Finally Joined the Longroof Club

[Jdesign]

Thats a pretty epic pic!

[YoungCR]

Yes! That’s wallpaper worthy

[m42b32]

Back to summer mode! 

I forgot just how much better it looks on the 19's! I still need to get the bike rack on, but I'd like to find a way to mount it using the T slot in the cross bars so I can use the sunroof this summer.

[m42b32]

In my quest for maximum practicality I added a trailer hitch over the weekend. I went with a Curt 11771 1.25" class 1 hitch receiver. It basically bolts right up and only some slight trimming of one of the underbody panels is required which is nice. Apparently you don't need to remove the bumper cover to do this, but the person writing the instructions either had tiny hands or some magic combination of extensions... 

My main reason for this is to switch from my roof bike rack to a hitch mounted bike rack, but the ability to also use a cargo tray and pull small trailers (if I add some trailer light wiring) will be really useful. It may not be the prettiest addition, but it honestly doesn't look nearly as bad as I thought it would. 

[Rekpoint]

As long as it doesn't look rusty it looks fine to me!

[patsbimmer1]

Nice!  I've never been able to install a BMW hitch that didn't require removing the bumper.  Mighty mouse must have written the instructions.

[YoungCR]

Fits great, well worth the practicality for sure. Any big road trips planned?

[straight6pwr]

super functional upgrade!

for the roof rack t-slot: in the world of fishing kayaks, t-slot rails have become quite popular. there are probably several iterations of the 't-bolt' but this is what you can find:

https://www.austinkayak.com/YakAttack-MightyBolt-2-in-6-pack/ACK22651P.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping: ACK PLA&adpos=1o16&scid=scplp22651_19781_1&sc_intid=22651_19781_1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqfDlBRBDEiwAigXUaJOzMl8AidnLOQ3GWIQkfWsRHxSZ8j33yopAPHvvcl9jLOIlGAsPrBoCC3sQAvD_BwE

they fit the t-slot on my e34 roof rails perfectly. 

search 't-bolt' or 't-slot bolt' on amazon, ebay, etc.

[m42b32]

YoungCR said:

Fits great, well worth the practicality for sure. Any big road trips planned?

Not at the moment, might be taking it out to the east coast in November but that's the only one on my radar for now! 

straight6pwr said:

super functional upgrade!

for the roof rack t-slot: in the world of fishing kayaks, t-slot rails have become quite popular. there are probably several iterations of the 't-bolt' but this is what you can find:

https://www.austinkayak.com/YakAttack-MightyBolt-2-in-6-pack/ACK22651P.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping: ACK PLA&adpos=1o16&scid=scplp22651_19781_1&sc_intid=22651_19781_1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqfDlBRBDEiwAigXUaJOzMl8AidnLOQ3GWIQkfWsRHxSZ8j33yopAPHvvcl9jLOIlGAsPrBoCC3sQAvD_BwE

they fit the t-slot on my e34 roof rails perfectly. 

search 't-bolt' or 't-slot bolt' on amazon, ebay, etc. 

Thanks for the info! I had tried to do some looking and didn't come up with much. I ended up cobbling together some random bits from the hardware store a few weeks ago, but I'm not loving how it came out. At best it will hold me over until I have the funds to buy the hitch adapter bit for my rack. A better solution would be fantastic for when I have other things to mount up there

[rampelsauce]

m42b32 said:

 I ended up cobbling 

Didn't realize you knew how to fix shoes. Does that make you related to Micheal Schumacher?

[Jdesign]

[m42b32]

86.6K

Changed the oil with some fancy pants rebranded castrol BMW 5w30 LL01 stuff. If someone came up with a kit that added an actual dipstick to an n52 I would buy it.

[patsbimmer1]

I know the pain... Never mind the price tag... https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWorld-E8X-E9X-Race-Oil-Pan-Assembly.html

They make an S65 oil pan with dipstick retrofit for $1500 that's almost worth it for me.

[KaiserRolls]

patsbimmer1 said:

I know the pain... Never mind the price tag... https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWorld-E8X-E9X-Race-Oil-Pan-Assembly.html

They make an S65 oil pan with dipstick retrofit for $1500 that's almost worth it for me.

Lolololol, buy your own dipsticks 

[patsbimmer1]

KaiserRolls said:

Lolololol, buy your own dipsticks 

You're expectations are way to high.

[m42b32]

patsbimmer1 said:

I know the pain... Never mind the price tag... https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWorld-E8X-E9X-Race-Oil-Pan-Assembly.html

They make an S65 oil pan with dipstick retrofit for $1500 that's almost worth it for me.

Ugh, I figured there was something out there, and I can't say I'm surprised that it's a $2k bimmerworld race part...

[patsbimmer1]

m42b32 said:

If someone came up with a kit that added an actual dipstick to an n52 I would buy it. 

m42b32 said:

Ugh, I figured there was something out there, and I can't say I'm surprised that it's a $2k bimmerworld race part...

So when's the order getting placed? lol

[m42b32]

patsbimmer1 said:

So when's the order getting placed? lol

If I find an extra 2 grand laying around that I didn't know I had and have no other use for I'll let you know haha

[m42b32]

90.8k

After having a replacement upper windshield trim piece sitting in my garage for at least a year, I finally got around to installing it. The old trim piece was pretty much toast...

Getting the old one out was a bit of a pain as it came out a lot of tiny pieces. The trim hooks onto the windshield from the top and is held down on the roof by some strong adhesive, so getting the groove and mating surfaces clean is pretty important. Ready for the new trim:

When installing the new piece I found that once you have each end hooked in place, you can work the rest of it into the groove by rocking the top of a dead blow hammer along the front edge of the trim (pressing towards the back of the car). This method got it sitting nice and flat. Last step is to remove the red adhesive backing to stick it to the roof. It looks way better now

[YoungCR]

Nice work! The sun of the south sure isn't kind to rubber seals.