Tinuva's facelifted Alpine White E46 330i

[Tinuva]

Next up I am testing out updating the lights, now that everything is OEM, I want it kinda OEM+ in a way. I started buying only a select few bulbs to see how it will turn out, and while the results are interesting, it turned out amazing.

Here is a video of me testing the light output. The low output makes the led flicker quite a bit on the video, but I think it gives an idea of how it changes.

Top in the video is actually the bottom lights when inserted back. Top left is a new led bulb running dimmed, and top right the old bulb running dimmed. I then also added a new bulb to the indicator and also the brake light which both run full strength.

[video=youtube]

Some notes. I currently replaced the brake lights and the indicators all around.

- I had to reprogram the LCM, mostly I turned off warm testing. Cold testing left on.
- When the LCM test the LED bubls, they actually flicker. Looks like a disco when I turn on the car.
- The side indicators, stay on very dimmed, until 5 min after locking the car. Really odd, but should look interesting at night.
- The light output is amazing, I like it a lot.
- No errors on the dash with these, which is great, even though the website said I might need resistors.

Let me know what you think.

 

[Tinuva]

So brakes replaced this past wednesday and all I can say is, all my vibration issues at 100-120km/h and while braking has been resolved by this one change. Car is smooth as silk and so quiet when braking.

Very happy that the car is at last how I like it to drive.

Car was now in real need of a wash because the wheels were full of brake dust, as in almost black at the front. Also the whole car was covered in a layer of dust because well its mostly dry now in the western cape.

Some pictures after wash and some after dry.

 

[Salt]

Very cool and lekker car. I like those motors. Funny thing...mine was doing exactly the same when braking and doing 120...front disks and pads were replaced (thankfully under motorplan/warranty) and now its also perfect so I know how you feel!

 

[Tinuva]

Smallest update.

This car is still doing well mostly.

Had to put her on life support because of almost no driving during lockdown and having to give all cars a bit of a drive.

[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]View attachment 2[/font]

 

[evnmopwr]

Smallest update.

This car is still doing well mostly.

Had to put her on life support because of almost no driving during lockdown and having to give all cars a bit of a drive.

My Favourite 330i

mine also been complaining. Mine started Jerking randomly when i do get to start her up and go somewhere. but she stops after about 5min of driving

 

[Tinuva]

And the worst happened just now

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Quoting my own post here.

I need advice.

Received a phone call just now from the lady's insurance.
The insurance I had at the time, had worked out an agreement to part pay her accident, which comes to an amount of R10'000+-.
Said insurance company liquidated and now they want to hold me liable for this payment.

Money I don't have and even monthly my budget is actually worked out that I just don't have this (although it includes savings and extra into bond etc.)

So they gave me the following options:
1. Make a monthly payment
2. Write an email back saying I don't have the money but I need to include my employment details and a bank statement (which I really don't feel comfortable with) to ask their client if they will agree to write it off
3. I don't communicate back to them within a week they initiate a summons, I assume for a court case, for the full amount of R50'000 damage.

In the time that happened, I actually cancelled my current insurance end of February 2020, not even to do with the rona, just because I was annoyed and planned on signing up with another insurer. I also bought a new house and with the new bond I actually have less spending money that I ever had, actually I have R0 to spend on fun. A decision I made in December 2019 before I knew anything of this rona or anything else was going to go down.

What is the correct way to go about this?
My problem with #2 is, I know my statement will show I have a healthy income, but I also have enough loan repayments going, but the problem is that I actually pay in additional to the loan and that can be seen as something they can leverage to force me to pay.

 

[rodga]

So 2 years later they want to come after you?
Also not sure if it was posted but how did the accident happen? To me it looks like she was in the wrong, being in the wrong lane? So why did your insurance to decide to pay her? Shouldnt any agreement that your insurance had with her insurance, be between them?

Get legal advice asap and get them to respond so it can be ended quickly.

 

[F21GP]

So 2 years later they want to come after you?
Also not sure if it was posted but how did the accident happen? To me it looks like she was in the wrong, being in the wrong lane? So why did your insurance to decide to pay her? Shouldnt any agreement that your insurance had with her insurance, be between them?

Get legal advice asap and get them to respond so it can be ended quickly.

Exactly would be interesting to see their agreement. She also looks in the wrong completely. They must get in line like other creditors with the liquidation of the former insurance company.

Get a legal representative

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[Tinuva]

Back in February I ordered a set of these:

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](2x/1set) of 33536756983 - e46 rear [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]springs[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] (3 blue stripes) - [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=33536756983[/font]

However because we were moving house, I wasn't ready to install them and so they went into a storage box where the moved to the new house and kinda left standing there while focusing on setting everything up in the house and nothing, and I really mean it, NOTHING happened in the garage.

I bought them, because of this post:

Its a long story and bear with me, I had an E36 many years ago that looked dropped, i actually thought it was dropped until i did shocks and found the it was the original springs that was in the car. Didnt think much of it at the time..

On my first E92 335i i changed the stock springs for BMW performance shocks and springs, while the front went down 20mm as it should have i found that the rear actually went up 10mm over the stock spring, double checked install and realised the spring had lost its tension over the years.

This Scenario played out again on my second E92 335i when i changed out the Msport springs for HnR springs and Koni shocks. The front went down and the rear went up ever so slightly.

One can only assume that the springs have lost their tension that they were originally manufactured to due to both static and active loads for years of hundreds of thousands if not millions of oscillations in an up and down manner.

Certainly a car that is over 10+ years old will display this creep when its old parts are compared to new parts. See link for a more Tecnnical explanation

Source: https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=91926&pid=1417244#pid1417244

Yesterday I only did this:
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Loosening the bolts on the wheels, jacking up the car and removing the wheels. That was it for the whole day  :fencelook:

Anyways next day, first one removed. Not sure I can see the difference but here it is:
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Looking in on the side doesn't look too bad. Less dirty than I expected a daily to look.
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Closer look to see the bushings.
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First spring installed:
View attachment 9

On to the other side:


Also installed:
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Ok this is random. Looks how much space there are at the front wheels, while the back side sits on jack stands...
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Time to get the wheels back on:
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Did a quick run over some bumps to see if I can feel the difference on the back. Back at home, this is what it looks like on the new springs and me hoping the setting should start to happen.
View attachment 5

Will have to go over my thoughts about all of this in a later post.

 

[Tinuva]

Last update for 2020. What a year...

I had a mini accident...

Only lost the right rear mudflap but in the process, one of the clips holding it on did cause damage to the tyre. After plugging it, the tyre will live on and I need to re-attach the mudflap.

Also received  Rogue Engineering gearbox mounts which I am very happy about. So the last of the rubber that needed a refresh on the car is now complete. I had it over at Garage808 to replace the engine mounts with oem rubber and the gearbox mounts with the ones I supplied. I didn't expect much of an improvement but I can actually feel it. The engine mounts has me feel less of the engine vibration at idle. The gearbox mounts, I expected to only feel when going fast around a corner and trying to shift mid corner. The oem mounts lets the gearbox move around (for comfort) but can cause you to initiate a money shift (I assume this means, going into the wrong gear and causing a lot of damage) where as the rogue mounts doesn't. It definitely feels more in place for me and it feels better shifting, I was surprised. 

On this same day, the car also received an inspection 2 service minus the fuel filter which we couldn't get a bosch filter in stock in SA. Will do it in the new year.

Also adding some photos for eye candy.

The missing flap and the damage it caused:
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The new gearbox mounts:
View attachment 5

Some eye candy while and after receiving some love washing and cleaning:
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[evnmopwr]

NOT AGAIN!!!! :'(

Atleast damage is not major. Easily repairable.

 

[Tinuva]

I haven't posted in a while.

This is my current indecision...



On the left side, is the gear knob that came with the car.
On the right side, is the gear knob that suits the current swapped in gearbox.

Both knows are weighted version, eg. a nice weight to it and lovely shift experience.

The right side is nice, but I think I am cheap and I like the feel of the left side, which is aluminium covered with a clear plastic layer. This plastic did start coming off in some tiny spots.

Anyways, out of interest sake, I asked reddit what they think, which looks like is an almost if not 100% vote for the right side. On the left side one user is willing to buy it if I go for right side.

 

[///M Individual]

Right side is my choice

 

[osiris]

China town left, BMW right.

I mean if you're asking for honesty.

 

[Benji]

I understand the dilemma, keep it OEM, or make it look nicer...I would say the right does look better. If the car has a 6 speed, then 100% go with the right

 

[Tinuva]

I understand the dilemma, keep it OEM, or make it look nicer...I would say the right does look better. If the car has a 6 speed, then 100% go with the right

Left side was the oem on this car. I have swapped in a 6 speed gearbox though.

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[AdiS]

Zhp knob, no contest.
It’s still OEM


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[ZaynM]

The Right side one should be on the car.

 

[evnmopwr]

Right side

 

[Dewald Basson]

If it really is aluminum you can have the paint removed and give it a natural anodising which will give the same shine. The knob will then outlive the car with the anodising protecting it. But it probably is not a solid aluminum piece and paint over plastic.

Have it repainted with some fresh 2k paint and then polished. It should shine properly again.

Also my 2c, your car do what makes you happy.