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Hi guys, I am in urgent need of advice!!!!!! My 2004 E65 745i bonnet won't open. the interior handle does not feel like it is pulling anything and the handle in the kidney grill won't release the bonnet. Any advice on how I can get it open? any help would be greatly appreciated! many thanks.

Found a couple of online Vid's to download VMware to Win 11 so I think you will be OK Dave

I'll take a look too Dave altho I'm not as savvy as you! Thanks, Norm.

With the E53 4.6is at the first change yes (Admiral at that time) and like LV as long as they were the correct size and rating it was of little interest. I have to say I haven't bothered since Dave

Morning Paul Sorry to hear that, the Mechanic was I fear generating work at your expence. First sign of chain wear is a definite rattle on cold start, if you listen with a probe you will hear a wooshing sound as the chain guides are a type of plastic. If someone tells you chain wear drain the oil and filter it through a paper coffee filter any metal bits will show up in the filter My brother inlaw has run 5 series Touring since the early 2000's he is now on his 6th all have been 3.0d (basically the same engine) or its diretives all have been ECU tuned, the current one 540d xDrive runs almost 400hp. His business is Europe based so his cars get driven hard and all have exceeded 200k before trading in for the next model. All have had full BMW histories with interim oil and filter changes at 5 to 6k intervals. He has had some odd bits fail as we all do but never had a chain problem. Dave

I think it is standard with the VM ware virtual machines I will have a dig later to see Dave

Hi Dave Did you speak to your insurance company about the change?

Morning John I went from Run Flat to Non Run Flat for one simple reason availabilty, when I needed a rear tyre in an emergency. That was mid 2000's and I know things have probably changed but since then I have stuck to non runflat as both the E53 and the E70 rum 20" staggered set ups both cars are currently on Hankook non runflat's cost is also a benefit at around half the cost of Michelin or Bridgestone Dave

Now that the tailgate thing is sorted can I please ask for opinions on runflats. My X340i is running Bridgestones all round and they're probably 1000 miles from needing replacement. I've always used runflats on numerous cars that I have run but I'm seriously considering going to non runflats when the change is needed. My insurers (LV) don't seem to have any issues following a phone call but I reckon that something in writing would be good. What opinions are there out there?

Well…. All the bits are swapped over, so I now have a pile of scratched panels on the driveway. amazing how the wiring looms are all different colours between cars of the same models! i managed to get all lights and wipers working but for some bizarre reason, pressing the unlock button on the top bootlid just illuminates 1 interior light and doesn’t operate the lock! lol….. anyone got a wiring diagram? send the list over Dave, I’m sure I’ll find something I need or don’t need but will find a use for! Haha. … and I still can’t fathom the reversing sensors !

Hi Dave, thanks for that, but I see Windows 7 is no longer available to download. Do you know of anywhere I might find it?

Thanks Stu, I'm looking into it.

Thanks Dave, I had a 2015 x5 3.0d with 98k on it, had to change the chain on it, mechanic said it needed changed he could hear a swooshing sound whatever he meant by that, just wanted to know if the x6 was the same engine

Hi Paul Welcome to the Forum BMW in their wisdom !! Moved the timing chain to the rear of the engine so it's an engine out job if there are any timing chain problems. Having said that if the car has a solid history plus any evidence of interim oil changes you should be fine. I am personally not a fan of extended service periods so my 3.0d X5 (same engine and trans) gets an oil and filter change every year regardless of miles covered (current 133k) or what the service schdule says Hope its what your looking for if it is ENJOY Dave

Thinking of buying one of these, any problems to look out for, do they have timing chain issues, thanks

Hi. Yes it was close. A few years ago I had an X335D and I was taking some stuff to the waste site On the way out there used to be a height restriction bar and as I was just going under it the !Removed! boot opened. It hit the bar but didn't damage the paint but it did put a very small crease in the boot just below the rear wiper. Again I must have moved slightly and squeezed the fob.

How's the rebuild going Stu I am having a garage clear up while your enjoying the sun swapping bits on your car 😅 I have quite a few E53 bits if they are of interest from FSR to a 17" spare wheel (never been used) to a full set of 20" Type 87 wheels and tyres. I will send a list if its of interest Dave

Morning Just set up a Virtual Machine on your laptop running Win 7 and you should be away 😁 Dave

Morning John Welcome to the Forum Seems that was a close call !! Nothing in settings or the handbook that helps? If you do disable it the next time you want to open it you will curse though Dave

Oh dear! Mine runs on windows 7. Can you get a copy of 7/ xp? create a second partition or run a virtual machine? I didn’t think about windows 11… or does anyone you know have an old laptop

F34 (3 series GT) 2014 Does anyone know how to access the struts/rams/hinges or whatever to check if they need lubricating?

Thanks Stu. Yes, we had a great time with wee Max. (20 months) They're back in Brisbane now. Thanks for the video. I've followed the install instructions to the letter. (EG disabling the anti-virus & firewall.) The laptop says there are no drivers available. So the AK90 won't connect to the computer at all. I think maybe the driver download might be outdated for Windows 11. If you have any suggestions, let me know mate. Thanks again, Norm.

Is it possible to prevent accidental opening of the tailgate on my G01 X340i. Parked the !Removed! thing fairly close to wall yesterday and whilst getting out of the car I must have squeezed the fob and the wretched tailgate began to open. Thankfully it ddidn't do any damage.

You need to remove the module from the car and scrape the microchips coating to read it. It’s not difficult if you follow the imstuctions

Hi Norm, great news on the grandchild. Hope you had a great time. here is a video of a great step by step guide. my ews module is on the drivers side footwell… (rhs ) it’s a light grey box, looks like a cigarette box size. it’s a faff to do at the start, but once you understand how to read and write, it’s a breeze.