The "name your christmas break car projects" thread

[sben]

Well I am in medical school and have no time to work on my car except between sessions....so needless to say I just bought a ton of stuff to work on during my 13 day break coming up (about 7-8 of which will be free to work on the car).

Copied directly from my excel spreadsheet (that I used to make sure I got all the parts and from the best/cheapest vendors):

Front suspension: Strut mounts
RTAB's
Steering rack swap (m coupe)
Kicker Sub
Xtant Amp
Rear decks
Antenna
Oil Change
Door Panels
O2 sensor
Ventilation hoses/connectors
Pulleys
Fuel Filter
Wiper Blades
Clutch Stop
SSK (just the m3 one that reduces throws ~ 30%...includes m3 selector rod + all sorts of new bushings, washers, circlips, etc)
Tires

Should keep me pretty busy.

What about yall? Plans for your breaks from school/work?

[328ischef]

Ha, this should be interesting...

Rear end - bushings, mounts, etc...
Steering wheel
Rear diffuser
Fine tune side exhaust
strip interior
replace OBC with guages/switches
LTW wing

[fisherbln]

Finish my TSX retro... too cold to drive my m3 right now anyway, so it doesn't get much attention

[leedawg]

Well I am in medical school and have no time to work on my car except between sessions....so needless to say I just bought a ton of stuff to work on during my 13 day break coming up (about 7-8 of which will be free to work on the car).

Copied directly from my excel spreadsheet (that I used to make sure I got all the parts and from the best/cheapest vendors):

Front suspension: Strut mounts
RTAB's
Steering rack swap (m coupe)
Kicker Sub
Xtant Amp
Rear decks
Antenna
Oil Change
Door Panels
O2 sensor
Ventilation hoses/connectors
Pulleys
Fuel Filter
Wiper Blades
Clutch Stop
SSK (just the m3 one that reduces throws ~ 30%...includes m3 selector rod + all sorts of new bushings, washers, circlips, etc)
Tires

Should keep me pretty busy.

What about yall? Plans for your breaks from school/work?

Wow you do have a lot to do. The suspension stuff will be the worst on that list but other than that shouldent be to bad.

I did all the suspension stuff just before break so I could drive home When I get home im putting in my new headlights the ZKW HID 5000k with predatords Thats pretty much my project for the x mas break and wiring them all into my alarm system so the predators fade on and off when the car is locked and unlocked and the HID's can be turned on with the remote from the alarm FOB. If you have any questions or need any help on those RTAB's or the front suspension at all shoot me a message.

[nepaE36]

wheel bearings
belts
guibo
front m3 bumper mesh
interior black conversion
reupholstering my front seats myself, should be interesting!

[leedawg]

wheel bearings
belts
guibo
front m3 bumper mesh
interior black conversion
reupholstering my front seats myself, should be interesting!

Take pictures of your wheel bearing job and tell me all about it, How horrible it was etc. This is next up on my list. Are you doing all four or just the fronts or backs?

[nepaE36]

Take pictures of your wheel bearing job and tell me all about it, How horrible it was etc. This is next up on my list. Are you doing all four or just the fronts or backs?

I plan on doing all four, but I'll be tackling the rears first... I'm probably going to break down and buy the special tool set to ease the pain, so if anyone's interested I'll be willing to rent the sucker out once I'm finished.

[clex2]

Retrofit e36 headlight washers.

[leedawg]

I plan on doing all four, but I'll be tackling the rears first... I'm probably going to break down and buy the special tool set to ease the pain, so if anyone's interested I'll be willing to rent the sucker out once I'm finished.

Like I said document it and tell me how bad it was Where you getting the speical tool? That place that sells all of them like the RTAB tool and such?

[Jester4176]

Right now I have all this sitting in my computer room waiting to be installed:

Tranny fluid
Diff fluid
Meyle Control Arms
Meyle Tie Rod assemblies
Front Sway bar links
LBAC bushings
RSM's
Front Brembo blanks
Front BP sensor
PBR Semi-Met pads
2 liters of Super blue and homemade pressure bleader.(DIY coming if it works like it should)
UUC SS brake lines
92 suspension update kit
Bag full of new nuts and bolts for the suspension

Waiting one these parts:

Sachs Stage 3 kit (Stuck in customs)
RTAB's and GC shims
Rear lower control arms
Umpteen rear bushings
Sunroof slide mechanism
Sway bar bushings
Rear sway reinforcement kit
Bump stops
Few other misc parts that I can't remember atm.

Still need to decide on which tires to get once I finish all this. Since it doesn't snow here in south Texas, I don't really need an all season tire. Trying to find a good summer tire with decent wet traction. This list should just about eat up the 2.5 weeks I'm taking off from work for Christmas. But Car should feel MUCH better when I'm done.

[sben]

Good lists yall!

I plan on doing all four, but I'll be tackling the rears first... I'm probably going to break down and buy the special tool set to ease the pain, so if anyone's interested I'll be willing to rent the sucker out once I'm finished.

DEFINITELY interested...but of course my next chance will be in the summer. Any details on the upholstery work you are doing? I'd be interested in finding more out about that. Is that a hobby of yours or are you just trying your hand in something new?


Leedawg, I'm jealous--I want HID's so bad. Right now I have inpros (which are much better than I expected, it was just a little more adventurous installing) with dim angel eyes.

Thanks for offering advice--I might take you up on that for the RTAB's especially. I have lots of experience with front suspension (steering rack and strut bearings better be easier than control arms )

Jester, we Texans are a hard-working people

[nepaE36]

Like I said document it and tell me how bad it was Where you getting the speical tool? That place that sells all of them like the RTAB tool and such?

yep www.zdmak.com
I'll be sure and take a lot of pictures... first I need to get some heat in my garage though, it's been negative temps at night here...

[Jester4176]

I plan on doing all four, but I'll be tackling the rears first... I'm probably going to break down and buy the special tool set to ease the pain, so if anyone's interested I'll be willing to rent the sucker out once I'm finished.

I've done a front one before and it was really easy. Just an FYI...the easiest way to break the nut holding it on is to remove the emblem on your rim, mount the tire back on the car and lower it to the ground. Them brace the wheels so the car won't roll and pop it off. I used a 6' breaker bar and it came off with no problems this way.

[leedawg]

Yeah tell me bout it I just did my front control arms they were a pain in the ass, but ive got to say the worst experince so far has been the RTAB's for me. I did a little write up on it though on how to do it without the special tools. Your best freind with any bushing job in my opinon is an air hammer with the flat head chisel on it. Best way to get the bushings out of the control arms or lolly pop and it dosent hurt the arm at all like sawing the bushings out with a sawsall. ITs also much faster.

[Jester4176]

Jester, we Texans are a hard-working people

Not that we want to be...just that Texas roads are harsh on our cars.

[sben]

Oh and jester, I'm doing RTAB's and GC shims too. I went ahead and bit the bullet and bought the rtab tools...figured I could sell them on the board when I'm done.

Anyway, I don't know what part of Houston you're in but I will be in College Station, so maybe we can meet up and knock these out.

[leedawg]

I've done a front one before and it was really easy. Just an FYI...the easiest way to break the nut holding it on is to remove the emblem on your rim, mount the tire back on the car and lower it to the ground. Them brace the wheels so the car won't roll and pop it off. I used a 6' breaker bar and it came off with no problems this way.

That does sound pretty easy, how much are new front bearings? where did you get them?

[nepaE36]

DEFINITELY interested...but of course my next chance will be in the summer. Any details on the upholstery work you are doing? I'd be interested in finding more out about that. Is that a hobby of yours or are you just trying your hand in something new?

the leather on my front seats was very poorly cared for by the previous owner, and is essentially shot to hell now. I've never really cared for leather seats, so I'll be reupholstering them in microsuede/alcantara. I'm in the process of doing some how-to reading now, and I managed to acquire a used heavy duty sewing machine for practically nothing... When it comes down to it, i'll basically be pulling the old seat cover apart at the seams, tracing the pieces onto the new fabric, cutting and sewing the new stuff together. This is an entirely new project for me, so i'm definitely expecting some mistakes

[Jester4176]

Oh and jester, I'm doing RTAB's and GC shims too. I went ahead and bit the bullet and bought the rtab tools...figured I could sell them on the board when I'm done.

Anyway, I don't know what part of Houston you're in but I will be in College Station, so maybe we can meet up and knock these out.

I'm in Tomball. North Houston. You'll have to drive past here to get to College Station most likely. Wouldn't mind driving to my old stomping grounds up in CS, but I doubt my car would make it. 3 bald tires, 4 blown shocks, and a worn out suspension. Gets me the 14miles round trip to work everyday, so I don't push it beyond that. Thanks for the offer though.

College Station....now I have Freebirds and Layne's Chicken fingers on my mind. Damn you.

[Jester4176]

That does sound pretty easy, how much are new front bearings? where did you get them?

I bought them from the stealer for $175. Thats 2 months after I bought the car and didn't know about all the places online to get them. You can get them from Bavauto, or partsbin I would think.

[leedawg]

Awsome for both the fronts was 175 right Hope that was both and not one ouch. LOL Thanks a lot aiight im off to take a final talk to you boys later.

[sben]

I'm in Tomball

I'll spare you the car dealership commercial jokes


ah, hell

"Come see my paw paw in tombaaaaaaaaaaall texas!!"

Anyway, there's a small chance (~10%) that I will be driving through tomball early Tuesday, in which case I wouldn't mind stopping by and doing RTAB's at your place (not to invite myself over or anything...you probably have work anyway).

Of course if you can make it over to CS, the burritos are on me

[sben]

oh and leedawg, bimmerzone has wheel bearings for $42 apiece

These:
http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/K800040064SKF.JPG


And you get free shipping on orders > $75

Only thing is, from what I vaguely remember you have to replace the hubs with the wheel bearings right? Or did I just make that up...

[silvere36328is]

um... ok im commin home for christmas and i have a lot of stuff waiting in boxes that i ordered... i am in the same position as the person who started this thread, i am going to college and finally come home to get some work done

new 328is sport wheels + new tires
ebrake shoes
shoe spring kit
metal water pump
aluminum thermostat housing
thermostat orings
thermostat housing gasket
thermostat
rear slotted rotors
hawk brake pads
and changing all fluids in the car
...Oil Change
...coolant
...power steering
...tranny
...diff
...brake

door knob engages late so i got to figure out what to do with that... (cant open the door from the outside)

[DTM325]

staring at me everyday...

UUC pullies
BBTB
Spacro bar
Side moldings
New front end and skirts

Send away for paint

plans to add cf sunroof near spring