Santorini Blue 328i Sport

[matt132]

Not got much done recently apart from a bit of progress with the spare wheel:


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Not finished by any means. I have a full set of 15's with winter tyres so I will start on the rest when I can be arsed to put these on. My neighbour knows someone with a blasting cabinet so hoping to get the powder coat off the centres soon as possible and start polishing the lips.

The last update was in Autumn, the car is currently minging from driving about 1000 miles over xmas and new year through some real grim weather. I have been quite childish with the diff too. The boot was full of water until I replaced the seal - it looks like its been leaking for a while though as there is some surface rust to sort in the wheel well.

Issues are always mounting up, but I like organising/prioritising things so its great for my OCD.

-Alarm/remote central locking needs sorting as opening with the key is getting boring. I am going to put in a toad Ai606 in, just need to find someone I trust to do it.
-It's loosing coolant. Either using it or leaking, I'm pretty confident that it's just leaking.
-Engine/gearbox mounts have been purchased and are ready to be fitted - just waiting on the use of a pit.
-Water pump, t/stat, alloy t/stat housing. viscous fan all ready to go on as the cooling on 36's are quite weak and no history of them being changed.
-Clips on the headlights that hold in the indicators in have broken so I've got replacements for both sides. Going to get hold of some ambers to see what I think.
-I need to underseal (bit late I know)
-Larger throttle body with the M50 manifold with a remap. I've been told the engines respond well to induction kits but I am unsure.

There we have it! It's a big list but I'll be keeping the car for a while yet.

[matt132]

Bit of an ASW post.

Got a set of ambers (minus side repeaters - seem hard to find for facelifts!) and want some opinions. I'm really undecided on them, cleaned the car today to give them maximum potential.


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

[matt132]

I'm not sold to be honest. They'll be coming off when it stops raining!!

They'll make another appearance when I find side repeaters.

Cheers Joe, if I haven't asked before, what do you drive?

[matt132]

Wheel refurb has started to pick up pace. Split the rears tonight and got the centre caps ready for paint. The spare is with my neighbour's friend who has a blasting cabinet and the rears will go over this week I hope.

Take one wheel:


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Remove nuts:


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

They all came quite easily apart from this fker, smaller socket and lots of mallet later:


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Knock out the bolts and give the centre a few good smacks with the rubber mallet:


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

I'm going to polish the lips and paint the centres myself.

The car is running well again after a bad misfire which turned out to be a dirty MAF. Read the error codes and one of them was Vanos failure. Not a big problem, I've got the seals on order and will sort it out eventually.

[matt132]

Did an oil change on Sunday and replaced an o2 sensor that was making the car run funny.


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Got quite a few parts ready to tackle the Vanos change, just need the locking tools now. Seals replaced and ready to fit, I'm going to tackle it with a mechanic friend as its a bit advanced for me!


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Also got these jobbies, jacking pads to replace the original jack, much quicker for getting it onto axle stands.


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

[matt132]

Got some spare front calipers/carriers yesterday, stripped them down ready for paint/new seals etc. Can't get the bleed nipples out but that's another story.

The reason I've got these is because I have a full set of 15's to run while the BBS are refurbed. Rears fit fine, fronts do not clear the calipers - they should do without an issue on standard brakes. So I thought it had e46 carriers/calipers with 300mm discs which is a popular mod. This isn't the case, discs are standard 286mm and the carriers on the car and the spares are exactly the same. I can't check the calipers' part numbers as the ones on the car are so thickly layered with paint that I can't see them but they look identical to the spares. I then looked a bit harder and saw that there is some contact material on the disc that isn't being touched by the pad:


Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

When I took the caliper off, there was a lip at the top of the pad where that wasn't making contact too. This leads me to believe that the calipers are sitting too far out, but I have no idea why...unless there is something blindly obvious that I'm missing? Any ideas?

In other ASW news, I got some chrome grilles which I really like the look of and tried out the ambers again now I have some side repeaters. I left the rears clear though. Machine polished it and it's looking good again (apart from the 15s!) after a minging winter.



Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr



Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

[matt132]

The ambers are hit and miss for me, needs to be super clean to pull them off. Probably swap them around occasionally when I get bored.

I got the pads from a seller on Facebook, search for "BMW Enthusiast". He is a breaker predominantly but makes some parts like these on the side. I normally loathe FB but I have an account specifically for buying/selling parts, much more popular than forums now it seems!

[matt132]

Been a while!

Change of plans with the brakes. I have fitted the correct size discs (300mm) for the e46 328 setup with new pads, I'll be keeping them as they are now. I've got a spare BBS which makes a set of 4 for the refurb, I'll take one of the ones on the car at the moment for a spare and sell the other on. The set of 4 are split down and sat in the garage waiting for payday.

Managed to get the car over a pit recently to replace the engine and gearbox mounts.

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

While under there we found that some of the bell housing bolts weren't tight, so they were sorted. One of the manifold to exhaust gaskets is missing too which could explain the idle problems. Also found one of the manifold studs had worked its way loose but it was late by then so I'll sort them another day.

Most of the car has been polybushed by the last owner but the front anti roll bar bushes/drop links were shot. Ordered up the parts and went at it today:

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Put in the polyflex roll bar bushes and drop links, tightened everything up until the last bolt sheared straight off which induced all the swearing. It was one of the U shaped brackets seen above and as far as I can tell, a BMW only part. Took the whole thing off again and I'm now waiting for new ones to arrive Saturday. Had to drive the car earlier and it's some what boaty without the ARB. It'll sit on the drive until Monday now as that's my next day off. Joy!

[matt132]

So!

Things are still happening, slowly. Finally got the wheels back, washed the car before putting them on and they looked great. Massively pleased as the car looked pony for months with 15s on the rear and some shagged 17s on the front.

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr
Then, no more than 5-10 miles later i heard a huge bang and pulled over to find...

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

No potholes in the road, nothing in the tyre. Looked at the lip and the metal was really thin. Absolutely gutted!

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Took them back to the refurb guys today and they were just as blown away as me. I won't name them as I know their work is good and they sorted everything out as soon as they saw it. I am now on the look out for some sunflowers for it as this has somewhat put me off the BBS.

Still love the car! Aircon needs sorting as the black leather is feckin hot in this weather.

[matt132]

They are only 2 piece splits so the lip doesn't separate but both bits are genuine. As said I think they have seen a diamond cutter one to many times.

[matt132]

Paul S4 said:

Could I ask where you bought these from ?

I have seen similar from Pelican in the US, but these look much better .

Thanks

Facebook of all places: https://www.facebook.com/lthplumbing

These guys are also worth a look - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bmw-Dynamics/530063...

[matt132]

Sunflowers arrived and on...

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Couldn't get anymore pics as I am completely fked, haven't stopped all day and only just got them on. Happy with them though.

[matt132]

Few pictures since the wheels have been on:

Wheel studs on the way to make it easier getting them on/off.

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

Untitled by matt_13289, on Flickr

[matt132]

Update. I've mainly been out enjoying the car over summer but have a lot planned for it in the next few months. Mainly due to finally tidying the garage and having dry space to work on it:

IMG_20141104_130711 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Over the next few months it is getting -

Lower temperature thermostat and fan switch, metal thermostat housing, new water pump and a bigger radiator due to the old one splitting. I need to mount an separate expansion tank somewhere as the new rad does not have one built in like the OEM item:

IMG-20141118-WA0010 by matt_13289, on Flickr

20141116_172959 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Rear anti roll bar items - old stuff is well rusted in so will need cutting out:

20141116_173821 by matt_13289, on Flickr

I picked up a diff casing so I can put polyflex bushes into it - bought the various washers/gaskets so that I can swap the casings straight over. Also picked up a prop doughnut as I'm trying to get rid of the annoying jerkiness at low speed:

20141116_173639 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Picked up some M3 exhaust manifolds a while back, bought the gaskets for when it gets fitted:

IMG-20141118-WA0006 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Vanos parts that I've had for ages - now I have the garage free I can tackle this without having to have it back together again within one day. I need some M52 timing tools if anyone has them and fancies selling:

20141116_174045 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Lastly, I put the car in for under sealing last week. I got a call from the shop about one of the jacking points. It had started to rust out pretty badly:

20141113_091006 by matt_13289, on Flickr

It was cut out and a new piece of metal welded in (the guy took lots of photos, he hasn't sent me them yet though). The whole underside and arches have been sealed now, skirts will be going back on covering the black part!

IMG-20141117-WA0003 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Here is the jacking point rust free:

IMG-20141117-WA0006 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Oh and on the way back from the body shop one of the calipers was binding badly. Nursed it home and it STUNK of cooked brakes. Picking up 2 new calipers tomorrow and fitting Friday if all goes to plan.

[matt132]

It's been ages since I've updated (as always)!

The car has stayed pretty much the same since, although the M3 manifolds are now on. It sounds better and seems happier at the top of the rev range so well worth it. The best photo I could get as it is tight for space!

20150429_185432 by matt_13289, on Flickr

IMG-20150423-WA0019 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Engine wise there isn't much else I can do now. It has an M50 manifold with remap and now the M3 manis. I want to get it rolling roaded as it should be around 215-220 from what I've read with those mods. The M3 LSD has a higher ratio than standard and with all of the mods combined makes it pretty fun to say the least. The last thing I can do would be a cold air intake but I'm very unlikely to make any power with it and I don't want chavvy induction noise either.

Also cleaned the bay for the first time ever as the idea of water on engines always worried me but it looks good for it.

IMG-20150520-WA0007 by matt_13289, on Flickr

IMG-20150520-WA0013 by matt_13289, on Flickr

IMG-20150520-WA0024 by matt_13289, on Flickr

One if it lurking with my pals RX-7, what a batst car that is.

IMG-20150512-WA0006 by matt_13289, on Flickr

So in summary - car is still by far my favourite and its not going anywhere soon. Recent career developments mean I may have to get a cheap runner as I'll be commuting for the first time ever. But if that happens, the garage is empty and it'll just go in there. The aircon will be working again Thursday if all goes well and then its time to put the bigger radiator in.

[matt132]

Since the last update I have moved and no longer have a driveway to work on the car. I'm looking for a garage to rent in the Maidstone/Medway area in the slight chance that anyone reading knows of anything!

Since the last post I've done a few small things but waiting on work space to get properly stuck in. First was an oil change with Forte engine flush at 159k.

IMG-20151020-WA0003 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Also changed the Vanos seal which I've been meaning to do for a long time:

IMG-20150727-WA0003 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Raised the rear ride height as it was a little too low:

IMG-20150611-WA0001 by matt_13289, on Flickr

I need to either go back to decent shocks and springs or get some decent coilovers as the JOM rubbish on there are starting to annoy me.


Gave the leather a much needed clean and feed with Gliptone:

20151006_134626 by matt_13289, on Flickr

IMG-20151005-WA0007 by matt_13289, on Flickr

Replaced the Nankangs with Michellin Pilot Sports all round. Not surprisingly the difference is huge!

IMG-20151015-WA0001 by matt_13289, on Flickr

I've also picked up an early M50 single flywheel as it was local and cheap. I had a problem sourcing the right bolts but managed to get some from Germany in the end. The advantage with the M50 flywheel is that there is no need to get it machined or use another starter like you do with the M20.

20151010_101714 by matt_13289, on Flickr

The clutch isn't going and probably won't for some time as it was replaced with a new DMF in January 2013 so the flywheel is bottom of the to do list.

Finally a few pictures. I found some pictures of when I first bought it. These were taken at the previous owners house, it still had angel eyes and the BBS fitted before the unfortunate incident with them.

IMG-20151001-WA0016 by matt_13289, on Flickr

IMG-20151001-WA0017 by matt_13289, on Flickr

And some of the car is it is now:

IMG_20150919_161357 by matt_13289, on Flickr

20151107_213615 by matt_13289, on Flickr

I can't weld for st so its having an expansion tank fitted on Thursday. I can then finally fit the bigger rad I've had for over a year!!

[matt132]

Thanks, tyre size is 225/45/17 rear and 215/45 front. I'd like oem sizes (245 - 225) when I go back to shocks/springs as the lows don't permit them.

It is quite sad to see the amount of clean ones being broken for parts/drifted...but also makes mine climb in value so there is always a plus side!