Working on BMW's.......
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Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
It just strikes me as odd, as we now have two E46's in the family (the 2000 328i and a 2003 330i) and both have the access panel. I was under the impression that BMW had been using the panel or an access hole of some sort forever, which is why your comment threw me for a loop.
Yes, the E46/E90 thing appears to be a sort of "hot topic" with many people's opinions being quite polar.
I wonder if the difference is that it is a 330xi. Although the E90 is a 330xi as well. Not sure how the undersides compare but the transfer case or whatever they call it must change it somewhat.
It just strikes me as odd, as we now have two E46's in the family (the 2000 328i and a 2003 330i) and both have the access panel. I was under the impression that BMW had been using the panel or an access hole of some sort forever, which is why your comment threw me for a loop.
Yes, the E46/E90 thing appears to be a sort of "hot topic" with many people's opinions being quite polar.
I wonder if the difference is that it is a 330xi. Although the E90 is a 330xi as well. Not sure how the undersides compare but the transfer case or whatever they call it must change it somewhat.
JHZR2
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Originally Posted By: ron917
Changing plugs on a 1997 Honda Civic:
1. Open the hood.
2. Pull wire off of first plug.
3. Remove plug.
4. Install new plug.
5. Connect wire to new plug
6. Repeat steps 2 thru 5 three more times.
7. Close hood.
No layers, nothing in the way, no extra stuff to remove to gain access. That's how it should be.
Seriously??!? Youre making THAT comparison?
My 91 BMW is exactly the same. So what's your point?
Seems to be that way on most FWD 4 cyl vehicles, though latest cars of all sorts seem to have a few plastic cover layers over the valve cover.
Here is a 2012 Hyundai Accent's layers:
Changing plugs on a 1997 Honda Civic:
1. Open the hood.
2. Pull wire off of first plug.
3. Remove plug.
4. Install new plug.
5. Connect wire to new plug
6. Repeat steps 2 thru 5 three more times.
7. Close hood.
No layers, nothing in the way, no extra stuff to remove to gain access. That's how it should be.
Seriously??!? Youre making THAT comparison?
My 91 BMW is exactly the same. So what's your point?
Seems to be that way on most FWD 4 cyl vehicles, though latest cars of all sorts seem to have a few plastic cover layers over the valve cover.
Here is a 2012 Hyundai Accent's layers:
PITA to work on?
Welcome to wrenching!
Welcome to wrenching!
Sequential disassembly...
If you know the trick(s?) it all kind'a makes sense, after a while. And it often takes quite a while, especially at $70+ per hour!
Replacing the plugs on the Mercedes is a snap if you have the right combination of extensions and a plug ratchet (mine is a SnapOn I found in a $15 garage sale toolbox!).
Replacing the plugs on a SVX is about a 3 hour job per the Stealerships... I can do them all in a hour with a little luck.
There are those who maintain that the trend is to make things so convoluted, so complex, such a royal PITA that the average consumer won't even attempt any service or maintenance work.
You know: the kinds of things we all used to do (or, "TRIED" to do?) way back when...
Cheers!
p.s. Remember that the "average consumer" can't even replace the battery in their iPhone.
If you know the trick(s?) it all kind'a makes sense, after a while. And it often takes quite a while, especially at $70+ per hour!
Replacing the plugs on the Mercedes is a snap if you have the right combination of extensions and a plug ratchet (mine is a SnapOn I found in a $15 garage sale toolbox!).
Replacing the plugs on a SVX is about a 3 hour job per the Stealerships... I can do them all in a hour with a little luck.
There are those who maintain that the trend is to make things so convoluted, so complex, such a royal PITA that the average consumer won't even attempt any service or maintenance work.
You know: the kinds of things we all used to do (or, "TRIED" to do?) way back when...
Cheers!
p.s. Remember that the "average consumer" can't even replace the battery in their iPhone.
I could change the plugs on my Jaguar AJ-6's in about five minutes - open the hood, pull the plug boots, pull plugs, anti sieze new plugs (longest part of the task), reinstall plugs, reinstall boots, close hood.
Takes me a couple of hours on the V12 though, as I have to release tension on a belt and displace the a/c compressor and remove the throttle pedestal and linkages to the cylinder banks. I can do it without those steps, but it's just easier to get that stuff out of the way. I've lost interest in fighting stuff - if it's in my way, I just remove it.
It's good that your BMW's are easy to work on. I haven't seen a car with a longitudinal engine that was not easy to work on. It's the ones with wrong wheel drive and V6's that are real knuckle busters.
Takes me a couple of hours on the V12 though, as I have to release tension on a belt and displace the a/c compressor and remove the throttle pedestal and linkages to the cylinder banks. I can do it without those steps, but it's just easier to get that stuff out of the way. I've lost interest in fighting stuff - if it's in my way, I just remove it.
It's good that your BMW's are easy to work on. I haven't seen a car with a longitudinal engine that was not easy to work on. It's the ones with wrong wheel drive and V6's that are real knuckle busters.
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Overkill : what you mentioned is like a Ford escape which is in nobway a bad vehicle I actually like them and would enjoy owning one. Except I'd hate doing a tune up you have to pull the intake on it. I want to know who in the engineering room thought that even remotely looked like a great idea. I kinda appreciate my Satun in that regard most things make some sense. I sagmost because the intake is kinda close to the firewall for no obvious reason. Anyone ever worked on a 3800 gm. They have coolant lines going trough the belt tensioner and all the stupid elbows
The most frequent maintenance item of any car is oil change. BMW and MB made it so easy to change oil with a fluid extractor and cartridge oil filter is on top of the engine.
I can change oil and filter of the E430 with dress cloth.
I can change oil and filter of the E430 with dress cloth.
OVERKILL
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Originally Posted By: mechtech2
PITA to work on?
Welcome to wrenching!
Right, but not being a mechanic by trade I have the CHOICE if the vehicles I work on are a PITA or not
I've discovered that these cars are NOT!
The Expedition is a mixed bag depending on what you are doing. And Fox Mustangs I know quite intimately, all the good and bad.
PITA to work on?
Welcome to wrenching!
Right, but not being a mechanic by trade I have the CHOICE if the vehicles I work on are a PITA or not
The Expedition is a mixed bag depending on what you are doing. And Fox Mustangs I know quite intimately, all the good and bad.
i find the bwm engine designations confusing, e this m that
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
i find the bwm engine designations confusing, e this m that
M or S.
M=Regular version
S=Performance version
E is a chassis designation, IE E39, E46...etc.
i find the bwm engine designations confusing, e this m that
M or S.
M=Regular version
S=Performance version
E is a chassis designation, IE E39, E46...etc.
When I am at work and replacing tires, I don't like working on BMW models because of the lug bolts. That applied to many other European Makes, too. Sometimes those cars have 20 inch wheels, and then the job becomes 4x as difficult.
Having wheel studs makes installing tires easier.
Having wheel studs makes installing tires easier.
I read somewhere a few years ago that BMW's goal was to enable the driver to just drive the car without having to worry about service. Hence the electronic dipstick and Condition Based Service system. My wife's E90 literally does go from one service to the next without opening the hood. It looks like they actually made it work.
As for the tires thing, I had BMW's for years and now I have a Ford with studs and nuts. I find bolts easier IF you have the technology: either a screw in alignment rod that allows you to line up one bolt hole, or a brake pedal jack (or a stick between the front seat and the brake pedal) that you can lock the wheels with. Then all you do is line up the one big hole in the middle and turn until the bolt holes line up. I find that easier than holding a 60 pound rim in an awkward position while I try to line up all five holes and studs.
As for the tires thing, I had BMW's for years and now I have a Ford with studs and nuts. I find bolts easier IF you have the technology: either a screw in alignment rod that allows you to line up one bolt hole, or a brake pedal jack (or a stick between the front seat and the brake pedal) that you can lock the wheels with. Then all you do is line up the one big hole in the middle and turn until the bolt holes line up. I find that easier than holding a 60 pound rim in an awkward position while I try to line up all five holes and studs.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
M or S.
M=Regular version
S=Performance version
E is a chassis designation, IE E39, E46...etc.
And now the platform designation is F.
Yes, "evolutionary"
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
M or S.
M=Regular version
S=Performance version
E is a chassis designation, IE E39, E46...etc.
And now the platform designation is F.
Yes, "evolutionary"
Yeah this is why I like BMW's, Porsche's, and Mercedes. They are all very easy and logical to work on once you understand how they think when they build them.
Also most fasteners are 10mm which makes life easy.
Audi doesn't really follow this line of thought, they are more like VW, ie OMFG what were those morons thinking when you dig in.
Plus at least with Mercedes I can walk into the dealer and get any part I want for any car built since 1945, and if they don't have it in stock I can get it the next day.
Try going to a GM dealer to get a little clip for a 20 year old truck, they will laugh! With Mercedes its $2 and their the next day. Or worst case the Classic Center takes over and you get it right out of Germany in a few days.
Also most fasteners are 10mm which makes life easy.
Audi doesn't really follow this line of thought, they are more like VW, ie OMFG what were those morons thinking when you dig in.
Plus at least with Mercedes I can walk into the dealer and get any part I want for any car built since 1945, and if they don't have it in stock I can get it the next day.
Try going to a GM dealer to get a little clip for a 20 year old truck, they will laugh! With Mercedes its $2 and their the next day. Or worst case the Classic Center takes over and you get it right out of Germany in a few days.
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Ferrari spark plug replacement is easy too-
Step1) remove engine from car...
After that, it's smooth sailing....
Step1) remove engine from car...
After that, it's smooth sailing....
Like these.LOL
We favor BMWs at my shop because theyre the most logically planned out. Plenty of room to work in once you get the fan and shroud off, and exceptionally reliable if you keep up with them. We see a few with over 250k, just fixed up and sold an 97 528i that was a really solid car at 155k. I wish I had the opportunity to pick one up, but the A4 serves its purpose. Audi, by far, is the worst as far as technician or DIY work is concerned. Always 10lbs of poop in a 5 lb bag. Talk about layering! Bumper comes off and nose slides forward in almost every repair. Luckily Ive learned alot over the years of ownership. As far as BMW keeping it simple, I think that went out the door in 2006 with the "N" designation motors, and the subsequent revisions to all the motors. The car does not run under vacuum for one, and on the newer turbo motors they breathe backwards. As in the turbos and exhaust manifolds sit in the V and the intake is on the outside of the block. Plus, on the X6, 76 bolts hold up 29 heat shields under the cowling that only fit ONE WAY!!!! Thanks BMW!!!
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