Repair or sell? - Man maths involved!

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 22-02-2018 8:40pm

I was going to suggest getting refurbished injectors as 2k sounded about 1200 too expensive, more like BMW main dealer prices, whoever got the car for 4 or 5 k has snagged a bargain.

commited · 22-02-2018 10:26pm

captainspeed wrote: »

This is a very useful post for anyone else with an N53 engine, or someone looking to buy a car with this engine.

If I have understood you correctly, these engines are fine so long as the injectors have been replaced with 'Index 11' type? If they are the old style injectors there will be problems similar to the OP's?

Would that also apply for cars with the N43 (four cylinder) engine?

Yup, exactly right. I haven't heard of any index 11 failing, it's certainly not common place. My car had 2 index 11 injectors courtesy of BMW (amazing how they don't change all 6 when it's at their cost!) And I changed the other 4 as preventative maintenance.
I normally wouldn't recommend used parts on a premium car but the new prices for these injectors are a joke.
Really easy job to change and code as long as you have a set of spanners and INPA.

Rowley Birkin QC · 13-03-2018 2:42pm

Little post script to this:

I am utterly consumed by regret after selling the car. I should have gone all in and married it. Even if I had to sink another €2-3k into it between suspension, tyres and the injectors issue it would still be one of the cheapest MSport, low tax, low mileage, 325's in the country.

F**K

On the last message above, BMW introduced an Index 12 injector for the N53 and N54 which can only lead me to believe that Index 11 weren't bulletproof. There is the advantage that they could be swapped out individually rather than in a bank or entirely though.

theskibag · 13-03-2018 3:01pm

Crap, sorry to hear that Rowley.

Made my share of bad decisions regarding cars as well.

Brian Scan · 13-03-2018 6:36pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Little post script to this:

I am utterly consumed by regret after selling the car. I should have gone all in and married it. Even if I had to sink another €2-3k into it between suspension, tyres and the injectors issue it would still be one of the cheapest MSport, low tax, low mileage, 325's in the country.

F**K

On the last message above, BMW introduced an Index 12 injector for the N53 and N54 which can only lead me to believe that Index 11 weren't bulletproof. There is the advantage that they could be swapped out individually rather than in a bank or entirely though.

You need to get very, very, drunk.

James Bond Junior · 13-03-2018 6:39pm

It is very easy to look back on a decision made on a car and think it was the wrong one. You went with your gut at the time.

Rowley Birkin QC · 13-03-2018 7:23pm

Yup, at the time all I could see was mountains of bills coming down the tracks. Hindsight is a great thing!

I drove a 325 SE last week which was scrap.

Drove a BRZ which was suspiciously cheap and massively tempting but ultimately I didn't want to drop that much cash on something I wasn't 100% sure on. Excellent car at what it's built for but that interior is just absolute bargain basement and not something I think I could live with in a daily driver.

I've also been looking at MK5 GTi Golfs but I can't warm to them at all. Woe is me!

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 13-03-2018 8:44pm

Reason every sod drives a BMW is causes they are great driving cars, most other cars dont compare, and once you taste that BMW magic its hard drive anything else. Regroup....and get a 335i....now thats a proper engine and seriously cheap.

commited · 13-03-2018 9:54pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Little post script to this:

I am utterly consumed by regret after selling the car. I should have gone all in and married it. Even if I had to sink another €2-3k into it between suspension, tyres and the injectors issue it would still be one of the cheapest MSport, low tax, low mileage, 325's in the country.

F**K

I'm gutted to read this for you but totally expected it, they're great cars and you can't bail every time they throw a bill!

On the last message above, BMW introduced an Index 12 injector for the N53 and N54 which can only lead me to believe that Index 11 weren't bulletproof. There is the advantage that they could be swapped out individually rather than in a bank or entirely though.

Nope, index 12 is N54, index 11 is N53 - they're different designs. I've had both

Go buy a 335i now

It's the only way to salvage the situation!

Rowley Birkin QC · 14-03-2018 2:08pm

Braxton Nutritious Seismograph wrote: »

Reason every sod drives a BMW is causes they are great driving cars, most other cars dont compare, and once you taste that BMW magic its hard drive anything else. Regroup....and get a 335i....now thats a proper engine and seriously cheap.

Yup, the thought has crossed my mind alright.

galwaytt · 14-03-2018 3:46pm

Braxton Nutritious Seismograph wrote: »

Reason every sod drives a BMW is causes they are great driving cars, most other cars dont compare, and once you taste that BMW magic its hard drive anything else. Regroup....and get a 335i....now thats a proper engine and seriously cheap.

Meh. I like cars. I like all kinds of cars. But I have to be honest and claim no BMW I've driven, bar a friends M135i , has done anything for me. I certainly didn't get the Ultimate Driving thing so many espouse

Rowley Birkin QC · 14-03-2018 5:46pm

galwaytt wrote: »

Meh. I like cars. I like all kinds of cars. But I have to be honest and claim no BMW I've driven, bar a friends M135i , has done anything for me. I certainly didn't get the Ultimate Driving thing so many espouse

I don't think they are the ultimate driving machine by any means. But the combination of factors below are certainly more interesting and appealing to me than many other cars on the market and in the same pricing bracket.

RWD
Sport Styling
Interior quality - once some options have been ticked

There's an M135i around the corner from home a lot. Absolutely beautiful machine. I've yet to finance a car, much prefer to save and buy it outright but that has had me looking up PCP, loans and all sorts recently!!

Gravelly · 14-03-2018 5:58pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

I don't think they are the ultimate driving machine by any means. But the combination of factors below are certainly more interesting and appealing to me than many other cars on the market and in the same pricing bracket.
RWD

Sport Styling

Interior quality - once some options have been ticked

There's an M135i around the corner from home a lot. Absolutely beautiful machine. I've yet to finance a car, much prefer to save and buy it outright but that has had me looking up PCP, loans and all sorts recently!!

I always wonder about the whole RWD thing. I've owned loads of rwd cars, and lots of sports cars, rwd, fwd, and awd, and I honestly doubt that 99% of people who drive a modern car, with traction control etc. would notice the difference between fwd and rwd in normal driving on a public road. I know every poster on here will claim they will, but I wonder. As for sports styling (?) and interior quality, I wouldn't put BMW above or below any of the other premium brands in those. I think if you like BMW, it's more likely to be because of the brand image (this is why I like Mercs, and I'm not afraid to admit it!), and there is nothing wrong with that - to me BMW have a great brand image, but for some reason BMW drivers can never seem to admit that.

Rowley Birkin QC · 14-06-2018 5:28pm

So....I bought the car back today. Collecting next weekend.

mickdw · 14-06-2018 5:35pm

Unreal.
Hope it goes well for you this time.

Rowley Birkin QC · 14-06-2018 5:38pm

Yeah, the E46 really wasn't doing it for me anymore I've driven a few cars but really wasn't warming to anything so threw a text to the guy I sold it to, made him an offer and sent a deposit before I really had too much time to think myself out of it. S

She has a fresh NCT, 4 new tyres, resprayed front bumper and new injectors. Still less than 70km on her. Man maths indeed!

mickdw · 14-06-2018 6:57pm

I'd say the current owner was rather surprised by the offer.

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 14-06-2018 6:58pm

`congrats...how did the deal happen was it for sale again?

wonski · 14-06-2018 11:17pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

So....I bought the car back today. Collecting next weekend.

Some twist

At least it is fixed now and ready to go!

Always nice to buy a new car

Rowley Birkin QC · 15-06-2018 2:06pm

Braxton Nutritious Seismograph wrote: »

`congrats...how did the deal happen was it for sale again?

Nope, I spent another evening looking at auction sites and carzone, then spotted that I still had the keyring from the old car on my current keys, shot him a text and made him an offer. It's fixed, I'll take a little hit but f**k it, there's a reason I bought it day one!

It was actually a second / third car for the guy I sold / bought it to / from so he's not too worried.

Skylinehead · 15-06-2018 2:58pm

Excellent, welcome back to the club :cool:

Rowley Birkin QC · 06-02-2019 11:39am

commited wrote: »

Holy crap, thread delivers in less than 12hours. Was coming on here to offer to help, I've replaced N53&N54 injectors before and it's a really easy job to do - this could have been done for less than €500. If they're already "11" index injectors then you would only need to replace 1 injector (but I've not heard of these failing). The latest design of injector has an excellent reputation, same for the latest revision of HPFP.

Huge pity to see you make a knee jerk reaction in less than 12 hours like this with a car you obviously liked and any car you buy now may throw up a big bill!

PM Sent. (It was only a matter of time!!)

Wibbs · 06-02-2019 12:04pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

So....I bought the car back today. Collecting next weekend.

Just saw this. A very belated Yay!

Not often you get a second chance like that, don't let it go this time. Congrats. Dammit I have something in my eye.

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

I don't think they are the ultimate driving machine by any means. But the combination of factors below are certainly more interesting and appealing to me than many other cars on the market and in the same pricing bracket.

They're also a very adaptable car that "fits" everyone and everywhere. They appeal to both the youngfella and the oulfella. You can stick an 18 year old playing "banging tunes" or a 75 year old listening to Lyric FM, man or woman in a Beemer and it doesn't look "wrong". A Golf is similar, as are Mercs(though they're a little more "middle aged"). Plus they won't freak out suburban neighbours. On the other and extreme hand the current Honda Civic R has an extremely narrow driver profile and will have the neighbours tut tutting and questioning your sanity.

Skylinehead · 06-02-2019 12:17pm

My injectors are fine but HPFP went since the last post :pac:

Rowley Birkin QC · 06-02-2019 12:30pm

Nixonbot wrote: »

My injectors are fine but HPFP went since the last post :pac:

Ooof, what were the symptoms and if it's not opening too deep a wound can you share how much it cost to set right?

PM if you prefer!

Rowley Birkin QC · 06-02-2019 12:34pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Just saw this. A very belated Yay! Not often you get a second chance like that, don't let it go this time. Congrats. Dammit I have something in my eye.

They're also a very adaptable car that "fits" everyone and everywhere. They appeal to both the youngfella and the oulfella. You can stick an 18 year old playing "banging tunes" or a 75 year old listening to Lyric FM, man or woman in a Beemer and it doesn't look "wrong". A Golf is similar, as are Mercs(though they're a little more "middle aged"). Plus they won't freak out suburban neighbours. On the other and extreme hand the current Honda Civic R has an extremely narrow driver profile and will have the neighbours tut tutting and questioning your sanity.

It's also enough power (for me anyway, for now) in that there's plenty of go around town and on the motorway and it's also happy to slip the rear when the opportunity presents itself. The noise of a 6 cylinder petrol is also something that I can check off my list of car "wants" too.

You can take it for a blast through backroads on the way to a wedding at a nice hotel and it's perfectly suited to both situations! (when it's working that is!

)

Skylinehead · 06-02-2019 12:41pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Ooof, what were the symptoms and if it's not opening too deep a wound can you share how much it cost to set right?

PM if you prefer!

Nah, no bother saying here.

Initial symptoms - slight "grinding" noise as you climb through the revs, if I recall right, about 2.5k revs. No resistance mind, and I assumed it was transmission-related at the time.

Bit later, got a bit more real, would go into reduced power mode if I climbed above 4k revs at all. Engine light at the same time, but would go away after a restart. While in reduced power mode, if you slowed to a stop the engine could cut out entirely.

Brought it down to Valdas, had it diagnosed in 20 minutes, 1100 for the HPFP all-in. BMW dealer would have charged that for the part alone.

Wibbs · 06-02-2019 12:45pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

You can take it for a blast through backroads on the way to a wedding at a nice hotel and it's perfectly suited to both situations! (when it's working that is! )

You've summed up Beemer ownership right there RB.

Rowley Birkin QC · 06-02-2019 12:45pm

Nixonbot wrote: »

Nah, no bother saying here.

Initial symptoms - slight "grinding" noise as you climb through the revs, if I recall right, about 2.5k revs. No resistance mind, and I assumed it was transmission-related at the time.

Bit later, got a bit more real, would go into reduced power mode if I climbed above 4k revs at all. Engine light at the same time, but would go away after a restart. While in reduced power mode, if you slowed to a stop the engine could cut out entirely.

Brought it down to Valdas, had it diagnosed in 20 minutes, 1100 for the HPFP all-in. BMW dealer would have charged that for the part alone.

Cool, thanks for that.

Was it throwing an error specifically for the HPFP?

I have a P0206 intermittently at the moment, hopefully just another single injector. Symptoms are rough running on startup and hesitation when accelerating through 2-3.5k revs.

Skylinehead · 06-02-2019 1:04pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Cool, thanks for that.

Was it throwing an error specifically for the HPFP?

I have a P0206 intermittently at the moment, hopefully just another single injector. Symptoms are rough running on startup and hesitation when accelerating through 2-3.5k revs.

I'll try dig out the code but I can't remember exactly what it was off-hand. Just that googling the code symptoms didn't tell me much, only that it could be anything from injectors to the pump itself, could only tell once someone with proper diagnostics got their hands on it.

Mine still rough starts from time-to-time, revs going all over the place for 20 seconds or so and the car shakes a bit, but settles down after that.

Repair or sell? - Man maths involved!

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