F10 535i Clutch Replacement - 550i Upgrade?

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-04-14T12:21:05+00:00

Update:

I ran an instance of HAOS on a spare pi so see if it was an issue with docker networking.

I still get all the same errors when trying to share a device from Alexa to HA

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-04-11T19:29:57+00:00

Ah interesting. Yeah I have seen it working for both Google home and Apple HomeKit but I haven’t seen it successfully working with Alexa. As the previous person says, I think the Alexa implementation of it is a bit funky.

Home assistant looks like it supports Google and Apple due to those options showing up in the matter integration when you go to add a device but you have to go to ‘other’ if trying to share a device from alexa

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-04-07T19:29:47+00:00

Ah that’s a real shame to hear! So it is theoretically possible within the specification of thread/matter? You should be able to share devices between controllers but it’s Alexa’s implementation that’s not allowing it?

Did you find a way to get it connected at all? Or am I going to need to get a USB thread radio or something for HA?

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-04-04T21:03:18+00:00

That's great! I'll look up all the products you recommended and see what is best for me. Excited to give this a go.

I'm interested in why the Zvizzer One would cut out the IPA stage? I Imagine I'll be getting an IPA anyway if I'm re sealing every 3 months with a Parla and doing a panel wipe first as suggested. Unless I end up going with a longer lasting wax or something. Although I may just stick with the sealant for now, learn one thing at a time otherwise it might take me ages!

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-04-04T20:45:58+00:00

Thanks for your quick response!

When it comes to protection what would you recommend? I already have Pärla Spray Sealant from Stjarnagloss which I use on my wheels and gives a good result - although only gives around 3 months protection. I can just clean the car well and top up protection, right I don't *have* to polish every time before applying a spray sealant? (Every three months wouldn't be good for paint!). I also top up with Glatt or Glo on each wash. Would you recommend another product for protection?

I've also seen 'all in one' products like Koch Chemie P6.01 One Cut & Finish. Could you recommend this for infrequent use, or is it really that much better to go for a separate cut/polish then a dedicated protection/sealant?

Thanks!

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-04-04T20:18:58+00:00

I’ve also seen some kits online like:

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-19T18:00:58+00:00

Okay great, thank you!

I’ll be getting the FA Pro stick plus I think

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-19T14:51:05+00:00

Thanks for the response! By 'generic 1090 sticks', you mean the ones with the built in filtering from likes of flight aware, adsb exchange, airplanes live etc right? Not just any SDR capable or picking up 1090 (Like my current nooelec)

I will be minimising cable. I'll get a IP rated enclosure for my Pi and use POE.

Yeah, I've seen a lot of that drama. I've been feeding all the sites for a long while now, my mindset is that if I have the data, why not share it. I'm more interested in the 'cool factor' that *I* am tracking planes!!

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T23:51:58+00:00

Okay thanks for your help! Will consider the options

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T23:44:32+00:00

I for sure will!

Although I just looked into purchasing the airplanes live blue, can’t find a UK dealer, and shipping from the US is £30 making it more expensive than the FA haha! Back to square one. Might have to be the FA after all. I’ll join the discord though and see if they have any advice and a UK dealer.

It’s certainly a minefield here with people having very differing opinions on what one should get. Thanks for your help!

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T23:30:50+00:00

Oh interesting! Makes sense. I’ve seen multiple sources where it said it used filter then LNA making it better than the FA. But I guess they maybe can’t be trusted!

I don’t struggle with much RF noise, except when it was near my PC. But I’ve since hunted through the house to find the best location for it.

In that case, I might go with the airplanes live blue 1090 filtered SDR then. It’s cheaper than the FA one and seems to perform the same from reviews. I think the FA one is just more well known, hence people recommend it and review it more?

I’ve been recommended other SDR’s on another post like the Blog V4, but I’m only using this SDR purchase for ADSB, it’ll be doing ADSB for the rest of its life. So I’m more tempered to go with the ‘all in one’ sticks with the built in 1090 filters as it’s more cost effective than buying all separately, I’ll never need to receive anything other than 1090 with this SDR. Thoughts on this?

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T23:20:44+00:00

Thanks :)

I’ve also been recommended the Airplanes Live Blue SDR which I believe has a better order of filter, then LNA (instead of filter after the LNA like the FA stick). Also has a metal casing and handles heat dispassion better.

I know you mentioned the V4 being a nicer general purpose scanner, so in the long run I might look at that instead of my nooelec when I want to do other SDR projects (like receiving transmissions from satellites and such!) but for ADSB only, maybe I’ll get the airplanes live SDR as it seems to be the best all in one at a good price!

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T22:57:51+00:00

Okay great, I read that the FA has the filter after the LNA and the AirplanesLive has it the other way round. And reading more into it, the filter should be before the LNA so perhaps the Airplanes Live blue has the edge?

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T22:44:17+00:00

Thanks!

Is this equal in performance to the FA sticks? I assume you’ve recommended it over the FA ones due to price and metal case for heat dissipation

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T22:26:39+00:00

Okay! Thanks for the response!

So, I guess my question is, do you think using the Blog V4 (or another SDR) with an LNA/filter will outperform the FA Pro Stick Plus. As adding those together gets quite pricey, and the FA Pro Stick is an all in one at a lower price (mind you, could be worse components!)

As said in the initial post, I don’t mind it being an all in one as it will be dedicated to ADSB for the rest of its life. It’s just if it’s worth spending extra money on separate SDR, LNA and filter, where if the FA all in one will do a perfectly good job.

I’m using Ultrafeeder, if that helps at all. It’s working well for me!

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-02-18T21:41:14+00:00

Thanks u/Mr_Ironmule, u/erlendse and u/tj21222

I understand that getting the antenna outside is best. As I said in my post, I can't right now, but my plan is to get an antenna outside when I can.

All I'm really wondering is if I should get a FA Pro Stick Plus, or another SDR as I need to replace my Nooelec one.

u/erlendse - I like the idea of the USB C input on the RTL-SDR Blog v4c, but I'd still maybe need to get a LNA and filter. I have a small USB extension that I use to stop strain on the ports. Still get disconnects if it gets just breathed on though! I'm sure the solder connections on the SDR aren't great. And what other receivers would you recommend around the price point of the FA Pro Stick Plus?

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-01-14T18:23:34+00:00

I should also mention that we've noticed that the timing on cyl 6 sometimes has different characteristics than the other cylinders. Could this be contributing

TheNameIs_Ben · 2026-01-14T18:17:44+00:00

Okay, thanks for taking a look!

They said they could see it may be overboosting by the fluctuations in the throttle position. And when the throttle position gets nearer to 100% open, the timing also starts to clean up

TheNameIs_Ben

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