-
Posts
16,915 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
64 -
Feedback
100%
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Media Demo
Store
Everything posted by PranK
-
So, the squealing noise kept getting worse. I booked the car in to BimmerTech to have a few things looked at and while en route, the engine momentarily revved with no drive a few times and then refused to shift out of 3rd. Thankfully this was the perfect gear as I could get going and keep up with traffic for the 15 k's or so to go. These boxes are notorious for strange behaviour when they haven't had a fluid change or service (despite "lifetime" fluids being used by BMW). Hilariously I had a new filter/pan for the box with oil so I could do this job myself. They were in the boot so I got BimmerTech to replace the pan (the filter is built into the plastic box pan) and fluid. They said it was really terrible fluid. I've had no box problems since and the squealing is also gone. Looks like the squealing was from the box. While there I spoke to them about the excess oil consumption. I had been requested by the car to add 1L oil on 2 occasions within a few months of buying the car. BMW's burn oil during normal driving conditions and the on board computer will ask for a top up when it gets low but 2L over about 5 months and 2k k's was a bit excessive. Mech said most likely the valve stem seals (common issue). But he said we could try a thicker grade oil and also an additive that softens the rubber on the seals so we put in 10w-50 with this additive and the car hasn't requested a top up since. I'm not sure what I'd do if the valve stem seals get worse. It *looks* like a DIY job but also super fiddly and easy to screw up.
- 218 replies
-
- migrate-from-302-euro-discussion
- bmw
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
I'd started hearing some strange squealing noises which sounded a lot like the pulleys so, next job was to replace the pulleys and tensioner and whack a new belt on. The pulleys felt a bit rough but weren't particularly bad. The noise continued afterwards. I also replaced the plastic PCV which is prone to leaking with an aluminium one. I also replaced all coils with brand new Bosch OEM ones as the idle was sometimes a little rough. Bosch spark plugs were done a few weeks later ... Believe it or not, standard plug sockets don't work on the N54, you need a special 'thin wall' socket which I had to order. Buying parts got a whole lot cheaper recently through FCP Euro. In the past buying anything from the states was SUPER expensive to ship and would take forever. FCP now have the package with you within about 10 days and is much more akin to what you'd expect. With shipping the Bosch coils were about $30ea rather than the several hundred locally.
- 218 replies
-
- migrate-from-302-euro-discussion
- bmw
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
I thought it was about time I updated this. I'll try to keep it chronological but apologies if its a little all over the place. Not long after doing the rear window seal and (thankfully) before I'd done the front, the windscreen broke. I have windscreen cover and a new one was on in no time and it had a fresh seal so I'm happy I didn't do that part. Then came the front brakes. I had bought some 335i calipers to upgrade the brakes on the 330i (348mm v 330mm) and never fit them. So, I decided to rebuild them as I'd never done that before. I sanded them and wire-wheeled them back to fresh metal and replaced the seal and dust covers (which was stupidly frustrating but alas, as is common with BMW's I'd been sent the wrong part.) Painting them came out perfectly, until the fricken clear coat which needed 4 million degrees for 30 mins to cure. As I have a broken oven I had no way of doing this. I did the best I could with boxes and heat guns but it 100% ruined the finish and the calipers had to go on looking far worse than I'd have liked. Although, the reason I chose silver to start with is to make them look clean and not especially 'painted'. I flushed the brake fluid and replaced the last of the rubber lines with braided.
- 218 replies
-
- migrate-from-302-euro-discussion
- bmw
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi Dorothy, this is a very old topic (15 years) and a lot of these guys no longer frequent this site. You can try to message them individually in their profiles but thats about all you can do.
-
Bills 33 Gtst Streeter/track Car
PranK replied to admS15's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
Dang, that's shit. 7-8 years is good, but still shit. I'm super keen to see where this goes tho, theres some good banter in here already and I'm in for the ride. Could always swap it out for a BMW N54. Duncan love these. -
Shoota's R33 GT-R RB30/26
PranK replied to Shoota_77's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
Pool looks great! Nice work! Ours was finished earlier this year and now I find myself more interested in pools than ever before. -
Hi @ElianT and welcome to This might get some more traction in the technical forums. Do you want me to move it?
- 1 reply
-
- nm35
- check engine
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
Welcome to ! Car looks tidy, well done!
-
Turbo services in Sydney + options for upgrade
PranK replied to PranK's topic in General Automotive Discussion
That sounds great. I might be your newest customer. I bought a 2nd set of turbos so I could get them fixed and then just swap them over. When they arrive I'll get them to you. -
Turbo services in Sydney + options for upgrade
PranK replied to PranK's topic in General Automotive Discussion
Absolutely wasn't suggesting that the cost wasn't worth it. Was more that it was above what I'd be looking to spend and I wasn't sure how much it would be. Do you know how much the wastegate repair usually goes for? -
I reckon thats the type of thing you only do once. Hopefully.
-
Turbo services in Sydney + options for upgrade
PranK replied to PranK's topic in General Automotive Discussion
Yeah the actuators are funny. But so is a lot of the rest of the engine. -
Turbo services in Sydney + options for upgrade
PranK replied to PranK's topic in General Automotive Discussion
Wow, thats a lot more expensive than I thought it'd be! There's a lot of off the shelf turbos I can get for around $5k but I'm not looking to replace my inlets, dumps and get a custom tune. I just thought there might be a bit of a basic upgrade to get the most out of them without going too far. I did shoot an email to GCG the other day and mentioned high flowing in there, we'll see what they say I guess. That said, I'd like to hear from @hypergear regardless if they have a repair service for the wastegate rattle. -
MLR's Bogan cruise ship
PranK replied to The Bogan's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
This is not one I'd thought about previously but I do like the swifts. I'll keep this short so we don't go too OT but thanks for this, i appreciate it! -
Turbo services in Sydney + options for upgrade
PranK posted a topic in General Automotive Discussion
Hi All, My 335i has the dreaded wastegate rattle which plagues pretty much every N54 engine BMW produced at some stage in its lifetime. Basically the actuator arm sometimes doesnt close the flapper properly and can cause rattles and eventually boost leak. I have no boost leak yet but the turbos can become unable to be fixed if its left long enough. The fix is to weld on to the turbos some uprgraded components to make it stronger and adjust the actuator so that the flapper can close properly again. https://vargasturbo.com/product/vtt-n54-waste-gate-repair-kit-rattle-fix/ This generally costs about $900 per set and is a service that GCG offers. https://gcg.com.au/service-details/BMW N54 Wastegate Rattle Repair-news.html I'm wondering if anybody else in Sydney could do this? I have bought a 2nd set of turbos to fix so I can then swap them out in my own time without waiting for the fixes to be done and then I'll sell the ones that come out. Also, the N54 turbos are pretty small and I don't know if this is possible but can they be upgraded in any other way? Possibly high flowed? I'm not sure if high flowing OE turbos is a thing anymore. -
MLR's Bogan cruise ship
PranK replied to The Bogan's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
My motivation for the request was two fold; 1. I love seeing clean cars. I love detailing videos. 2. My 16 y/o is not far away from her P's and I'm keen to learn about more smaller cars. Although I might just buy her a prado -
R32 Gtr Fresh From Japan.. Almost
PranK replied to GRKGTR's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
-
MLR's Bogan cruise ship
PranK replied to The Bogan's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
Need some clean shots. -
The Evolution Of "night Fury"
PranK replied to jez NF's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
Damn they look fantastic! -
Greetings from The Netherlands| Hafid, R34GT+T
PranK replied to Hafidel36's topic in Introduce yourself
Welcome to ! Plans sound good. You might want to consider starting a build thread. -
Damn, loving the car *and* the shed! AND the lift!
-
Duncan's HGE70W car, RHD Titan
PranK replied to Duncan's topic in Members Cars, Project Overhauls & Restorations
Ha haha this is such a BMW thing to do. My sports seats (from an M Sport) had the same plugs with the non sports I was replacing ... But .. the pins were in different locations. No more making fun of my cars D. OMG, so satisfying! Well done! That's pretty shit about the steps. Does this mean you bought the replacements? Surely, legally, they need to provide those conditions with the part? -
Where did you stumble across this?
-
I wonder how that evo boot lid sounds when you're cranking your drum n bass.