new owner, a few questions!

[linke30]

hi all,
recently got a 320i on the road however it needs new suspension arm bushes for the mot. I see on this site it recommends to get new eccentric ones even if its not a m3. will this effect the tracking at all? is it a straight up upgrade?

the centre caps on the bbs style rims don't seem to want to hold in place well. they appear to fit but can be fairly easily be pulled off. I cant quite figure out why they don't stay, apart from that maybe there not quite the correct ones?

the other main issue is white smoke/steam from the exhaust once its warmed up. although saying this the last time I drove it this did not happen at all. have done a bit of reading on this and some seem to think it may have something to do with the breather system? can any one shed any light on this?

I will order all the service including the bushes from c3bmw I think. are they are good reliable company?

probably have a few more but cant think right now.

any help is greatly appreciated!!

link

[bobbin1982]

M3 eccentric bushes are a straight swap and they emprove handling so worthwhile
If the car has been sat up the white smoke steam could be condensation in the back box
Also if you order genuine parts try Cotswold on here as they give a generous discount on genuine parts

Andy

[Brianmoooore]

If you aren't losing coolant from the reservoir - i.e., the level stays just below the seam in the bottle, an doesn't require frequent topping up, then any white exhaust emissions are nothing to worry about - just water vapour produced from burning petrol.
The M3 bushes improve the car's 'turn in' to a corner, and being solid, should last considerably longer than the hollowed out standard item. Tracking needs to be checked, and adjusted if required, after any work on the front suspension.

[linke30]

thanks for the quick response guys. okay cool I shall order the eccentric bushes then! yes the car had been sat for about 5 years I believe. I stupidly forgot to mention that the oil check light seems to come on about the same time the smoke starts.
not sure if its coincident or not.
the coolant level hasn't dropped majorly for how much it has smoked. ill try get a video if it starts again.

[biffer]

if your wheel centre-caps are BMW ones the big centre-nut needs turning clock-wise ,by hand,to lock the cap on.

[bobbin1982]

Don't think anyone has centre caps that fit right anymore
The plastic stretches over repeated doing up and undoing

[linke30]

The centre caps are bbs and the wheels are stamped BMW? Yes I can put ten on and turn it and it will click bit just no hold there. Yes it's as if the plastic is worn out of not enough lip on the rim it's self. Are there any new parts that can help with this??

[bobbin1982]

I asked the same question a while ago but no one could point me in the direction of a refurb kit
And also I was unable to find one myself
I think the only way is to but new ones from the dealer at around £50 a corner

[M3KUK]

They are around £40 each from Cotswold.

[bobbin1982]

Yes stand corrected that is what I meant

[Cloggy Saint]

£225 for 4 caps from Cotswolds, so about £56 each.

[martauto]

It`s not smoke mate and it`s fine !!!
I have a 316 Baur 1987 and an 03 plate 330 ci sport and they both look as if a new pope is on his way.

Mart.

[Brianmoooore]

The substantial construction of BMW exhausts is to blame. Until the internals reach 100 decrees Celcius, water vapour will be visible from the tail pipe, only clearing when the exhaust is hot enough to keep it as invisible steam. Much easier to achieve with a lightweight, two year life exhaust, from Ford, etc.

[linke30]

thank you for your replys people. been very helpful so far!
wow, center caps are a lot! I thought they might be expensive but not that much.
ill have a look on coltswold tomorrow and have a think.

I'm not sure on the exhaust though. it seems to'thick' to be steam. I think I saw a few bits of straw come out the exhaust when I followed it home. it had been sitting for long time and I'm hoping something has made a nest in the exhaust and that's whats creating it.
I smelt it and just smelled like fumes, old fuel and crap pretty much.
hopefully get it out again at weekend and see what happens!
got few bits ordered so hopefully start sorting it out. thanks for the help again guys

[tha881]

I can vouch for c3bmw bought a lot of parts from them. The eccentric bushes are a big improvement, you can also get solid rubber ones that have the hole in the center. Use cotswold if you are you are after genuine or need something that you cant find elsewhere.

[linke30]

I can vouch for c3bmw bought a lot of parts from them. The eccentric bushes are a big improvement, you can also get solid rubber ones that have the hole in the center. Use cotswold if you are you are after genuine or need something that you cant find elsewhere.

hi mate yeh I went with c3bmw in the end as they had what I needed and are pretty close to me. very fast delivery, ordered Monday and arrived today.
I went with the standard bushes in the end as rest of the car is completely standard and don't want to smart messing around with it just yet haha.