[R99]

The BBS are 8.5j ET32

A 235 would be fatter on the rim, however my rears are 9.5j ET32 and on a LCI car that's a pretty meaty set up, so a 255/30 is required. So with that in mind I wanted a 225/35 front so the tyres sit on the rims with the same profile, and the front doesn't look 'fatter' than the rear.

On a pre-LCI car, 235/35 and 265/30 would be fine!

[fastmonkey]

Ah right it's the LCI non LCI thing, thank you again, I'm learning !

[R99]

Not much to report with the car at present.

Today marks the 1st year of my ownership - bought it on 20/08/15 with 24.5k miles on the clock and a year later its now on 39k miles.

So, 12 months and 13.5k miles later I think its safe to say the car has moved on considerably!

In anticipation of the AUC warranty ending I had it booked in 6 weeks early for its MOT.

Whilst it was at BMW back in July it was identified that a few things needed some attention, so they were done this week as it was my first chance to leave the car for a few days.

Oil leak on transmission - cleaned and not replicated
Oil leak on differential - final drive input seal was replaced, resulting in a bonus oil change for the diff
Glow plug replacement for cylinder 5

The car also had a slight hesitation under load, but this was that intermittent that some weeks would go by without issue, followed by some days where it may happen 2 or 3 times, then only to disappear again. Very frustrating and no fault codes logged, so BMW were unable to diagnose without me paying a ludicrous amount of money for their 'diagnostics' if either

a) they stripped parts off and couldn't find the issue - I would be liable for their labour
b) they stripped parts off and found the issue, only then to find that the AUC didn't cover the issue - I would still be liable for the labour

Faced with those options I naturally didn't want to sign myself up to an expensive exploratory mission courtesy of potentially unlimited BMW labour charges!

However there was some luck on my side as when they replaced the glow plug on cylinder 5, they discovered that there were loose bolts on the fuel rail! According to the tech working on my car, he has seen that once before, and the symptoms were similar to mine - a slight hesitation. Bolts have been replaced and so far, touch wood, there has been no re-occurance of the issue!

For total peace of mind I have also opted to take out the extended BMW / Mondial warranty on the car, with the full level of cover, breakdown and a £0 excess. Expensive at £680 for the year, but should give me a good level of cover and peace of mind for the next 12 months of ownership!!!

[richk84]

If you are keeping it long term in would have been wiser to have the warranty on a monthly basis. As the mileage goes up the instalments won't change

[R99]

Wasn't aware of that!

I'd imagine I'll keep it another 12-18 months max.

I either want a F31 340i or an X5 40d.

Two very different cars, but time to think about it!

The other option is to keep this & buy a 2nd car for entertainment only such as a Megane RS.

[RajB]

Originally Posted by richk84

If you are keeping it long term in would have been wiser to have the warranty on a monthly basis. As the mileage goes up the instalments won't change

That's not the case now. Used to be but they've changed that. Mine just went up one a couple of pounds but has still risen a touch since taking it out last year.

[R99]

Quick update.

Won't be long until we have winter upon us, so I've decided to get some winter wheels.

I wanted 18" but the issue I had was finding some rims that would clear the 370mm Brembo's.

I searched around and came across the 640M winters from the F80 M3 / F82 M4

18x8.5 ET27
18x9 ET29



I'll be using 225/40/18 and 255/35/18

Any advice about winter tyres? I'm thinking about some Conti winters?

Thanks!

[RajB]

Originally Posted by R99

Quick update.

Won't be long until we have winter upon us, so I've decided to get some winter wheels.

I wanted 18" but the issue I had was finding some rims that would clear the 370mm Brembo's.

I searched around and came across the 640M winters from the F80 M3 / F82 M4

18x8.5 ET27
18x9 ET29



I'll be using 225/40/18 and 255/35/18

Any advice about winter tyres? I'm thinking about some Conti winters?

Thanks!

Oh really liking them. That's one of the best winter wheels I've seen.

Think vredestein wintrac are supposed to be very good.

[Wayne-G]

Can't wait to see the 640m's on it! Quite fancied some for my wagon.
I'll be ordering some new rubber for my 270m's, I currently have the OEM Michelin Pilot Alpin 3's fitted but will be replacing them as they're low, thinking vredesteins too or just Michelins again.

[R99]

Thanks guys!

Looking forward to getting them and seeing what they are like in the flesh!

Still trying to decide on a tyre selection!

[R99]

Wheels have arrived..... but both the rears are damaged due to inept couriers!!

I literally detest them..... how hard is it not to damage things!!! FFS!

In the mean time, I took some pictures, and I am very pleased with the wheels.

Great concave front and rear, and the paint finish on them is excellent, I am actually quite looking forward to getting some winters and getting them on the car towards the end of October.

In the meantime, I now have to ship the two damaged rims back to the seller in Germany and deal with the insurance claim from their courier!

[Kev_G]

good to see work carries on on the car. I to had a random hesitation issue - It was the egr cooler had a hole in it I found - replaced it and fine ever since

[R99]

Quick picture to keep the thread ticking!



Not looking too bad since it hasnt been cleaned for 3 weeks! The GTechniq stuff really does keep the dirt off!

I will finally have the winter wheels sorted this week after a hideous experience with the seller in Germany.

So now it's a case of getting some tyres ordered!

Next stop will be either a NBT EVO retrofit, if I can brave the cost OR a Combox retrofit to compliment the existing CIC.

That's if I don't sell it and buy a X5 40d!

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by R99

Quick update.

Won't be long until we have winter upon us, so I've decided to get some winter wheels.

I wanted 18" but the issue I had was finding some rims that would clear the 370mm Brembo's.

I searched around and came across the 640M winters from the F80 M3 / F82 M4

18x8.5 ET27
18x9 ET29



I'll be using 225/40/18 and 255/35/18

Any advice about winter tyres? I'm thinking about some Conti winters?

Thanks!

Nice wheels. Do you think that offset was right for LCI E91?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by R99

Quick picture to keep the thread ticking!



Not looking too bad since it hasnt been cleaned for 3 weeks! The GTechniq stuff really does keep the dirt off!

I will finally have the winter wheels sorted this week after a hideous experience with the seller in Germany.

So now it's a case of getting some tyres ordered!

Next stop will be either a NBT EVO retrofit, if I can brave the cost OR a Combox retrofit to compliment the existing CIC.

That's if I don't sell it and buy a X5 40d!

Nice wheels. What are they?

[R99]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Nice wheels. Do you think that offset was right for LCI E91?

The offset will be fine on the rear (3.3mm less aggressive than the current set up I have) the front worries me a bit (5mm more aggressive than the current set up I have)

Posted up on the US boards & those guys seem to think I have nothing to worry about.

Originally Posted by makkan00

Nice wheels. What are they?

They are BBS CX-R.

19x8.5 ET32 w/ 225/35/19
19x9.5 ET32 w/ 255/30/19

[R99]

Quick update...

Combox retrofit will be done on Sunday. Really looking forward to the extra features this will give, especially bluetooth audio streaming and I will be adding USB to the arm rest too.





I have also just bought some 225/40/18 and 255/35/18 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's to go on the winter alloys - I need to lie down in a dark room!

These should be fitted to the 18" 640M's next week and I'll get the winters on!

[gaz_ball]

Originally Posted by R99

Quick update...

Combox retrofit will be done on Sunday. Really looking forward to the extra features this will give, especially bluetooth audio streaming and I will be adding USB to the arm rest too.

Are you doing the retrofit yourself?

This is very high up on my wish list of things to do!

[R99]

No, a mate of mine is doing it.

He does lots of retrofits / coding. He also did my Individual Audio retrofit.

I help remove parts / trim etc, but he does all the complicated bits!

He's on here, his username is Wibbles.

[E60525d]

Good luck with the install.

I did mine recently and was well worth it, http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...4&postcount=31

[R99]

Thanks!

Cant wait to get it into the car, although my CIC will need connecting up to an ICOM to enable BMW Apps, so until that happens, I wont have that functionality.

[RajB]

Another excellent upgrade being done. Combox is well worth having. Like the winter wheel set too. Keep thinking whether I need to invest in a set lol.