-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Adi's Titanium Silver BMW E46 M3
- Thread starter AdiS
- Start date
AdiS
Well-known member
Minor updates.
Last week the car went in to Donford Helderberg (at Anthony's recommendation) for it's 10 000km oil service. The experience was really good. Although it's physically a huge dealership, the service department feels small and personable. Worth the drive out from Cape Town.
132 162km
Oil Service
Then after doing this on my 330i, I couldn't resist replacing the side indicators. A small detail, with a big impact.
Finally, I have been playing with coding. Using NCS Expert, BMWFlash and the excellent ECUworx tool I have done the following:
Last week the car went in to Donford Helderberg (at Anthony's recommendation) for it's 10 000km oil service. The experience was really good. Although it's physically a huge dealership, the service department feels small and personable. Worth the drive out from Cape Town.
132 162km
Oil Service
Then after doing this on my 330i, I couldn't resist replacing the side indicators. A small detail, with a big impact.
Finally, I have been playing with coding. Using NCS Expert, BMWFlash and the excellent ECUworx tool I have done the following:
- M-track Mode (DSC)
- Adjusted Rev-Counter warm-up lights to CSL spec
- Sport Mode Throttle Map Adjustment to allow for smoother driving
- Sport Button Memory
- Top Speed Limiter Removed
- Dyno Rev Limiter set to 8000rpm
- Default - DSC fully on
- Short Press of DSC Button - activates M-track Mode
- Long Press of DSC Button (3-4 seconds) - switches DSC off entirely
AdiS
Well-known member
Ebrahim Mayat
Events Organiser
What cable are you using to code with?
Dewald Basson
///Member
:inlove:
officially_kage
Member
Dude seriously that is one clean M3.
E46 M3 has been my favorite for the last 7 years atleast - arguably the best car ever made.
My friend owned one (silver with red interior) for a few months and everytime I drove the thing it would put a huge smile on my face.
I WILL own an e46 m3 one day!!!!!
E46 M3 has been my favorite for the last 7 years atleast - arguably the best car ever made.
My friend owned one (silver with red interior) for a few months and everytime I drove the thing it would put a huge smile on my face.
I WILL own an e46 m3 one day!!!!!
officially_kage
Member
Soooooo.... I'll be the first to admit, I stole your pics for my desktop wallpaper
AdiS
Well-known member
Some updates from the past year or so.
New A-Pillar Strips
Having already had the A pillar fabric re-glued, the little strips that cover the airbag were starting to look untidy and they were fairly cheap, so I replaced them.
Before:
After:
Suspension Work
Next up was some suspension work. I wanted to get all the bushings replaced:
133200km
Rear trailing arm bushes (OEM) and ball joints (LEMFORDER)
Rear Camber arm bushes (OEM)
Rear Upper Control Arm bushes (OEM)
Rear Shocks (SACHS) and Rear shock mounts (LEMFORDER)
Rear Swaybar/Stabiliser Endlinks (OEM)
Front Struts (SACHS)
Front Swaybar/Stabiliser Endlinks (MEYLE HD)
RACP / Subframe Reinforcement
For a while I had been aware of a tiny crack in the Rear Axle Carrier Panel in the most common place. I had been keeping a careful eye on it, and it did not seem to be getting worse but I wanted to get ahead of this issue. So I proceeded to get the reinforcement job done.
I not only did Redish Motorsport reinforcement plates, but also Vincebar to address this. At the same time I had some other work done "while we're in there".
133 903km
Redish Motorsport RACP Reinforcement plates
VinceBar Topside Subframe mount reinforcement
New Subframe Bushes (OEM)
New Front Diff Mount (OEM)
New Diff Bolts (OEM)
New Shifter parts and 545i shifter (OEM)
The E60 545i shifter is a common upgrade, and while it does make the shifting action slightly heavier, it's really satisfying during spirited driving.
133xxxkm
Brilliant Mechanical Workshop
New rear brake discs (Zimmerman) and pads (pagid)
New Rear diff cover (OEM), fluid and fill/drain plugs
New rear left exhaust mount (OEM)
New Headlight Lenses
I'm a stickler for details, and nothing dates a car like pitted headlight lenses. Mine were actually in pretty good condition, but I've seen what new ones look like and it's really impactful. I managed to source OEM lenses (AL), and it's really freshened up the frontend. It's hard to show the full impact in photos.
Before:
After:
Annual Oil service
Next up was an annual oil service. I had only done 5000km since last years service, and I did wonder if it was really necessary to change the oil. I guess my OCD won that debate.
137317km
Donford BMW
Oil Service
I was able to keep a watchful eye on the car during the work done:
Old oil being drained, I always catch an oil sample for Blackstone Oil Analysis
Engine Bay Cleaning
I've always kept the engine bay clean, but with some extra time on my hands I decided to tackle some of the painted areas which can actually be quite difficult to clean. Unfortunately I wasn't all that diligent about taking before and after pics. But I removed the strut brace to clean the strut towers properly, I also spent a ton of time cleaning the inside of the bonnet, and the channels that run down the side of fenders.
Yes, I did photoshop the following image to maintain the privacy of my friends garage.
And just because:
Front Brakes
With front brakes nearing end of life, I decided to bite the bullet and replace them. I went with OEM discs and Powerbrake/Endless PB05/MX72 Ceramic pads and Motul RBF 600. The reason I went with these pads was because I noticed that often on a spirited mountain drive, I would end up with pad deposits on the front discs causing a brake shudder. This would be easily remedied with hard brake form 160kmh down to 40 and then the discs would be scrubbed clean, but it was kind of annoying. I haven't really driven the car much since fitting the brakes, so not much to insight to add right now.
137xxxkm
New Front Brake Discs (OEM)
New Front Brake Pads (Endless MX72)
Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid
At the same time I installed new wheel centre caps and M badges. And of course, we spent way more time cleaning than anything else.
Yellowing original centre cap, and failed M badge
That's better
Disgusting:
Getting there
Not even sure what this is, but it has to go
New discs on, still more cleaning needed
There we go
All done
That's all for now.
New A-Pillar Strips
Having already had the A pillar fabric re-glued, the little strips that cover the airbag were starting to look untidy and they were fairly cheap, so I replaced them.
Before:
After:
Suspension Work
Next up was some suspension work. I wanted to get all the bushings replaced:
133200km
Rear trailing arm bushes (OEM) and ball joints (LEMFORDER)
Rear Camber arm bushes (OEM)
Rear Upper Control Arm bushes (OEM)
Rear Shocks (SACHS) and Rear shock mounts (LEMFORDER)
Rear Swaybar/Stabiliser Endlinks (OEM)
Front Struts (SACHS)
Front Swaybar/Stabiliser Endlinks (MEYLE HD)
RACP / Subframe Reinforcement
For a while I had been aware of a tiny crack in the Rear Axle Carrier Panel in the most common place. I had been keeping a careful eye on it, and it did not seem to be getting worse but I wanted to get ahead of this issue. So I proceeded to get the reinforcement job done.
I not only did Redish Motorsport reinforcement plates, but also Vincebar to address this. At the same time I had some other work done "while we're in there".
133 903km
Redish Motorsport RACP Reinforcement plates
VinceBar Topside Subframe mount reinforcement
New Subframe Bushes (OEM)
New Front Diff Mount (OEM)
New Diff Bolts (OEM)
New Shifter parts and 545i shifter (OEM)
The E60 545i shifter is a common upgrade, and while it does make the shifting action slightly heavier, it's really satisfying during spirited driving.
133xxxkm
Brilliant Mechanical Workshop
New rear brake discs (Zimmerman) and pads (pagid)
New Rear diff cover (OEM), fluid and fill/drain plugs
New rear left exhaust mount (OEM)
New Headlight Lenses
I'm a stickler for details, and nothing dates a car like pitted headlight lenses. Mine were actually in pretty good condition, but I've seen what new ones look like and it's really impactful. I managed to source OEM lenses (AL), and it's really freshened up the frontend. It's hard to show the full impact in photos.
Before:
After:
Annual Oil service
Next up was an annual oil service. I had only done 5000km since last years service, and I did wonder if it was really necessary to change the oil. I guess my OCD won that debate.
137317km
Donford BMW
Oil Service
I was able to keep a watchful eye on the car during the work done:
Old oil being drained, I always catch an oil sample for Blackstone Oil Analysis
Engine Bay Cleaning
I've always kept the engine bay clean, but with some extra time on my hands I decided to tackle some of the painted areas which can actually be quite difficult to clean. Unfortunately I wasn't all that diligent about taking before and after pics. But I removed the strut brace to clean the strut towers properly, I also spent a ton of time cleaning the inside of the bonnet, and the channels that run down the side of fenders.
Yes, I did photoshop the following image to maintain the privacy of my friends garage.
And just because:
Front Brakes
With front brakes nearing end of life, I decided to bite the bullet and replace them. I went with OEM discs and Powerbrake/Endless PB05/MX72 Ceramic pads and Motul RBF 600. The reason I went with these pads was because I noticed that often on a spirited mountain drive, I would end up with pad deposits on the front discs causing a brake shudder. This would be easily remedied with hard brake form 160kmh down to 40 and then the discs would be scrubbed clean, but it was kind of annoying. I haven't really driven the car much since fitting the brakes, so not much to insight to add right now.
137xxxkm
New Front Brake Discs (OEM)
New Front Brake Pads (Endless MX72)
Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid
At the same time I installed new wheel centre caps and M badges. And of course, we spent way more time cleaning than anything else.
Yellowing original centre cap, and failed M badge
That's better
Disgusting:
Getting there
Not even sure what this is, but it has to go
New discs on, still more cleaning needed
There we go
All done
That's all for now.
