[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Lol. NA fog only prevents drivers from seeing ahead; it doesn't prevent cars from being seen from behind

Facts!

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Lol. NA fog only prevents drivers from seeing ahead; it doesn't prevent cars from being seen from behind

I could see at least one reason why they did so in NA (at least here in California): nearly complete lack of general driving skills.

Most California vehicle "operators" (IMO the "drivers" term can not be used) have no idea what rear fogs are.
And yes, for them the fog here lays in front the car only - the "operator" does not consider the fact that there are maybe other cars behind

Newer Tesla's and some Audi's have rear fogs available from the factory.
I see ^ cars with rear fogs on at all times, irrespective of weather conditions.

I feel that same goes here for FLA/5AC.
Most have no idea what is that "blue" light on the dashboard.
Hence, E9X had 5AC available for M3 & E7X for E71 in NA

I scored my E70s rear fog switch from ECS at some crazy sale price; plan to put it on next summer.
I would love to do E90 next, so will need those printed parts

[StradaRedlands]

Let me know if you can use one POBEP E70 was easy, just follow the guide that's out there for the wiring addition. Took about five extra minutes!

As for today... tackled the upper windshield seal. I had a tough time with it getting the edges on. Finally occurred to me to slide them into place first, then do the middle section. Derp. So easy after I pretty much ruined the piece. Hope it stays down and isn't too beat up from the process. Practice for next time!!!

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by POBEP

I could see at least one reason why they did so in NA (at least here in California): nearly complete lack of general driving skills.

Most California vehicle "operators" (IMO the "drivers" term can not be used) have no idea what rear fogs are.
And yes, for them the fog here lays in front the car only - the "operator" does not consider the fact that there are maybe other cars behind

Newer Tesla's and some Audi's have rear fogs available from the factory.
I see ^ cars with rear fogs on at all times, irrespective of weather conditions.

I feel that same goes here for FLA/5AC.
Most have no idea what is that "blue" light on the dashboard.
Hence, E9X had 5AC available for M3 & E7X for E71 in NA

I scored my E70s rear fog switch from ECS at some crazy sale price; plan to put it on next summer.
I would love to do E90 next, so will need those printed parts

Agreed. People over this side of the water also run fog lights at inappropriate times - just don't understand what conditions they are actually for (front or rear). Thankfully they can't hear the names I call them from where they're sitting.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Wait, what? US spec cars had the rear fogs disabled from the factory, by various versions of switch hardware?

Did you even need to put bulbs in after sorting the switch?

North American cars don't have the "switch" enabled in the light switch.

But the "rear fogs" were setup to light up under heavy braking as an extra set of brake lights.

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

North American cars don't have the "switch" enabled in the light switch.

But the "rear fogs" were setup to light up under heavy braking as an extra set of brake lights.

Yup.

https://autocatalogarchive.com/wp-co...3-2007-USA.pdf Page 9

I wonder if this feature is only for North America or includes ROW. I think the latter.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yes, exactly. I think Canadian cars were disabled as well, not sure about Mexico. So will tentatively say all North American cars had it physically unavailable. But all wiring, bulbs, and coding are in place. So you just need to get the missing plunger piece from a wrecked car, or 3D print one, or fab something to work (people use pen caps, Legos, etc). There are also four little plastic tabs on the NA button that keep it from being depressed, so those need to be trimmed off with a razor blade. Do that and get something to make the connection, and you're good to go!

This was the same on our F10 as well as E70 (it needed an additional wire installed). Obviously North Americans can't be trusted.

To add to the confusion, I've seen various backlighting for various switch configurations, all on North American market cars. I've pulled pieces from the junk yards to enable the rear fog lights on the three E90s I've owned. I don't remember the exact combinations, but some of them have longer rubber contacts that go over the surface mount switches on the circuit board (and correspondingly shorter nubs on the quad plunger piece), and some of the circuit boards don't have a surface mount LED for button backlighting. The lighting isn't an issue unless you want the actual illuminated button. I always told myself one day I'd buy the switch assembly with the correct button for the rear fog light but never got around to it.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

To add to the confusion, I've seen various backlighting for various switch configurations, all on North American market cars. I've pulled pieces from the junk yards to enable the rear fog lights on the three E90s I've owned. I don't remember the exact combinations, but some of them have longer rubber contacts that go over the surface mount switches on the circuit board (and correspondingly shorter nubs on the quad plunger piece), and some of the circuit boards don't have a surface mount LED for button backlighting. The lighting isn't an issue unless you want the actual illuminated button. I always told myself one day I'd buy the switch assembly with the correct button for the rear fog light but never got around to it.

I went ahead and bought the switch/button from the UK on my other car, on this one I just swapped in the plunger. Maaaybe will upgrade at some point, but that's down the line! This LCI switch does not have the LED for illumination on it, while my '06 did. Good times.

I'm hoping to start in on the heavier mechanical items the next few days after focusing on the easier/cosmetic ones. Rad/pump/oil cooler/hoses/flange/belt are all kind of related and make sense to do at the same time, but a lot of moving puzzle parts to keep organized! Still waiting on one hose for the oil cooler upgrade which hopefully comes in Wed. Otherwise everything is ready to go!

[StradaRedlands]

Started in on it today. Jacked it up, pulled the belly pan, and did the easy job of the power steering fluid/filter. Sort of easy, as that lower line did not want to let go. Had to cut a cm or so away to get it off.



Pulled the fan as a first step to getting the radiator out as well as opening up access for the OFHG, belt, etc. Snapped the nub no surprise.



Finally pulled the cover off the engine and saw that a major leak was from the oil filler cap. I think the VCG is probably bad as well, but for sure the cap and gasket need replacing.



I'm going to focus on cleaning as much of the gunk off as I can before I start reassembling. I took a look at the water pump and it was ridiculously covered in oil slime. Yuck.

[StradaRedlands]

Today is clean the engine bay day and maybe do the water pump/stat if I'm really motivated day. Started this morning by further disassembling the front of the engine.

This is what happens when Mickey Mouse enters the public domain:



Walked about 4mm toward the edge. Didn't jump:



But hey, the coolant was blue! And probably added 15 years ago in Munich:

[Tambohamilton]

A few good catches there!

[StradaRedlands]

Didn't get to the bottom yet, but the engine is cleaned up, did VANOS seals, new tensioner/pulley/belt, and upgraded to a X3 oil cooler.

Tomorrow the new radiator goes on, water pump/stat get R&Red, and new hoses all around. Fingers crossed everything falls into place! One hose is still in the wind, so maybe everything minus that!

Only piddling jobs are changing the brake fluid and tracking down the windshield wiper reservoir leak. Can do those any time.

Took me all day, and finished in the dark, but here she be:

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

well done strada!
significant progress.

is the oem coolant always a "blue" tint??

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

well done strada!
significant progress.

is the oem coolant always a "blue" tint??

Yes, blue is good, anything else is bad. Old blue is better than fresh green!!!

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yes, blue is good, anything else is bad. Old blue is better than fresh green!!!

thank you strada,
for the unlearned (me!) is fresh green "from the bottle" a lesser quality than the oem "blue"??

[eljay]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

thank you strada,
for the unlearned (me!) is fresh green "from the bottle" a lesser quality than the oem "blue"??

BMW/Mini has their own formulation for coolant, so it's best to stick to that. It's cheap to get it premixed at NAPA.
VAG cars get pink and GM etc is orange - again, all having their own mythical formulas to keep their ICEs running.

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by eljay

BMW/Mini has their own formulation for coolant, so it's best to stick to that. It's cheap to get it premixed at NAPA.
VAG cars get pink and GM etc is orange - again, all having their own mythical formulas to keep their ICEs running.

thank you eljay,
VAG = ??

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

thank you strada,
for the unlearned (me!) is fresh green "from the bottle" a lesser quality than the oem "blue"??

Green, orange, yellow should be avoided for sure. There is one of them that is supposed to be universal and would be okay, but I can't recall which and would't run it. They have a different chemical make up that works for different alloys in the engine. Wrong kind will harm the engine block over time. That would be bad.

I try to use BMW's concentrate
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ze-82141467704
but also have Wal*Mart's pre-mix on hand
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tec...0-50/341857559
All my cars have some percentage mix of the two along with some Redline Water Wetter just for fun
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/wat...ne-83522-80204

I carry a gallon of the sealed pre-mix in the cars as it's convenient to carry and doesn't leak.

[eljay]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

thank you eljay,
VAG = ??

Volkswagen Auto Group:
VW, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini

[oVeRdOsE.]

some brand dont mind what dye they put. I have BMW coolant and it's green.

[StradaRedlands]

And, done! Well, still waiting on one hose, and I need to see if it actually starts and everything, but I'm saying done!

What all the fuss was about:



Where it came from (packed on oil and grime was kind of miserable):



This is what happens when you don't take care of your car! Housing was covered in oil and the gasket was the flattest and hardest of any I have ever replaced!



Front end is back together minus the oil cooler hose (from a Z4). So close!!!



Bin goes out tomorrow:



Cleaned up, but still on stands waiting for the finishing touches:



About four hours of work today doing the cooling system. Everything was replaced minus the short rubber elbow connecting the engine pipe to the back of the water pump. I'll take my chances. Previous owner did not do regular maintenance on it, which is a bummer. But that's why he was selling it low... I think it was a fair price based on the condition. I can't tell if the oil pan gasket is really bad or it's just oil leaking down from the top end. Fingers crossed the latter as I really don't want to do the OPG anytime soon.

[Mike K]

Nice work! Actually, those old hoses don’t look too bad considering the lack of maintenance from the DPO.