Help a new x35i owner!

[Acheron]

Hoping to pick the brains of a few old and wisened x35i owners, particularly those with the N54 and/or manual boxes. I'm quite thorough when it comes to keeping my cars running right so before I investigate a few things with the dealers maybe you guys can help me out with what I've noticed so far.

- Engine operating temps: 110 degrees about right when warmed up?

- Manual transmission: Clutch feels quite hard and 1st to 2nd shifts can be difficult to perform fairly quickly and smoothly (particularly releasing the clutch). With the windows down I can definitely hear some noisy rattling/grinding occassionally when in 2nd with the clutch in and going over a speedbump while releasing the clutch again. Putting the car into reverse gear also takes a bit more effort than I expected (even have to help the GF do it when she drove the car)

- Brake squeal: Is this definitely a sign of new pads being on the horizon or could it be caused by something else. It is quite loud at the moment and present even at higher speed braking, i.e. not just while coasting to a stop.

- Recalls: Any recalls I should be aware of that my car may qualify for?

- Tyre pressures: I'm running a new set of Bridgestone runflats as fitted by the dealers. According to the door card I should be running 2.4 in the front and 2.6 in the rear. This feels very hard to me though. What pressure do you guys run?

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Engine should operate at around 120degrees on any given occasion, unless the car has ppk2 then it would most likely operate slightly cooler with the hardware add-ons.
I recently got my clutch replaced and there isn't any hard feeling at all. Shifts are smooth now that its bedding properly.
Before I got it changed it would slip when I snap-changed between 1st, 2nd and 3rd especially when gearbox was hot. If it slipped quite a bit and reversed up an incline there was sometimes clutch shudder.
As for the brake squeal, it's a x35 problem, lots of brake dust too. Go to the garage and use the air hose to blow the brakes out properly, see from there

 

[BeamerMan]

That's interesting that you say those things about the clutch and also the break squeak, as my 335i has the same issue. I usually just get the break pads replaced at BMW as for the gearbox and clutch I just assumed it was normal, only once it starts to slip will I get it sorted out.

Do you find when you are at slow speeds and you depress the clutch, you can here almost the flywheel shuddering?

 

[Photokid]

- Engine operating temps: 110 degrees about right when warmed up?
That's correct. My 335 runs at 100deg.
- Manual transmission: sorry, auto here

- Brake squeal: none with my vehicle

- Recalls: Any recalls I should be aware of that my car may qualify for?
Check with the dealer. They should be able to tell you what has already been done.

- Tyre pressures: I'm running a new set of Bridgestone runflats as fitted by the dealers. According to the door card I should be running 2.4 in the front and 2.6 in the rear. This feels very hard to me though. What pressure do you guys run? I use 2.5,2.7 with 19s

 

[Twinz]

I agree with photokid :thumbs:

 

[Kerrits]

You can check when your next brake service is due using the OBC. Mine occasionally squeeled slightly from around 2000km to go.

My tires are 2.6 all around. I think you read your plate wrong. They check it at service as well.

Getting the car into reverse is pretty tough, I have to agree.
I can also hear the gears sliding into place when selecting with the windows open in my garage.

When the car is cold, and I'm driving at low speed, I sometimes feel a slight scratchy feeling when changing gears. I'm not sure if it's normal or not.
I wanted them to check it out today as the car is in for a service, but apparently they can't, as it was just booked in for a service.
Trouble shooting requires it to be specified when making the booking...

Edit: you should qualify for the battery cable recall. I got mine done last month.

 

[Spiro]

there has been a Turbo and Injector recall, as per the contact in dealership, he recon's that most of them where done without the customer knowing, but it will be in the Motorplan report, they can check against the vin to let you know if the recall items had been done

 

[Kerrits]

Turbo recall? First I heard of that.

I probably would also have noticed it in the motorplan report I got just before I bought the car?
I know that elsewhere there have been HPFP and injector recalls. I don't know about SA though.

 

[BLACK MACHINE]

You can check when your next brake service is due using the OBC. Mine occasionally squeeled slightly from around 2000km to go.

My tires are 2.6 all around. I think you read your plate wrong. They check it at service as well.

Getting the car into reverse is pretty tough, I have to agree.
I can also hear the gears sliding into place when selecting with the windows open in my garage.

When the car is cold, and I'm driving at low speed, I sometimes feel a slight scratchy feeling when changing gears. I'm not sure if it's normal or not.
I wanted them to check it out today as the car is in for a service, but apparently they can't, as it was just booked in for a service.
Trouble shooting requires it to be specified when making the booking...

Edit: you should qualify for the battery cable recall. I got mine done last month.

The wifey drives the 335 more than me, although she hasn't complained I have also noticed similar with regard to the reverse gear, gears sliding into place at low speed and the odd brake squeak...I've got normal tyres and run them at 2.3bar all round..:thumbs:

 

[Sleeper135i]

- Engine operating temps: 110 degrees about right when warmed up?
110-120C is good.


- Manual transmission:

[Shouldn't hear any grinding, may have a damaged cog. Mine shifts perfectly into any gear. Change your gearbox oil frequently.
Shifts should be smooth and quick, with absolutely no clutch slip especially at stock power levels.

- Brake squeal: Also have brake squeal. mostly reversing, clean it out with high pressure air. should be fine otherwise you need new brakes.

- Recalls: Any recalls I should be aware of that my car may qualify for?
injectors and the HPFP's. now the battery cable is a new one.

- Tyre pressures: 2.4 front, 2.6 rear on the runflats. change to non run flats they are so much better. pump them higher for high speed driving.

---

That's interesting that you say those things about the clutch and also the break squeak, as my 335i has the same issue. I usually just get the break pads replaced at BMW as for the gearbox and clutch I just assumed it was normal, only once it starts to slip will I get it sorted out.

Do you find when you are at slow speeds and you depress the clutch, you can here almost the flywheel shuddering?

fly wheel shudder is normal, it's too light to dampen out all the vibration.

 

[BeamerMan]

@Sleeper135i - thanks for the info, it sure makes me not worry as much anymore.