What did you do to/for your 1er today?

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Donkeyshins

The Puget Sound region (and somewhat the PNW in general - especially anywhere that has significant runoff into the watershed) is a salt-free zone due to the potential impact on flora and fauna (specifically, salmon). So, no worries about the ever-present winter rust monster here. Other than idiots who can't drive, there's not a lot to fear about driving in the winter here.

Beware, that policy has largely changed. After the big snow in 2008, the city of Seattle reversed course on road salt and started using it again. The same is true for much of western washington. Keep up on your underbody washes in the winter after snow storms!

[tracer bullet]

Sigh. Almost got new tires going. Ordered the tires, the Tire Rack warehouse is super close so I picked them up, and I dropped them off at the shop. Then I headed home to grab my wheels (I'd already swapped them off to put the snow stuff on). Loaded them in the car (an X3) and brought them to the shop. So far, so good.

Noticed the 2 piles next to each other, and the new tire pile was much taller. The 235mm fronts are the same size across brands (Michelin and Firestone). The 265mm rear tires were quite a bit different, the new ones being much taller. At least a cm, almost more. Quite strange, but not too strange, I know I've seen and read about it before.

So they'll delay the install, I ordered 2 new tires (255mm this time) for the rears, and once they finally arrive at the warehouse I guess we get to repeat this little gig. Plus the added fun of returning some tires as well.

I thought about going for it but can't return tires that have been driven on. And 2 times installing them - at the shop and later at home too. Just not up for the mess, went the safe route.

[Skipdy4]

Installed the Mosselman Turbo Systems oil thermostat and the CSF E-Chassis N54/N55 Race-Spec Engine Oil Cooler. Packed away for the winter.

[lucahemi@gmail.com]

Installed 10/12mm wheel spacers and gave her a wash

[WrathOTM]

Fiddled with the rear shocks to stiffen them up a little and did a trans drain and fill with some Motul oil of some variety. Shifts are smoother now, took out a wee bit of notchiness, getting into reverse is slightly smoother. Will find out tomorrow what freezing/near freezing temps will do to the shift feel.


Next up possibly rear sway bar end links or front brakes and stainless steel brake lines. Or something else that I was thinking of but now can't remember.

[K9Leader]

Did my first track day in seven years at PittRace (Pittsburgh) put on by the DelVal Chapter of BMW CCA. Mostly BMWs but also Porsches, Corvettes, and assorted others. Saturday I had four sessions of 25 minutes each. My instructor was great - patient, helpful, and very informative. Morning was a bit wet but it dried up in the afternoon. Sunday was very wet (I chose to leave Sunday morning - it was wet, cold, and my bum knee was screaming at me). I was among the slower cars on the track but worked on consistency and smoothness and got progressively better (and faster, well, a little bit) each run.

I did screw up on my dashcam video, though. I did not copy the videos to my laptop on Saturday night, thinking "Ah, I'll do it when I get home." But I did not realize I had only a 32GB card in the camera and it all got overwritten on the drive home. 'DOH!

Little Red on the paddock, next to my buddy's 1991 325i racer (covered, but watch the video to see it on track).


A group lined up waiting to enter the track:


My buddy on the track (the red car):

[tracer bullet]

Not that anyone's watching my tire saga, but I stopped at the shop this morning and measured the old and new tires. Firestone Indy 500's vs. Michelin AS PS4. Both in 265/35/18 sizes. But the Michelins are a full 22mm wider than the Firestones "in real life".

I'm researching what people have made fit and spacers and such. I ordered another set of rear tires at 255/35/18 for the rear but have no idea what their real life measurement will be.

This is dumb. So much for a standardized tire size system across companies. If you're pushing the limits at any point it turns out that the exact tire brand and model is a factor as well, not just the #'s.

[rsnider]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

Not that anyone's watching my tire saga, but I stopped at the shop this morning and measured the old and new tires. Firestone Indy 500's vs. Michelin AS PS4. Both in 265/35/18 sizes. But the Michelins are a full 22mm wider than the Firestones "in real life".

I'm researching what people have made fit and spacers and such. I ordered another set of rear tires at 255/35/18 for the rear but have no idea what their real life measurement will be.

This is dumb. So much for a standardized tire size system across companies. If you're pushing the limits at any point it turns out that the exact tire brand and model is a factor as well, not just the #'s.

For the record, at least some of us are reading your tire saga! And that’s good info to know! I have 275 Direzzas on the rear and they rub when the suspension is compressed a lot. I’d hate to spend the money on a set of 275s of another brand only to discover its rub city.

[mkeiser]

My battery has been slowly deteriorating and I think it's time to replace it before winter hits... I measured it at 12.2V at lunch time today (after commuting 25 miles to work this morning). It's starting to crank over a bit slow at first in the mornings and it's a lot worse if I leave it sitting for a few days. Car running it measures right under 15V.

I need to double check when I get home but it looks like the PO replace the battery in 2020 with a non-AGM (https://www.interstatebatteries.com/...bmw-128i-l630l). I'm guessing that he replaced it without programming it to the car which caused it to not charge correctly? I guess I'm not sure if the car came with an AGM battery from the factory... Maybe I'll try programming it to the car and seeing if it charges back up fully...

edit; just checked mdecoder and it looks like it came with a 90 ah battery. cross referencing realoem looks like lead acid was the only battery with a 90 ah option (61212353810). thinks i just need to get a new battery....

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by rsnider

For the record, at least some of us are reading your tire saga!

I ended up giving the shop the thumbs up to install the tires, so we'll really get to see soon how it ends up. I had already ordered new tires, down a size, and so Tire Rack called me to ask about delivery. We got to chatting and I learned a few things...

1) They test their tires, you have probably seen this on their websites, their own reviews and mini comparison tests. They have detailed measurements on most tires, when installed. With, supposedly, these tires on the same size wheels for the ability to do good comparisons. They were able to give me actual measurements of the width of the tread where it touches the road, the width of the tire at it's largest point (the sidewall), and also the total overall diameter.

So according to them, surprisingly, the new and old tires, both 265/35-18, are going to be very similar installed. Note the underlining again. They indicate 10.9" for the new tires, and 10.7" for the old ones, at their very widest point and essential identical rolling diameters.

2) So what gives? Apples / oranges comparison apparently, tires installed vs. uninstalled. If you can think of the part of the tire which actually contacts the wheel, you can imagined that uninstalled it's free to take the shape it was molded in. When it's installed, that part of the tire is somewhat "pinched in" to mount onto the wheel. So when it's mounted, and that part of the tire is pinched in, it somewhat drags the sidewalls in as well.

I added a terrible MS Paint version of this. Let's say the tread pattern is between the red lines. You can see where the sidewalls take a different shape when pulled in to be installed.

I guess I am buying the theory for now, and relying on their measurements being accurate. Ugh. To be continued! I'll pick them up later this week and install them this weekend. Fingers crossed.

[mkeiser]

at least the tire rack is close by... picking up new tires is pretty fun... love the pic btw

[1and1]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

... tires installed vs. uninstalled...

Well, ya know....

Shoulda stuck it out with the 265's then.

Alas, I suppose if you try em on you own em? Or is that just driving on em?
Then again there's always the road hazard covera..... no, No, that would be wrong!

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by 1and1

Shoulda stuck it out with the 265's then.

I did, probably wasn't clear. The 255's on order have been cancelled.

You can mount them but not drive on them. So I could potentially get them home from the shop, install them, and take a look...

[1and1]

Ahhh, yeah, I see that now!

Awesome, can't wait to hear your thoughts once you get them back!

[N55135i]

I drive all seasons for best possible traction in wet & there is no noticeable grip difference in dry conditions on Autobahn. Rear: 255/18 8.5 Front: 225/18 7.5. Since I have no spacers there is no rubbing on compression, good for up to 280kmh, & I could still go wider in the rear, but I have enough traction.

I also have the Mosselman oil thermostat upgrade with silicone gasket which by itself reduces N55 running temps by 20C at highway speeds. Same warm up time.

[jdt10768]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I ended up giving the shop the thumbs up to install the tires, so we'll really get to see soon how it ends up. I had already ordered new tires, down a size, and so Tire Rack called me to ask about delivery. We got to chatting and I learned a few things...

1) They test their tires, you have probably seen this on their websites, their own reviews and mini comparison tests. They have detailed measurements on most tires, when installed. With, supposedly, these tires on the same size wheels for the ability to do good comparisons. They were able to give me actual measurements of the width of the tread where it touches the road, the width of the tire at it's largest point (the sidewall), and also the total overall diameter.

So according to them, surprisingly, the new and old tires, both 265/35-18, are going to be very similar installed. Note the underlining again. They indicate 10.9" for the new tires, and 10.7" for the old ones, at their very widest point and essential identical rolling diameters.

2) So what gives? Apples / oranges comparison apparently, tires installed vs. uninstalled. If you can think of the part of the tire which actually contacts the wheel, you can imagined that uninstalled it's free to take the shape it was molded in. When it's installed, that part of the tire is somewhat "pinched in" to mount onto the wheel. So when it's mounted, and that part of the tire is pinched in, it somewhat drags the sidewalls in as well.

I added a terrible MS Paint version of this. Let's say the tread pattern is between the red lines. You can see where the sidewalls take a different shape when pulled in to be installed.

I guess I am buying the theory for now, and relying on their measurements being accurate. Ugh. To be continued! I'll pick them up later this week and install them this weekend. Fingers crossed.

Let us know what happens
Your MS Paint rendering reminds me of that hemorrhoid commercial where they demonstrate that Preparation H "shrinks hemorrhoids Fast!"
Awesome !

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by mkeiser

My battery has been slowly deteriorating and I think it's time to replace it before winter hits

I checked mine this morning, it's an H7, fits fine. I think H6 is factory? H8 could fit, there's a hole for attaching it, but it's maxxed out and we probably just don't need that much.

Can you code it?

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I checked mine this morning, it's an H7, fits fine. I think H6 is factory? H8 could fit, there's a hole for attaching it, but it's maxxed out and we probably just don't need that much.

Can you code it?

Nice, thanks for checking that out. I think I'll head to Walmart after work and pickup an Everstart Platinum AGM and swap it in... just unsure on what size i want to go with... I'm hesitant to go down in size reading some info on realoem that you should stick with original battery size that came in your car and according to my build sheet that's an H8. But im agreeing with you that it seems a bit overkill, id rather save the lbs!! Something I'll ponder today.

I was looking through my foxwell scanner yesterday and it had some good info. I also confirmed im able to register an AGM battery with it. https://imgur.com/a/V4hbH5d

[jdt10768]

just for fun, try registering the current battery, then see if it charges any better
(or just replace it)

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by jdt10768

just for fun, try registering the current battery, then see if it charges any better
(or just replace it)

maybe I should have tried that... ahh well... I think it was on its way out anyway.

picked up an h8 agm everstart from wal mart and was able to code it into the car. my foxwell was a bit finnicky with the agm changeover so I coded with ncs expert no problems. immediate improvement in startup, i'll see how it is tomorrow morning.

[mkeiser]

My luck with this car is incredible lol! Passenger side mirror has come loose... this also happened to my driver side while I was driving and I lost the mirror part. I might try gluing it back...

[K9Leader]

Busy day - new Winter/All-Season wheels/tires for Little Red, my 128i, and Sport seat retrofit for the Gray Ghost, my E91.

Little Red got Apex ARC-8s, 8.5x17 in Hyper Silver with Azenis FK460 A/S in 235-45-17 . My Summer set is the same Apex wheels in Hyper Black with Michelin PS4s.

The Gray Ghost is now a proper touring with seats to go touring in. The really big news is that everything works - power, heat, lumbar, bolsters, memory - and I didn't have to do any coding or repin any wires!