I agree with you. The way I see it is if you (or I) wanted a manual we would have bought one but not every car we own needs a bunch of mods or a manual. My 525i is my cruiser (G-Ride ) and I would buy another car for a "modifying project" if the urge hit me but I am happy with just cruising and relaxing. I have begun cornering a little harder in attempt to learn the handling of my car and even though her size/weight took a little getting used too it is all I need in this vehicle. Modifying BMW's is expensive anyway and from my experience (with other cars) does not mean or guarantee a higher resale value as most buyers normally want a unmolested/stock vehicle. The only mods I plan to do on my BMW (other than the K&N) are.... Bavarian Autosport Angel Eye Upgrade - LED Bavarian Autosport License plate upgrade - LED Bavarian Autosport Stainless Steel Brake Line Kit Wheels and tires
Bought a 97 M3/4 auto with a bad box. If you think you want to keep the slush-box change the tranny fluid now. Its "lifetime" sealed which is a joke. These boxes once they have problems are terminal. Just so you know. If that happens it will be cheaper to put in a 5spd. Had a shop do mine for 2500. Now the car is worth more too. Nice thing about slushboxs is the engine has not been over-revved. The brakes are fine. Upgrade the pads, put in new hoses, change the fluid. Make sure the cooling system is sound. Check the Rtabs I track an M3 with stock brakes its fine. Enjoy the car for what is, buy some great rubber and enjoy. For all the money you can spend on this car thinking about it just swap in a 5 spd. You will get the money back on resale later. I did.
Just a little note.. If anybody on here owns a 2011 BMW 528I single turbo engine, call your BMW dealer in regards to the cam sprockets failing (vanos). We had one here just out of warrenty due to milage, and the exhaust cam sprocket broke keeping the cam shaft from spinning with the engine. The customer is EXTREMELY lucky it didn't hit the valves. Put the new updated units in and she fired right up.
Yes I know but you said 2011 528i's, hence my confusion. Keyboard error I presume, been there done that.
I kind of figured it was just a keyboard error and I'm certain your knowledge greatly surpasses mine, no harm no foul. If I may I would appreciate others opinions on engine oil. After joining a 5 series forum shortly after acquiring my 525i I started asking around. I have been receiving the BavAuto catalogs for about 1yr now and I want to take the other road ie "the one that was NOT puked". I am seriously considering LIQUI MOLY "Top Tec 4600", thoughts, impressions or experience?
With all due respect, this is a false economy, and a potentially dangerous one. Unless you can't afford newer, better tires now, there are no good reasons to delay upgrading the tires. Old, cheap tires are rock hard and will last forever, extending the time you have to suffer through horrible tires on and on... The enjoyment you will get from smoother, grippier, quieter, better handling, more responsive, better braking, better traction in wet conditions, tires needs to be delayed because...? The safety factor comes when you consider that ancient, crappy tires with age hardened rubber have very poor levels of traction, especially when in wet conditions, making emergency maneuvers hazardous and extending dry and wet emergency braking into unsafe territory. Go ahead, treat yourself to good new tires now!
Good oil. That's all we use in the shop. I like the 5w40 for the bmw's. It expensive, but it's worth it.
This is excellent advice. Anyone who has driven on the track and gone from street tires to R-comps to slicks appreciates the huge difference that tires can make. They aren't as sexy as new shocks, or a CAI, but they are excellent "bang for your buck".
Gregg, this is an excellent 5 series forum I've been a member of for years. BMW 5 Series Owners Board
Thanks I will check them out. I became a member of 5Series.net shortly after I purchased my 525i but just like any other forum the feedback/advice should be taken with a grain of salt. The factory recommended oil weight for my engine is 5W/30.
Forum5 is excellent ,lots of knowledge on there and no aggressive eejits spoiling things by jumping down people's throats as soon as they disagree with something. IMO the ruin of many forums, Pistonheads being the worst!
I must have been unclear when talking about the tires. The seller put them on right before I bought the car. They have perfect tread and are good tires. I was stating that it would be nice to throw on some sportier tires but there is no reason to do that right now. Sure after I've put on some miles and the current tires start to go bad I will toss them quickly. As of now the tires are fine and not the worn out tires I might have accidentally inferred. When going through the car with my friend I commented on replacing the tires and he said there was no reason to since they are brand new Of course new tires aren't as "cool." I know they make a huge difference. Right now there is no need to do it other than for the upgraded performance. The current tires are perfectly fine. They just aren't MPSS or anything of that like.
I take the advice, for what it is worth, from those forums but my trust in receiving honest opinions and advice will always come from FChat members. Don't try to fix something that is not broken, right? I have vested too much time and effort into youzzz guys and I am on the brink of acceptance.
No I've never heard of that forum before, it just gets a bit ridiculous when people are conducting a personality assassination because someone puts an apostrophe in the wrong place in their post. Don't know about anyone else but I come on a forum to spend a bit of pleasant time reading and talking about a shared interest, if I want an argument I can go in the other room and speak to my wife
So any way I have yet to change my oil and oil filter. I can purchase the Mann oil filter locally (highly recommended by other BMW owners) yet decided against using Mobil 1 and was considering Liqui Moly's new 4600. There are no local, only out of state dealers, so continuing my search I came across Pentosin which is German manufactured and meets/exceeds OE requirements and I can purchase locally as well. Anyone here have experience with Pentosin?
Not sure what you have againt M1. 0w-40 should meet all the specs. I use it most of my cars except the Ferrari and the M5. I used M1 15w-50 in the Ferrari and M1 5w-50 in the M5. No experience with Pentosin oil, but if it meets or exceeds OE requirements, it should be fine. Run a Blackstone when you change now, and again when you change out the replacement oil to get a better idea how it is working.. Regards, Jerry
Jerry, I have nothing against M1 nor have I ever give that impression, I have used M1 off and on for about 30yrs. I will be going with M1 5w-30 (the specified weight for my engine). What is a Blackstone?
