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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
I'm a week into owning and driving my Z4, and enjoying it massively.
But what would be really helpful to know? Like with my SLK it would have been really helpful to know that you have to keep an eye on the drain hole below the front windscreen passenger side. Otherwise the battery compartment floods, then the Aircon fan and motor floods.
My car is a 20is auto with around 60k, 2012
Do I need to flush and replace the coolant?
Do I need to wrap the hydraulic pump in plastic to.protect it from any water ingress?
Thanks in advance for any advice
But what would be really helpful to know? Like with my SLK it would have been really helpful to know that you have to keep an eye on the drain hole below the front windscreen passenger side. Otherwise the battery compartment floods, then the Aircon fan and motor floods.
My car is a 20is auto with around 60k, 2012
Do I need to flush and replace the coolant?
Do I need to wrap the hydraulic pump in plastic to.protect it from any water ingress?
Thanks in advance for any advice
- RobbiZ4
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- Location: Munich
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Welcome and have fun with your "new" E89.
As she is already 12 year old, have a look at my recommendations regarding the complex roof:
E89: Retractable Hardtop (roof) Maintenance (and additional) tasks
viewtopic.php?t=130932
As she is already 12 year old, have a look at my recommendations regarding the complex roof:
E89: Retractable Hardtop (roof) Maintenance (and additional) tasks
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Pardon, je suis Allemand
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
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- Member
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- Location: West London (but dreaming of Scotland)
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Risk of boot leaks and wet battery / roof motor from shoddy rear lights seal design. That’s the main one for me.
I’m only a few months into E89 35i ownership myself so
I will be interested to see responses too.
Believe the stock 19” alloys are crack-prone?
I’m only a few months into E89 35i ownership myself so
I will be interested to see responses too.
Believe the stock 19” alloys are crack-prone?
2010 E89 35i — turbo boat hooligan - viewtopic.php?t=131886
2008 Ducati 1098S — two wheeled nightmare
2008 Ducati 1098S — two wheeled nightmare
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Robbiz4 do you put plastic just underneath the pump or on top.of it as well? And would wrapping the pump in plastic make it overheat?
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- Lifer
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Another important one on an E89 is to keep the battery healthy. They really do not like anything but a very well charged battery. They can have brain farts and decide there are all sorts wrong when they are not.
Treat ALL rubber seals (there's miles of the bloody things) with a silicone based goo; Gummi Pflege or similar. You can bet the previous owner(s) have never done it and it is the easiest way to help keep water out of the cabin and boot.
If it's an M Sport, watch those wheels and avoid potholes like the plague. Some of the wheels (326Ms and 296Ms especially) can crack if you look at them funny!
Good cars though!
Treat ALL rubber seals (there's miles of the bloody things) with a silicone based goo; Gummi Pflege or similar. You can bet the previous owner(s) have never done it and it is the easiest way to help keep water out of the cabin and boot.
If it's an M Sport, watch those wheels and avoid potholes like the plague. Some of the wheels (326Ms and 296Ms especially) can crack if you look at them funny!
Good cars though!
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Thanks, are there any issues with removing the battery to charge it? As I have to keep my car on the road or a car park
- Johnbmwz4
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- Location: North Yorkshire
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Yes don’t close the boot lid………..
BMW E89 3.5i M Sport manual, loving it….
Audi S5 Cab, Great car but not special enough….
BMW E89 3.5i DCT, Havana Brown, should never have sold it…..
BMW E85 3.0 Auto, sadly missed (twice)
Audi S5 Cab, Great car but not special enough….
BMW E89 3.5i DCT, Havana Brown, should never have sold it…..
BMW E85 3.0 Auto, sadly missed (twice)
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
If it's a 2012, it might actually be the original battery... If it is replace it. \
Salmon colored relays on the hydraulic unit.. Replace them.
Also, if you have an android phone, you might want to consider buying the Bimmergeeks ProTool app. This will allow you to accurately diagnose convertible top issues and open the boot if there is a major roof problem. It will also tell you when the battery was last changed.
Lastly, keep an eye on the boot for water leaks. Typical areas are the tail light seal and boot seal. Here is a video I did I repairing a torn boot seal.
https://youtu.be/-0LUeMhHwWw
Salmon colored relays on the hydraulic unit.. Replace them.
Also, if you have an android phone, you might want to consider buying the Bimmergeeks ProTool app. This will allow you to accurately diagnose convertible top issues and open the boot if there is a major roof problem. It will also tell you when the battery was last changed.
Lastly, keep an eye on the boot for water leaks. Typical areas are the tail light seal and boot seal. Here is a video I did I repairing a torn boot seal.
https://youtu.be/-0LUeMhHwWw
- RobbiZ4
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 10:12 am
- Location: Munich
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What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
I simply cut a 120-liter garden plastic bag to approx. 50 cm and place it around the pump from below. There is no heat problem, as PVC starts to melt at around 180°C, which should never be the case on the pump.
Pardon, je suis Allemand
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
- RobbiZ4
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 10:12 am
- Location: Munich
- Contact:
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Correct, prevent the boot lid from getting closed before removing the battery. There are 2 flippers in the lid which should be pressed to block the lid before laying it down. This way no blanket or anything els is required to keep the boot accessible.
Pardon, je suis Allemand
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
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- Member
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:10 pm
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
Thanks for the warnings on the boot lid.. Any chance of a photo of the flippers that you need to flip?
The battery is a Varta and looks recent
The battery is a Varta and looks recent
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8789
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
It's not original then. There should be a date stamp on the battery somewhere.
If you have a multimeter, it is worth checking the battery voltage daily (or every few days at least) to see how well it's holding it's charge IMO.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- RobbiZ4
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 10:12 am
- Location: Munich
- Contact:
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
=> My already linked maintenance thread.
IMHO not on the VARTA's, only on the OEM's.
Important is, that it got replaced in between. So I wouldn't care about it at the moment.
Pardon, je suis Allemand
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
E89 Roof Maintenance
viewtopic.php?t=130932
Y3 Roof Diagnostic System
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129048
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 5664
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
I’d check the service history…suggest changing the oil/filter and brake fluid..
Also if it’s a keepers change the gearbox oil.
The one Achilles heel of thThe engine is the camchain so keep an eye / ear on it
Prepare for a re-map..
Also if it’s a keepers change the gearbox oil.
The one Achilles heel of thThe engine is the camchain so keep an eye / ear on it
Prepare for a re-map..
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is Previously a slightly less modified Atacama Yellow 20i MSport
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is Previously a slightly less modified Atacama Yellow 20i MSport
- N4LLY
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 12:11 pm
- Location: Kent
What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?
If you have extended lighting: You can have BMW logo puddle lights.
If you have extended storage: There is a handy cubby under the head light switches. Took me 2 - 3 years before i discovered it.
If you have extended storage: There is a handy cubby under the head light switches. Took me 2 - 3 years before i discovered it.