Henry's Blog

[Rok_Dr]

Passenger Seat Fire Extinguisher Mount Bracket

Not fancy but it does the job. This is my simple mounting frame to fix a small extinguisher under the passenger seat.

Bunnings shopping list: 100mmx75mmx20mmx4mm brackets, a length of 25mmx3mm aluminium flat bar and some 15mm and 25mm M8 bolts. I Tek screwed the extinguisher frame to the flat aluminium bar and replaced the Ineos 15mm bolts with 25mm ones putting a few flat washers under each bracket to lift it above the plastic trim in front of the seat support, so it didn’t dig in. Pictures tell it all.

Also noting @MrMike 's comment in the Fire extinguisher mounting thread about using garden sprayer with water and detergent to extinguish spinifex fires, (https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/fire-extinguisher-mounts.12412372/post-1333191552), I saw the following while at Bunnings. I like the fact the tank and wand are metal so will grab one soon. (.https://www.bunnings.com.au/silvan-...UrY-DDY-VX1-9Y5oYexoC3vcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)

Cheers
Steve

 

[MrMike]

Passenger Seat Fire Extinguisher Mount Bracket

Not fancy but it does the job. This is my simple mounting frame to fix a small extinguisher under the passenger seat.

Bunnings shopping list: 100mmx75mmx20mmx4mm brackets, a length of 25mmx3mm aluminium flat bar and some 15mm and 25mm M8 bolts. I Tek screwed the extinguisher frame to the flat aluminium bar and replaced the Ineos 15mm bolts with 25mm ones putting a few flat washers under each bracket to lift it above the plastic trim in front of the seat support, so it didn’t dig in. Pictures tell it all.
View attachment 7856759


View attachment 7856760



View attachment 7856761

View attachment 7856762

Also noting @MrMike 's comment in the Fire extinguisher mounting thread about using garden sprayer with water and detergent to extinguish spinifex fires, (https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/fire-extinguisher-mounts.12412372/post-1333191552), I saw the following while at Bunnings. I like the fact the tank and wand are metal so will grab one soon. (.https://www.bunnings.com.au/silvan-...UrY-DDY-VX1-9Y5oYexoC3vcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve

That bracket looks good
So does the sprayer, you'll just need to modify the nozzle for greater output which should be relatively easy

 

[TheDocAUS]

Passenger Seat Fire Extinguisher Mount Bracket

Not fancy but it does the job. This is my simple mounting frame to fix a small extinguisher under the passenger seat.

Bunnings shopping list: 100mmx75mmx20mmx4mm brackets, a length of 25mmx3mm aluminium flat bar and some 15mm and 25mm M8 bolts. I Tek screwed the extinguisher frame to the flat aluminium bar and replaced the Ineos 15mm bolts with 25mm ones putting a few flat washers under each bracket to lift it above the plastic trim in front of the seat support, so it didn’t dig in. Pictures tell it all.
View attachment 7856759


View attachment 7856760



View attachment 7856761

View attachment 7856762

Also noting @MrMike 's comment in the Fire extinguisher mounting thread about using garden sprayer with water and detergent to extinguish spinifex fires, (https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/fire-extinguisher-mounts.12412372/post-1333191552), I saw the following while at Bunnings. I like the fact the tank and wand are metal so will grab one soon. (.https://www.bunnings.com.au/silvan-...UrY-DDY-VX1-9Y5oYexoC3vcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)

Cheers
Steve

Great work, big cost saving.

They are the bolts I used to secure my fridge platform over the passenger's seat. I used the brackets from the JOOCLA Mounted Ensuite, which were not suitable for the Rhino Rack Pioneer platform. The JOOCLA brackets were a perfect fit for the fridge platform! Exactly the right length with the correct size bolt holes.

 

[Rok_Dr]

A couple of pics from Sunday at Waroona Dam, south of Perth and Henry with a platoon of other Grenadiers from the WA Facebook group. It was great day and a pleasure to meet other local owners and share experiences, mods etc.

Cheers
Steve

 

[MrMike]

A couple of pics from Sunday at Waroona Dam, south of Perth and Henry with a platoon of other Grenadiers from the WA Facebook group. It was great day and a pleasure to meet other local owners and share experiences, mods etc.

View attachment 7858136

View attachment 7858137
Cheers
Steve

Was great to catch up for sure!

 

[rovie]

A couple of pics from Sunday at Waroona Dam, south of Perth and Henry with a platoon of other Grenadiers from the WA Facebook group. It was great day and a pleasure to meet other local owners and share experiences, mods etc.

View attachment 7858136

View attachment 7858137
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve, really great! I can well imagine that you had a nice chat and were certainly able to learn from each other. You are to be envied.

 

[emax]

@Rok_Dr, thanks a lot for the insights and for sharing all this stuff.

You're a real bonanza of ideas!

 

[Clark Kent]

@Rok_Dr, thanks a lot for the insights and for sharing all this stuff.

You're a real bonanza of ideas!

@Rok_Dr To quote Darryl Kerrigan: "You are an ideas man Steve..."

 

[Rok_Dr]

@Rok_Dr, thanks a lot for the insights and for sharing all this stuff.

You're a real bonanza of ideas!

@Rok_Dr To quote Darryl Kerrigan: "You are an ideas man Steve..."

Thank you I can't claim all are my ideas. Many were thought of by others on the forum. This is what makes the forum such a great resource with the quality of posts generally better than other social media sites.

Does that make our Grenadiers our "Castles" @Clark Kent

Cheers
Steve

 

[Clark Kent]

Does that make our Grenadiers our "Castles" @Clark Kent

Cheers
Steve

So long as we're not dreamin' Steve.
Oh man, I'm gonna have to watch The Castle again.

 

[Rok_Dr]

So long as we're not dreamin' Steve.
Oh man, I'm gonna have to watch The Castle again.

View attachment 7860503

Ahh but we’re all here because of one man’s dream/vision!

But that movie is an Australian classic which I’ll remember flying into Tullla Friday morning thanks to your timely quote.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Rok_Dr]

More Creature Comforts

A Bottle Opener

A bottle opener is always a useful tool to have and I especially liked @[ Adam ] 's left field idea of re-purposing a frontrunner rack bottle opener to the L track. https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/show-us-your-mods.12413129/post-1333277728
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/au/rack-mounted-bottle-opener.html

A quick google to find a local supplier also turned another option made by the Bush Company in Qld, which is more compact. https://www.thebushcompany.com.au/product/bottle-opener-universal/

Somewhat surprisingly, a 4wd accessories shop in the next suburb over from me had both in stock. Looking at them I preferred the Bush Company one, but mounting on the L-tracks wouldn’t be as straight forward so as they were cheap I bought both to experiment with. L track studs came from eBay.
I fitted both and have decided to keep the Bush Company one on the car as it was more discrete.

Front Runner left and Bush Company Right.

Bush Company opener

Some fitting comments:

• Bolt holes on both mounts had to be drilled out to 3/8” so the L-track stud could fit.
• The metal of the Frontrunner bracket is significantly softer compared to the Bush Company one and it has a tiny bit of flex when you open a bottle.
• The Bush Company bracket was more difficult to fit. I had to cut the L-track stud down and use a thinner nut to get enough clearance so the bottle cap could engage the opener.
• The opener only works on the door L-Tracks. The body bulge below the rear window L-Track obstructs access for a standard Australian beer bottle. Mounting here would require fitting a spacer behind the opener.

Under Seat Bags,
I’ve been after a set of under seat storage bags for a while. I really liked the locally made BDM ones, but at over $300 for the pair, they are the Rolls Royce option. Beautifully made but I couldn’t justify the price.

Aussie Outback Supplies are another local manufacturer who make a wide range of canvas products at very reasonable prices including a number of organiser bag options (and also Henry’s dashboard organiser and aerial bag). Getting the tape measure out I found their Compact storage bag (34 x 20 x 11cm) was a perfect fit for the passenger side and except for being 4cm too high, their Medium drawer bag (43.5 x 20 x 16cm) was perfect for the driver’s side. I bought both in Grey canvas and will only partially fill the driver’s side bag. $110 for the pair.

https://aussieoutbacksupplies.com/p...-compact-with-clear-top-divider-black-canvas/
https://aussieoutbacksupplies.com/p...bag-small-with-clear-top-divider-grey-canvas/

Passenger side

Drivers Side

Cheers Steve

 

[Rok_Dr]

6 Month Report​

It’s just over 6 months since Henry arrived so time for an update.

Since delivery we’ve covered just over 7000km which includes a reasonable proportion of off-roading and towing, so we have covered most of my use cases.

Aside of a few niggles I’m really happy with the Grenadier and have no regrets buying one instead of the opposition. The car meets my requirements for a modernised D2, i.e. live axles with a manually operated centre diff that can do low range unlocked, but with more power, a better auto and the modern conveniences like CarPlay etc and no driver assistance aids and electric park brake.

After a couple of visits to Magic the agent in Perth, most issues have been addressed or significantly mitigated.

• Door seals have been replaced which has stopped the complimentary foot wash. Unfortunately, the small rear door was misaligned (incredibly hard to open) after the visit but I was able to adjust the latch plate on the big door to get it back into position.
• PDC errors are much better, but I still see the occasional beep. Recently though they are becoming more prevalent with the recent wet weather and after I wash the car. I suspect the outer rear passenger side sensor will require replacement as it is a serial offender.
• 1800rpm resonance/rattle has been mitigated to the point I rarely notice it. Magic apparently are still waiting for their replacement chassis vibration analysis tool. But I hope they will have it when next I visit.
• I ended up getting a set of front checker plates fitted which broke up the paint shade mismatch. A good outcome as apparently no one in Perth at the time had been trained in the paint application process as its apparently a new technology.
• Misaligned steering arms that were fouling have been adjusted and refinished.
• Software updated including the major one and one for the passenger airbag warning. Henry hasn’t has the CarPlay update applied yet.

Fuel economy has improved and I’m seeing high 11’s/100km around town on the display. I’ve gotten used to the driving position and after a couple of long trips there are no aches and pains and the overall seating position is quite comfortable. That said I still occasionally find the left foot rest gets in the way. Mainly it’s when I try and stretch my left leg out plus having my left knee sitting higher than the right. Maybe one day there will be a solution that will get footrest and accelerator pedal better aligned.

Likes include:

• Offroad gearing. Low range is lower geared than the D2 and with the increase in power and torque I can stay in high range longer. I still haven’t found the cars limits and am mildly ashamed to say that I have yet to use the front and rear diff locks.
• The Aux power switches. I have the UHF wired to INT1 and can control my compressor through the NATO plug using the EXT5 switch while monitoring the tyre pressure on the central display in air conditioned comfort
• The L-tracks in the boot really improve the flexibility for tying down loads.

On the so so side:

• I’m not a fan of the turning circle and most shopping car park bays need 2 bites to get into. It’s lot easier parking if the adjacent bay is unoccupied. Still, it’s better than a 70 series Troopy LOL
• The B pillars are incredibly wide, so I have to make a conscious effort to move my head more when looking over my shoulder and when making turns.

I’m also finding getting timely support both from Ineos and Magic is still a work in progress. To be fair to Magic they have had a bit of staff turnover in the workshop recently so responses to emails takes time. With Ineos support most of my queries have had to be referred up the line and sometimes replies are slow.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Rok_Dr]

Seabird Day Trip

A couple of weeks ago I did a day trip through the dunes from Seabird to Two Rocks with the local Landrover Club. Another member also has a Grenadier so we compared notes. He has fitted a few more mods to his and I did like the X-Spec window carriers. Very solid units.

Henry performed well. I finally got to try out the Diff Locks and initially had a lot of trouble getting them to engage. Eventually I discovered that the switches in the roof were connected the wrong way around. So the front switch engaged the rear locker and then I could engage the front locker by pressing the rear switch. This has now been rectified see next post...

A few pics from the day

Cheers
Steve

 

[Rok_Dr]

Another visit to Magics

Henry is just back from a visit to the dealer to get a few warranty niggles sorted.

• Diff lock switches are now wired correctly but a locating clip was broken on one of the switches during the rectification work replacement is on order.
• Faulty rear outer passenger side parking sensor replaced.
• Missing positive terminal cover for the auxiliary battery ordered.
• With respect to battery charging struggling to get above 80% SOC . The battery tested OK and they advised that charging to 80 % is considered normal by INEOS. I’m not convinced given the loan vehicle I had for the day charged quickly to 99%
• A few INEOS service campaigns completed; EGR modulator coupling rod replaced, fitting a shield to a wiring harness near the power steering pump and removing an acoustic cover.

Magic are having a Quartermaster sundowner tonight so I'm looking forward to seeing one and hearing of any updates.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Karearea]

With respect to battery charging struggling to get above 80% SOC . The battery tested OK and they advised that charging to 80 % is considered normal by INEOS. I’m not convinced given the loan vehicle I had for the day charged quickly to 99%

Just wondering if the loaner also had the auxiliary battery?
Shiitake keeps ranging between low 70’s and occasionally gets close to 90 but I’ve long since stopped worrying as she’s not let me down yet!
Glad to see Henry getting out and about

 

[Rok_Dr]

Just wondering if the loaner also had the auxiliary battery?
Shiitake keeps ranging between low 70’s and occasionally gets close to 90 but I’ve long since stopped worrying as she’s not let me down yet!
Glad to see Henry getting out and about

Yes the loaner had a dual battery.

I’m slowly drifting down the the mid 70’s and not too worried. But last night did a couple of 45min runs and charging dropped to 1amp at 76%

The niggle in the back of of my mind is off-grid camping and running a small 12v fridge and lights where I may get stuck if the system refuses to fully charge the battery, or do damage by having constantly having it discharge below 50%.

Cheers
Steve

 

[TheDocAUS]

Yes the loaner had a dual battery.

I’m slowly drifting down the the mid 70’s and not too worried. But last night did a couple of 45min runs and charging dropped to 1amp at 76%

The niggle in the back of of my mind is off-grid camping and running a small 12v fridge and lights where I may get stuck if the system refuses to fully charge the battery, or do damage by having constantly having it discharge below 50%.

Cheers
Steve

You can always fit a cheap BLE battery monitor to both batteries and take a closer look at what is going on. I have some screen captures from the BLE in my review of the rooftop solar panel here.

On my car, the BLE battery monitors and the Grenadiers SOC are broadly similar - both are estimating SOC anyway. I use the amps being charged to give me a good idea of where the SOC really is, 1 amp strongly suggests the batteries are close to 100% SOC (assuming the battery is working properly).

 

[Tazzieman]

My battery SOC generally hovers around the 80% mark. never above 82 unless I use an external charger and even then , only high 80s for a while.
I was reassured by this recent forum post:
"Maintaining the battery at approximately 80% SOC is by design. It's not a fault.
I discussed this with a senior BMW tech recently and he confirmed this is how BMW manage their batteries to reduce fuel consumption and extend battery life. In newer BMWs the target SOC is configurable to allow for the owner's usage pattern. For a city driver the alternator can be set to charge more aggressively during short trips and maintain the battery charge and ensure vehicle operation at the expense of higher fuel consumption.
This intelligent battery management is why we're seeing fluctuations in the charge rates during a drive cycle. Setting aside that there has been some reports of faulty batteries, my suggestion to the forum is to understand this is normal operation so stop fixating on less than 100% battery SOC."

 

[TheDocAUS]

My battery SOC generally hovers around the 80% mark. never above 82 unless I use an external charger and even then , only high 80s for a while.
I was reassured by this recent forum post:
"Maintaining the battery at approximately 80% SOC is by design. It's not a fault.
I discussed this with a senior BMW tech recently and he confirmed this is how BMW manage their batteries to reduce fuel consumption and extend battery life. In newer BMWs the target SOC is configurable to allow for the owner's usage pattern. For a city driver the alternator can be set to charge more aggressively during short trips and maintain the battery charge and ensure vehicle operation at the expense of higher fuel consumption.
This intelligent battery management is why we're seeing fluctuations in the charge rates during a drive cycle. Setting aside that there has been some reports of faulty batteries, my suggestion to the forum is to understand this is normal operation so stop fixating on less than 100% battery SOC."

Do the BMW models use a CTEK 120S as part of the charging setup?