What did you do to / for your F15 today?

[srmmmm]

Changed the cabin air filters this weekend. A little more involved than the E53, but I don't think they'll need to be changed as often. Certainly not a procedure worth paying the dealer $390 for parts and labor!

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by srmmmm

Changed the cabin air filters this weekend. A little more involved than the E53, but I don't think they'll need to be changed as often. Certainly not a procedure worth paying the dealer $390 for parts and labor!

A penny saved...

If it's like the F15 35d... absolutely not worth $390. Did ours in about half an hour, maybe 45 minutes messing with under the glove box.

[andrewwynn]

If anything like the 50i e70 is a bit of a chore and one I have to do soon. Still it's just work anybody can do it.

[Zulu95]

Just had Power Flex poly bushings for the sway bar mounts fitted along with new links.

[srmmmm]

Originally Posted by Zulu95

Just had Power Flex poly bushings for the sway bar mounts fitted along with new links.

Can you tell a difference?

[Zulu95]

Yes, right from the start. Very tight front end now. Had to relearn the feel of the electric steering with Power Flex just like stepping up from the E53 or E70 when I first got Der Adler. It only took a few miles to settle down to the new norm.

[srmmmm]

Good to know! The initial lean into a turn is the one area you feel the weight difference between the E53 and F15. I have the feeling the poly bushings are just what is needed to improve that.

[OrangeFurious]

Today killed me. I am dead. Yet still I type. Tl;dr - always check center bore.

Last month I bought a ‘16 40e in Imperial Blue. My E70 X5M was running >$20/day in gas, so I figure the hybrid would meet my needs, and I could let the X5M hang out in the garage with my M3, waiting for fair weather. Practical. Responsible.

The 40e is fine, but cosmetically dull as can be. I’ve done some stuff to tidy it up and last week went for new wheels. I found a full set of 437Ms from an M4 for sale at a good price. Checked the bolt pattern and offsets, should fit. Checked the wheel sizes for SUV appropriate tires - F15 X5M had the same size wheels, tires exist (performance/run-flat only though. Boo). Checked weight capacity, seems good. To be safe I called BMW, they confirmed they fit. Called the tire place I trust more than BMW, they confirmed the fit. All is well.

So I buy the wheels ($1,400). Then have them machined and refinished ($900). Then the new tires ($1,300), then the new TPMS sensors ($200). Labor shortages are real, everything takes forever. This is a full three week process to get them ready for mounting. Today is the day.

They don’t fit. I never checked center bore, and neither did BMW or the tire shop. $3,800 and they don’t fit. But wait, it gets better.

While my rear wheels were off, the shop found my original “brand new” from the dealership tires were bubbling and had signs of damage on the wheel (fortunately I had the new tires for the 437Ms, but now everything has to be remounted all over again). Oh, and the 437Ms had Michelin PilotSports on them in good shape that I wanted to save. The shop has no idea where those went.

Three weeks and just about $4k netted me a lovely set of wheels I can’t use for anything but garage decoration.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by OrangeFurious

Today killed me. I am dead. Yet still I type. Tl;dr - always check center bore...

Three weeks and just about $4k netted me a lovely set of wheels I can’t use for anything but garage decoration.

Yikes. Yeah, as Andrew said, have the center bore changed. Will require more investment, but at least you'll be able to use them.

Sometimes modding is painful. Been there.

PS: Nice set of wheels to use on an F15. Should look great.

PS PS: Your tire shop knows exactly where those tires went... either into their inventory or one of the employees cars. If you requested those tires upon dropoff, they owe you a set.

[OrangeFurious]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Yikes. Yeah, as Andrew said, have the center bore changed. Will require more investment, but at least you'll be able to use them.

Sometimes modding is painful. Been there.

PS: Nice set of wheels to use on an F15. Should look great.

PS PS: Your tire shop knows exactly where those tires went... either into their inventory or one of the employees cars. If you requested those tires upon dropoff, they owe you a set.

Thanks both - agreed, boring out is the next consideration. My only hesitation is removing material from a wheel that's already taking a 50% weight increase, and may (or may not) need a spacer to clear the depth of the wheel hub.

As for the tires - spent an hour at the shop today. They lost the four original X5 tires too, even though they promised I'd have them waiting for me this morning. Six tires missing, total.

I now have a second (and wildly useless to me) set of X5 tires, and they're still looking for the Michelins. What a mess.