E46 320d Touring

[Blackie]

Thats class mate

Thanks buddy

You need some Solapower, it's freekin' awesome for carpets and upholstery and stuff

I’ll get that added to my next basket!

 

[svensktoppen]

And the upholstery brush, it's well hidden away but it's there on the site Or use a dish brush.

 

[Blackie]

And the upholstery brush, it's well hidden away but it's there on the site Or use a dish brush.

I have a Meg’s upholstery brush that I’ve had for years, can’t think the last time I used it lol. But thanks for the advice though, much appreciated!

 

[Blackie]

Today I gave it a quick wipe down with Hybrid before then applying a coat of wax and treating the exterior plastics.

Should look like it’s been looked after a little now lol.

 

[da.murf]

Should be proud of that mate. Looking really sharp!

 

[Blackie]

Should be proud of that mate. Looking really sharp!

Thank you mate, you’re too kind!

 

[thefool1983]

Looking well mate

 

[Blackie]

Looking well mate

Thank you

 

[mark19]

Looks real tidy man!!

 

[Blackie]

Looks real tidy man!!

Thanks buddy

 

[svensktoppen]

Wouldn't hybrid after wax make more sense than the other way around? Still a bit cake on cake but hey, every little helps

Great result either way

 

[Blackie]

Wouldn't hybrid after wax make more sense than the other way around? Still a bit cake on cake but hey, every little helps

Great result either way

I honestly don’t know lol. I was just using it to remove any dirt or dust that may have gathered from it sitting overnight before I had the chance to wax it.

Which I’ll probably do at some stage today again before going to the test centre lol

 

[Mr.Mint]

Looking good! Great change from when you 1st purchased...

 

[Blackie]

Aaaaaaaaaaannnnddd it failed! Passenger side ball joint and the handbrake not holding great. Both of which I knew, but thought they were within acceptable tolerances, but I was wrong lol

 

[roverspeed]

Awww, annoying but not so bad.

I though BMWs were famous for having crap handbrakes?

Is that a whole lower arm or can you do the ball joints alone?

 

[gary1365]

I had a mondeo fail on handbrake and a brake pipe pitted. I replaced the brake pipe and sprayed some oil onto the brake caliper and unsuccessfully tried to unseize the arm for the handbrake. Retested it and it passed lol

 

[Blackie]

Awww, annoying but not so bad.

I though BMWs were famous for having crap handbrakes?

Is that a whole lower arm or can you do the ball joints alone?

I sh1t you not, the tester even said he knows that they’re cr@p! I said well why are you being so hard on me then?!?
I know he has a job to do.

Apparently you can replace the ball joints, but need a special tool to do it. Trying to find a motor factors who supply a ball joint on its own is a thing, never mind that I don’t have a press or the special tool lol.

So I’m going with a complete arm.


Once I’ve the arm done I’ll strip the rear discs off to see what shape the handbrake shoes and the discs are in. I’m hoping it’s just a lip that I can grind off and suddenly creat an amazing handbrake! Lol

I had a mondeo fail on handbrake and a brake pipe pitted. I replaced the brake pipe and sprayed some oil onto the brake caliper and unsuccessfully tried to unseize the arm for the handbrake. Retested it and it passed lol

Yea I’m hoping for something similar lol

 

[Coog]

The handbrakes in them have always been terrible. And those front arms are also really common. Sometimes if you're lucky the tester will give it a dab of footbrake to get her through the roller test lol

 

[johnm]

Could you not just see about tightening it up at the handle first and see if that gets it good enough to get through the test? Be a lot handier than all that faff at the rear and coming across a potential rusted nut that could delay it again. Then look at it another time when you a free weekend?

 

[Cro]

Are the bmw rear shoe adjustments not just through one of the disc holes with a screw driver? Easily enough done in that case

 

[greyfloppyhat]

I'm pretty certain it says somewhere in the handbook that you need to lightly apply the handbrake during driving to keep it work properly by giving the inside of the discs surface a good grind down. Do that and then tighten up the cable at the lever a bit and see if it helps, it may just save you messing with the shoe adjustment.

 

[pablo]

shoe adjustment is handy enough, pretty sure you can do it with the wheel on and one bolt out

I always forget which way to turn though ffs

 

[Blackie]

Yea you’re all pretty much right. Shoe adjustments are dead handy and I had done what I thought was enough last Friday, then tightened up at the handle, but it’s clearly not good enough for the test. So I’m gonna remove the discs and clean the inside of the drum part and then do the drive with the handbrake on bit.

But after I’ve finished this lol

 

[Coog]

I'm sure you know already but take all slack out of the cables first then tighten the shoes to the point they start to grab the drum then back a smidge. Do both sides then check the handle and adjust cable if necessary. I normally don't tighten the cable at all if I can help it.

Tbh I tried cleaning the inside surface by lightly applying the handbrake in one of my E46's and it ended up making it worse lol

 

[pablo]

Don’t you slacken the cable first, then tighten shoes then tighten cable last?