This video shows how to test and replace the compressor (admittedly on a 5-series estate). Towards the end he disassembles the compressor to show how it works and how it failed. His style takes a while to get used to but he's pretty good at diagnosing weird BMW electric problems. https://www.youtube...

Thanks for all the comments/advice/warnings An interesting development last week, with a dealer asking me not to take out the insured warranty... Basically, the AUC runs out at the end of the month. As a last gasp attempt to get every last niggle sorted under the AUC, it was due in last week for glo...

Our 2011 40d SE 40k miles is coming off its AUC warranty next month, and the choices appear to be: - BMW Insured Warranty - Comprehensive - £834 with £250 excess (£1441 with £0 excess!) - Warranty Direct (with all options ticked) £800 with £0 excess / £550 with £250 excess - self-insure (other warra...

Hi I think this has been mentioned in some threads, but doesn't appear to exist as a standalone item. Took X5 into BMW for warranty work today (torque converter clutch lockup malfunction - doesn't sound cheap to me...!) and they informed me there was an outstanding recall on the vehicle, that was is...

The buttons and surround are a complete unit - AFAIK you can’t change the surrounds by themselves. However - have a closer look. BMW coats these items in a rubberised finish that wears and looks s**t. It can be scraped off (with something plastic, not metal) and cleans up pretty well. Give it a go b...

[quote="Digidick"] Liking the smaller steering wheel. If I managed to get one with an airbag already fitted is it still a straight swap? [/quote] There's lots of instructions on changing the steering wheel. It's an easy DIY if you have a bit of patience. You will need to remove the airbag ...

Hi You have 3 options: 1. OEM is around £2k, as the official specs require the addition of a gearbox oil cooler. 2. Third party - such as PF Jones - who will supply and fit for around £600 - no oil cooler 3. DIY for about £300 for parts (towbar and electrics). I went down this route when PF Jones we...

Hi

No flappy paddles on pre-LCI either.
I think they came in when the X6 was launched. The 2011 handbook notes that they are only available on the X6.

They only became standardised on the X5towards the end of the model run - I think they are standard on the F15.

Nope - no flappy paddles. Not standard on 2011 8-speeds SEs at least...

[quote="celica"] Good price and find. Where did you find them? I would have had them lol What spacers have you got , brand and depth? Costs? I have mud flaps on the m sport and even the 20’s at times looks lost in the arches from the rear [/quote] Paranoia about the cost of star rated tyre...

Thanks for all the positive comments. One update to report on. The steering wheel has been changed from this: http://i65.tinypic.com/2zi80ef.jpg to this: http://i67.tinypic.com/35bul4o.jpg from an E90, I think. Completely plug and play, the only difficult bit was repackaging the airbag to fit the ne...

[quote="boy2k"]
Avin do one for cheap.
https://avinusa.com/bmw-trunk-release-b ... 0-e71.html
[/quote]

I suspect this is an add-on to the Avin head unit, as there's nowhere to plug it in on the OEM system...

After just completing our first continental journey in our (new to us) 2011 40d SE, I thought it may be of interest to compare with our previous 2009 35d M-sport. I know that there are specific differences between the M-Sport and the SE, but I think there are enough similarities to provide a decent ...

[quote="Lyons"] Apparently that kit is an aftermarket camera, and they don’t do supply only. [/quote] Our new (to us) 40d didn't have a camera (which we had on our previous 35d), so I contacted the Ebay seller mentioned above (OEM retrofit being way too expensive). Apparently, for an LCI w...

Now cleaned up and packed ready for delivery. Comes with torque tool and spare end caps. Pre-spaced for E70 M-sport (requires allen key to adjust for other cars with flush roof rails). Delivery circa £10 to mainland UK via UPS or similar. http://i66.tinypic.com/2qmaa.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/i1czh...