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

[BMWCCA1]

Today I spent some quality time with my wife's '08 128i Sport Auto. On the way home last night she experienced a slew of warnings and idiot lights. A week or so ago when I went out to adjust her car's clock for EDT I noticed it had blanked, usually an indication of low-voltage. Two days ago she alerted me to a louder noise under the hood when first starting. Sounded like the alternator really working hard, so I charged the batter overnight. Last night she had almost every warning light go off including "electrical system malfunction", "passenger restraint system fault", the car-on-lift light, the gear with exclamation point, ABS, Traction, Brake, and TPM lights.

I figured this was fairly typical of a low battery and decided to let it sit and check it in the morning. This morning I first checked the voltage at the battery and came up with 11.57v. I then started the car and it registered around 14.5v. My Schwaben scan tool picked up at least 6 control-unit faults and an inoperable TPM system. I was able to reset all codes except TPM. The TPM was greyed-out in the iDrive screen, too.

I had no idea how old the battery was and it was a Duralast Gold installed by the previous owner. So I decided to replace it with an original BMW battery from my dealership, since my cost on those is only around $120 and I'd just put one in my '13 128i M-sport recently.

When I got the Duralast out the date code was only 10/2018. It should have still been good, so I used an old yard battery as a core and put the Duralast on a charger to check later.

After pulling the battery I decided on a whim to check the TPM module under the trunk lining at the right rear in case it had taken on water in our two-days of flood-causing rain. After pulling the lining, I saw the foam piece with pocket for the TPM module full of water. I pulled it out and the floor of that compartment was full of water. I tried but could not determine where it was coming from. No sign of moisture in the taillight gasket, or elsewhere. So I removed the module, opened it up, and let it dry in the sun. Meanwhile I removed the plug in the bottom to let the water drain out and drilled a hole in the grommet and inserted a drain tube just in case it took on water again. I then drilled holes in the pockets of the styrofoam where water had collected, for good measure. I dried the circuit board of the TPM module with a heat gun and shot it with contact cleaner, reinstalled it, turned the car on, and saw the TPM was no longer greyed-out. I reset the TPM and took it for a ride. No lights, no warnings, just the low-fuel light and 20-mile range showing. Looked normal to me, so I took it back to the garage and put it all back together.

I consider this a successful repair of two issues, until I can verify the battery isn't bad and then I'll blame the entire warning light fiasco on the TPM, but I doubt that's the cause of that issue since the clock had recently gone flat-line.

I've read up about water leaking into that area from the rear frame rail but really didn't want to take off the rear bumper to check, and the taillights on nearly every BMW I've owned are usually a weak point (E28!!), but I couldn't find any evidence to support that. Maybe the flooding rain was really unusual, and maybe the new drain will keep it from happening again. Time will tell. But it's all working now.

I wonder if I checked that compartment on my '13 128i if I'd find BMW later installed a drain? Anyone else had success in repairing a trunk water leak on an undamaged car?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

All of us 1-series owners need to remember where to place credit for our great design. It isn't with Bangle any more than he should get credit for Fisker's Z8. It is Chris Chapman who gets the credit for our 1-series. Here's the CS1 design study/concept he did over 18-years ago, presented at the 2002 NY Auto Show where I interviewed him:

Mr. Chapman should be congratulated for such a wonderful, classic, and timeless design. Even though I don't own one any longer, I'll forever love the look of the 1 series.

BTW, is that interview published somewhere where we could read it? A link, possibly? Would be very interested in hearing what he had to say.

[desertman123]

Got an FRM3 off eBay for $40 "untested" AKA bricked, sent it off to someone to fix it for cheap. Installed and coded my VIN/VO and it's working great!

Oh yeah, and finally picked up blackline LCI tails..

[Gray_Panther]

Cut it close today!

Edit: I still had 0.25 gallons left when the range hit 0.

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

All of us 1-series owners need to remember where to place credit for our great design. It isn't with Bangle any more than he should get credit for Fisker's Z8. It is Chris Chapman who gets the credit for our 1-series. Here's the CS1 design study/concept he did over 18-years ago, presented at the 2002 NY Auto Show where I interviewed him:

+1 on material to read from that interview!

Pretty cool you got to experience that!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Oh yeah, and finally picked up blackline LCI tails..

A worthwhile upgrade especially if your car is pre-LCI.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Got an FRM3 off eBay for $40 "untested" AKA bricked, sent it off to someone to fix it for cheap. Installed and coded my VIN/VO and it's working great!

Oh yeah, and finally picked up blackline LCI tails..

I like those exhaust tips, not stock are they? It looks like they have a bit of a lip/edge there with a nice diagonal cut. Looks nice, great little detail.

[jw.e36]

Well I parked her in the garage yesterday, gonna pull her back out on Friday for a wash, and to move some stuff around in the garage , then she goes back, cover goes on and that's a wrap for the season

Also, did a little end of the season burnout last night before I parked it, does anybody know if N55 135i's have some sort of additional traction control that you cant turn off? I had some trouble doing a burnout, it gets going but I found after a few seconds, no matter if I was foot to the floor, the throttle would just cut out, and I took a look at some videos on YouTube and any N55 135 I could find doing a burnout was very short lived and it looked like they had the same problem as me, is there something I'm missing? Because my old E36 had probably 130-150whp less than my 1er and it could roast tires like nothing.

Here's a link to the best one I could do:

[1and1]

If I recall correctly....

That's from the ediff functionality, which operates a bit separate from the traction control system and can't be turned off with the button. You'll have to do some coding to make it turn off, just as anyone who installs a real locking diff. There is at least one long and awesome thread on coding out the nannies...

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by jw.e36

Well I parked her in the garage yesterday, gonna pull her back out on Friday for a wash, and to move some stuff around in the garage , then she goes back, cover goes on and that's a wrap for the season

Also, did a little end of the season burnout last night before I parked it, does anybody know if N55 135i's have some sort of additional traction control that you cant turn off? I had some trouble doing a burnout, it gets going but I found after a few seconds, no matter if I was foot to the floor, the throttle would just cut out, and I took a look at some videos on YouTube and any N55 135 I could find doing a burnout was very short lived and it looked like they had the same problem as me, is there something I'm missing? Because my old E36 had probably 130-150whp less than my 1er and it could roast tires like nothing.

Here's a link to the best one I could do:

I think our cars have the fuel cutoff when you hit the brakes as a "safety feature" maybe? I don't remember for sure now.

[ekkathewrekka]

So my local indy installed :-

• VSRF Catless DP
• VSRF 7.5 inch FMIC
• BMS intake
• MHD stage 2 + map
• New plugs two steps colder
• New Coils
• BMS metal charge pipe

Only done a bum dyno but pretty pleased with end result. No CELs or misfires. Catless downpipe explodes like a bitch at deceleration from 80Km/h.

Apart from this pretty happy. The intake sounds unreal, now I know I own a turbo charged car.

[fotontom]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

All of us 1-series owners need to remember where to place credit for our great design. It isn't with Bangle any more than he should get credit for Fisker's Z8. It is Chris Chapman who gets the credit for our 1-series. Here's the CS1 design study/concept he did over 18-years ago, presented at the 2002 NY Auto Show where I interviewed him:

Awesome picture. It is interesting to see how little the production version changed from the original concept. Not sure if that demonstrates discipline, getting it right from the beginning, or both. Can see some styling elements of the E85 Z4 in this shot.

[ekkathewrekka]

Originally Posted by ekkathewrekka

So my local indy installed :-

• VSRF Catless DP
• VSRF 7.5 inch FMIC
• BMS intake
• MHD stage 2 + map
• New plugs two steps colder
• New Coils
• BMS metal charge pipe

Only done a bum dyno but pretty pleased with end result. No CELs or misfires. Catless downpipe explodes like a bitch at deceleration from 80Km/h.

Apart from this pretty happy. The intake sounds unreal, now I know I own a turbo charged car.

Reflashed the ECU With MHD and changed the options to no burble, deleted cold start and reversed the golf tee mod.

Backfire has pretty much gone so happy now

[krhodes1]

Got the poplar trim installed. Getting the center console back in was a trial this time. Managed to get one of those plastic insert things in the floor askew, couldn't see it spent an hour trying to get it to go in properly. Until I took it all the way out again and figured out what was up. Grrrr.

Looks much better though, the poplar really goes well in a Space Gray on Savannah Beige car.

IMG_20201120_101014742_HDR by kevinr1916, on Flickr

[ekkathewrekka]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Got the poplar trim installed. Getting the center console back in was a trial this time. Managed to get one of those plastic insert things in the floor askew, couldn't see it spent an hour trying to get it to go in properly. Until I took it all the way out again and figured out what was up. Grrrr.

Looks much better though, the poplar really goes well in a Space Gray on Savannah Beige car.

IMG_20201120_101014742_HDR by kevinr1916, on Flickr

Looks great, really suits the cat

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ekkathewrekka

Looks great, really suits the cat

Well, I'm glad the cat is happy!

Kidding aside, I also think the Gray Poplar looks good! I had it in my first 135i, with Coral Red interior and Black Sapphire paint. Thought the three of them looked great together.

TBH though, of the three colors I liked the Coral Red the best. That color was beautiful IMO. Savannah Beige looks really good as well! Goes nicely with the Gray Poplar. Would like to see Space Gray with the two other colors (maybe some future pics).

[blue135]

Replaced hood struts after nearly getting hit in head a couple of times. Never saw anything on here about replacing but it did not look too hard. Until I took clips off new struts and could not get them back when strut was on hood. Finally spent a little time looking at new struts and realized clips went up, not off. Once I got them in right spots, took 10 minutes to do both.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Well, I'm glad the cat is happy!

Kidding aside, I also think the Gray Poplar looks good! I had it in my first 135i, with Coral Red interior and Black Sapphire paint. Thought the three of them looked great together.

TBH though, of the three colors I liked the Coral Red the best. That color was beautiful IMO. Savannah Beige looks really good as well! Goes nicely with the Gray Poplar. Would like to see Space Gray with the two other colors (maybe some future pics).

Sure - here you go, best I could do in the confines of my barely 1-car garage. I think this combination REALLY works!

It's not what I would have chosen had I ordered the car new, but I am very happy with it.

car by kevinr1916, on Flickr

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Sure - here you go, best I could do in the confines of my barely 1-car garage. I think this combination REALLY works!

It's not what I would have chosen had I ordered the car new, but I am very happy with it.

They go very well together. Good choice!

And to top it off, she's a vert, so you get to show off that nice interior.

[inganmarcelo]

replaced oil filter gasket and head gasket, found small 2 inch hair line crack on top upper part of plastic head cover.
can oil sip through here? can I duct tape it? lol

[tjswarbrick]

Valve cover leak is pretty common. Unfortunately it’s a complex component on these cars, and BMW decided to go polymer.
Mine started leaking at ~ 80,000 miles. Oil would fall on the exhaust manifold and send up a wisp of smoke. Freaked the wife out pretty good on one mountain run.
Replacement was a pretty expensive fix.
But with all the heat and oil in there, no, I’m not aware of an adhesive that could effect a permanent repair.

[lemansblau135is]