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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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Just a Rant on BMW Engineering
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11-18-2012, 05:55 AM | #1 |
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Just a Rant on BMW Engineering
So yesterday I just did my (2nd) 100,000 mile tune up at 195,000 miles. Of course this means spark plugs and an engine airfilter. The first time around I thought it was neat that all these precision-fit plastic parts have to come off to get to the plugs, and the airfilter box is so well-built and robust.
This time around, not so crazy about the design. Okay, so I kinda get the big plastic cowling tray (BMW calls it the bottom half of the cabin airfilter housing). It's kind of necessary because the I6 is so long and sits back behind the front axle for weight balance, but was it really necessary to have the battery cable and whatever other cable it is go across the engine and sit in an over-extravagant, fragile clip-on plastic housing. And then there is another cable in another housing that hangs behind that one. I mean couldn't those cables, which have no serviceable maintenance requirement, be routed along the firewall instead? Or better if they need to be over the engine, couldn't the cowling tray just have a nice molded in channel for the cables to sit in and just pop out when necessary? And why couldn't the cowling tray just be bolted in four places rather than just two, with fancy, breakable clips in the back? It’s all just too time consuming to take all that unnecessary shit a part just to change spark plugs. And why does the right-side cover (opposite the one that covers the master cylinder) have to have the washer supply line clipped to the underside of it? And the airfilter box, does it really need six screws to hold it together? Most cars have a few clips holding the box together, no tools required. Okay, rant over. Thanks I feel better now. Car runs fantastic. |
11-18-2012, 06:49 AM | #2 |
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Congratulations on 195k!!! But i just did mine and agree w you to much junk.
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11-18-2012, 08:34 AM | #3 |
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So you rant about their engineering while doing a 195,000 Mile Service... WTF???You don't see any irony in that?
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11-18-2012, 08:52 AM | #4 |
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Maybe I'm chea^H^H^H^Hfrugal, but I *expect* 200K miles+ out of a car, even ones much less expensive than a new BMW. Had an old Scirocco with 24x,xxx miles and it ran like new when I sold it.
I would hope that a newish 3-series, given regular maintenance, could double that, although sadly I expect that "maintenance" includes new turbos and a HPFP at some point. |
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11-18-2012, 09:02 AM | #5 | |
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11-18-2012, 09:15 AM | #6 |
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you might have the highest mileage E90 to date.
Thats pretty steep lol. I'm at 84k in my 06 and was growing concerned with how many miles I put on a year. Sounds like keeping up with the maintenance is worth it. I really hope so... |
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11-18-2012, 10:23 AM | #9 |
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E90 335i xDrive 6spd, Nav, Prem, Cold Weather, & Sports package - Msport Conversion Mods: JB4 + MHD, Doc Race ST, Pure 6266, AD-Eng PI/Mounts, Fuel-It st. 3, Custom Exhaust, Tuned by TwistedTuning More Pictures: Build Thread /// 683AWHP/675AWTQ |
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11-18-2012, 10:49 AM | #11 | |
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n52 OR n54 THIS! LOL
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11-18-2012, 10:40 PM | #12 |
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11-18-2012, 11:22 PM | #13 | |
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2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] | ZPP | V1 | Rear Fogs | M3 Lip Spoiler | EAS RemoteKey | BMS Powerbox | Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE | LED plate lights | OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com |
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11-19-2012, 05:53 AM | #15 |
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It is a 2006 E90 325i.
Just for shits and grins, attached is the service record. I keep a detailed Excel file. I had to convert it to Word. I did most all the service DIY except the AC rebuild and driver's seat rebuild; and tire mountings/alignments (1) of course. I expect any car to go 200,000 to 250,000 miles with no major issues. BMW over engineers a lot of stuff IMO and under engineers others - like the water pump (I'm still pissed about that one...) |
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11-19-2012, 08:55 PM | #16 |
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I think it's pretty awesome that the car is coming up on 200K and the worst you're complaining about is some cumbersome aspects to servicing it.
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11-20-2012, 04:49 AM | #18 | |
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If you've ever taken the parts I discuss above you'd appreciate the preciseness of the fit of each part with the other, but it takes a lot of engineering time (even with CAD/CAM) and manufacturing cost to get these levels of fit (i.e. part tolerance). And the point is none of it is necessary for the car to run any better or last any longer. BMWs are expensive, but I'd rather see the costs of designing and manufacturing these parts (the car has many others just like it) into either a price reduction, or better part performance, say like a HPFP, or A/C compressor, or an electric waterpump that lasts the life of the vehicle like it should. In particular the waterpump. It fails due to heat that can't be properly dissipated from the control electronics, or in some cases the motor windings. I'd rather see a less precise fit of under-hood engine cowlings and a more robust electric-motor water pump, or at least some obvious warning system that indicates a failing waterpump before it actually fails. |
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