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#61
Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod
Last post by MiniDave - August 26, 2026, 04:59:39 PMRight now the plan is for a set of Toyo Proxxs, super sticky. Putting 250hp thru 13" wheels I think I will need it!
For now the tires on the wheels are older but not weather cracked, so they'll do for the early test running and such. I'll be curious to hear what you think of the GripMax tires.
For now the tires on the wheels are older but not weather cracked, so they'll do for the early test running and such. I'll be curious to hear what you think of the GripMax tires.
#62
Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod
Last post by Red Riley - August 26, 2026, 02:50:49 PMDave, I bought a set of 175/50-13 Grip Max MaxGrip Classic tires from Priority Tire for 60ish bucks each. Actually I ordered them while I was in Asheville at MME, when they got them in stock. Just checked and they still have some. Tiremart.com has them too. If you can find Nankang AS1 in that size, they are good too, for not a lot of dough. I've been running the Nankangs for about ten years on my Elf and I think they are better than Yokos. Not got the MaxGrips mounted yet, but they look decent.
#63
The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...
Last post by MiniDave - August 26, 2026, 01:03:24 PMI watch similar depreciation on my Audis, mine are both really low mile cars (2018 just turned 21K and my 2017 is at 35K) but watching BaT for the best case scenario, even tho I think I bought them well depreciated I know I would take a hit if I needed to sell them today, 2 years on.
#64
The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...
Last post by Jims5543 - August 26, 2026, 11:24:00 AMIn hindsight, I wish I had done the transmission myself. The spark plug debacle made me nervous to try it.
When I was clearing codes with the Foxwell, I was also poking around seeing what it could do. I found a command in there to prime to transmission, a simple on screen command, I did not need a laptop and new software. That made me hesitate regarding sending it in, I could have handled that.
I also learned this M5 will bleed its own brakes. I put it into brake service mode with the Foxwell, open the bleeder on the wheel it is indicating, with a line into a catch can, tell it to bleed the line, it runs the ABS pump for 20-30 seconds depending on the location of the caliper, and it asks you to gently press the brake down every 3-5 seconds. Pretty neat!
Back to the Transmission, the kit I was going to buy was $670 to do the flush myself. The serpentine belt and AC belt were another $85. They charged a little over 1K for labor plus shop fees, disposal fees taxes etc... The labor to change the serpentine belt was the same as for the transmission. I knew that serpentine belt was going to be a massive PITA.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-ultimate-dual-clutch-transmission-service-kit-28107842840kt3
The car has 54K miles on it, the only other items I need to deal with is the rear diff gear oil change, which I am doing Sunday, and the coolant flush, which I will have them do before 60K miles.
With all this preventative maintenance completed, I should not need to do anything on it, I plan on selling it this winter / early next year.
I really love this car, it has been amazing and so much fun to drive, with almost 700hp on tap, it is a blast! BUT, I know not to keep it much longer the used prices on these reflect that.
I purchased it for 35K, I will be lucky to sell it for more than 20K after driving it 3 years.
When I was clearing codes with the Foxwell, I was also poking around seeing what it could do. I found a command in there to prime to transmission, a simple on screen command, I did not need a laptop and new software. That made me hesitate regarding sending it in, I could have handled that.
I also learned this M5 will bleed its own brakes. I put it into brake service mode with the Foxwell, open the bleeder on the wheel it is indicating, with a line into a catch can, tell it to bleed the line, it runs the ABS pump for 20-30 seconds depending on the location of the caliper, and it asks you to gently press the brake down every 3-5 seconds. Pretty neat!
Back to the Transmission, the kit I was going to buy was $670 to do the flush myself. The serpentine belt and AC belt were another $85. They charged a little over 1K for labor plus shop fees, disposal fees taxes etc... The labor to change the serpentine belt was the same as for the transmission. I knew that serpentine belt was going to be a massive PITA.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-ultimate-dual-clutch-transmission-service-kit-28107842840kt3
The car has 54K miles on it, the only other items I need to deal with is the rear diff gear oil change, which I am doing Sunday, and the coolant flush, which I will have them do before 60K miles.
With all this preventative maintenance completed, I should not need to do anything on it, I plan on selling it this winter / early next year.
I really love this car, it has been amazing and so much fun to drive, with almost 700hp on tap, it is a blast! BUT, I know not to keep it much longer the used prices on these reflect that.
I purchased it for 35K, I will be lucky to sell it for more than 20K after driving it 3 years.
#65
The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...
Last post by MiniDave - August 25, 2026, 04:44:19 PMI think they're ALL expensive any more. Like you I try to do all the work on my cars, but sometimes it just makes sense to have a shop do it.
#66
The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...
Last post by Jims5543 - August 25, 2026, 01:01:51 PMThis place is REALLY good but not cheap.
Transmission flush with serpentine belt and accessory belt replacement was $2,100.
They also changed an o-ring on a temp sensor that was seeping for "free",
Transmission flush with serpentine belt and accessory belt replacement was $2,100.
They also changed an o-ring on a temp sensor that was seeping for "free",
#67
The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...
Last post by MiniDave - August 25, 2026, 09:14:09 AMIt's good that you have a good independent shop you can rely on, the closest one for me is miles away....and they're pretty spendy.
I'm rebuilding a Mini gearbox for a buddy who's job moved him out of town for a year unexpectedly, tore it down yesterday. He couldn't get it to shift into either first or second, and no wonder. Both synchros worn to the nub and teeth stripped off of both gears too. No idea how someone would do that but it looked like the oil hadn't been changed in forever.....so much nasty sludge on the bottom of the case.
Parts should arrive next week and then I can get into it....
I'm rebuilding a Mini gearbox for a buddy who's job moved him out of town for a year unexpectedly, tore it down yesterday. He couldn't get it to shift into either first or second, and no wonder. Both synchros worn to the nub and teeth stripped off of both gears too. No idea how someone would do that but it looked like the oil hadn't been changed in forever.....so much nasty sludge on the bottom of the case.
Parts should arrive next week and then I can get into it....
#68
Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod
Last post by MiniDave - August 25, 2026, 09:06:45 AMI think they're going to work perfectly, just need to figure out what to do for tars....
Without the left side flare I can't check for sure but it looks like the frame is shifted about 1/4" to the right, but it's also up against the body, so it's probably just the fine quality of the MiniTec frame, or the Mini body!
Either way, all I'll need to do is use a 1/4" spacer to get it to match up.
The best part about these wheels is that they don't hit the trailing arm, the offset is better. I had to put a 3/4" spacer behind the other ones to keep them off the trailing arms. Of course the alignment isn't set and the hubs aren't tight without the axle shafts bolted in place. Still, another piece of the puzzle in place now.
I'm starting PT for my back today, and the doc encouraged me to join up with the local community center - which has indoor pools - and start swimming, so I'll do that too.
Without the left side flare I can't check for sure but it looks like the frame is shifted about 1/4" to the right, but it's also up against the body, so it's probably just the fine quality of the MiniTec frame, or the Mini body!
Either way, all I'll need to do is use a 1/4" spacer to get it to match up.
The best part about these wheels is that they don't hit the trailing arm, the offset is better. I had to put a 3/4" spacer behind the other ones to keep them off the trailing arms. Of course the alignment isn't set and the hubs aren't tight without the axle shafts bolted in place. Still, another piece of the puzzle in place now.
I'm starting PT for my back today, and the doc encouraged me to join up with the local community center - which has indoor pools - and start swimming, so I'll do that too.
#69
The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...
Last post by Jims5543 - August 25, 2026, 07:27:49 AMIt been a stupid 2 weeks, between a lot of thing going on with family and work being insanely busy, I was struggling to find time to finish the M5. I connected the battery this past Saturday after I was done replacing the plugs and coil packs only to find out it is inoperable and throwing 60+ codes.
I was positive this had to be a result of a DME plug not seated correctly. I purchased some contact cleaner with a dialectric grease additive, pulled all the plugs, sprayed everything well and let it dry.
Hooked it all back up, still dead!! I had an appointment to drop it off today for the Transmission flush. I got a call from the shop to confirm the appointment, I explained to the tech on the phone my dilemma, he told me to check the plugs on the coil packs, it was 100% that. AI also told me the same.
I went home after work last night, grabbed a cold beer and went to my 100°+ garage (too late in day to try to use AC) aimed 2 fans at me and went to work. I had to remove all the same items I did before in order to get to all 8 coil packs.
I methodically made sure the coil was pushed down on the spark plug well, then checked every plug to make sure they were seated correctly. I did not see anything that looked suspicious, obviously one was not connected right. I have no idea which one. All I know is that it works now, she fired right up and purred. I pluged in the Foxwell Scanner, cleared all the codes, Shut it off for 10+ seconds, fired it back up. Zero codes.
Drove it to the shop this morning for the trans flush and decided to let them replace the serpentine belt too because it looks like you have to move the intercoolers to do it. Not in the mood.
I dropped it at the shop at 0645 this morning. They were not open and I could not find a key drop. I drove back in my E30 to drop the key. I snapped a pic of the front of the shop, my E30 looked cool parked with the old Mercs out front.
This little adventure has caused me to pivot, I always planned on getting rid of this M5, I still have another 2.5 years of warranty left, I am keeping it until this winter then selling it with the remainder of the warranty being transferable.
Then I am shopping for either a E34 (1988-1995) or E39 (1998-2003) M5, I am over this modern computer crap. Give me an old school OBD car I can work on myself without a Microsoft certification.
I was positive this had to be a result of a DME plug not seated correctly. I purchased some contact cleaner with a dialectric grease additive, pulled all the plugs, sprayed everything well and let it dry.
Hooked it all back up, still dead!! I had an appointment to drop it off today for the Transmission flush. I got a call from the shop to confirm the appointment, I explained to the tech on the phone my dilemma, he told me to check the plugs on the coil packs, it was 100% that. AI also told me the same.
I went home after work last night, grabbed a cold beer and went to my 100°+ garage (too late in day to try to use AC) aimed 2 fans at me and went to work. I had to remove all the same items I did before in order to get to all 8 coil packs.
I methodically made sure the coil was pushed down on the spark plug well, then checked every plug to make sure they were seated correctly. I did not see anything that looked suspicious, obviously one was not connected right. I have no idea which one. All I know is that it works now, she fired right up and purred. I pluged in the Foxwell Scanner, cleared all the codes, Shut it off for 10+ seconds, fired it back up. Zero codes.
Drove it to the shop this morning for the trans flush and decided to let them replace the serpentine belt too because it looks like you have to move the intercoolers to do it. Not in the mood.
I dropped it at the shop at 0645 this morning. They were not open and I could not find a key drop. I drove back in my E30 to drop the key. I snapped a pic of the front of the shop, my E30 looked cool parked with the old Mercs out front.
This little adventure has caused me to pivot, I always planned on getting rid of this M5, I still have another 2.5 years of warranty left, I am keeping it until this winter then selling it with the remainder of the warranty being transferable.
Then I am shopping for either a E34 (1988-1995) or E39 (1998-2003) M5, I am over this modern computer crap. Give me an old school OBD car I can work on myself without a Microsoft certification.
#70
Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod
Last post by 94touring - August 24, 2026, 08:59:01 PMThey look good. Sucks you've been out with back issues so long. No fun at all.