**official mineapolis general thread**

Originally Posted by Jmanscotch

You installing the rattle kit or just the seals? If just the seals, it really doesn't take too long.

Just the seals. Rattle kit isn't required unless you have aftermarket cams.

Have you done the VANOS seals? How long did it take you?

10am on a Wednesday? you obviously have a better job than i do

Originally Posted by chowbox

10am on a Wednesday? you obviously have a better job than i do

Me too... 10am is the middle of my work day haha. Sorry dude.

Originally Posted by chowbox

10am on a Wednesday? you obviously have a better job than i do

Student

And actually I'm doing it Thursday morning.

Originally Posted by TrickTizzle

Student

And actually I'm doing it Thursday morning.

Must be nice...

Just throwing this out there, but some guys on the xi forum are doing a VANOS party to replace all the seals and VCG. Maybe we should do the same thing sometime. Anyone be up for that? We could probably get it done faster as a group and share tools.

Originally Posted by TrickTizzle

Just the seals. Rattle kit isn't required unless you have aftermarket cams.

Have you done the VANOS seals? How long did it take you?

Ahh...interesting, never heard that it was narrowed down to aftermarket cams.

I helped a friend do his (seals and rattle kit). Working at a very, very casual pace, I think it was around 5 hours.

As most say, it isn't a hard DIY at all...it's just a step by step process that takes a while to wade through. Take your time and follow the steps closely and it'll go smooth.

If you want, I might be able to swing by to BS some and meet a fellow enthusiast, I've always liked your ride and would be happy to check it out. Cell is 440.520.4051 if you want to text me.

Originally Posted by Jmanscotch

Ahh...interesting, never heard that it was narrowed down to aftermarket cams.

I helped a friend do his (seals and rattle kit). Working at a very, very casual pace, I think it was around 5 hours.

As most say, it isn't a hard DIY at all...it's just a step by step process that takes a while to wade through. Take your time and follow the steps closely and it'll go smooth.

If you want, I might be able to swing by to BS some and meet a fellow enthusiast, I've always liked your ride and would be happy to check it out. Cell is 440.520.4051 if you want to text me.

Dude, that would be awesome! Are you going to be around on Thursday??

Yep, I'm not flying back until Saturday night so I've got some extra time to kill. Just shoot me a text with info on where/when and I can meet you man.

Alright Minneapolis folks, my brother lives and works (drives around to appointments) around yall. I'm looking to get him a radar detector for a bday/graduation gift and wanted some opinions on which of two would be better for your city. The reason I'm asking is, for example, my Valentine V1 works great for me and I would like him to have one, but around Cleveland mine goes off every 5 miles or so due to some sort of interference and I find that annoying. Is Minneapolis like this as well (concerning the use of either of the two below noted radar detectors)?

The two options are I'm considering for him are the Escort 8500 x50 -or- Valentine V1. I've had both and know the V1 is a better unit (atleast IMHO), but if any of you have either an can offer some insight into one or the other being twitchy around Minneapolis specifically, it'd be a huge help.

Also, it was nice meeting you the other day Trick.

i hear ya about the v1 picking up alot of static, but it is the best unit out right now in my opinion

I definitely agree. That said, I know the false alarms would drive my brother to just turn the thing off, hence why I'd like to see if anyone had first hand experience with either being not so bad for yalls area. He doesn't speed like crazy, so a simple (but free of too many false alarms) detector should do the trick...I'm thinking I'll just go with the Escort, cheaper and likely less sensitive.

just going to put my two cents in here. V1 is the best, and will be until someone else starts putting arrows on their units. all units are going to pick up annoying stuff like newer cars with radar cruis control or xm antennas (the thing went nuts when mounted in my 550i because of the the xm antenna) i actually got to talk to Mike Valentine about the issue and there just isn't a fix. a lot of new cars are coming with stuff the emit radar for some reason or another. I think it is just part of life now and we will just have to deal with it. i keep my V1 on low unless i'm doing some spirited driving so it's not too annoying

Definitely go with the V1, its not that bad on the freeways but it will still alert a little from time to time. Not that big of a problem IMO...
You can always put the V1 in Logic Mode which will reduce the amount of falsies.

How's the VANOS after you replaced the seals? Any big difference in performance?

Originally Posted by SamDoe1

How's the VANOS after you replaced the seals? Any big difference in performance?

Car definitely idles alot smoother, power band is nice and clean and there is no bog before 3k like I had before. 2nd gear has alot more power in the lower end. Before it would bog down. Definitely worth it.


Meanwhile...

Originally Posted by TrickTizzle

Car definitely idles alot smoother, power band is nice and clean and there is no bog before 3k like I had before. 2nd gear has alot more power in the lower end. Before it would bog down. Definitely worth it.

How long did it end up taking you? Might get this done later this fall once wedding season is over.

Originally Posted by SamDoe1

How long did it end up taking you? Might get this done later this fall once wedding season is over.

Vanos itself took about 4 hours. It's REALLy easy.

I also replaced plugs, vcg, coil boots and oil change while I was in there...


Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Bimmer App

No sludge.

Hey guys, I'm replacing my shocks and struts in the next week or so and will therefore need an alignment. Where do/did you guys go to get one and how much did it set you back? Also, were you happy with the results?

Thanks!

imola hands down has the best alignment machine of any of the bmw service indy shops around! Ask for either Sam or Mark both good guys and have always taken care of me. As far as price i am not sure they did alot of work for me so it got lost in the shuffle