12 year old F11

[E39mad]

So the F11 got a fresh ticket this week with no advisories - happy days.

Now that the house build is complete I even managed to wash it beforehand. It was way overdue not having been cleaned for 3 months. 

No issues at all during the last 12 months and 6000 miles. Car now sits on 87000 miles. It's been used as a workhorse mainly to tips over the last year and coped with it all superbly. 

2023 will bring an overdue full detail and leather clean and nourishment. It'll probably need brakes and pads at some point plus the annual oil change. Car is probably worth around £7500 in today's market so no point in changing unless I win the premium bonds and get an M340i touring or Alpina B3.

We have owned it for 9 years with my father having it from new.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by E39mad

[Steve84N]

My F11 will reach 12 next year too. It's a good time to refresh a number of things so they'll last another 12 years. 

The dampers will be pretty shot at that mileage, have you replaced them in its lifetime? If not I'll shortly have a full set of Bilstein B4 dampers for sale to suit an SE F11. I inadvertently bought the wrong ones when mine is an M Sport. Fitted but basically new. 

[E39mad]

14 hours ago, Steve84N said:

My F11 will reach 12 next year too. It's a good time to refresh a number of things so they'll last another 12 years. 

The dampers will be pretty shot at that mileage, have you replaced them in its lifetime? If not I'll shortly have a full set of Bilstein B4 dampers for sale to suit an SE F11. I inadvertently bought the wrong ones when mine is an M Sport. Fitted but basically new. 

No have not changed the dampers - could be interested in the Bilsteins. 

[Caesar]

Me too! 12 next June with 70k. Passed MoT with no advisories but will need a new set of tyres soon and wondering how long the suspension components will last...

 

[Munzy]

Same here, Jan 2011 F11 530d at 142K (owned since 101k) 😀

I think the dampers were done by a previous owner, at least I hope so as they are the adaptive ones at £500 a corner... plus coding.

She will be getting her 6 monthly oil change over the holidays.

I'm getting a bit of brake judder, not under gentle breaking but as I press more the pedal or from higher speeds, 50+. Hoping it's not the control arm bushings as I was very careful with preloading them and the torque specs when replacing them in July. Have a hub grinder on order (that seems to have been lost in the post 🤬) to get the hubs and wheel mating surface as clean as possible. The pads have plenty life on them and the discs looks good with only a slight <1mm lip but plan on replacing them anyway in the spring. Did get new tyres all round recently as well and never do trust the wheel balancing of these places so might try to get that checked out as well - although no vibrations when driving at any speed.

 

Jobs I've done in the 3 years I have owned her:

- Gearbox and diff oil change

- Fuel filter x2

- Replaced all the undertray bolts

- Nearside headlight control module

- Rear pads and discs

- Rear airbags

- Hunter 4 - Wheel Alignment

- New battery

- Upgraded front speakers and added tweeters

- Vibration Damper and belt (done at BMW specialist)

- Cleaned out the front drainage channels

- Replaced the front lower wishbones and lower control arms 

- Replaced the front wheel hubs

- New inlet manifold

- New glow plugs and control unit

- Oil and filter changes every 6 months (5k miles)

- Brakes fluid replaced (at main dealer)

- Replaced the coolant control valve (air was always hot on driver's footwell)

- Replaced the parking heater water pump

- Aircon re-gas (done at BMW specialist)

- Air and cabin filters as necessary 

I absolutely love this car, it's a handsome big chunk of metal, super comfy, all the poke I'm ever going to need and the 8 speed auto is great. It really is a brilliant feeling being satisfied with what you have and not thinking that I need something bigger/better/more toys as I have done with all my previous cars. 

And now that I have an e-scooter for commuting I’m doing less miles and short journeys  😀 

 

@E39mad if you have the standard leather seats, as I have, then they can't really be nourished like the leathers in older cars. Modern standard leathers have a protective coating on them to protect and this means any traditional nourishing/conditioning products have no effect. Really just a regular and good cleaning required.

Read this page for a great explanation:

Cleaner - Product Benifits | Dr Leather

Edited December 23, 2022 by Munzy

[E39mad]

@Munzy great to see that you are enjoying the car.

My car has the optional Comfort Seats with Nappa leather rather than Dakota. It's a softer higher quality leather which I have used Gliptone on for years. They are ivory and look like new once cleaned.

From memory over std servicing filters and brakes my car has had the following done:

Replacement rear airbags

Replacement aircon condenser

Replacement front light module

Clean out the blocked washer bottle

Gearbox oil change

Fuel filter change

New EGR valve

Annual oil change

It never had a warranty after it's 3rd year so really pleased with the running costs.

[Steve84N]

@Munzydoes it have two fuel filters or did you just replace it twice? About to order one as mine's probably original.

Also, for the undertray bolts did you get them from BMW or somewhere else? 

[Matthew]

3 hours ago, Steve84N said:

@Munzydoes it have two fuel filters or did you just replace it twice? About to order one as mine's probably original.

Also, for the undertray bolts did you get them from BMW or somewhere else? 

It has one fuel filter. 

[Munzy]

@Steve84N just the one fuel filter changed twice, every two years.

I used original BMW undertray bolts, a bit over the top but the third party ones I've had in the past don't look as good 😄

Whilst I had her up on a scissor lift refreshing all the bolts I also had to replace a lot of the plastic expanding nuts (part 8) that the bolts bite into and clips (parts 10 & 11).

Very satisfying! 🤣 

 

[Steve84N]

Thanks, a few of my bolts are missing where the fixing has gone or they've snapped so I need to do this. Seems overkill on the fuel filter though, they last for ages. 

[Andrew]

On 21/12/2022 at 11:39, E39mad said:

leather clean and nourishment.

 

Be interesting to here how and what you use for that 

I’m planning a coolant flush next year as it will be ten years old. If I can source an OEM thermostat I’ll change that too. 
 

My DIY 2023 to do list still stands at

Prop rear donut

Diff mounts x3

Autobox oil and filter change 

Front roll bar overhaul 

Oil cooler gasket 

Oil filter housing gasket

[E39mad]

@Andrewonly ever used Gliptone products on my leather over the years. There are various grades of cleaner then a nourisher once cleaned. The Oyster leather looks like new once done. Leaves the leather very supple and had no cracking or shiny looks on the F11 or E36. 

[Matt]

I'll have to invest in Gliptone, the Oyster in my car is looking a bit unhealthy at the moment.  Coming up 13 years old for my F10, I've owned it for 2.5 years and can't see me changing it.  Wife wants an XC90, but if I get my way, it'll be alongside the Beemer.

 

Keep looking at it at the moment as it needs a good clean but it hasn't stopped raining in frickin Dorset !

[jannism]

On 23/12/2022 at 01:01, Munzy said:

I absolutely love this car, it's a handsome big chunk of metal, super comfy, all the poke I'm ever going to need and the 8 speed auto is great. It really is a brilliant feeling being satisfied with what you have and not thinking that I need something bigger/better/more toys as I have done with all my previous cars. 

This exactly how I feel. Mine's just turned 10 and clocked up 104,000 miles and aside from a (long overdue) really thorough clean inside and out, still feels and behaves like a brand new, faultless machine.