What did you do to your car today? v.2018
 

Absolutely! We're swapping the Getrag out for a ZF320 at Bimmer Werks. Old Getrag was an old dog holding us back. Made it into this NCC Autocross promo video:
https://youtu.be/3H5bMc20nQI

What's better about the ZF320?

Getrag was fine, I just prefer the zf320

Swapped for lighter wheels for Bimmerfest track day. Style 35 Z Stars, squared with Toyo 205/45-16 R1Rs. Feels more nimble, dropped about 1/2". I had corded my Direzzas so, these should work for now. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6cbe9ba866.jpg


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What do you like about it more? I'm compiling a huge pile of parts for my track/racecar if this is something worthwhile I'd like to know.

Custom strut bar. Re engineered the cold air intake and long tube headders

Put on a set of PS2s and made M owners think twice about their investment.

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I know it's not a ti (I actually started an LS1 Ti swap but decided against it) but I wanted to show my admiration for one of our mighty moderators!

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I finally got some time to replace my TI's motor mounts.

Primed, painted and installed an e-bay m-tech front bumper cover on my 98 base model. I don't believe that sport models ever came in Moreagrun. John

Nice John! Pics?


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Which seller did you buy the bumper from? And how does it fit? I too would love to see some pics!

Let me see if I can get my kid help me puts a pic or two up. I'll also see if I saved any paperwork on the bumper. Made in China, I remember, and it came with new fog lights. I was very pleased with the quality of the product, the fit, etc. Cost about $150, I recall.

Pulled the instrument cluster to replace the CEL bulb that I hadn't noticed had burned out (because the PO let it stay lit for almost five years)...it failed inspection because of it. I then had to do a drive cycle to make all the OBD2 emission sensors ready, because I disconnected the battery to pull the cluster. But after the drive cycle, all but one was ready and on the way back to the inspection station, that one reset. So it passed just fine.
Oh, and I adjusted the driver's door window regulator and front window guide so the clip would hold the arm permanently! Thanks, CoolJess!

Today I replaced the leaking valve cover gasket, spark plugs and did a oil change.

My last TI was a clubsport and I was having trouble getting used to the regular mirrors on my new TI. Would bug me everytime I looked at it.

Found some genuine BMW M3 mirrors in the right color on Craigslist. That was a quick and easy fix.

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It was actually last week, but dropped a pair of Bride VIOS III seats in for track and AutoX.

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Also this week, slapped drilled rotors and another set of Hawk HP+ pads and sensor up front.

Picked up a set of APEX 75mm wheel studs. Will install on Sunday.

Prepped two TIs for AutoX tomorrow. Wifie goes out for her first run. [emoji41]


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Two days ago, I replaced the cracked cowl covers that didn't cover the bottom of my windshield...lots of dirt, moisture, and leaves get in there. Also replaced the cabin mini air filters with new Mann filters. Then I replaced the oil filter housing gasket and bushing. The leak had gone from weeping to puddle in the driveway in a matter of three months. I'm kicking myself for not doing this last year when I first bought the car and had the engine apart. Should have done it as preventive maintenance. Why is the alternator such a tight fit into the bracket?

e30, where did you get the cowl covers? It's funny, your includes several things on my to do list for the near future.

Today I checked the cabin filters (yupp, they were nasty) and ordered a set, cleaned out the drain ducts, fixed the hot air door cable, and programmed the second remote. Contemplating if I want to go install new fender liners and brake ducts but I may save that for next weekend.

I got them from BavAuto when they had 10% off and free shipping. $22.46 ea. side.

Where are the drain ducts that you mentioned?

BTW, I can't get my alarm system to activate. Have tried to program the fob that came with the car, but it doesn't work. Suspect the key fob is the culprit, not the alarm system. I've cheddar the fuses, including the fuse at the alarm under the glove box; they are all good.

Cool, thanks for the info! Mine look like hell and are on the list to get replaced.

The drain ducts are rubber tubes that come out from the area where the cabin filter is, I had 3 of them. They taper at the bottom and were clogged with dirt and debris. Just squeezing them a bunch to open them up allowed everything to come out.

I have the older 3 button remote alarm so it was just a matter of pulling the chip from the remote and pairing it with the car.

Mine is the two button type remote. I guess that is newer?

Because that's where it gets it's ground from - the tight fit is probably not an accident. It helps to use a large drift (tapered alignment pin) and a rubber mallet for install, prybar for removal.

Mine had its first wax job for 2017..

:cool:

Thanks for the info. Exactly what I did! Lined up lower bolt first; it seemed to have more play in it.

Speaking of "what did you do to your car today", I just put the cylinder head back on yesterday. At 5'7" and 150, working alone, it was a challenge and a half. I put a plank on the diagonal across the engine bay, set the head on it, and got myself inside 'bay. It took 8 or 10 attempts, always the looming prospect of gouging the freshly resurfaced bottom of the head on the block's dowel pins. I finally resolved to go for it, and what really helped was a headlamp that someone gave me for xmas - I was able to see the dowel pins through the holes in the head. Not the job I planned on doing in a Colorado December in an unheated garage. If I can just get three more warm days, I'll have a running car. All this, to fix a leaky profile gasket - live and learn.

Finished rebuilding the cooling system a couple weeks ago, but I'm getting an itch to move on to another ti when I'm able. As much as I love her, the deterioration of the paint has accelerated rapidly. It used to be one of the few hellrots still with good paint, but that changed when it started getting little bubbles in the clearcoat. Once the rainy season came, water got into those bubbles and started spreading out under the clearcoat, causing large patches to peel off.

I'm thinking for my next one, Ascot green and convert it to a sport package :cool:

Shame about the paint. When I got my ti, the goal was to have a sorted DD for under $3500. When I first got it, there were thousands of cat scratches all over the hood and top...and no clear coat left. I'm not proud of this, but I took it to Maaco, they took it to bare metal, and painted it for $600. Does the paint match the Boston Green exactly? No. Are there hard line around the door jambs and engine bay? Yes. Was it perfect? No. But I decided it wasn't worth it to drive around in a sorted car that looked like crap. And the paint is still holding up well after a year and a half. Most people wouldn't know the paint is slightly darker than Boston Green.

We should probably start a new thread, or maybe just get the title to this one changed.

Anyways, I replaced the light switch in my son's car today. We finally have interior lighting! It was easier than expected but took some time to getting around to it.

Fitted new discs and pads , calipers ?????
 

Fitted new Brembo discs mintex pads but need nice calipers. Not wanting a big brake upgrade. Powder coat standards seems a bit feeble though ?? Sorry before pic

I replaced the outer right window weatherstripping at the bottom of the window. The little tail that glues to the back edge of the door had split completely in two from the main strip.

Added a dual tip stainless steel muffler that sounds great and looks great too..! Dyed the rear parcel shelf that was sun faded, looks new again. Also adding new M shift knob emblem

Changed the oil and plugs. Then I cleaned the engine bay a bit.

I removed rust from the cali top area and parts then painted everything. https://flic.kr/p/SucqhC

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New brakes at last
 

I found a new E36 328i vented rotor, calipers with new pads and all assembled on hub with new bearings for $100. (US $70 ish) for both sides... Lucky!!!!! So went at my hub today. Both sides took 3 hours in total (have yet to bleed 'em) but without much trouble the old hub was removed and the new bolted in place. An easy conversion. I have a bit to do this week. New brake fluid, A set of Nexen SUR4's for the 17s and a track day next Saturday to look forward to!:biggrin:

New stock rotors and Akebono ceramic pads. I was going to go vented rotors, calipers, and carriers - my old front rotors were warped so that the steering wheel shuddered when braking hard. But I found Brembo solid rotors on Amazon's warehouse deals for $10 each, so I went with those. Brakes straight and smooth now.

Did an overdue oil change this past weekend. Also removed the intake "baffle" from the airbox. I also tried to do a compression check (FAIL) and to look inside the bore where it ate a plug (FAIL).

I have three compression testers and they all suck. To be fair, they are at least 20 years old; probably closer to 60. Third generation tools sometimes have disadvantages...

The bore scope is super cool! But the end mirror does not fit in the sparkplug hole... D'oh!

Lots of fun stuff stuck to my (BimmerBum supplied) magnetic drain plug. If you don't have one, get one now!!!

What did you do to your car today? v.2016
 

Picked up a pair of Z3 racks for each of two TIs. Also a 9 of 10 Evo Steering wheel.

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I got home after dark tonight and went to get stuff out of the hatch. When I pushed the button to open the hatch, the whole button caved in and disappeared into the hatch! Geez. So I got a flashlight and proceeded to remove the hatch door lining, which I'd never done before. Two push pin plastic rivets that both rivets were broken off at the nub. I had to destroy them. Then two screws with the cover caps that have to be destroyed to get off the screw head. Then I popped all the clips loose around the edges. Did I mention it was dark out? Then I removed the liner and all this fallen apart, shriveled, dried out foam stuff rained down on me. The foam insulation was in pieces no bigger than 3 inches. Nasty.

I shined the light up on the latch mechanism and the push button is just hanging there, not a screw in sight. But it is wrapped up in friction tape. Someone had actually taped it in place instead of replacing the screws! OMG! So many people have no business owning a BMW!

I got a magnet out and fished around in the hatch door and...sure enough I found one of the two screws. Couldn't find the other one. Said f--- it, and got an M6 screw and washer from my work bench. Different length but it worked. While putting the liner back in place, one of the plastic clips fell off and went in the grass. It took me awhile to find it. I did mention it was dark out, right?

Found two more rivets that worked and finally buttoned everything back up sans the foam insulation. Button works better than ever. It even sticks out a little further, making it easier to push in. Didn't even realize it wasn't installed correctly. It is now...