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Got the Style 95s fitted today, already changes the look

today, at 157283kms, this happened. I had a new set of coils installed. One had been replaced under @TermiPeteNZ's stewardship, I elected to change the lot given the age of the car, and their likelihood of failing. As I rely on this as daily transport to earn my crust, and public transport is 2 hrs each way, the car is very important to me. It was a job I'd intended doing myself, but have been time poor and mileage rich lately, having done 5000kms since purchasing the car. Page European were efficient, and visiting also provided the opportunity to discuss and agree the approach for my auto servicing next month. I've only had opportunity to drive it a couple of kms, seems more torquey. Happy days. I'll photograph and bung the used coils up for sale if anyone needs some spares to be able to swap out for a working (though used) one.

saw this beauty on the way into town today:

Picked up this ol girl a couple of weeks ago, 1996 750iL. Body is fairly straight and engine seems to be in good nick, however the interior and stereo are in need of a beef up.

Things I'll be doing - Complete black leather interior make over - style 95 wheels and tyres - massive sound and video system - redo the tints - lowers, either on bags or lowered springs - replace the roof with a perspex UV roof

I havent really put much up about this car to date, probably start something here. Build List 2008 135i N54 6spd manual Jap import Standard N54 3.0 6 cyl twin TD03 turbo engine and 6spd manual, replaced upgraded BMW 550i pressure & clutch plate, stock dualmass flywheel, hard gbox mounts and braces. E92 m3 rear end swapped, subframe, LSD, all suspension arms & links, hubs, m3 front arms/uprights/hubs etc. Hard bushes installed for subframe and a few rear arms. 1m genuine panels all round, replaced via factory BMW repair methodologies AP Radi-cal brake kit all round, 6 piston front 380mm, 4 piston rear 390mm, SS braided lines. Full floating rotors on aluminium hats. KW v3 coilovers, bump & rebound set up, front vorshlag top camber/castor plates set up 2deg neg camber. H&R sways front/rear, adjustable end links set up for lowering 245/35/19, 275/30/19 Hankooks to shred for now. 295/30/19's Continental's ordered for rear, 245/35/19 Michelin PSS Cup 2's for front arriving mid June '17. Rob Beck Next Gen turbos, Billet 15T Compressor wheel/RB Bullet nut, TD04 Thrust upgrade, High flow TD04L 11-blade high aero turbine wheel/RB high heat shield, and RB high flow oil drains. Custom turbo outlet pipe, modified SS section. See photo 1. RB silicon turbo intakes, stock filter placements, big filters from Burger Motorsport VRSF 7" thick Intercooler, RB turbo inlet with HKS SSQV blow off valve. Ordered "Colossus" Intercooler to replace 7" VRSF. Now running full methanol integration via JB4 ISO with CM10 nozzle, 60% meth/40% H20. Running 65 additive on JB4, adding meth at 6lb/in2, or 0.4bar onwards once oil is at 70deg C or higher. Cant stress how good the meth kit works, Any flow restrictions, knock detected or avg ign retard the boost gets brought back by the JB4. Previous to the meth kit going in, the IAT, intake air temps, got really high, in traffic would see close to 50deg C. Took a long time on the M'way to get it back down to mid 30's, which would see the ECU pull timing and boost aggression in the mid range. Now with the meth, each time you floor it, you can watch the IATs drop pretty quick, much better repeatability of power. Means you can spin the wheels over 120. Ive tested the car up to 27lb/in2, 1.9Bar boost, but have settled to 25lb/in2 circa 1.7bar. With this it'll slowly pull in front of new GSXR750's from standstill and easily from 180+ on closed roads. I put into the main fuel tank a blend of about 60% mobil 98RON and 40% E85 from the Gull Forest Hill. I get 300kms from the tank as a daily driver. The JB4 ISO is set up as a piggy back to the factory ECU to control methanol and boost and the full data logging which provides a live bluetooth connection, so the phone is a mini dash too. The ECU is reflashed via MHD tuning (free to DL, then pay for each map). I run the hybrid turbo E85 map or the race flash depending on the percentage of E85 is in the tank. Im limited currently on two fronts in regards to the power output of the car. The turbos are at the limit of airflow efficiency, and secondly the High pressure fuel pump and injector flow capacity. The meth spray is adding fuel which Im using to maintain AF ratios. This used to be considered 'unsafe' as there were little/no warning or safety devices that would protect the engine if there was a failure in the meth delivery. With the JB4 safety systems Im happy to move into meth as a fuel delivery device as well as cooling. I limit boost through 1st and second, 10lb then 17lb then 3rd gear gets the full 25lb onwards. Also, for shits and giggles, it has a 2 step installed, so conveniently I can build boost from a standstill, I can get to about 8lb. With flames out the back of course. Installed is a no lift shift, so just bang the clutch and change gear while holding the throttle down maintaining close to the boost you've just shifted from. I have installed anti-lag but havent set this part up yet. If I've 2 stepped anyone I'm sorry, kinda like a machine gun going off in your face. More so now the custom mild steel rear exhaust has been replaced with a stainless steel one. Had the car in for its cert finally at Fraser Cars Birkenhead via Scott. Mostly required lock washers on parts of the car that BMW didn't think needed lock washers. Annoying, but them the rules. Otherwise the information is with NZTA to approve and get the plate on. Early June, says NZTA are happy bar a bump steer test booked in for mid June. Will be fine as virtually stock 1M front end and offset wheels are used with spacers. The next plan is to install the Precision Raceworks Stage 4 low pressure fuel system (running three intank Walbro E85 pumps), independent & larger low pressure fuel supply/return lines, 6 x 750cc bosch injectors and port injection manifold spacer. This will allow a full E85 even E100 fuel in the main tank and likely the deactivation and sale of the meth system. Simply not needed with higher E85 content, if available. An ethanol sensor (Continental) will be installed in the fuel supply line which also gets integrated into the JB4 for complete fuel integration from E0 to E100. This should net about another 20-30kws without another turbo upgrade.......this fuel kit is due early July.....turbo's hmmmmmm.... Lastly, there are some MMP Stage 3 full TD04HL turbo's that Im eyeing up, which have seen 550 rear wheel kw's on full E85. Pushed, these are the limit of the stock N54 engine apparently, circa 900 crank hp. Incredible that its an open aluminium block with this level of strength. Who says 2JZ's are the strongest? Factory forged crank and miele pistons. N55 are definitely weaker engines. Not saying they are weak ok, just 'not as strong as N54's'. However, I cannot stress the amount of misery there is in changing the turbos out, the main reason Im potentially unlikely to do so again. Took close to a week to change out over weekends and nights in the rain, fuggin misery. E82 LCI Blackline taillights added late May '17 and LED bulb change out inside and at all exterior corners. Error free my arse! So its taken me about 2 years to build it in my driveway, bar the panel and paint. Its cost a fair bit less than a real 1M, minus all the mods. Im guessing currently 410-430kws at the rears going from similar/same tune N54's in Aus. It sort of drives like a combination of a lazy boy and a fast motorbike.

Hey, so I thought I should share a video I made awhile back with you guys here. If you have any questions just ask (Installed in a 2001 e46)

I am not talking about performance gains. Heck I can make a stock M3 go faster and corner better. But add up the values of all the bespoke parts and you'll be over the $100k mark easy. Trust me! I wrote the original parts list and have been following parts prices for years.

BMW are all about the driving experience right? so I've had plans for the wheel, shifter and seat for a while now. First on the list was an Alcantara wheel, and after researching the options i decided to go for a Coby wheel - www.cobywheel.com. They actually apply alcantara over the existing wheel which makes it a little thicker (something i was after) and its one of the cheapest options out there. I opted for the exchange, where they send me a recovered wheel and then i swap it out and send my old one back to them. Mike from Coby is good dude to deal with. The wheel arrived today and i was able to fit it in about 30mins. Really happy with the feel and quality of work.

LOL, if it is ever finished, progress is slow mate but finally got the chassis rail completed with some help from a youtuber i sold my first BMW to, lol - check it out...

Number plate surround and a sticker to go on rear windows or windscreens would be good marketing. BMW enthusiasts tend to check out other BMWs they they like, so they'd notice the stickers and plate surrounds.

settled. Page Euro are enjoying success with a Dex VI full synthetic fluid by Fuchs that they say is BMW approved, so they'll supply fluids and expertise. We're going to do a drain and fill, I'll drive it for a week, then it'll be pan off, replacement, dry fill with fresh fluid.

Yeah it's awesome, I have it hooked up to torque as well, and since the other mod is fully custom, you could fully program it to do what you are suggesting. The 7" tablets fit perfectly in the E46, but I mean you could put an iPad pro in which is basically the same size as a tesla screen (Crazy big). People have done that with an iPad pro before, although not in an E46. The app I use for track days is called RaceChrono Pro. It is an AMAZING APP and I would fully recommend it. But if you are in the area or at any meet coming up I can show you it all in more detail.

Today after work I decided to check the water hoses on the engine and look for way to hook up the expansion tank. The hose from the back of the head was the first to come off and to my surprise found this inside, have no idea how it got there. Then gave the rest the squeeze test had a fail so have decided to replace the lot.

yeah, very impressive. nice work! (and yep, the link works well).

That is awesome. You are very talented.

Oops, sorry. I have just fixed it now. Try again

ill be in touch man, just trying to figure stuff out but i need to sort something

A lot of non M cars are quicker than old M cars. The fact that 1M has an engine code that starts with N tells you straight away it is not a bespoke M engine. Not saying it isn't a good engine, just not a M engine and never should have gotten a M badge. If the 1M is a true M car then this Z4 should be called a Z4M. But enough 1M bashing from me!! Good luck with the sale! Bloody awesome car/chassis these things!

I'd love to get into sales for a living, but a military career in my youth has hardwired me for an uncomfortable level of honesty and integrity, I'd probably get too wound up if I had to bullshit to meet any targets.

Not sure what they're worth. Id be happy with $200 or so

Thanks for the free plug charlie The ACS kit is very nice and quite rare but imagine if you had an accident like being rear ended, you would struggle to find replacements for it! Also a bit worrying that it has no mention of any service work done, only talks about the aesthetic things. Also its the older M52b28 engine which is not as enjoyable as the newer M54. I would hold out for a nicer M54b30 530i or a M54b25 525i (facelift) rather than pay a premium for the kit and wheels. I could always drive my car down to you in CHCH and fly back up to Auckland. That would be an awesome drive, wouldn't mind doing it one day and meet up with any south island members!

Installed blackline LCI tail lights on the 135. Really like how they update the look of the car

You may also wish to consider this members car, http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.asp?id=1332371169&cc=602&pid=584428789&hbc=&member_hash=&ct=title-link

I would be checking and replacing all the breather and vac hoses , pcv , oil drain hose from the pcv etc , all old hoses , they get cracks , go all soft etc engine will suck more air in that has not been measured by the MAF and will throw up a engine check light as running too lean. just done a few hoses at the back of my x5 for the same issue . like these http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E53/Europe/X5_4.4i-M62/R-N/oct2001/browse/engine/crankcase_ventilation_oil_separator/ http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E53/Europe/X5_4.4i-M62/R-N/oct2001/browse/engine/air_pump_f_vacuum_control/ http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E53/Europe/X5_4.4i-M62/R-N/oct2001/browse/engine/vacuum_control_engine/ http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E53/Europe/X5_4.4i-M62/R-N/oct2001/browse/engine/intake_manifold_system/

Too expensive. Considering these early ones now go for $12-15k why would ya bother... maybe if it was half his asking price. This reminds me of something I read which seems to hold truth more often than not, as far as owning high end Euro gear. The first buyer can afford to buy and service it. The second buyer can afford to buy it. The third buyer can't afford either.

by the time you get it finished, it'll be worth more than your M3! How's progress? Property and cars are all speculative, though depreciation risk through mobile holes in the road must be greater. Besides, you're not so far south of the CSL; at least you're creating memories for your old age in an e46 M3, today!

Valves adjusted on the ol' M20 and new spark plugs. Old plugs looked very normal which is reassuring after 350,000km. (Edit: Plugs had only been in 30,000km of those) Also had Jon at Auto38 replace my gearbox fluid. All in preparation for this weekend's trip to Napier :~)

red

Thanks! Being an '05 mine didn't fall into the bearing corrective action. The later model E46 M3's had this issue addressed in a manufacturing change. This means that the bearings that came out are almost certainly the original bearings and have had 140k go on them... Regarding the other recalls - I have had the passenger air bag recall done, and I'll have the driver's airbag done as soon as the car is down off the stands Cheers, Matt

Wildcard: Ford Motorcraft Mercon SP. Yep, it's for the Ford ZF 6HP26 (called Ford 6R80)... In the US it's inexpensive, meets the right specs. Dunno if it's full synthetic. Wonder if I should call a Ford Dealer parts department (though one recalls why one does not own a Ford!). Hyundai also runs this trans. Hmm. As far as I know Ford used the ZF box in Falcons and rear drive Territory's, 6R80 in others, try a Ford dealer. In my experience you'll have to get them to answer the phone first. Helpful tip, don't try Capital city Ford in Porirua.

Not to be disrespectful or anything, but your lack of formatting makes it very hard to follow. Also Brent @ BM World knows his stuff. I recommend either giving him a call and/or writing a clear list of what you actually have and a separate list of what you want. Lots of e36s have been manual converted, so you can't rely on everything you find being factory (unless of course you have proof). Parts are also plentiful, so you shouldn't have to make a spacer or use any custom parts.

Yeah there's something about a V8 alright.

beauty

Cleaned and washed it again.... also got to polishing the lips up by sanding them back to remove the pitting, I have done 2 up to 1500 grit but will keep going up to 2500 and maybe higher to try and get a nice mirror finish. A good method was putting the rear end up on jack stands, starting the car and putting it in 3rd and letting it idle using the spinning wheel kinda like a lathe to take some of the effort out of the sanding! Also my daily got its respray! 2 weeks until I pick it up!