New 35d owner with a couple of questions

Destination: Moon · #1 08-02-2009, 11:10 PM

Hi,

Great Car and Great Forum! Unfortunately, I am deemed dyslexic by the Forum server. Tried to run a search 3 times. Could not get the code letters entered correctly. Why is the code so hard to read (is that lower case or a capital)??? So, please excuse if this has been asked before:

How do I aim the Fog Lights and Head Lights?? The fogs are not aimed at all - hit the ground 5 feet in front of the bumper, and the low beams are a bit low.

Where is the dip stick for oil level?? I ran the computer diag but would like to do a visual check as well.

Does swapping out the RFT's make a big improvement in ride quality? I have a non-sport suspension. Ride seems a little harsh. Thinking that could be improved from normal (non RFT) tires.

Thanks!! My first Beem'r. So far I am one happy boy

JCL · #2 08-02-2009, 11:16 PM

Congratulations on the new vehicle!

1) Your fog lights are supposed to hit the ground. They are a flood light, not a spotlight, and are intended to illuminate the road under the fog. If they were raised, they would likely blind oncoming drivers. Head lights can be aimed, but there is an auto-levelling function built into them, so why not let the dealer check it out?

2) Recent six cylinder gasoline BMW engines don't have dipsticks any more. I understand that the diesels do, but that the dipstick isn't necessarily painted a nice bright colour and so isn't easy to spot. Look around under the hood, it should be obvious. Edit: found a photo for you. Photo of diesel dipstick

3) First thing to check is your tire pressure. Different tires have different ride characteristics, whether they are RFT or non-RFT. Some RFTs are harsher, but others are no different than non-RFT. Essentially, it is a large, heavy, low profile tire. Ride quality will be secondary, whether or not it is a RFT design.

4) It is a Bimmer. A Beemer is a BMW motorcycle (to differentiate them from the Beezers aka BSAs back in the day).

Welcome to the forum.

Destination: Moon · #3 08-02-2009, 11:35 PM

Thanks JCL! My tires are at 33 psi instead of the posted 32 but don't think that is making them too firm. I noticed a black colored dipstick on the right side of the engine in the rear of the bay. Did not want to pull too hard, it did not release with moderate force so left it alone. I have had "fog" lights on all my past vehicles. They all came from the factory aimed at the ground. In all cases I found aiming screws or knobs for height adjustment (none for left- right). When properly adjusted they shoot a very narrow band of light in a 180 deg pattern. Shines on the critters luking off the side of the road and is a real help in rural settings. I have a feeling these do the same but are not aimed at the factory.....could be wrong, hoping for some help from members on this.

Bimmer it is! My first Bimmer!: X5 35d, White, Beige.

JCL · #4 08-02-2009, 11:49 PM

I haven't changed a fog light on an E70, so the following is theoretical. With my E60 I pushed through a deep snowbank and accidentally punched out the RH fog light (it was hanging from the electrical connection afterwards). I was very happy with the performance of my new Dunlop Wintersport tires, less so with the strength of the fog light attachment bracket. That foglight had no aiming mechanism, as I recall. There was a single attachment bolt. The housing has a shield inside it to provide a cutoff for the beam. Looking at the realoem partsbook for a new E70, the fog light mounting looks identical to the E60.

I did a full search on aiming foglights, and no member has previously posted how these are adjusted, although it has been discussed several times over the past three years. On the E53, they reportedly weren't adjustable.

Destination: Moon · #5 08-03-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

I did a full search on aiming foglights, and no member has previously posted how these are adjusted, although it has been discussed several times over the past three years. On the E53, they reportedly weren't adjustable.

Thanks JCL! Best answer I have gotten yet. Is it possible that the bolt can raise and lower the assembly to effect a verticle adjustment of the beam? I will really miss these lights. We have tons of deer around here. The lights on my other cars threw a really narrow band of light in a 180 degree pattern. I aimed them so they were parallel to the ground. They would light up both sides of the road when Hi beams were inappropriate...... Save me, and some critters on several occasions.

JCL · #6 08-03-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destination: Moon

Thanks JCL! Best answer I have gotten yet. Is it possible that the bolt can raise and lower the assembly to effect a verticle adjustment of the beam?

Not on my E60, they were self-tapping screws into plastic with a speednut. They looked just like the parts drawing here:

RealOEM.com BMW E70 X5 3.0sd Fog lights

Fraser · #7 08-05-2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

4) It is a Bimmer. A Beemer is a BMW motorcycle (to differentiate them from the Beezers aka BSAs back in the day).

.

I beg to differ.

I have a Beemer. It's called an X5. Before that I have had four other four-wheeled BMWs, all Beemers. Before that I had several BMW motorcycles. They were all Beemers also.

Edge647 · #8 08-05-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraser

I beg to differ.

I have a Beemer. It's called an X5. Before that I have had four other four-wheeled BMWs, all Beemers. Before that I had several BMW motorcycles. They were all Beemers also.

Not an expert here but: BMW - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And I always trust Wikipedia

(And the experts on this forum)

Cheers

Penguin · #9 08-05-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraser

I beg to differ.

I guess you can call it whatever you want, but...

Boston Chapter BMW CCA - Bimmer vs. Beemer

BMW Car Club of BC - bimmer vs beemer perspective

bmw 5 series - Bimmer vs. Beamer vs. Beemer

JCL · #10 08-05-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraser

I beg to differ.

I have a Beemer. It's called an X5. Before that I have had four other four-wheeled BMWs, all Beemers. Before that I had several BMW motorcycles. They were all Beemers also.

I fully respect your right to refer to your vehicles any way you like

I also think that it is worth pointing out (very nicely) for new owners such as the OP that there is a protocol. They are certainly free to ignore it, but at least they can then do so while being aware of the protocol. And, it is never a Beem'r.

Having said that, I drove a Beemer, a white R50/5. It was never a Bimmer.

I have owned many four wheeled BMW vehicles, and have never refered to any of them as Bimmers. However, I would be more likely to do so than ever calling them Beemers, which is an unfortunate Hollywood/media/yuppie habit here in North America.

The only one that really bugs me is beamer, which is an LCD projector as far as I know. I don't know how it ever came to be associated with BMW.

Anyway, it is all good.