Good morning. yeah I am a new member. I could never understand why anyone would buy a BMW (or Merc , or Audi). then a college was selling her 2010 320d and the agents offered her R80 000 (yes 80k on buying the X1) So being a "real" lady driver I bought it for 110k with 127 000 km. What a car, I have never owned or driven a car in this class, BUT!!. being the DIY I have never had a car at a dealer for any reason ever. That said, I always bought a car I can maintain, Golfs, Opels, Mazda, Fords ..... Now I am in a different league but the challange is good. One thing very noticeable . If you dont have electronics equipment you can only do the basics. And its expensive with everything you do. I dont even consider the agents, even on cheap cars they are Not affordable or Ridiculous in parts and labour prices. And often honesty as well. What really changes is that the internet and forums cover 99.9 percent of the information and advise, help and support. That is a game changer finding information the agents would never ever share. As I journey I am finding that had I stayed with the other brands I would have had to learn what BMW have been doing all along. Electrronics!! I mean who controls a window with a Electronics board (foot well module broke when I was trying to learn INPA). I have many many questions and slowly I am learning and becoming self sufficient on the BMW. So the journey continues.
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
New to BMW and New to this Forum
- Thread starter Ryang7
- Start date
TurboLlew
Honorary ///Member
Welcome and please post pics of your car.
It can be intimidating but everyone throws around the word 'electronics' as though it is a bad thing. I've actually found it relatively easy to do things even on my previous M5 like retrofitting components and coding them, coding in new functions, diagnostics and even things like bootmod3.
You will become confident with your new upgrade soon enough and you will discover there is actually a lot you can do yourself still, just with a laptop and the right software added to your tool box. Plenty of sources, guides and fixes online.
You might also find the agents (depending where you go) are very helpful and are almost always (in my case anyway) the same price or cheaper than independents on labour as well as (via the fanatics discount) parts.
It can be intimidating but everyone throws around the word 'electronics' as though it is a bad thing. I've actually found it relatively easy to do things even on my previous M5 like retrofitting components and coding them, coding in new functions, diagnostics and even things like bootmod3.
You will become confident with your new upgrade soon enough and you will discover there is actually a lot you can do yourself still, just with a laptop and the right software added to your tool box. Plenty of sources, guides and fixes online.
You might also find the agents (depending where you go) are very helpful and are almost always (in my case anyway) the same price or cheaper than independents on labour as well as (via the fanatics discount) parts.
ForumLurker
Member
Welcome, yes post some pics of the car.
GoldieHorns
New member
Hey everyone. I too am a new member and have a very similar story…
I’ve never looked at a BMW until my hubby bought me one about 2 years ago. A 2007 320d manual. It’s currently sitting on 464k and runs like a dream aside from a few small electrical issues! I’m in love with this car, didn’t think THAT was possible. Affectionately known as Goldie. When we got it, it was on 416k. Been in the family from new so we were confident on its engines’ condition. We did over pay despite all the issues that needed attention and we have rectified all of them. Clutch, steering rack and A/C are all I can think of right now but I know there are more. The current electric issues are the aftermath of a windshield replacement gone wrong. Catastrophic flooding in the computer box. Thank goodness for the internet! and a very clued up husband. I have wipers that work perfectly when the engine is not running. Alternatively I have 2 speeds, fast and ludicrous and I can’t turn them off without turning off the engine.
The other issues are when we changed the wiper stork, thinking that may be the issue(it wasn’t). I now have airbag warning light on dash permanently. We’re hoping it’s a simple fix like resetting/clearing the fault?
I’ve also learned so much and have enjoyed reading all your posts, so thank you.
This turned into quite a long story, hope you enjoyed the read.
No pics man, Its just a standard blue 320D in excellent condition. But I have a question. Does this forum cover maintenance issues on cars. For instance. If I have a question on being able to check the fault codes, what would be recommended. I played with INPA when I got the car and then the footwell module stopped working while trying to search for a code after the battery went flat. I had to get it repaired. And to help GoldieHorns. The symptom of a footwell module. Lights dont work or stay on, Windows wont work, No indicators, No windscreen wipers(could be where your car is giving problems), its all controlled by that PC board
GoldieHorns
New member
Apologies for the long delay in response.
It is most definitely the FRM, a short in one of the relays, I think? We decided It’s time she came off the road, a few time consuming issues need to be tended to and I can’t be without a car 🤷♀️ What’s a girl to do except go and buy another one? I take delivery on Friday.
GoldieHorns
New member
Thank you. I got my 220i on Friday. I’d love to post pics but I don’t know how. 🤦🏻♀️
Holiman
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum
For me, a BMW was actually the first car I ever worked on and that was not because of choice. I am actually comfortable to tinker with it. Some errors and such I obviously cannot clear myself and require advanced machinery but otherwise, fun journey so far.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
For me, a BMW was actually the first car I ever worked on and that was not because of choice. I am actually comfortable to tinker with it. Some errors and such I obviously cannot clear myself and require advanced machinery but otherwise, fun journey so far.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
