E90 M3

[E90_M3Ross]

Just got there, bumper and lights fitted, levelling working OK but they're just finalising the alignment....almost done

[E90_M3Ross]

So got the car back, due to various delays (had to stop by a friend's) I did end up driving back at night. They are utterly magnificent! A stark difference from before the refurb and now the throw is more than about 5 feet

Here's a video parked up at my friend's - note the car is actually pointing uphill a bit, but this is dipped beam and you can see how bright they are



And a very short video clip showing them at night

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16nzpNHwPbb7EXLEXV...

[E90_M3Ross]

Here's a better one for dipped beams

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16wZ9hFk7ehg5Hp33L...

[E90_M3Ross]

d_a_n1979 said:

Bloody hell Ross they look spectacular!

Really glad this has all gotten sorted at last...

I was rather happy last night. I sent those videos to KYCS and he said there looks like it needs some minor adjustments to perfect it but said it comes down to personal preference. Aside from obviously the height there is adjustments to the projectors you can make....either a longer throw but a narrower beam, or a shorter throw for a wider beam. He said he will send me a video and draw a diagram for me to explain how to do it myself if I fancy adjusting it, he said just do small changes and try it and see what I prefer.

I'm not sure I will change much, or anything, to be honest as they seem very good to me. I didn't get any other drivers flashing me so that's good

Just so nice to have the car back and all sorted now. What a saga this was. And so bizarre, too. The fact that the bit that failed had nothing to do with what was done was what threw everyone off.....change the suspension bits and tweak the headlights, you would assume it was either of those, but it was neither.

[E90_M3Ross]

d_a_n1979 said:

E90_M3Ross said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Bloody hell Ross they look spectacular!

Really glad this has all gotten sorted at last...

I was rather happy last night. I sent those videos to KYCS and he said there looks like it needs some minor adjustments to perfect it but said it comes down to personal preference. Aside from obviously the height there is adjustments to the projectors you can make....either a longer throw but a narrower beam, or a shorter throw for a wider beam. He said he will send me a video and draw a diagram for me to explain how to do it myself if I fancy adjusting it, he said just do small changes and try it and see what I prefer.

I'm not sure I will change much, or anything, to be honest as they seem very good to me. I didn't get any other drivers flashing me so that's good

Just so nice to have the car back and all sorted now. What a saga this was. And so bizarre, too. The fact that the bit that failed had nothing to do with what was done was what threw everyone off.....change the suspension bits and tweak the headlights, you would assume it was either of those, but it was neither.

That's it! If they look good (which they do); with a sharp cut off and decent light scatter and everyone coming towards you isn't dazzled by them, they're spot on so best left be

It'd be sods law you start to tweak them and you tweak them too far

Time to start enjoying the car again Ross

Had another few messages from KYCS, and sent him a pic of before it was sorted (i.e. headlights pointing at the floor) and he said the lateral adjustment is absolutely spot on, so just leave as they are and enjoy

[E90_M3Ross]

So I kept my booking with BMR for the vehicle inspection, due to the upcoming Highlands trip. Mostly good news, but some not-so-good news.

The garage I used some months ago to replace the injectors messed up a bit, they damaged a bolt or nut or something, and rather than replacing it, they glued it.

DEFINITELY won't be using them again. They said otherwise it is actually a very tidy car.

[E90_M3Ross]

bolidemichael said:

BMR is a very reassuring reference point.

They have a seriously good reputation. Apparently if the local BMW dealer gets a problematic car they can't sort they take it there

Off to collect it now.

[E90_M3Ross]

bolidemichael said:

E90_M3Ross said:

bolidemichael said:

BMR is a very reassuring reference point.

They have a seriously good reputation. Apparently if the local BMW dealer gets a problematic car they can't sort they take it there

Off to collect it now.

If it's any assurance, I've known Barry since the E30 forum days as I purchased replacement seats for my Sport from him and then when he was working out of hours around his day jobs etc. He's top notch and geek levels of detail.

The level of detail for their inspection even went as far as checking the radio!

"are you aware your radio doesn't pick up signal?"

"it does, but the audio input is set to aux because of my android auto system I use"

"ah, that'd explain it!"



It was nice to hear the mechanic say it was a tidy car should bloody hope so too

[E90_M3Ross]

Got the car back. It's got three advisories, one of which is regarding the radio which is not right, it just needs changing audio input. The others are the plenum bolt needs rectifying properly (again, hardly a big job) and the last one is a big one......

Fuel filler cap string is broken

I'm pretty happy with that to be honest. Peace of mind for Scotland in under two months!

[E90_M3Ross]

Court_S said:

Good to hear that the light saga has reached a satisfactory ending.

The old broken filler cap string; do my head in. Luckily you can get replacements on eBay for a few quid.

It's never bothered me because the cap has a pointy bit which fits in a small hole on the inside of the fuel filler flap, so it just sits there when I refuel so no issue.

[E90_M3Ross]

Fun in both in the sunshine

[E90_M3Ross]

d_a_n1979 said:

Good to see it's up to spec and doing a good job Ross

Have been able to enjoy it the last couple of days where we've also had some decent weather

Had to fill up again today, it likes to get through 99RON at an alarming rate still, what a way to burn some hydrocarbons.

[E90_M3Ross]

Mr Tidy said:

E90_M3Ross said:

Court_S said:

Good to hear that the light saga has reached a satisfactory ending.

The old broken filler cap string; do my head in. Luckily you can get replacements on eBay for a few quid.

It's never bothered me because the cap has a pointy bit which fits in a small hole on the inside of the fuel filler flap, so it just sits there when I refuel so no issue.

I know the cap sits inside the filler flap just fine, but my OCD means I keep ordering the straps on Ebay!

I gather that after many years the seals on the filler caps can go. For the sale of £20 or so I'd just order a brand new cap which comes with a new string.

[E90_M3Ross]

Gave the car a clean earlier. Nothing much, just snow foam, wash the wheels, tyres and then the paintwork. Just some tyre gel and then clean up the exhaust tips.

[E90_M3Ross]

d_a_n1979 said:

Looks really well that Ross; superb colour...

Depending on the light it can look very close to silver, but in that low sunlight it definitely has a blue tint to it.

[E90_M3Ross]

bolidemichael said:

What’s your technique, if any, for the exhaust tips?

Ultra fine wire wool (grade 0000), damp it with some water and get some Barkeepers Friend. No need for expensive metal polish they come up really well.

I know you use Gtechniq stuff, you can coat them with C1/C4/C5 as it will withstand the heat. I haven't done so with mine but may in the future.

[E90_M3Ross]

bolidemichael said:

E90_M3Ross said:

bolidemichael said:

What’s your technique, if any, for the exhaust tips?

Ultra fine wire wool (grade 0000), damp it with some water and get some Barkeepers Friend. No need for expensive metal polish they come up really well.

I know you use Gtechniq stuff, you can coat them with C1/C4/C5 as it will withstand the heat. I haven't done so with mine but may in the future.

That’s great, I was looking at the wire wool on cleanyourcar website, they have 00 and 000.

Good to know about C5, impressive stuff.

I think with 000, and definitely 00, you'd end up with a fairly scratched surface. You can also get it from Amazon cheaply. This is what I used

https://amzn.eu/d/422yspY

[E90_M3Ross]

Mr Tidy said:

I find Solvol Autosol works well on mine.

Yep I was tempted to get some a while ago, but tried this method and don't see a reason to change until I run out. Works very well. I am not sure how much cleaner a dedicated metal polish would get the inside of the exhaust, but that would soon get scooted up, anyway.

Naturally, it rained today. I don't think I'll be using the car for about 2 weeks now though. Although a little weaker than it has been, water still beading despite applying no coating since last June. I'll give it some more this summer, although it won't need polishing at all.

[E90_M3Ross]

So I found out the other day that the reason for my car sounding a little more fruity than GPM's is that it has had the primary cats removed and test pipes fitted....

Honestly, it doesn't sound that loud or different to normal, but perhaps a little more fruity. I had no idea this had been done Still, when pushing on the dominant noise is still definitely induction rather than exhaust, and it does sound glorious. Now the weather is nice I'm driving with the windows down even more to hear it even better

Apparently doing this causes an EML so it needs to be mapped, which means the car is likely running 10-20bhp more than stock at the top end, but I don't think it offers much lower down the rev range. It's hard to know for sure of course.