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10-15-2011, 09:18 PM
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#1 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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| Bought a BMW. Need to get it in tip top shape. Which shop is the best?
I went ahead and bought a 97 740iL with some, uh, issues that need to be resolved. Factored that into the price, and got an ok deal. Thanks to everyone who gave me pointers in the last few months.
Anyway, I need to get it fixed. Valve cover gasket, valley pan and transmission gasket. I have a quote from Nixon's, but they missed a piece of electrical tape taped over a lit airbag sensor while doing the PPI. Oops. That made me slightly unhappy. Airbag sensors can be a bitch on this car, and I'd have negotiated the price a bit more to account for that.
What is a *good* shop to take my car to get these repairs done? Note I'm asking good, not necessarily cheap, but cheap is a bonus. I just want to know which one, in your opinion, is the best, and why. I don't want to go to a shop, drop a couple grand for some big repairs, and have them screw it up.
Thanks for anyone that can help.
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10-15-2011, 09:20 PM
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#2 | | RS has made me the bitter person i am today!
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10-15-2011, 09:22 PM
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#3 | | I *heart* Revscene.net very Muchie
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hopefully you won't be dumping more $ into this car than what you've paid for...
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10-15-2011, 09:26 PM
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#4 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by flagella  hopefully you won't be dumping more $ into this car than what you've paid for... | Yes I will. I've always wanted to own one, and I plan on keeping it for at least 5 years. I mean, cars are a money pit, new or old, no matter how you cut it. You either lose money on the depreciation of a new car, or you lose money by repairing an older one.
@Soltaaa: The website is down, but I'll look into it.
Last edited by Mr.C; 10-15-2011 at 09:32 PM.
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10-15-2011, 09:40 PM
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#5 | | I *heart* Revscene.net very Muchie
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just out of curiosity, what's the mileage on the car?
maybe give wetmore in north van a call, they do a lot of euro cars.
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10-15-2011, 10:00 PM
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#6 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by boostfever just out of curiosity, what's the mileage on the car?
maybe give wetmore in north van a call, they do a lot of euro cars. | 200 and change. Why?
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10-15-2011, 10:04 PM
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#7 | | The Brown Reason
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pmed you!
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Originally Posted by bcrdukes fuck this shit, i'm out | | |
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10-15-2011, 10:06 PM
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#8 | | 14 dolla balla aint got nothing on me!
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I've gotten work done at German Auto Sports in Surrey. Very happy with their prices and professionalism.
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10-15-2011, 10:08 PM
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#9 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
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bmw i suggest you DIY because parts alone..... ask me how I know
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10-15-2011, 10:10 PM
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#10 | | RS Veteran
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lol
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Originally Posted by Badhobz Yeah. Typical Mainlander Barbie doll.
Her car even smelled nice. Like a mixture of luxury perfume and a hint of….. vag ? Fish sauce ? Something a bit dank | | 
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10-15-2011, 10:13 PM
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#11 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Richmond
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Originally Posted by 325isMSPORT bmw i suggest you DIY because parts alone..... ask me how I know | Honestly, if I had a garage in my house, and time, lots of it, I would *love* to do my own work. Unfortunately, I have neither, so I know I'm going to be gouged one way or another.
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10-15-2011, 11:00 PM
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#12 | | My AFC gave me an ABS CEL code of LOL while at WOT!
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I like the guys at Esplanade Auto Haus in North Van. Super cool and knowledgeable and realistic. Helped me alot when I was buying my Benz Wagon. They do all makes but know German cars really well.
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10-15-2011, 11:03 PM
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#13 | | Throw yo paws in da air!
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BJ autohaus 
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10-15-2011, 11:53 PM
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#14 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
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i've done 2 valley pan gaskets. its not that hard to diy. about $200 in a top end seal kit and you should be good to go. if water pump condition is unknown. might as well do that too. replace the rear manifold cover plate (osv) while you are at it. also if you plan on doing the trans pan gasket, do the trans filter as well. get an oem filter. non-oem ones have a tendency to collapse. the good trans fluid can be expensive so source that out first. a;so i suggest you get a peake tool or start downloading inpa and get a diag cable off ebay. the only real way to affordably own an e38 is to diy. check out e38.org. lots of info there
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10-16-2011, 01:32 AM
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#15 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richmond BC
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just remember to buy your own parts from the US ( pelican parts, ecs tuning, etc) and ask for the labour my friend got quoted an item that costs 50 bucks as 265
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10-16-2011, 08:18 PM
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#16 | | Diagonally parked in a parallel universe
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Valley Eurotech in Abbotsford
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10-17-2011, 08:17 AM
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#17 | | RS.net Licensed Vendor
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did you have a pre purchase inspection?
pm me with a list, ill give you a quote, and potential what else to expect as well. certain items being located together means u can save some labour.
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10-17-2011, 09:03 AM
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#18 | | Diagonally parked in a parallel universe
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Go to a guy who have 20+ years of experience and autox champion = Advance Automotive in Richmond No. 6 Road. Ask for Johnny. They might not have a nice marble tile showroom, not a multimillion dollar garage and hoist. But they have EXPERIENCE.
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10-18-2011, 12:54 AM
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#19 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
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2 shops to recommend
-german auto sports in surrey
-goldwrench automotives in north vancouver.
congrats on the new car.
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10-18-2011, 05:55 AM
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#20 | | Old School RS
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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Nixon Automotive in Burnaby yet. They are easily some of the most specialized BMW mechanics - none of the shops above have as many specific tools, BMW training, and stocked parts as they do. They do a lot of work for our car dealership and I have trusted them with my E36 3-series racecar for many years, I wholeheartedly recommend them.
Mark
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10-18-2011, 06:11 AM
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#21 | | OWNER/C.F.O./MONEYMAN
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the good thing though, being an old bmw, there should be a lot of jobber parts out there, keeping costs down.
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10-18-2011, 06:15 AM
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#22 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Richmond
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by lowside67 I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Nixon Automotive in Burnaby yet. They are easily some of the most specialized BMW mechanics - none of the shops above have as many specific tools, BMW training, and stocked parts as they do. They do a lot of work for our car dealership and I have trusted them with my E36 3-series racecar for many years, I wholeheartedly recommend them.
Mark | They were the ones who did my PPI. They may be good, but that really soured them in my eyes.
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10-18-2011, 10:16 AM
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#23 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by lowside67 I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Nixon Automotive in Burnaby yet. They are easily some of the most specialized BMW mechanics - none of the shops above have as many specific tools, BMW training, and stocked parts as they do. They do a lot of work for our car dealership and I have trusted them with my E36 3-series racecar for many years, I wholeheartedly recommend them.
Mark | each to their own.
I know a lot of people who were not happy with nixon. Myself included. They have not been the same since Nixon himself was there.
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1995 BMW 530i
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10-18-2011, 10:23 AM
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#24 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
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btw OP, you are in for some vehicle costs.
I am quite familiar with the m6X engine.
you can do the valve cover gaskets yourself. If they are faded it would be a good time to powdercoat them if you are picky that way. Also a great time to change the spark plugs if they need doing so.
Are you sure the valley pan is leaking? if its never been replaced before, odds are it probably is. To replace the valley pan you need to replace the following components to do the job RIGHT.
-intake manifold gaskets
-throttle body gasket
-PCV plate gasket
-PCV plate
-4X knock sensors (they will be cracked from all the heat!)
-the valley pan
-the waterpump if it hasnt be done recently. otherwise the gaskets for the rear water channel
-multiple o-rings
-fuel injector o-rings depending on condition
the transmission gasket is also a easy job. you will have to dump the 3L or so from the pan first and then drop the pan. At over 200,000kms on a lifetime fill transmission. I wonder if the fluid has ever been done before... or if the transmission has ever been replaced before...
Good luck!
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-Rod
1995 BMW 530i
1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SL
2002 Ford Explorer EB V8 4x4
2005 Acura RSX Type-S (SOLD)
1999 BMW 540i
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10-18-2011, 12:01 PM
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#25 | | RS Veteran
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Originally Posted by Mr.C They were the ones who did my PPI. They may be good, but that really soured them in my eyes. | To be honest, I think a lot of shops would have missed it.
And shame on you as the buyer for not catching it.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by Badhobz Yeah. Typical Mainlander Barbie doll.
Her car even smelled nice. Like a mixture of luxury perfume and a hint of….. vag ? Fish sauce ? Something a bit dank | | |
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