[Chapperss]

Originally Posted by x77md

In addition to the £1750 from earlier this month….

£607 new DMFW and bolt set
£85 gearbox bolt set and seal glue
£85 NGK plugs
£300 oil pan gasket

Silly September

How did you get an OPG done for £300???

[x77md]

Originally Posted by Chapperss

How did you get an OPG done for £300???

Tbh I have no idea, just a copy and paste for the list I've been sent. The car has been at the garage for 2 weeks whilst I've been out the country so I haven't had the chance to really interrogate things.

What is the usual going rate for the oil pan gasket replacement (I've never looked into it)

[Chapperss]

Originally Posted by x77md

Tbh I have no idea, just a copy and paste for the list I've been sent. The car has been at the garage for 2 weeks whilst I've been out the country so I haven't had the chance to really interrogate things.

What is the usual going rate for the oil pan gasket replacement (I've never looked into it)

nfi dude - It`s a pita though! I heard it was an 8 hour job. Took me what felt like forever to do, but that was mainly the changing the downpipes at the same time. The whole job`s just a horrible memory in my mind

They may have removed the subframe to do your Dp`s or maybe the clutch requires it. So that would make it like an extra hour or two for the oil pan.

Edit: Yeah that picture hadn`t loaded (downloading a lot right now), your subframe is out

[x77md]

Originally Posted by Chapperss

nfi dude - It`s a pita though! I heard it was an 8 hour job. Took me what felt like forever to do, but that was mainly the changing the downpipes at the same time. The whole job`s just a horrible memory in my mind

They may have removed the subframe to do your Dp`s or maybe the clutch requires it. So that would make it like an extra hour or two for the oil pan.

Edit: Yeah that picture hadn`t loaded (downloading a lot right now), your subframe is out

Props for doing it yourself, although it's time taking you save a shit tonne of £££

Looks like subframe was off like you said to do everything in one go. I would've thought the downpour Install would have been ok without dropping the subframe but may have more to do with the gearbox removal?

Has had a quite a bit done in one sitting this baby, think she (and my wallet) need a rest until 2022

I'm tempted to start a thread to document all that I've done to the car as a sort of electronic record for all mods + maintenance.

[Chapperss]

Originally Posted by x77md

Props for doing it yourself, although it's time taking you save a shit tonne of £££

Looks like subframe was off like you said to do everything in one go. I would've thought the downpour Install would have been ok without dropping the subframe but may have more to do with the gearbox removal?

Yeah i`ve not looked into gear box, I`ve watched Shoplife remove one on YouTube and I don`t think he took the subframe off.

Regardless dude, it`s not that bad to remove it, you are getting some proper good work done with some great upgrades. Car is going to feel like a completely different beast when you get it back!

As for starting a thread - do it, why not. You can also point peeps to it if you ever come to sell.

annnndddd as for not spending till 2022 - 3 months left, you might just make it There is a reason Chappers 71 made this thread a monthly one

[SSW]

Originally Posted by x77md

What is the usual going rate for the oil pan gasket replacement (I've never looked into it)

Don't know what the "going rate" is buy I've gotten a dealer estimate of $1.2k to do the job when I was told the gasket was leaking. Assuming a $140 shop rate that's about 8 hrs.

Am getting the oil/filter changed in my 335i next week and am going to ask the mechanic to check the oil pan gasket and, if he thinks it needs replacement, am going to ask for his estimate.

Will update my post if I get an estimate from him for the work.

[x77md]

Originally Posted by SSW

Don't know what the "going rate" is buy I've gotten a dealer estimate of $1.2k to do the job when I was told the gasket was leaking. Assuming a $140 shop rate that's about 8 hrs.

Am getting the oil/filter changed in my 335i next week and am going to ask the mechanic to check the oil pan gasket and, if he thinks it needs replacement, am going to ask for his estimate.

Will update my post if I get an estimate from him for the work.

Thanks buddy. Appreciate the info and will be interesting to see the estimate.

[SSW]

Originally Posted by x77md

Thanks buddy. Appreciate the info and will be interesting to see the estimate.

Just got the oil/filter changed in my 2008 335i this morning using Mobil 1 0-40 European and an OEM filter (that I had lying around).

This cost another $125 that ups my 30 day (which is also the annual) cost for the car to about $3000, including 4 new tires, a new rear sway bar and new solid rear subframe bushings. I'll add it up exactly later but I'm in no hurry to do so.

Pretty expensive when you consider that I only drove the car 2,100 miles in the 13 months (between oil changes) but driving is my "hobby" and the BMW is one of 3 "fun" cars in my garage.

Anyway . . .

My mechanic removed the belly pan (at my request) which is not required to do the oil change. He found (and showed me) that there was only very light seepage along the vertical rear edge of the engine/oil pan; enough to stain but not get the inside of the belly pan wet. So, no need for a oil pan gasket yet.

Told him I previously got a verbal estimate from a dealer of $1,200 US for replacing the oil pan gasket (around 5 yrs ago from a service "advisor" who apparently was looking to pad the service bill because, if there was an oil leak then, it wasn't that bad to begin with) and he said that estimate probably about right because the engine actually has to be lifted out of the car to do the work!

WTF? BMW engineering at it's best. LOL!

Anyway, you can probably use 8 hrs/$1,200 US as ballpark estimate for the cost to replace the oil pan gasket if you have to get that done.

Good luck!

[LastGray]

September:
$79 MHD orange WiFi
$220 MHD monitor, flash and Stage 1
$10 BMS clutch stop
$700 for M3 RSFB, flex disc, Millers CRX 75W90 and CDV removal inc labour
$3 for a pair of windscreen wiper covers from Alibaba
$25 Baesus wireless phone charger mount
Edit: $750 for Good Year Super Sports all round

Rear feels so tight now no more wiggle as it should have been. Best mod so far apart from the CDV delete.

October Incoming:
$440 335i BMW OEM SSK
$160 Vwetish diff lock down kit

Totally chuffed and can’t wait!

[Chapperss]

September ran to a lovely £402.26

Rear brake discs, Brenbo - £136.78
Rear pad wear sensor - £11.69
Android head unit/Idrive screen replacement thing (although I may be sending it back) - £253.79

[Chappers 71]

Cars currently having its mot, am waiting like an expectant father

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Cars currently having its mot, am waiting like an expectant father

Musta passed by now!

[Chappers 71]

Passed its mot, just an advisory about the stone chip on the windscreen which has been like it for around five years now, it goes to the same not place that I've been using for over thirty years now & some years they note the chip other years they dont & it's usually the same guy that does the mot every year

Only covered 2,614 miles this past year but (almost) everyone of them still puts a smile on my face

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by mjn77

Musta passed by now!

Yeah I went for a little scud about after the mot then haven't stopped doing the stuff that needs doing, shopping, hoovering, walking the dogs, yada, yada
Chillin now though how's life with the m3?

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

The sun was shining today so I took the 35i for a
little scud about but when I found a nice bit of empty duel carriageway to open her up the back end didn't feel quite right & the traction control light was flickering away for no discernable reason I then felt a kind of 'tramping' feeling so I got of the gas & drove her home, whilst on the way home I had to brake a bit hard whilst cornering & the car started pulling to the right as I was cornering to the left, which was a bit unnerving but fortunately I wasn't going very fast.

Jacked her up when I got home but couldn't find any noticeable play in the rear wheels or any of the arms or bushes, shocks & springs also look ok. So I suspect it's most likely a reluctor ring issue.



Couldn't get it booked in until the 27th While it's at the shop am having all the arms & bushes etc checked as I'm thinking about a full suspension refresh as it's now done 123,500 miles with new Sachs sport shocks & Apex lowered springs fitted at 60,000 miles, so am also considering either a suspension kit or putting it back to stock, as now I'm getting old I am finding the ride a little to choppy.
Would appreciate any input on suspension kits & or thoughts of returning it to stock.

Yeah, I know it doesn't make financial sense to spend what could end up being maybe half of the cars value on refreshing the suspension, new mounts, shocks & springs but having toyed with the thought of selling it, for what the cars worth I don't really see the point as it's probably only worth £3-4,000 or so, maybe not even that as book value says only £2,600 in A1 condition & with 540i tourers currently £30,000 plus & having the company disco as my dd I can convince myself that spending money unessacerily on the 35i will save me money in the long run because the 35i will feel nice & fresh again & hopefully a bit more comfortable so I won't have the need/want to spend £30,000 plus on replacing it.

That makes sense....right?

Edit
Have been looking at suspension kits & the ST XA kit looks like good value, I like the idea of being able to adjust the rebound/dampening & the ST stuff is basically KW but made from galvanised steel instead of stainless, as my 35i only does around 3,000 miles a year now & is garaged I don't see that being a problem & bought direct from ST it's £800....hmmm

https://www.st-suspensions.net/produ...9&c_car=123171

Had the suspension & reluctor rings checked out & apparently everything's good, my guy says it may have been down to road surface/conditions & the rear tyres are around 3/4 worn, haven't had the same issue since...so

As there seems to be nothing wrong with the suspension i doubt I'll bother with a refresh & suspension kit now, will just save the money for the next time something breaks

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Yeah I went for a little scud about after the mot then haven't stopped doing the stuff that needs doing, shopping, hoovering, walking the dogs, yada, yada
Chillin now though how's life with the m3?

Thirsty

Nearly got all the bits n pieces done now (rod bearings, engine mounts, new battery, DCT service, full service including plugs, rear quarters and bumper re-painted, exhaust gasket, ABS speed sensors, sat nav map update, etc). Next up is alloy refurb. Still can’t decide on a colour. Not gonna bother getting re-diamond cut, but powder coated. Don’t want silver, but maybe a dark shadow chrome type colour or maybe satin bronze.

[Chappers 71]

Just £45 for the mot for October & £40 a week on VPower, although I was a bit shocked to find that It had gone up from £1.57.3p per litre to £1.63.9p since last Saturday!!

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Just £45 for the mot for October & £40 a week on VPower, although I was a bit shocked to find that It had gone up from £1.57.3p per litre to £1.63.9p since last Saturday!!

One of the perks of having a broken foot, i’ve used zero petrol and barely been out of the house in 3 weeks, so dred to think what the price of petrol is now!

[Arch Stanton]

MOT passed with no advisories, not bad for a 14 year old with 157k on the clock. :-)

I cant recall the last unexpected bill, service time next month.

[Smokey33]

£340 on Tax for another year £310 on a custom tune from Doc Vu and £75 at MSL for the dyno runs.

Made 565bhp and 570lbs/ft with no meth, just 99Ron V Power. Very happy.

[Chapperss]

Just fuel for October

[Arch Stanton]

surely tax and fuel doesn't count in this reckoning,