[Sankar]

Originally Posted by cooldip

I have first hand experience of this on my 1KD Fortuner. Any EGR will get clogged over a period of time and fill up the intake manifolds. This significantly impacts the amount of air going into the engine. All turbo charged intercooled diesels have this problem no matter what the manufacturer says.

I typically clean it every 20K kms (50% bumper to bumper drive) and my 12 year ~160K kms 1KDFTV still happily revs to 4K rpm without damaging my ear drums.

Precisely why I have had the EGR blocked physically in the Diesels I have owned in the past. In 2016 in the first couple of months into the ownership of the Crysta a full EGR blank plate for 1GDFTV made from stainless steel using water-jet cutting and got that installed. The template for the blank plate was a partial (meaning a hole in center) EGR blank plate bought from ebay. I still may have a few blanking pieces left somewhere as I had made a few extra pieces.

[viXit]

Originally Posted by viva

Many thanks. I will get carbon cleaned.����



Thank you.

BMW Dealer is serving F10 from Day 1. They haven't adviced such carbon cleaning. I will specifically ask them by month end.

MOD NOTE : Please use the EDIT or QUOTE+ (multi-quote) button instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

To know how to multi-quote, click here.

Cleaning is relatively cheap.

replacing something that fails eventually due to the clogged up stuff is less labour intensive and also has better margins.

They'll try to talk you out of it. But if you have a good SA. And show him the pics from ImmortalZ, I'm sure they'll oblige.

[GTO]

Been having way too much fun with the 530d. Lots of usage around the city due to social events, and a couple of highway runs too.

Best place to park when exploring South Mumbai is Metro Cinema's lot. Dumped the car there, then went on to eat Bun Maska @ Kyani & Co, Cafe Mondegar (with jukebox!), CST station to admire its architecture, Marine Drive to watch the sunset...


Nice click:






Tiger Point, on the way to Aamby Valley. Nothing like the combination of the Valley's winding roads + its view + onion pakoras + strong tea:


The enhanced GC of the facelifted version means I never have to think twice before taking the Bimmer anywhere. It's been to the nooks & crannies of MH + Goa without issue:


Full-manual mode is a lot of fun on such roads, although admittedly, only then. 99.99% of the time, I let the magical ZF-8 gearbox do the work, using the paddle shifters when required:


No fun without interesting machines in your life! Parked the 5 at Manson's and took his beast out for a spin in Bandra:


Enjoying live indies...


... at Back 2 Door 1:


Charming Bombay during late nights. All the more so when it's festive season. The Sealink was done up in the Indian flag's colours:


Bhabhi decked her up for Dussehra & did the Pooja:


One of the best brunch places, Silver Beach Cafe @ Bandra:


Went to Buvachi Misal to meet Viddy, Libran & the EQS (more info & pics at this link).


In terms of issues, the car has been super reliable and there's nothing noteworthy:

- Brake rotors need replacement (Viddy animatedly pointed this out to me, with his hands shaking and all).

- The washer fluid pipe had corroded. Had sent my car for detailing to Turtle Wax & they replaced it.

- Some 'parking brake failure' warning came up for a day and has since disappeared. Am guessing either a bad sensor or low voltage (Low voltage situations & weak batteries | The bane of German cars). Not seen it again.

[mugen_pinaki27]

Lovely pictures GTO. Is that a Fireblade you're riding? Damn! Will catch up with you soon. Another Bombay trip appears to be imminent in the coming months.

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by GTO

- Brake rotors need replacement (Viddy animatedly pointed this out to me, with his hands shaking and all).

LOL. Had good fun driving the 530D and following the EQS down lonavala ghats. The 530D feels damn good.

Its far more plush and cruiser than the 328i I have. The steering is not as manic and sharp and you can do long distances more relaxed.

The remap with extra horses and torque was superb but I had just driven the EQS before so the perception was skewed.

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by GTO

Been having way too much fun with the 530d. Lots of usage around the city due to social events, and a couple of highway runs too.

Awesome car and awesome updates, GTO! The 530d never looks old. It still looks brand new and still looks fresh. A true timeless design.

Brake rotors need replacement (Viddy animatedly pointed this out to me, with his hands shaking and all).

LOL. I can understand this because once he pointed the same in my car, but just by looking at the pictures of my car after a nice wash.

[TurboKat]

Originally Posted by GTO

In a car that is otherwise crafted with very high quality materials, it's disappointing to see such poor quality rubber lining being used. I had commented earlier on this thread about the rubber beading of the rear windscreen becoming brittle & broken.

Went through this thread after a long time, 10 months to be precise. I think this problem existed in earlier generations too. A week ago, I noticed that the rubber lining of the front windscreen of my uncle's 2007 E60 523i had also become brittle and chipped out at the corners. The car mostly stays in a closed garage and has clocked only 41000 kms. on the odo.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by mugen_pinaki27

Is that a Fireblade you're riding?

Yep, that's Manson's scary-fast & timeless beast.

Originally Posted by Vid6639

Its far more plush and cruiser than the 328i I have. The steering is not as manic and sharp and you can do long distances more relaxed.

Truly. More of a smaller 7-Series (which it is) than the 3-Series which is such a driver's car.

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

Awesome car and awesome updates, GTO! The 530d never looks old. It still looks brand new and still looks fresh. A true timeless design.

Thanks!

LOL. I can understand this because once he pointed the same in my car, but just by looking at the pictures of my car after a nice wash.

Giving Viddy a look at your car is like going for a comprehensive health checkup at the hospital . He will point out all that needs improvement. Much to the chagrin of OEMs, this skill extends to new cars.

[XDriver]

Glad to see you having fun with the 530D GTO. It is such a sweet machine. Comfortable and luxurious on one hand and a sporty saloon on the other! I agree the ZF gear box is superb. My X1 has an Aisin gearbox and I find I need to use paddle shifters more often on that especially for down shifts where as the ZF in my 530d does it intuitively. Enjoy many more miles on this super sedan !!

[FlyingSpur]

Originally Posted by GTO

Been having way too much fun with the 530d. Lots of usage around the city due to social events, and a couple of highway runs too.

Nice update!

The enhanced GC of the facelifted version means I never have to think twice before taking the Bimmer anywhere. It's been to the nooks & crannies of MH + Goa without issue:

I could have sworn your car is black. What is this shade of blue I'm seeing re?

No fun without interesting machines in your life! Parked the 5 at Manson's and took his beast out for a spin in Bandra:

Two of my regrets in life. I was happier not knowing what a liter bike can do. And meeting Manson also.

Enjoying live indies...

Ey I need some recos for my next Bombay visit.

- Brake rotors need replacement (Viddy animatedly pointed this out to me, with his hands shaking and all).

What a nerd

[TurboKat]

Originally Posted by FlyingSpur

I could have sworn your car is black. What is this shade of blue I'm seeing re?

That's the specialty of the carbon black shade. Looks bluish under direct sunlight.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by FlyingSpur

Nice update!

Thanks!

I could have sworn your car is black. What is this shade of blue I'm seeing re?

As TurboKat said, blue shows only under sunlight. When I bought the car, I didn't like the colour at all and white / silver remain my top choices. That being said, this colour does age well and helps in making the car look fantastic even at the 9-year mark. M-Sport add-ons make her still feel contemporary. In comparison, pre-facelift (2010 - 2012) white or silver F10s do show their age.

Ey I need some recos for my next Bombay visit.

Come and we'll go together! Live music scene has really picked up, especially in Bandra.

[PowerSpike]

Originally Posted by GTO

1. Great call in replacing the timing chain

2. Equally good call in changing the transmission fluid of your ZF. BMW says its sealed for life, but that's rubbish. ZF itself recommends a complete change at the 7 year mark. I have also gotten it done some time back.

Update on my car. As it ages, some small niggles have started to crop up:

1. The fuel tank lid wouldn't lock, even after locking the car.

2. The washer reservoir (wiper) has a leak. I topped it up entirely, and a day later, again got the message that its empty.

Aren't we too soft on manufacturers of high end cars that are supposed to be of high quality?

The timing chain was invented specifically to solve the problem of timing belt that was prone to frequent failures.
A BMW costs many times that of a Toyota.
Yet it's critical parts are failing? Where is the quality?

I see the harsh comments being made on vehicles made by Indian manufacturers and we expect a world of quality from them and are quick to dismiss their efforts to make something good. We expect them to be 100% reliable, without niggles and at par in quality with foreign manufacturers from day 1.

When these foreign companies started manufacturing cars, their quality was abysmal.

Even now, looking at this discussion about a supposedly superior vehicle (no offense to the owners) there seems to be a lack of quality as critical parts, that are supposed to last a lifetime, are prone to failure.

Cars in India aren't driven to the limits of the vehicle as much as they are in foreign countries. Shouldn't these parts of foreign vehicles last longer in India as the engine would surely be quite over engineered and less stressed in India. Be it a BMW or a Range Rover (this vehicle is considered to be unreliable even in Europe).

So why do foreign manufacturers seem to be getting a free pass as compared to Indian manufacturers?

The aim is start a healthy and constructive discussion around quality of parts in imports vs local manufacturers and public perception around the same.

[ImmortalZ]

Originally Posted by PowerSpike

So why do foreign manufacturers seem to be getting a free pass as compared to Indian manufacturers?

Are they really getting a free pass? These cars cost 90+L OTR these days and 5-7 years later, cost as much as a Honda City to buy in the used market.

There will be no constructive discussion to start around why we buy them. There is very little financial sense in buying one. So what else is there? I for one bought it because nothing else drives like it, maintenance nightmares or not. Some things do go wrong. My car has had very expensive parts replaced under warranty even before the first oil change. But those parts are part of a very complicated whole beast, whose rear subframe alone has more engineering into it than an average city car designed in the 90s that we are force fed as "ALL NEW WHATEVER! 2022!". Elitist? Maybe. But try driving one.

Flipping the script, what does a Safari have to go for it other than a hallowed name plate? It is a 20+L front wheel drive hopped up hatch back. What does a Taigun or Kushaq have to go for it? Built to a price to exploit Indians' lust for "SUVs" and chrome. They shame the VW and Skoda badges they wear.

When there is a USP, they sell. Nexon EV f ex, or any of the umpteen Marutis. Similarly, 70+L C classes sell. And 90+L 5ers also sell.

If you are not looking for what these cars offer, they make no sense. For some people, they never will.

[Dr.Naren]

Originally Posted by PowerSpike

Cars in India aren't driven to the limits of the vehicle as much as they are in foreign countries. Shouldn't these parts of foreign vehicles last longer in India as the engine would surely be quite over engineered and less stressed in India. Be it a BMW or a Range Rover (this vehicle is considered to be unreliable even in Europe).

Nope. The reliability of engines won't be great in Indian driving conditions. Lot of factors like fuel quality, city driving conditions which involves lot of idling and bumper to bumper driving, higher dust levels, etc. Cars driven on good clean foreign highways even to its limits would be better than a car driven in Indian city