BavarianGarage

G30 540i - should I be worried about B58 timing chain?

BMW F01 740i N54 — tuning potential and common issues at 150k km

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M4 G82 owner checking in

Paint correction on black BMW - before and after

Remote ECU tuning - how does it actually work?

Both are excellent engines but the M54 is simpler and cheaper to maintain. No Valvetronic, no VANOS issues (the M54 VANOS is much simpler than the N52 double-VANOS). The N52 has th...

5 months ago

BMW should have never stopped making naturally aspirated inline 6 engines. The N52 was the peak of BMW engine design. Turbos add power but take away character. Yes I know im old lo...

5 months ago

24k km is the MAXIMUM interval and honestly we think its too long. We recommend 10-12k km or once a year, whichever comes first. BMW extended the intervals to reduce ownership cost...

6 months ago

We do these regularly. The best method is to drop the subframe completely, inspect all mounting points, weld reinforcement plates, and reinstall with new bushings. Cost at our shop...

6 months ago

25k km for rear pads on a city-driven BMW is actually not unusual. Modern BMWs have a rear-biased brake distribution, meaning the rears do more work than you'd expect. City driving...

6 months ago

We see these regularly. BMW updated the part number for the water pump, the newer revision is supposedly more durable. Make sure they install the updated version. 1800 EUR is about...

6 months ago

Also make sure your oil is the correct spec. BMW LL-04 is required for diesel with DPF. Using the wrong oil will clog the DPF faster because of higher ash content. We see this a lo...

6 months ago

Pressure test the cooling system. Rent or buy a cooling system pressure tester (about 50 EUR). Pump it up to 1.5 bar and watch for pressure drop. Then inspect with a flashlight. Al...

6 months ago

TCU tune is the most underrated mod. I did mine on my F30 340i and the shifts are incredible. Feels like a completely different transmission.

6 months ago

From a mechanics perspective: F22 M235i or F30 330i are the sweet spots. Both have proven engines, parts are readily available, and theyre not too complex to work on. Stay away fro...

6 months ago

The M54 IS bulletproof. Weve seen them go 400k+ km with basic maintenance. The engine is the least of your worries. The cooling system refresh is mandatory - do the radiator, water...

6 months ago

The OFHG on the N52 is straightforward. Maybe 2-3 hours for a first timer. Get the gasket kit from FCP Euro - they have lifetime warranty on parts which is great for BMWs lol. Dont...

6 months ago

We have a customer with an i4 eDrive40 who commutes similar to you. In winter he gets about 350-380 km real range at highway speeds. Summer is closer to 450-480 km. The biggest ran...

6 months ago

From a maintenance perspective, the M240i B58 is cheaper to run than the M2 Comp S55. The S55 needs more frequent oil changes, the turbos are more stressed, and parts are pricier. ...

6 months ago

At exactly 120 km/h and through the steering wheel, I'd check: Front brake disc runout - warped discs cause vibration at specific speeds Wheel hub runout - even with balanced wheel...

6 months ago

We see this weekly. Its almost always the transfer case actuator. BMW has a technical service bulletin for this. The fix is either a new transfer case actuator (around 800 EUR part...

6 months ago

We recommend EGR cleaning at every major service (around 60k km intervals). Its a relatively cheap job - about 200-300 EUR at an indie shop. The EGR valve itself can also fail mech...

6 months ago

Before replacing the compressor, find the leak first. Its probably the air spring (bag) on that corner, not the compressor. The compressor is working overtime because its trying to...

6 months ago

I work on these daily. 130k km is getting up there for the B47. I'd recommend getting the chain checked with ISTA - you can see the chain elongation values. If its within spec your...

6 months ago