Llew's F90 M5

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
I get to see my former F10 fairly regularly LOL

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TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
F10 still holding its own looks wise. We often wax lyrical about the E39, and rightfully so, but I think the F10 is the pinnacle of the 5 series.

I still love the F10 shape! I genuinely feel you could have one of each generation of M5 and love them all, each for very different reasons!

In terms of tech, I find the F90 to be on about the limits of what I want in terms of screen size/intrusion. The new "merc/tesla" style tablets on the LCI G8x really put me off. F10 had a nice integration and balance of old and new.
 

GravityLee

Well-known member
I still love the F10 shape! I genuinely feel you could have one of each generation of M5 and love them all, each for very different reasons!

In terms of tech, I find the F90 to be on about the limits of what I want in terms of screen size/intrusion. The new "merc/tesla" style tablets on the LCI G8x really put me off. F10 had a nice integration and balance of old and new.

I think we’re long past tablets in the latest iterations. More like IMAX screens. Ghastly.
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
Updates of a non-automotive kind

One of the things that has needed drastic attention at my house has been the garage. It was quite small and needed LOADS of work - to the degree that improving it was pointless. Received many comments about what on earth is happening with it when people have caught glimpses of it!

This is at odds with my old garage which was quite spacious but of course could only house 2 cars (and a third via a drive through carport).

There is a reason I haven't really done much in the way of detailing as well recently because there simply isn't the space or ability to create a good workflow, which I had managed despite some space challenges.

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Having resigned myself to not being ready for a GT3 RS or 458 for my 40th, the garages will have to do...

A few things I am doing are basically what I've recommended to everyone doing a project like this in the past:

Multiple plug points
In-floor drainage
Provision for compressed air and central vacuum
Provision for proper lighting (still TBC on final look - needless to say Firi is involved...)
High ceilings
Extra height door
Natural light via windows and sliding doors
Vermiculite in the slab top layer for thermal management
Extra length by 2m
Max width allowed by building lines (It might seem that it isn't all that much wider but that extra 65cm or so is actually significant when you have very wide cars)

@Neven is doing the build for me (Home Car Pro) and I used Lynette Harding for the design. There were a few engineering challenges presented by one of the architectural features which is a large suspended concrete eyebrow (which will be revealed when it is in a more finished state) which also acts as a structural element. What I really appreciated is on one hand the communication and transparency but that attention to detail and having the engineer coming over and also explaining things for the foundation, inspecting the build as well as this complex steel/concrete element. It really does give peace of mind that things are done right.

Thank you to the guys who reached out on the garage door... Moeketsi has already been over, removed the original door and will submit a quote as well. Great guy to chat to as well.

Out of the project management 'triangle' I picked "fast" and "good" but it also hasn't been a killer cost wise just yet... we will see when the finishing starts.
 

Benji

Well-known member
This is exciting! Good that you have given this some thought. I immediately had regrets after building my garage in terms of decisions taken to save costs like adding more plug points etc.

Looking forward to seeing the outcome
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
This is exciting! Good that you have given this some thought. I immediately had regrets after building my garage in terms of decisions taken to save costs like adding more plug points etc.

Looking forward to seeing the outcome

The finishing of mine will take a long time for this reason. Would rather wait and do it later than finish off and save. I also learned this the hard way on another project.

Will there be a bendpack?

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tapatalk

Provision has been made in terms of height and floor... whether there will ever be stock in SA while I also have enough money to drop on it is another story:ROFLMAO:
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
sooo some progress pics now that it's about time to start clearing up and prepping for finishing. I am going to take a breather once the waterproofing and electrical is done at the end of this week just to assess how best to finish, colours, cabinetry, lighting etc etc.

The back is basically the construction yard but it goes out back as well. Hard to judge the scale especially unlit and with the props still up. It could theoretically fit 4 M5s (or 6 polos) and still have approx 2.5m of space in front taking into account displays and cabinetry.

For now I will just have 16 downlighters until budget allows for fancier things.

I am still in limbo on the door and paving... will also have to wait and see once things are primed and painted. No use rushing these decisions.

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With the good news comes some bad: the Merc was involved in an accident this weekend... fair bit of damage. I sent instructions for it to be towed to Carello which is where we usually send the car (it was 3 corners away from Carello). Somehow it wound up many times the distance at RenewIt Sandton... needless to say it will be leaving there and insurance is rectifying this. It was incredibly annoying to discover after the fact. I even have the slip confirming it was meant to go to Carello. Tow truck operators with contacts at these repairers giving them kick backs no doubt...

I was not involved but had to take my wife and sister in law to the hospital - there were more important things to deal with at the time. What was quite good is that the car called for emergency services as soon as it detected the crash and that the seatbelt tensioners etc had gone off... Netstar also responded within minutes calling both my wife and informing me.

Where it falls apart is anything government related: Police attended the scene but basically, because nobody had died, they couldn't be bothered to do much of anything. They could have at least offered to take someone to the hospital which was literally around the corner... This was less so for us and more for the other cars... one of which had a very shaken driver as she had basically ploughed into my wife's stationary car in the equivalent of a tin can... and an Amarok had bumped into the back of her. I felt like the girl genuinely did need help and fortunately her family arrived shortly after. I'd like to know what would have happened if nobody's family/friends were around.

Anyway cars can be repaired and replaced and fortunately there was nothing more than some whiplash to deal with.

Car shopping will resume soon.
 
sooo some progress pics now that it's about time to start clearing up and prepping for finishing. I am going to take a breather once the waterproofing and electrical is done at the end of this week just to assess how best to finish, colours, cabinetry, lighting etc etc.

The back is basically the construction yard but it goes out back as well. Hard to judge the scale especially unlit and with the props still up. It could theoretically fit 4 M5s (or 6 polos) and still have approx 2.5m of space in front taking into account displays and cabinetry.

For now I will just have 16 downlighters until budget allows for fancier things.

I am still in limbo on the door and paving... will also have to wait and see once things are primed and painted. No use rushing these decisions.

CgUQvnVl.jpg


Mv8rKX4l.jpg


With the good news comes some bad: the Merc was involved in an accident this weekend... fair bit of damage. I sent instructions for it to be towed to Carello which is where we usually send the car (it was 3 corners away from Carello). Somehow it wound up many times the distance at RenewIt Sandton... needless to say it will be leaving there and insurance is rectifying this. It was incredibly annoying to discover after the fact. I even have the slip confirming it was meant to go to Carello. Tow truck operators with contacts at these repairers giving them kick backs no doubt...

I was not involved but had to take my wife and sister in law to the hospital - there were more important things to deal with at the time. What was quite good is that the car called for emergency services as soon as it detected the crash and that the seatbelt tensioners etc had gone off... Netstar also responded within minutes calling both my wife and informing me.

Where it falls apart is anything government related: Police attended the scene but basically, because nobody had died, they couldn't be bothered to do much of anything. They could have at least offered to take someone to the hospital which was literally around the corner... This was less so for us and more for the other cars... one of which had a very shaken driver as she had basically ploughed into my wife's stationary car in the equivalent of a tin can... and an Amarok had bumped into the back of her. I felt like the girl genuinely did need help and fortunately her family arrived shortly after. I'd like to know what would have happened if nobody's family/friends were around.

Anyway cars can be repaired and replaced and fortunately there was nothing more than some whiplash to deal with.

Car shopping will resume soon.
Sorry to hear about the accident, and as you say, they all well apart from some whiplash.

Tow truck operators do indeed push for heir kickbacks and do whatever it takes to come out on top, all the while ignoring instructions.

I saw you on Saturday morning on my way to Kyalami, around 9h30, i was at the Red Lights by Kyalami estate on the Bike, and saw you heading towards Allandale. car looks good in person.
 

TBP88

Well-known member
Glad your family are all safe - hopefully you guys enjoy the car shopping though as a pick up! Garage is looking mint - excited to see how it closes out.
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
I got a low coolant warning on the F90. Fortunately, I always have coolant and oil on hand. When topping it off, it was evident that it was seeping from the seam of the reservoir. This can leak onto one of the plugs and, if not attended to when the problem first arises, can lead to corrosion/misfires. How anyone can live with that coolant smell, I don't know, but anyway from my reading it seems that initially BMW dealers in the US just topped off the coolant and told people it was "normal for high performance cars to use some coolant..." This was also followed shortly after by just replacing the bottle like for like before the revision was available.

It might be batch specific for this part since not every car is impacted but this is now a known issue and BMW fitted a revised water bottle for me. When looking into this, it seems people also fit little plastic channels/guides so that if it does happen again the coolant is not channelled onto a plug.

F9x M5 and M8 owners should look at this spot periodically just in case this develops. The bulletin/service measure that Vashan shared with me somewhat cryptically refers to a "chemical reaction with the bottle" and that a revised part number is available :ROFLMAO:, Anyway, heat and coolant coupled with that particular kind of material seemingly doesn't work well together. It is very obvious when you know what to look for (Pics below)

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stephen

Active member
Looks like mine was replaced about 55k kms. Seems to be a common failure. I remember seeing this on most older M5s service history (
Expansion tank for coolant radiator leak)

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TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
Looks like mine was replaced about 55k kms. Seems to be a common failure. I remember seeing this on most older M5s service history (
Expansion tank for coolant radiator leak)

*SNIP*

Good info - most of the cars I've looked at were sub 30000km and it wasn't something I noticed 'til now. I am on 47000km now - seems to be about the time this issue arises.

Also sneak garage preview:

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stephen

Active member
Good info - most of the cars I've looked at were sub 30000km and it wasn't something I noticed 'til now. I am on 47000km now - seems to be about the time this issue arises.
Seems to be time based more so than mileage. Most of the M5's I had looked at were also sitting around the 30k km's mark.

Here's a snippet of another 2019 I looked at with +-40k km's where the expansion tank had an issue.

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None of those were uncommon unfortunately.
Another common one ive seen a lot:
'Battery in telematics control unit Permanent Failure'

Apologies for the thread hijack @TurboLlew

Garage coming along nicely, I see the alfa has first choice parking :p
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
Seems to be time based more so than mileage. Most of the M5's I had looked at were also sitting around the 30k km's mark.

Here's a snippet of another 2019 I looked at with +-40k km's where the expansion tank had an issue.

View attachment 18503

None of those were uncommon unfortunately.
Another common one ive seen a lot:
'Battery in telematics control unit Permanent Failure'

Apologies for the thread hijack @TurboLlew

Garage coming along nicely, I see the alfa has first choice parking :p

All useful info for the eventual F90 buyers guide LOL not hijacking at all!

M5 and Alfa have both enjoyed residence so far - I couldn't wait to have the floor in :ROFLMAO: . The delay has been deciding on the floor spec in case lifts need to be added as well as figuring out the drainage which I wanted to have done. Been traveling around Africa the past couple of months but hoping to have everything buttoned up in the next month or so.

I think it's been difficult to judge the size from pics with it unoccupied and also from the few I've posted from the front. I had a lot of comments on instagram for instance of people asking why I didn't go bigger... Not sure how much bigger since even with my planned cabinetry, I could add a G63 6x6 + a Phantom and they would all fit fine :ROFLMAO:

What you can't really tell from pics from the front is how much space there actually is between the cars and then still at the back. I can walk around them when parked comfortably and also open my doors without having to contort myself out (4C and M5 are not exactly narrow cars). Here are some wider angles. I would have liked to go a tad wider but I was already on the building line.

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