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Hi Folks, Had my E24 a while now and working on some slight convenience improvements whilst not changing anything permanently. I've got a magsafe phone holder/charger where the ashtray used to be. To do this I bought the outrageously expensive official BMW ash tray replacement storage box (just a small black plastic box that slides in to replace the ash tray £50!) I then bought this item which is a 3d printed magsafe phone holder designed for the BMW iX https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336310951793 Then bought a standard sized magsafe charging puck. Insert puck into holder Double sided gorilla tape the phone holder to the front inside edge of storage compartment Plug into cig lighter and slide into place (later I will work out how to wire a permanent 12V to a USB C connector and plug the magsafe puck into that so I can loose the ugly cig lighter charger. Works great and can be undone just by pulling out and replacing original ashtray. I believe the E30 shares same ash tray as E24 so should work on old 3 series too! I am in touch with the ebay seller who made the magsafe holder and he's even looking at making a single unit which would be the ashtray replacement storage compartment and the magsafe holder which would be great and safe a lot of cash.

I was wary about taking it to someone without knowledge of how these older R12 based systems work and how to work out the correct R134 oil and gas levels. Found a great guy Paul https://pwautoelectrical.co.uk/ He worked on 80's BMWs when new - doing the aircon installs for dealers as in those days you could either order the car with aircon or get it done at the dealer once delivered. Definitely recommend him for anyone wanting similar. He tested it, found a leak, had to replace a couple of seals and rethread a connector, All good now just need the warm weather :)

Hi Dave I have the kidney grille as I had tech plus pack so I believed the handle lights were part of the welcome lighting but as you’ve seen BMW says it’s not after saying I need packages I actually have. Confusing mate.

A re-occurring problem with the G42, see link from another forum below regarding issues. I had both replaced @ 12 months old and nearside replaced again @23 months. Covered under warranty once tested by BMW, you have to jump through hoops to get anywhere, as BMW don't recognise the issue then after warranty who knows what will happen https://www.babybmw.net/threads/g42-headlamp-condensation.147368/

Hi Paul If all the wiring is in place it's just a case of activation apparently you could have Kidney Grill lights as well So to activate it you may need the help of someone with ISTA-P my first port of call would be check the Register of BMW Specialists online and talk to a few close by they tend to be more customer friendly than BMW Dealers and around half the cost Hope it's all there Enjoy your Christmas Dave

Hi John Welcome to the Forum If your Headlamps are Halogen H7 then to stay legal they should be replaced like for like if you go to LED you risk MOT failure Osram Night breaker 220 are good (I have them in my X5) and I have read good reports about Philips Racing. My Osrams cost about £30 a pair Dave

Morning Dave Hope you’re well mate. Thank you so much for the info Dave. I used to be in the motor trade as a strip fit guy in my last years so I can definitely take the car apart. The electrical bits I can probably manage with the info you’ve kindly found. Over Christmas I’ll be hiding from the wife in the garage so if I leave the lights off she won’t bother looking for me in there. You’re a top guy Dave and thank you for all your interaction so far. I will let you know my findings in due course. 🎄🎄

Morning Paul Check the Upper timing case gaskets they are steel and rarely give problems but worth a check the solenoid valves in them which have "O" ring seals (more likely) Next Rocker cover gaskets these are a common culprit, good clean up then run the engine and look carefully for signs Good Luck Dave

Hi im looking to upgrade my 2014 active tourer 218d luxury headlight bulbs nothing special just a legal brighter bulb thanks

Morning Paul Just checking on ISTA wiring Diagram for your model Inside the door there should be a twisted pair of wires Grey with a yellow trace and Brown with a yellow trace (earth) (same on all doors) They run back to the BCP (basic central platform) When checking there are Grey with Mauve trace and Yellow with Grey trace they are Can Bus feeds to the Door lock mechanism (it also shows feeds to the door mirror Ground lights) Knowing BMW they may earth through the door lock so it may be just a single wire Grey with yellow trace If the wiring is there it could simply need activation through the BCP ? That may require a piece of software downloaded from BMW. It would also make there Email at best confusing The plot thickens Good Luck Dave

Hi Dave Yes there’s a light in all handles. My next step is to take out the handle to see if there’s anything connected and behind the clear light cover. Ridiculous they don’t fit them when they are there. Even removed the glovebox light. 1st and last Bm me thinks mate

Hi Michael Welcome to the Forum My neighbours Mini has a switch to turn off the Stop Start function Dave

Hi Ali Welcome to the Forum I hear a lot of talk about DPF/EGR issues in my experience normally from folks who drive the car almost into the ground normally short journeys so service intervals are extended (if it gets one) and then complain about the DPF/EGR. The others who talk about DPF/EGR issues are often selling a service that will hollow out your DPF then with some software tweaks get it running without warning lights. They don't tell you that if an MOT inspector picks it up it is an instant fail On the other hand my own X5 3.0d has just past 135k with no issues my brother inlaws 540d estate has just passed 200k with no issues (both cars had the EGR recall early this year) Brother inlaws car is Chipped and way over 400hp and driven hard (which these engines love) So reliability for the DPF and EGR will depend on what sort of driving you do and regular annual service as a minimum (I change oil at 5k intervals), if you do a lot of local short journeys at least once a month give it a good run at Motorway speeds Dave

Hi Paul There is me thinking that the M135 is pretty much top of the range with the 1 series why wasn't it fitted ?? Especially as the car has the rest of the so called "welcome lighting" package just doesn't make any sense to me Is there a small clear lens under the door handle ? Dave

Hi guys just got a BMW 330d but i keep reading the DPF & EGR could end up destroying engine turbo etc that will clog everything eventually ,i had a 320d before this one had no DPF had that car 10 years with np problems any ideas will be appreciated thanks in advance .

Hi all, discovered I have two oil leaks coming from the front two boxes on the E64. Right a the front of the engine block. Does anyone know if these can be corrected/repaired without taking the heads off or not. Any advice would be appreciated.

I have a 320d G20 2020 reg and I wish to disengage the engine start / stop System can anyone advise how to do this Thanks

Had a reply from BMW after being told they should work. Than I got this Dear Paul Thanks for getting back in touch with BMW ConnectedDrive. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this. The BMW Digital Premium includes personal welcome from the Welcome Light Animation. It offers lighting effects for the front and rear lights. These animations greet you when you approach or unlock your vehicle. The exterior door handle lighting are not part of the standard equipment on your M135 (F70) build, which is why it's not functional. If you would like further confirmation or to discuss retrofit options, we recommend contacting your local BMW Centre. You can find the nearest BMW Centrehere. If you require any further assistance, please get back in touch. Kind regards Muhammad BMW United Kingdom Muhammad Dawood Customer Support Executive BMW Customer Support Summit ONE Summit Avenue, Farnborough Hampshire, GU14 0FB

Morning Will Welcome to the Forum As you have replaced the bulb without success have you checked the fuses ? You should find a Fuse diagram tucked away somewhere but try checking fuse numbers 10, 15, 20. If the fuses are good then you need the help of either an Auto Electrician or someone with a BMW capable diagnostic scanner Dave

Morning Bob Welcome to the Forum It is safe to fit Non Runflat tyres to Runflat Rims, the benefits are a wider choice of tyres and costs been doing it for years with my X5's However, if it's only cost then you may well end up with compromised handling/road holding cheap tyres are cheap for a reason. Potholes are a real problem in the summer months easier to see but in the darker months when they are full of water a real issue and danger. Fitting tyres with a deeper sidewall may be possible but may also give clearance issues so check carefully. An alternative is to fit a smaller rim with a deeper sidewall tyre Good Luck Dave

So Im new to BMWs. I have 16 x3 xdrivei28. The other day it through a parking lamp malfunction. I changed the bulb with the exact same bulbs. Still have to code. Bulbs were working. Then I swapped em with LED ones that were made for it. Still same thing. How do I reset the thing or is there something else with it??? I'm so very confused.

I have just had my 8th tyre fitted, only one for wear the rest due to split side wall caused by potholes. I am considering changing to not run flat tyres, has anyone done this and what was the outcome

Looks like your culprit at 11.5v while charging there isn't enough power to run your clock 🤣 Let alone start your car Dave

Hi everyone and thank you for your replies I am awaiting delivery of a new battery as this one is only showing 11.5 volts and it is charging at 15+ amps so hoprfully that is problem solved

I agree with greydog. Check the battery first. It could be an immobiliser has stopped the starter, it could be a failed starter, it could be a key coding problem… Check the basics first with the battery