I just do not hear it while it is not in gear?

Guys from M5board have posted couple of cool videos from test drive with E92 M3 Double Clutch. Take a look.

m3e90board.com test of BMW M3 E92 DKG DCT Double Clutch 1/2

m3e90board.com test of BMW M3 E92 DKG DCT Double Clutch 2/2

Is there any trick/technique/know-how regarding how to compress front strut spring with cheapo spring compressors like these ones, maybe location when you bite on the spring matter? I have all three of them know, borrowed and even bought last one. But I could not release the spring so it rests on lower rubber pad nicely.

My latest attempt last night looked almost as it should be. Just on one side rubber pad seamed a little bit off. And here is how it looked by this morning. Spring pushed rubber out completely on one side. So I have to compress spring again and try to realign everything. I just wonder what I was doing wrong since I can not get spring in place correctly.

Check out how this driver skilfully keeps his X5 from rolling over, driving just on two wheels. He also tried both sides left and right.

Also checkout the spectator running for his life.

The auction that I linked from my previous post Bentley BMW E39 Repair Manual found does not have those books anymore.

Bimmerzone has those in stock still.

In addition here is some other search on ebay Bentley BMW E39 service manual

I have been hunting this manual down for quite a long time. And today I have found and bought myself a copy for under $100.
I thought you’d be interested too: BMW 5 series BENTLEY E39 Service Repair Manual

Here is search I did and it looks like there are few books for good prices there

Update: “adjmcloon” on bimmerfest forum just let me know that the same book is on sale from Bimmerzone for about $107 with FREE shipping. Also make sure to check out BIMMERZONE ebay store

This funny story about how Bumbling carjackers could not start BMW reminded me of story of one of my coworkers. He is primarily Nissan – Infinity kind of driver, never owned anything European.

So couple of years ago this guy went for trip to Germany and decided to rent some brand new 750i. Then, he was telling that, he just sat there in the car for like 30 minutes unable to start that car, embarrassed to ask anybody until he tried all the options he could think of and to read the manual in German which he did not understand. Exhausted he turned for help to some cab driver who knew some English.

And of course it was something very simple he just needed to apply the brake pedal.

On another side of the “keys” topic. Look at this video, those guys found that way to scan the BMW locks.

[googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4332050438141762214[/googlevideo]

Carscoop posted this Flying Piece Of Metal Penetrates BMW Missing Driver’s Head By Inches . It is amazing how lucky the driver of that BMW is. Check out this couple of photos

and this one

Check out his post for more pictures.