M5 3.8 general

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   Hi all,

Couple of questions any advice gratefully received..

How much oil should the engine use - I seem to get "engine oil low" gong fairly often
what is the best method/material to restore the lettering on the engine cover
which tyres would anyone recommend for this model
if and when the Nurburgring suspension blows up which suspension would anyone recommend to replace it or stay with the original?
call me greedy but what difference would a chip change make - is there a downside?
Cheers,
Frank

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frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Topic: M5 3.8 general Posted: 21-November-2002 at 19:08
	Hi all, Couple of questions any advice gratefully received.. How much oil should the engine use - I seem to get "engine oil low" gong fairly often what is the best method/material to restore the lettering on the engine cover which tyres would anyone recommend for this model if and when the Nurburgring suspension blows up which suspension would anyone recommend to replace it or stay with the original? call me greedy but what difference would a chip change make - is there a downside? Cheers, Frank

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jaseb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 11-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 237	Posted: 24-November-2002 at 21:07
	Greedy, Got a couple of comments: Tyres - Eagle F1's (have them on my E30 M3) are absolutely tops as rated by Evo as their best allrounder - I can only agree! Bridgestone S-02's are meant to be the nuts although they've stopped making them so they're getting hard to find. The lettering - I asked Munch Legends about it and they have someone who does it for them but at a cost and I deemed the cash better spent on other things, but I'd suggest giving them a buzz if you're interested. Chips - Again can only speak from M3 experience but I don't believe there to be downsides other than if you tell the insurance company and pay the extra premium! On the M3 the chap I spoke to was Ray West at West Engineering at Thruxton and he reckoned I'd feel the difference of possibly 10% on bhp at the top end and a more urgent mid range for circa 350 notes - needless to say I am saving up(!) as I reckon it can't hurt and it's not too much wedge - FWIW go for the chip over the engine cover paint job, but the same applies, give him a buzz. cheers

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 24-November-2002 at 22:28
	Jaseb Advice appreciated, Will check out West Engineering and dreaded insurance company Hope your having as much fun with your M3 as I am with the M5 Last car was a 12v E34 520i so quite a contrast! Cheers Frank

jaseb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 11-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 237	Posted: 26-November-2002 at 16:53
	Just found this: http://www.moseleymotorsport.com/S14.html regarding painting of engine covers!

kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Posted: 29-November-2002 at 12:11
	Frank Oil usage In my experience (nearly 4 years and 30,000 wonderful miles of ownership) I get the Oil Low gong after around 750-1000 miles, this is very normal. My engine was stripped and had all new seals, under warranty, just over 10,000 miles ago but the oil usage remained the same. I use Mobil Super 10W40 Tyres I have used Bridgestone S-02 Pole Position, you can get non Pole Position but I was recommended PPs and love them they just grip and grip even in the wet. In my experience they do wear quickly, on average the back pair last around 11,000 miles. The fronts last, for me anyway, a lot longer. The current ones have been on for 22,000 and still loads of tread left. Interested to read that they have stopped making them, does anybody know what Bridgestone replaced them with?? Sorry can't comment on suspension or chip as mine is as per factory. Hope this helps Kevin

kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Posted: 29-November-2002 at 12:14
	Frank Sorry missed out how much oil. It is 1 litre from low mark to top mark. Kevin

IamSpartacus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21-November-2002 Location: Singapore Status: Offline Points: 3625	Posted: 29-November-2002 at 12:14
	Frank, I've recently bought a '94 3.8 M5 and was told that the oil should be checked & topped up at least every 1,000 miles. I'd done 987 when the low oil light came on and it took 3/4 of a litre to get back to full on the dipstick.
	The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 30-November-2002 at 19:00
	Hmmm, Sounds as though I may need a check up, gong going off every 250 miles (although oil level on dipstick is still indicated between the markers) at which point I put in 1/4 litre which keeps it quiet for a while. Have noticed in mirror at night that hard acceleration results in some sign of oil burn behind me. Oh well...

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 30-November-2002 at 19:05
	PS (anticipating the worst) How much should I budget for the new seals etc. engine overhaul and who would you recommend? Cheers Frank

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 30-November-2002 at 19:24
	PPS Good to know there are some other E34 M5s out there! Trust your driving them sensibly like me

kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Posted: 01-December-2002 at 14:46
	Frank I had a similar experience with the Oil level gong crying wolf. I never did get to the bottom of it. I have now got into the habit of checking the oil level regularly, particularly before going for a long "sensible" drive. I also keep a litre of oil in the boot (just in case). Sorry I can't help on the cost of an engine overhaul as mine was carried out under warranty. All I do know is that the whole engine came out and it was at the dealer for around one week. I don't know where in the country you are but around here (Surrey) I see 4 or 5 different E34 M5's plus considerably more "lookalikes" but as they say "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Regards Kevin

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 01-December-2002 at 17:50
	Kevin Im based in SE London and as I only bought the M5 in March this year havent had a further service - still got one green light. Sounds as though you had a decent warranty, my engine wiring loom fried itself within six weeks of purchase and it took over a month and threats of wwIII to get the money out of the ********. Have only seen one other E34 M5 since I bought mine but a few wannabes with the right badge but wrong alloys, no diffuser and a pea shooter exhaust! Mines debadged (want to hang on to it a bit longer!) and probably means less grief from Vectra drivers. As you say phantom gong when there is plenty of oil is a strange coincidence. Just got another problem - no air coming out of vent system assume it is the microfilter. Ah well its only money... Frank

kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Posted: 01-December-2002 at 22:34
	I am probably lucky as the car still qualifies for the BMW warranty. Just approaching 90,000miles so only 10k to go. Still FBMWSH. How many miles does yours have? No problem with debadging it just gives them a even bigger surprise. Enjoy. I haven't had the "no air out of the vent" problem

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 02-December-2002 at 11:13
	Just gone over 70k according to the odometer. According to BMW takes 55 technician minutes to replace the micro filter. I guess they are going to take the engine out to fit it.

kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Posted: 02-December-2002 at 12:16
	Not sure if this helps. The folks on this board do alot of work on their M5's themselves. You may need to join the link back together. http://bmwe34m5.com/faqs/?theme=1&level=4&question_id_select=159&chapitre_id_select=26&document_id_select=3

IamSpartacus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21-November-2002 Location: Singapore Status: Offline Points: 3625	Posted: 02-December-2002 at 13:02
	I'm normally based in the Forest of Dean, but spend most of my time in Dublin at the moment...... nothing but lookalikes over here. Toyed with having it debadged but figured that those who know, know and those who don't are probably joyriders. I'll have a look at recent service bills because I had the filters changed out then. No joy with warranty as mines running very smoothly at 112,000 miles, but had just had close to �4,000 worth of work done by Munich Legends when I bought it so I'm not too concerned.
	The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 02-December-2002 at 21:42
	Link worked ok thanks. V interesting website. Did try to fit the micro filter but couldnt even find the old one! To fiddly for my neanderthal fingers so leaving it to local main dealer.

kevin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2002 Location: Camberley, Surrey Status: Offline Points: 3189	Posted: 03-December-2002 at 13:05
	My Service Book states that the Microfilter should be changed at every Inspection Service (I and II as II is a superset of I) when did you have the last Inspection Service? Mine had an Inspection I at 73k miles

frank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 13-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 105	Posted: 03-December-2002 at 22:27
	Last inspection was done at 56000m - 2 years ago. When light turn yellow will have an inspection I done. Probably let Munich Legends do it they seem to know these cars best.

IamSpartacus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21-November-2002 Location: Singapore Status: Offline Points: 3625	Posted: 04-December-2002 at 09:43
	I bought my 3.8 through (not from) Munich Legends in September and found them to be very knowledgeable and helpful, especially as I'm based in Dublin and flew over on the basis of their opinion on the state of the car - apparently I'm not the first to do so either. The car has much of it's service history through them and I intend to keep it that way. They even called me up the week after I got back to Dublin to ensure I was happy with the car and wasn't having any problems, not too many 'main' dealers would bother.
	The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.