Leaderboard

so after 3 weekend of sanding, priming ,sanding basecoat, sanding I'm ready to......" lay down a real colour". to be honest the fiber glass moulds were real rough with deep scratches in them and spider cracks that only showed up once I put the etch primer on the parts. I'm not a 100% happy but are starting to run out of time.

If you've always wanted to know what happens when a now reformed, ex serial JDM tinkerer is locked in the same room as an E46 M3, then you've come to the right place! This thread will outline pretty much any remotely interesting things that surface throughout the ownership of this German brute. SO. Without further adieu: The first 2.5 weeks of ownership! Day 2: Back in auckland after a near 8hr drive. Stole keys to a private carpark with camera in hand: http://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/60252-first-time-euro-owner-text-heavy/ Day 14: Bullied the SO into taking his MV Agusta out for a little "photoshoot" to hone my skills: Please forgive quality, I compressed them into JPG so its MUCH grainier than the raw files Day 16: A passer-by heard what could only be described as "gale force winds" in the garage. On closer inspection its source was the mighty Germans air conditioning system. Replacement Final Stage Unit possible? YouTube and forum posts have confirmed this will indeed be a VERY ENJOYABLE TASK. Photos will follow... once I've located a replacement unit. VID_42110526_211411_140.mp4

You won’t lose anything buddy!! Totally seperate to your idrive system mine gets serviced at Bm workshop and MHD flashed. i have a jap import with nz maps retro fitted by auto gravity it’s all good to go. i now however have car play

Thanks for talon us about it.

Mine only lost Nav when it went back to BMW for a service which was before I flashed it. Have heard its an issue for Japan imports with CIC idrives that have been converted here. Haven't taken it in to get looked at yet so not sure if it can be sorted by Auto Gravity etc

I have NZ nav maps , on cd/dvd? If thats what you mean. I have been running mhd stage 1 plus for over a year now no issues.

I did spend some more time with the splitter today before beer o'clock and made a couple of standoffs for the rear to provide more bracing. There are a couple of indents on the splitter on either side at the rear (the ones we discussed @qazwsx) that happen to be exactly 50mm from the underside of the bumper when installed and I don't think this is a coincidence. So I got some aluminium tube I had lying around, cut it to length and threaded the inside of both ends, added a couple of stainless cap screws and two panel washers at each end and I think I have satisfactory rear supports. But damn it, my Dremel isn't working I thought we paid for brand name tools because they lasted forever... just won't power on... I'm sad. So I had to cut the alu tube with a hacksaw... and I only had a wood saw blade lol. The idea is to clamp the bumper between the washers at one end and the splitter between the two at the other end, that should keep everything at the correct angle of attack as well and firming it all up. Access to both cap screws is easy so there's no bumper-off requirement. That'll sort the rear, I still need to consider the sides.

Mostly form, I envisage a silver/black colour scheme. But I'm sure a little less lift at the front wouldn't go astray either.

That looks bloody mint dave. I think it suits your blue more than my red. The most noticeable gaps are definitely at the end on the sides. The top front gap I quickly forgot was there. I wonder if self tapping screws can bend the sides in enough to close the gap. I think because it curves slightly upwards the approach angle at the front isn't actually bad at all especially considering its length. At standard motorsport height I never scraped the front edge, it was always those 2 points at the bottom I showed you. And be careful about the rough inside scratching your motorsport lip. it doesn't look like this is installed with the lip does it?

Id say it's about 2k over priced to be honest as there's nothing really desirable about it apart from perhaps the service history

Alright, calm down everyone. I have literally one photo of the car, here it is... I never really take photos of my cars, just not my thing. Its not a major heap but as with most red cars of this age it needs a respray, and is covered in a quite few dents and scrapes. I should really refit the chrome trim, its in the boot...

New front pads and rotors installed today, also fitted new waterpump, thermostat & housing, coolant level sensor.

okay, fixed the misfire in the M5, still not sure how, swapped the ionic detection modules and the misfire didn't move so swapped the coils on cyl 6 & 7, misfire is gone! I will enjoy it while it lasts.

^^ thanks again mate, I've filled out the forms & will be sending them off with a cd (I know right) of photos next week. Fitted base of rear seat back in tonight & the other race seat to check everything fits, looks good! Untitled by Christian Taylor, on Flickr In the meantime I've found a guy who will make me a custom steering wheel without core transfer, so I've designed one up I'd like and sent it through tonight. Better yet, it's made from an OEM wheel so it'll fit perfectly and take the standard airbag! I've ordered one similar to this, but with black alcantara on the top & bottom portions of the wheel & a grey center stripe. 22c348801f0a4a9398614724413cd749 by Christian Taylor, on Flickr Here's my super-technical drawing: E46 Wheel by Christian Taylor, on Flickr Will see what it's like when it arrives and post results!

Meh, you gotta pay to play.

Ouch! More reason for me to stick with the 39?

drives and moves under its own power. This was a big moment for me as I'd had trouble with the clutch but now sorted. Not perfect but on its way.

Dont know anything about it, but genuinely curious as to why you are interested? Super poverty spec E46 sedan with almost no options other than that it is 2005 and nz new with decent kms, not super low not super high. It has a BM workshop license plate surround and sticker under bonnet so maybe give them a ring see if they can tell you anything (usually they dont discuss due to privacy but worth a try if you want)