[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by GTO

Avoid additives of any kind. IMHO, they are all unnecessary frills that only have a placebo effect.

OT: This is true for a lot of additives I have tried but definitely not Ceratec. Ceratec works and the difference is very noticeable. That said it's also a lot more than any other additive at 2 grand for 300ml bottle.

But on a 6 cylinder German, you can probably avoid it, since it will anyways be running the best synthetic oil on offer.

A regular car with mineral oil switching to ceratec has a huge difference.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

Attachment 1793829

Totally OT but wanted to share this. Looks similar but not the same place .

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

But on a 6 cylinder German, you can probably avoid it, since it will anyways be running the best synthetic oil on offer.

It definitely makes a difference, even on the 6 cylinder germans Even the 8 cylinder ones. Though I'm not sure if it will last 30k kms as they claim.

[dipen]

Among the many interesting videos on Ceratec :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H_mZTh5bHY

[Tanveer_2558]

Such is life, A Rollercoaster Ride!

Its been a while since the last update on the 46, So here it goes!

Remember the front lip which was badly damaged & i ended up removing it, Well it left some scars on the bumper too, And well Mumbai potholes during the monsoon left front 2 of my alloys badly bent as well! I did not want to repair the alloys as the bent was quite severe, Even though the SA said according to him 95% on the bmw's on the road are running with bent alloys and unless you don't feel any vibration or wobbling it should be fine, But well i did feel some wobbling, Decided to claim in under insurance even at the cost of loosing my NCB.

Insurance claim I have the top most policy from HDFC Ergo which was infact purchased from BMW infinity itself, Covers RAT Bite, 0 Dep, Engine, Gearbox, Consumables everything possible and well i was very pleased with how easily the claim was approved, Will surely renew the same when the time comes.

Got the bumper changed and 2 front new alloys & i also dropped the set of 4 new dunlops sports max 050+ at bmw and asked them to fit it for me and follow it with balancing and alignment too.

Got the car back and before i could even drive the car properly i had to leave for Dubai & decided to drop the car at a friend's place with extremely safe parking, But well! 530 is simply too long, Longer than an Innova? Which made the multilevel parking impossible and the fire extinguisher pipe hanging at the back went deep inside the boot of the car when the car was being raised! Nobody saw it, No body could have guessed it & it simply had to happen!

Left me a bit sad leaving the car in such a state but then i got the car sent to BMW and claimed insurance for the same again and got the boot changed as well.

Must say, Splendid response given by my SA at Navneet thane & also quick and positive response from HDFC ergo again.

Taking a break
While my car was being repaired and checked for even the smallest of the problems if any,


I was in Dubai, Driving these on some epic roads! Was with family so had to stick to SUV's though,

X6 35i, Got this solely for my dad who really likes the road presence of the X6.


Cayenne, Couldn't get my hand on the Turbo variant, But love how porsche do with their interior.


G63 AMG, Literally a tank! Fast in a straight line.


RR Sport Supercharged, Loved it. Dad loved it even more!


Some more random pictures






Back to Base
The car was delivered to my friends place just a day before i got back, And finally there she was, with new tyres, Alloys, Bumper, Rear boot, both front 2 handles changed as well! The car literally has no work pending mechanical or cosmetic!

Saw her finally after around a month, All ready!!


Driving impressions post new tyres and some more pictures in the next update

[Tanveer_2558]

A lot has happened in the past 6 months, The car will turn 2 year old with me next month and i am hoping to touch 60,000 kms on ODO by then! She is still daily driven, Taken to industrial area's, Bad roads, City driving, Highway runs, Everything! And man (Touch wood) No complaint's what so ever, Apart from the belly touching here and there.

Selling the car??!?!?
Some of you guys must have seen the ad for my car being on sale, Well yeah, December month is such when discounts on new cars are such when you feel like getting something new, I even got a offer very close to my asking price and the person was a long time reader of my thread, But then, Suddenly to what happened and i had to drive down for a 500 kms trip with my dad, Thats when even he drove the car after a long time & the first thing he said after reaching the destination was, You can't have a practical upgrade from this, We keep this!
And man i agreed happily! There really isn't a practical upgrade to a 530d, Specially for my car, On stage 2, I love how it sounds post downpipe (everyone who has heard my car loved it apparently and couldn't believe its from a diesal) seats 4, Runs on regular diesel fuel, Looks are timeless is comfortable and sport to when you need and has a big boot for the airport runs! She will stay for another couple of years easy!

Some information about the car.
ODO at 56,000 kms approx.
Changed the front disc and pads from BMW at around 52000 kms.
Engine mounts, Transmission mounts, Microfilter, Brake fluid was changed too.
Changed the front 2 alloys as well under insurance as they were bent, Even got the front bumper painted because of lots and lots of stone chips caused because of my highway trips.

Driving post Dunlops Sports Max 050+
Now these tyres are as good as Pirelli P zero, From the reviews that i have read online, I went for these even though i hadn't used them before and it isn't very popular online, But 3 strong points made me go for it was, That is was available in Stock OE 530d Sizes (245/45/18 & 275/40/18), It was tubeless and was costing almost half of what tubeless P zero would.

Ride at 30-31 PSI is very comfortable and these tyres are quite, But as i have switched to 34 PSI the car is gripping much better in corners and they do have good amount of grip, As well, I am happy with these as of now.

Ceramic Coating.
A LOT of people have been asking me about it, How much it lasted? worth it? etc etc, Well! Its worth it! If you maintain the car post it properly, Apparently i was travelling a lot for 2 months or so & thats when a switch of watchman happened in my building, Resulting in crazy amount of swirl marks because of the guy washing the car, Called up sandesh at PMP and asked him to do the maintainence coat, which i had to do every 6 months but i had missed to as well..Sent the car and the car was sent back to me in "Showroom" condition i may say? Inside out! Totally loved it. PMP - Sandesh have done a wonderful job once more.

In process pictures:









Back with all the mechanical work done, Shining like a new born, Let the pictures do some talking shall we?







Can't wait to put in B6 by this month end, More pictures in a while!

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

She is still daily driven, Taken to industrial area's, Bad roads, City driving, Highway runs, Everything! And man (Touch wood) No complaint's what so ever

A car that appeals to the heart & head

We keep this!

Good call. For one, it's too early to sell your car. Second, a lateral swap is difficult (I find the G30's face damn ugly). Your next could be an S-Class, but with the air suspension, size, GC etc., it will be nowhere as practical as the F10.

That is was available in Stock OE 530d Sizes (245/45/18 & 275/40/18), It was tubeless and was costing almost half of what tubeless P zero would.

This could very realistically be my choice at the next change.

Back with all the mechanical work done, Shining like a new born, Let the pictures do some talking shall we?

Your car is looking HOT! Looking forward to your report on the Bilstein B6. Just don't compromise on the ride quality - the comfy ride is what makes the F10 so practical.

[graaja]

The car is looking FANTASTIC!

Doesn’t the F10 530D come with adaptive suspensions? So wondering how you could change to Bilsteins.

[Tanveer_2558]

Originally Posted by GTO

A car that appeals to the heart & head

Totally, Trying to find an upgrade from this? Its easier to go jump from a mountain!

Good call. For one, it's too early to sell your car. Second, a lateral swap is difficult (I find the G30's face damn ugly). Your next could be an S-Class, but with the air suspension, size, GC etc., it will be nowhere as practical as the F10.

Well, According to my dad it will surely be a 7 with BSI.

This could very realistically be my choice at the next change

Go for it!

Your car is looking HOT! Looking forward to your report on the Bilstein B6. Just don't compromise on the ride quality - the comfy ride is what makes the F10 so practical.

Thanks! You are on RFT's, Switch to tubeless and you will love the ride quality even more, B6 is should give me best of both world, Fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by graaja

The car is looking FANTASTIC!

Thanks man!

Doesn’t the F10 530D come with adaptive suspensions? So wondering how you could change to Bilsteins.

Unfortunately it doesn't.

[Santoshbhat]

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

Unfortunately it doesn't.

Are you sure? I thought the 530d always came with adaptive dampers! Even GTO's car has them as per his review.

[graaja]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

Are you sure? I thought the 530d always came with adaptive dampers! Even GTO's car has them as per his review.

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

Unfortunately it doesn't.

+1 to Santosh. I would suggest you check the feature list of you car from VIN number and check what is the code for the suspensions. If you have already done this, then perfect.

[Tanveer_2558]

I am 100% sure mine isn't adaptive & even GTO's isn't, Matter of fact In India only the first very few initial batches around 2011 got adaptive as far as i know. G30 530d gets adaptive dampers now.

[Santoshbhat]

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

I am 100% sure mine isn't adaptive & even GTO's isn't, Matter of fact In India only the first very few initial batches around 2011 got adaptive as far as i know. G30 530d gets adaptive dampers now.

That is very surprising. AFAIK, up until the F10s were phased out, both 520d and 530d came with adaptive suspensions. Around 2015/2016 when I bought my X3, barring the expedition variant all other models (20d and 30d) came with adaptive suspensions. Don't you feel the suspension tightening up in sports mode? In my X3, the ride tightens up appreciably in sports mode.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

That is very surprising. AFAIK, up until the F10s were phased out, both 520d and 530d came with adaptive suspensions. Around 2015/2016 when I bought my X3, barring the expedition variant all other models (20d and 30d) came with adaptive suspensions. Don't you feel the suspension tightening up in sports mode? In my X3, the ride tightens up appreciably in sports mode.

I think, Tanveer is confusing this with M Suspension, If I am not mistaken wherever we can select Chassis and/ Or Engine in Sports mode from iDrive, adaptive dampers should be present. There should be buttons near to the gear lever as well. Unless, my understanding is totally wrong as I always feel chassis firm on Sports mode by default.

[Tanveer_2558]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

That is very surprising. AFAIK, up until the F10s were phased out, both 520d and 530d came with adaptive suspensions. Around 2015/2016 when I bought my X3, barring the expedition variant all other models (20d and 30d) came with adaptive suspensions. Don't you feel the suspension tightening up in sports mode? In my X3, the ride tightens up appreciably in sports mode.

As per my knowledge 520d never came with adaptive dampers, 530d only in the initial batches around 2010-2011 came with adaptive dampers where you had the option in the idrive to select things you want to be in sports mode, M sport variants have stiffer suspension than the non - M sport variant's, But they are not Adaptive.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

I think, Tanveer is confusing this with M Suspension, If I am not mistaken wherever we can select Chassis and/ Or Engine in Sports mode from iDrive, adaptive dampers should be present. There should be buttons near to the gear lever as well. Unless, my understanding is totally wrong as I always feel chassis firm on Sports mode by default.

M sport variant's get stiffer suspension in India, But they are not adaptive, There is no option in the idrive as well to configure any sports mode settings, You can simply toggle modes, Steering feel and engine response and throttle response will change only according to the mode you have selected.