'Oddjob' aka 2002 330i Touring
Discussion
Well finally got around to getting to a track day, though spent the day before getting the Sparco Evo seat installed into the car.
I haven't tossed the original but given this was the first time the car was being driven in anger for a while and at Donington given the elevation changes, it turned out to be a wise move. Met up with Motorhole with his E30 331 track car and we got ourselves setup in the garage.
The car went well considering it was in with machinery that was FAR more capable, including what i think was a BTCC spec integra or near enough, Classic touring cars (Mini and a Lotus Cortina) and the usual suspects of M3s of various generations, Porsches, Fords and Caterhams as well as a 328 Ferrari which had been properly prepared for racing.
Anyway, I got myself setup, set the tyre pressures up and gave the car it's first proper run since the rear subframe work and it was so on point and balanced, soon found I was pushing it harder and harder within the limits of the tyres. The weather wasn't brilliant as we had constant drizzle on and off all day but the track remained dry for the most part till later in the afternoon. By that point though my front left tyre was going greasy and wasn't providing the traction i'd enjoyed in the first few sessions. PS4's are good but the Supersports i had on the rear held up a lot better to the abuse all day.
I did have one causilty from the day however, the alternator cooling duct decided it wanted to go hug the power steering pulley, given i may have not seated it correctly when i had the alternator out last. Some duct tape resolved the resulting hole and it was pushed and clicked back to where it should be fitted. No problems since and I've got a another one on order.
Also got video of my sessions with a new camera, links below:
https://youtu.be/DMedPgDCH_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lecEg2g-bQ
https://youtu.be/gn8hXoXZoUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PlkjyTpYzE
Ironically i had about 5-6 people find the car after a few runs asking "Does this have an M3 engine in it?" given they weren't expecting to see an BMW 3 series estate that outwardly looked almost stock but went pretty quick considering it was easily 100bhp down on most cars there or more. One went as far to say he liked how i'd done the car in that outwardly it looked stock but there were clues that it had been tinkered with, being the front brakes, seat and shifter.
I haven't tossed the original but given this was the first time the car was being driven in anger for a while and at Donington given the elevation changes, it turned out to be a wise move. Met up with Motorhole with his E30 331 track car and we got ourselves setup in the garage.
The car went well considering it was in with machinery that was FAR more capable, including what i think was a BTCC spec integra or near enough, Classic touring cars (Mini and a Lotus Cortina) and the usual suspects of M3s of various generations, Porsches, Fords and Caterhams as well as a 328 Ferrari which had been properly prepared for racing.
Anyway, I got myself setup, set the tyre pressures up and gave the car it's first proper run since the rear subframe work and it was so on point and balanced, soon found I was pushing it harder and harder within the limits of the tyres. The weather wasn't brilliant as we had constant drizzle on and off all day but the track remained dry for the most part till later in the afternoon. By that point though my front left tyre was going greasy and wasn't providing the traction i'd enjoyed in the first few sessions. PS4's are good but the Supersports i had on the rear held up a lot better to the abuse all day.
I did have one causilty from the day however, the alternator cooling duct decided it wanted to go hug the power steering pulley, given i may have not seated it correctly when i had the alternator out last. Some duct tape resolved the resulting hole and it was pushed and clicked back to where it should be fitted. No problems since and I've got a another one on order.
Also got video of my sessions with a new camera, links below:
https://youtu.be/DMedPgDCH_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lecEg2g-bQ
https://youtu.be/gn8hXoXZoUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PlkjyTpYzE
Ironically i had about 5-6 people find the car after a few runs asking "Does this have an M3 engine in it?" given they weren't expecting to see an BMW 3 series estate that outwardly looked almost stock but went pretty quick considering it was easily 100bhp down on most cars there or more. One went as far to say he liked how i'd done the car in that outwardly it looked stock but there were clues that it had been tinkered with, being the front brakes, seat and shifter.
Sf_Manta said:
Well today... has been interesting and frustrating
Started well, firstly getting the brackets in place, with some minor linishing of the mounts and clearence cut off the brake shields.
Next up was getting discs and the calipers mounted.. Couldn't resist a wheel on shot
Then as i was bleeding out the brakes , disaster struck and the driver's side turned out to be a dud, Not at all pleased and now pushing for a partial refund from the eBay seller as it transpired that prior to my aquestion of these calipers, someone had bodged one of the bleed nipples and helicoiled one in..
This didn't work as the nipple seal surface was damaged and wouldn't seal, and despite trying to nip it up tight, only resulted in the helicoil coming right out!
It's going to get repaired one way or another, or a replacement caliper from Porsche.. either way, it's not going to be cheap and it's going to be another week or 2 before i get this all sorted. For the moment, tomorrow is returning the car to stock calipers and discs so i have transport again.
Frustrated doesn't even cover how i feel.
What discs did you fit with your 996 calipers?Started well, firstly getting the brackets in place, with some minor linishing of the mounts and clearence cut off the brake shields.
Next up was getting discs and the calipers mounted.. Couldn't resist a wheel on shot
Then as i was bleeding out the brakes , disaster struck and the driver's side turned out to be a dud, Not at all pleased and now pushing for a partial refund from the eBay seller as it transpired that prior to my aquestion of these calipers, someone had bodged one of the bleed nipples and helicoiled one in..
This didn't work as the nipple seal surface was damaged and wouldn't seal, and despite trying to nip it up tight, only resulted in the helicoil coming right out!
It's going to get repaired one way or another, or a replacement caliper from Porsche.. either way, it's not going to be cheap and it's going to be another week or 2 before i get this all sorted. For the moment, tomorrow is returning the car to stock calipers and discs so i have transport again.
Frustrated doesn't even cover how i feel.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Saturday 1st July 19:27
Well, working on the last major job (Bar if i land some cash and go supercharged :P) and been gathering parts to overhaul the exhaust.
Still waiting on an Eisenmann rear silencer, V band clamps, nuts and studs and some gaskets to arrive this week, and then it's off to Sam (carpetsoiler) and spend a few days or so with his welder to finalize and fit this all together. Yes it's a bit of work but given that the whole system has come in under the cost of a Supersprint Manifold (aka £2000+ alone
) This should be pretty decent. It'll be interesting to see what happens when i get it remapped once more. and have the RPM raised to 6800rpm.
I've also found a hamonic balancer that's from Oz, which will designed for the M54 but doesn't have the price tag of the ATI unit.
Still waiting on an Eisenmann rear silencer, V band clamps, nuts and studs and some gaskets to arrive this week, and then it's off to Sam (carpetsoiler) and spend a few days or so with his welder to finalize and fit this all together. Yes it's a bit of work but given that the whole system has come in under the cost of a Supersprint Manifold (aka £2000+ alone
) This should be pretty decent. It'll be interesting to see what happens when i get it remapped once more. and have the RPM raised to 6800rpm.I've also found a hamonic balancer that's from Oz, which will designed for the M54 but doesn't have the price tag of the ATI unit.
That looks stunning... Going to be a cracking exhaust set up 
I'm looking into the Schmiedmann back boxes for my E39 touring, from my research, they're made by the same factory as SuperSprint in Italy
It'll be either that or, if they're any good, a local exhaust fabricators back box. Found them recently via Facebook and they seem to do some superb looking work, so popping across to see them in the next week or so
I'm looking into the Schmiedmann back boxes for my E39 touring, from my research, they're made by the same factory as SuperSprint in Italy
It'll be either that or, if they're any good, a local exhaust fabricators back box. Found them recently via Facebook and they seem to do some superb looking work, so popping across to see them in the next week or so
So.. Sam's (carpetsoiler) been a busy man with help from a few colleges (They know who they are, thank you!) and had my car over the weekend.
During the meantime I was lent his rather crazy setup, of course i made sure i was insured.
There is a project thread somewhere on PH of the car in full. I will say from having spent a few days driving it it is absolutely hilarious. 400bhp in the pouring rain and no traction control means you have to be focused on what you're doing!
Anyway the Alpina system came off fairly quickly, and has a possible buyer, so that'll be going soon and Sam and Robert (TIG welder) got on with making the system work on my 330i. The manifold proved a days work to do and was mocked up on a spare engine to make it easier.
The cats where modified with V bands to make installation a bit easier and ease of a seal. The Cats to midpipe have been left stock instead of being V banded due to time constraints and packing issues.
The biggest ball ache was getting the rear box to marry up to the M3 midpipe. Eventually it was resolved, using some of the parts i'd provided. I've got a few things to resolve, including installing some proper gaskets and finding suitable clamps as the original plan to V band the whole system didn't work out. Found that the mid pipes on a M3 system are actually D shaped to improve packaging. This actually makes it a absolute ball ache to modify though with round pipe! Either way, it's all together without too much issue.
The result was a very fruity engine note, which I'll never stop hearing the question now of "Does it have an M3 engine in it?"... Not quite.. but it does do a damned good impression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTboFQpKoRQ
MOT's due soon, so should all be good. I've got some ideas to improve the cooling system and put an oil cooler in so temps are more stable with track work, and a gauge or two to keep an eye on temps generally, but otherwise.. the car's just about done.
I'll try and get some pictures in the morning of the car as it looks now with the backbox, unfortunately there was a mishap with a cardboard box and the rear carbon valance so having to sort that out, along with getting a replacement front lip spoiler, Unfortunately the passenger side has taken a good hit from a stone.
During the meantime I was lent his rather crazy setup, of course i made sure i was insured.
There is a project thread somewhere on PH of the car in full. I will say from having spent a few days driving it it is absolutely hilarious. 400bhp in the pouring rain and no traction control means you have to be focused on what you're doing!
Anyway the Alpina system came off fairly quickly, and has a possible buyer, so that'll be going soon and Sam and Robert (TIG welder) got on with making the system work on my 330i. The manifold proved a days work to do and was mocked up on a spare engine to make it easier.
The cats where modified with V bands to make installation a bit easier and ease of a seal. The Cats to midpipe have been left stock instead of being V banded due to time constraints and packing issues.
The biggest ball ache was getting the rear box to marry up to the M3 midpipe. Eventually it was resolved, using some of the parts i'd provided. I've got a few things to resolve, including installing some proper gaskets and finding suitable clamps as the original plan to V band the whole system didn't work out. Found that the mid pipes on a M3 system are actually D shaped to improve packaging. This actually makes it a absolute ball ache to modify though with round pipe! Either way, it's all together without too much issue.
The result was a very fruity engine note, which I'll never stop hearing the question now of "Does it have an M3 engine in it?"... Not quite.. but it does do a damned good impression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTboFQpKoRQ
MOT's due soon, so should all be good. I've got some ideas to improve the cooling system and put an oil cooler in so temps are more stable with track work, and a gauge or two to keep an eye on temps generally, but otherwise.. the car's just about done.
I'll try and get some pictures in the morning of the car as it looks now with the backbox, unfortunately there was a mishap with a cardboard box and the rear carbon valance so having to sort that out, along with getting a replacement front lip spoiler, Unfortunately the passenger side has taken a good hit from a stone.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Tuesday 6th October 21:23
Well.. MOT did not go well.
The car mechanically is spot on , they couldn't fault it. However the emissions side of things was a case of .. too lean and too much C0
It also did drop a code before hand saying the cats were not running to correct efficency, aka they're running too cold, I'm guessing as a result of the new manifold and high flow cats. So having to get a session booked in with Wayne at Chipwizards to hopefully correct the issue.
Would i be correct in assuming due to the lean running, the cats aren't getting hot enough to work correctly?
The car mechanically is spot on , they couldn't fault it. However the emissions side of things was a case of .. too lean and too much C0
It also did drop a code before hand saying the cats were not running to correct efficency, aka they're running too cold, I'm guessing as a result of the new manifold and high flow cats. So having to get a session booked in with Wayne at Chipwizards to hopefully correct the issue.
Would i be correct in assuming due to the lean running, the cats aren't getting hot enough to work correctly?
Following up with this, and still no joy, despite resetting the INPA adaptions for the Lambda, and giving the car a 'italian tune up' the car still isn't running correctly enough to pass emissions
Given that Lambda is showing lean and the HC's are normal to low, and some discussions with various tuners. I'm having to take it to Turners Performance down in Hemel Hempstead as they're the closest people on hand who maybe able to help as of next week.
So the car's having to be parked till then
Not a happy camper.
Given that Lambda is showing lean and the HC's are normal to low, and some discussions with various tuners. I'm having to take it to Turners Performance down in Hemel Hempstead as they're the closest people on hand who maybe able to help as of next week.
So the car's having to be parked till then
Not a happy camper. Well best I follow this up...
The prognosis is not good, the car is not well..
Having had a smoke test to find any vacuum leaks, it was found to have a open line at the back of the engine under the intake manifold. HOW this never threw a code I don't know. This was plugged and the emissions were improved but not enough.
Injectors and plugs were checked next, Cylinder no 2 was found to be stuck open slightly, so the set have been ultrasoniced and flow checked. Again, improved but not enough.
So came the compression test. 240psi across the board except for Cylinder 1 and 5...
No 5 came back as 200psi. Not too bad, but No 1 came back at 140psi... Ah..
Amazingly the engine still runs reasonably smoothly.
So looks like the engine has run lean and likely melted a piston or two. So some dicussions with Sam (Carpetsoiler) and he's checked with his local machine shop, looks like Lockdown 2 - the rebuild.
The prognosis is not good, the car is not well..
Having had a smoke test to find any vacuum leaks, it was found to have a open line at the back of the engine under the intake manifold. HOW this never threw a code I don't know. This was plugged and the emissions were improved but not enough.
Injectors and plugs were checked next, Cylinder no 2 was found to be stuck open slightly, so the set have been ultrasoniced and flow checked. Again, improved but not enough.
So came the compression test. 240psi across the board except for Cylinder 1 and 5...
No 5 came back as 200psi. Not too bad, but No 1 came back at 140psi... Ah..
Amazingly the engine still runs reasonably smoothly.So looks like the engine has run lean and likely melted a piston or two. So some dicussions with Sam (Carpetsoiler) and he's checked with his local machine shop, looks like Lockdown 2 - the rebuild.
Sf_Manta said:
Well best I follow this up...
The prognosis is not good, the car is not well..
Having had a smoke test to find any vacuum leaks, it was found to have a open line at the back of the engine under the intake manifold. HOW this never threw a code I don't know. This was plugged and the emissions were improved but not enough.
Injectors and plugs were checked next, Cylinder no 2 was found to be stuck open slightly, so the set have been ultrasoniced and flow checked. Again, improved but not enough.
So came the compression test. 240psi across the board except for Cylinder 1 and 5...
No 5 came back as 200psi. Not too bad, but No 1 came back at 140psi... Ah.. Amazingly the engine still runs reasonably smoothly.
So looks like the engine has run lean and likely melted a piston or two. So some dicussions with Sam (Carpetsoiler) and he's checked with his local machine shop, looks like Lockdown 2 - the rebuild.
Balls; sorry to near this The prognosis is not good, the car is not well..
Having had a smoke test to find any vacuum leaks, it was found to have a open line at the back of the engine under the intake manifold. HOW this never threw a code I don't know. This was plugged and the emissions were improved but not enough.
Injectors and plugs were checked next, Cylinder no 2 was found to be stuck open slightly, so the set have been ultrasoniced and flow checked. Again, improved but not enough.
So came the compression test. 240psi across the board except for Cylinder 1 and 5...
No 5 came back as 200psi. Not too bad, but No 1 came back at 140psi... Ah..
Amazingly the engine still runs reasonably smoothly.So looks like the engine has run lean and likely melted a piston or two. So some dicussions with Sam (Carpetsoiler) and he's checked with his local machine shop, looks like Lockdown 2 - the rebuild.
Never heard of this happening to an NA M54; what do you feel may have caused this and moving forward; what might your plans be?
d_a_n1979 said:
Sf_Manta said:
Well best I follow this up...
The prognosis is not good, the car is not well..
Having had a smoke test to find any vacuum leaks, it was found to have a open line at the back of the engine under the intake manifold. HOW this never threw a code I don't know. This was plugged and the emissions were improved but not enough.
Injectors and plugs were checked next, Cylinder no 2 was found to be stuck open slightly, so the set have been ultrasoniced and flow checked. Again, improved but not enough.
So came the compression test. 240psi across the board except for Cylinder 1 and 5...
No 5 came back as 200psi. Not too bad, but No 1 came back at 140psi... Ah.. Amazingly the engine still runs reasonably smoothly.
So looks like the engine has run lean and likely melted a piston or two. So some dicussions with Sam (Carpetsoiler) and he's checked with his local machine shop, looks like Lockdown 2 - the rebuild.
Balls; sorry to near this The prognosis is not good, the car is not well..
Having had a smoke test to find any vacuum leaks, it was found to have a open line at the back of the engine under the intake manifold. HOW this never threw a code I don't know. This was plugged and the emissions were improved but not enough.
Injectors and plugs were checked next, Cylinder no 2 was found to be stuck open slightly, so the set have been ultrasoniced and flow checked. Again, improved but not enough.
So came the compression test. 240psi across the board except for Cylinder 1 and 5...
No 5 came back as 200psi. Not too bad, but No 1 came back at 140psi... Ah..
Amazingly the engine still runs reasonably smoothly.So looks like the engine has run lean and likely melted a piston or two. So some dicussions with Sam (Carpetsoiler) and he's checked with his local machine shop, looks like Lockdown 2 - the rebuild.
Never heard of this happening to an NA M54; what do you feel may have caused this and moving forward; what might your plans be?
Either way, the plan is a rebuild with some choice components including ARP, King bearings, balancing and looking to squeeze 7000rpm out of it.
Just depends what the machine shop comes back with on what we can do about re-boring the sleeves.
helix402 said:
Bad news. Maybe worth going for M52tu piston rings on the rebuild and changing all the vacuum lines for silicon. If you have an aux air pump that can be binned.
Aux pump is long gone , and got a plan for what we put in the cylinders, just depends what feedback we get from the machine shop.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff