Over the last 2 weeks as time and garage temperatures permitted I wrapped up the following: Replaced valve cover gasket (or as BMW calls it, the cylinder head cover gasket) and all the cover bolt seals. Replaced the perished (as the Brits would describe it) plastic wiper cowl cover. Took off the ugly metal front tag bracket and replaced it with correct black plastic front tag filler piece that BoldUlysses took off his 330i/sport. (I guess Tenn. only runs a rear tag). Replaced the perished short small diameter rubber hose that connects the plastic hose to the air pump valve.
Pumped the tires up to the wrong PSI (fully laden PSI) and wife and I took turns driving it. She commented on the rough ride and I caught my tire PSI mistake. Correcting the PSI to 32/38 later today. Runs strong and responsive even for a Steptronic. Currently has a tank full of Sunoco premium and a bottle of Gumout Regane complete fuel system cleaner. Feeling pretty good about this car.
Next up is the lower steering shaft flex joint and PS fluid flush. Then bash down the slightly mushroomed RF strut tower.
Wish I had records on this car as I would like to know if the PCV system had been serviced. Hear horror stories of E46 PCV's freezing up or clogging up, letting the cylinders fill up with oil. Ditto would like to know if the VANOS had ever been serviced but judging from the oil varnish on the head and VANOS unit, probably not. Last but not least, wondering if the ZF Steptronic had ever been serviced. I can see some dried trans fluid down the side of the trans in the victinity of the fluid fill. 120k miles on this car.
Stay warm guys and cuddle up with your Valentine (significant other, not the radar detector).
Last edited by SteveMD; 02-14-2016 at 08:46 AM.
You don't know how happy I am you used the word "perished" instead of "worn out"... I take it you watch wheeler dealers?
On Friday, I changed the steering coupler on my 330Ci. Went from having "loose and sloppy" steering to "sharp and accurate" steering. It was the first mechanical job I ever did myself, but it sure as hell won't be my last!
Last edited by Arezi; 02-14-2016 at 05:22 PM. Reason: fix typo
Hell yeah dude isn't it so good feeling to do good work to a quality car and reap the benefits
It's seductive.
replaced the hood locks and installed the missing right hood lock post, and new cables, then I spent about an hour fiddling with the post adjustments to get the hood closing and locking properly on the 328I. but it works good now, the right side doesn't lift at highway speeds now more of the little things to fix.
Got my 330 CI back from my Indy, with, new swaybar links, motor mounts, transmission mounts, vanos hose, valve cover gasket, lower control arm bushing's, brembo pads all around, both coolant sensors replaced and, New air filter.... Overhaul has taken effect... Very happy
replaced precat O2 sensors. Had trouble using the o2 sensor sockets, so I just cut the wires and used the deep socket drive. Starting Friday, I'm replacing the water pump, expansion tank, all the coolant pipes, and spark plugs. Been waiting on this warm weather for some time now.
Last edited by Fearless Merc; 02-17-2016 at 06:47 PM.
got up to 60 yesterday, dropped the top and loved life... supposed to be hotter today, i always remember, on days like this, why i got the vert...^^^ o2 sensors might not be a bad thing for the list, im sure theyre origional, or at least i suspect they are... havnt gotten codes but they wont throw codes until its too late, they dont throw codes from being crudded up as much as they throw for being electrically incapable from what i can tell from experience... altho both cause inaccuracies...
True. O2 sensors only show codes if they are very very bad. If you have a live data scanner with a graph, you can tell if an O2 sensor is going bad. While at operating temperature, hold the throttle steady at 2k rpm and watch the graph. If the sensor is not reading the full voltage spectrum (0-1v) or is switching back and forth very slowly, they need to be replaced. A graph is needed to track the switching time, you cant tell just from looking at the raw data. From my experience, sensors that only switch back and forth at a narrow band of voltages (0.2 to 0.7) are becoming lazy and need replacement.
Ordered a shifter bushing kit from Pelican last night. Not particularly looking forward to the job, but it'll be good to have a tight shifter again.
Current: '94 MX-6 V6/5 • '72 240Z • '10 Mazda5
Past: '02 330i/5 • '85 RX-7 GSL-SE • '95 540i/6 • '95 525i/5 • '86 635CSi/5 • '88 JZA70 • '86 4K quattro • '85 RX-7 S
Wish list: Type 44 • Manta • Pre-'85 CGT • 405 Mi16 • SVX • W123 Coupe
Hey guys. A few of us from this forum and other forums started a group on Facebook called E46 Empire. Right now it's ~45 members mostly from MN. We would like to make the group as big as possible and give the E46 guys a more active place to post. None of the groups (that we can find) are E46 specific and become cluttered with stuff that doesn't usually apply.
I don't mean to take anything from the forums, this is obviously a great place and has taught me a ton. If anything it will help with finding links and sharing experiences.
I sent a join request, maybe make it not invite only and more people would be a part of it.... Or is there a screening process ?
Changed rear springs and shocks on my 2004 330xi... what an F'ing bitch. Supposedly, I was supposed to be able to do the job without a spring compressor, but I can tell you that not only did I need a spring compressor, but I also needed a jack to push the control arms down as much as I dared (I actually broke one anti-sway bar connecting link, so I recommend disconnecting them from from their brackets for this job). Even then, it was very, very tight. My new springs are Suplex from FCP Euro, and they're supposed to replicate OEM setup, and I know the 330xi sits higher than the i/ci, so I speculate the springs might be a little longer. Anyway, I 'm glad that's over--onto the front struts!
replaced expansion tank and upper radiator hose (i think that's where the leak was coming from) and put new spark plugs in. Next on my list is the oil pan gasket.
Last edited by Fearless Merc; 02-21-2016 at 06:13 PM.
New shoes
ForumRunner_20160221_212417.png
I drove it today.
Bought it and drove it 7 hours home!
Bookmarks