Matth5

What happened to the original engine? I should get my 335i back tomorrow after two months at the workshop, so I can kinda imagine how you feel. I've even had dreams about it, lol.

BM Workshop would probably do it.

Car is almost ready, ETA next week. A few little holdups like a part suddenly needing to be ordered from Germany... Crunchy shared pics of his work on the turbo here, he has upgraded the compressor wheel: While the DCT transmission was out of the car I had the shop replace the otherwise unreachable side seal and wiring loom o-ring, just for long term peach of mind. Dropped off their 116i loaner because it got about 2000km past it's service indicator and swapped it with an E46 318ti hatch. Interesting ugly little thing, quite nimble and feels quicker than you'd expect, quite fun to drive actually, feels like a go-cart, more so than the regular E46 models Here's a pic of the AKG subframe bushings and a pic stolen from Google of the diff lockdown brace I got (didn't bother taking a photo) Edit: BM Workshop now say that they can fit the pre-cat sensor but not the post-cat. As the post-cat sensor is just used for emissions, we might be ok after all.

Doubtful. Maybe 15k? Sure does look perfect though, as if it just rolled out of the factory.

Nope, I just did a VIN lookup. http://bimmer.work Serial is JR05132 (grabbed it from Carjam, last 7 digits of the VIN)

By the way would you recommend an upgraded diverter valve before having the turbo put back in? Eg the DV+ from Go Fast Bits http://www.gfb.com.au/products/blow-off-and-diverter-valves/dv-plus/dv-t9356-suits-dodge-dart-bmw-f30-335i-f20-f21-m135i-fiat-abarth-detail

Can't wait to put it to the test

"NZ New" means nothing at that mileage.

What makes you say they're the best? When I was looking for subframe bushings for my 335i they were the best price but i struggled to find any reviews or info about their hardness compared to other bushings. So I just bought AKG subframe bushings from the US instead... Just buy them from the US, will probably cost you half as much as buying local... Also look at Powerflex. Or from Aus while you're there, should fit in your luggage

Surely more than the ECU was water damaged. An ECU alone wouldn't write off a vehicle... Probably flooded.

The 30FF simply means the boost being measured by the sensor in the charge pipe is not close enough to target. So it's either leaking, the sensor is faulty, or is unable to build boost due to a turbo issue. Vanos solenoids would surely be another issue with a different code. I've often had 30FF several times after my own DIY installs when I didn't tighten a hose clamp enough, it's always also made a whistling noise or the pipe popped off completely. And also I've had a failing pressure converter that I replaced. Yeah your intake might make a similar noise which will add to the challenge...

30FF is a boost leak, searching that on Google tells you that pretty quickly. Nothing at all to do with 02 sensors/Cats. Yes it can be caused by many things but the gist of it is your car is not able to create full boost. Does it make a whistling noise when you hit the gas? Low-ish revs make it easier to hear but it should be pretty clear. Then it's likely something loose in the charge piping, anywhere between turbo and intercooler. The workshop should have done a pressure/smoke test to check this. Otherwise next culprit is the pressure converter AKA wastewater solenoid. Lastly it could be turbo/wastegate related which would be expensive but rule out everything else first before worrying about it.

Make time for a PPI at a BMW specialist. It's well worth it. If the car wasn't well looked after it could be a nightmare to own.

No point buying a BMW if you're going for the bottom of the range. You're paying Euro car maintenance costs and getting no more performance or luxury than a cheap Jap car.

Driving through Manurewa as I was looking at some open homes. Come across a group of about 30 Maori and/or Islander kids on bikes taking up the road, some on the bike lane and some riding the median. As I pass through, carefully, the little f**kers start hitting on the car (so I thought), then they pull a door open. Trying to steal stuff? Wish I side-swiped the f**kers right there, because I have zero faith in the police being helpful here. Is this normal there? Must be scary as hell for people who aren't very capable of defending themselves. Made me pissed. Will be sure to lock doors next time and be ready to ram them. Makes me think it's not worth looking at places there, what kind of s**thole has that going on.

Similar write-up from the same guy on the front suspension http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1094111 So front is more worthwhile. But I think some people exaggerate how worthwhile, probably because they're comparing against arms that had worn bushings. My steering is still perfectly sharp with no slop at all, I think my bushings are are still perfect, last owner must have driven like an old lady... Based on that and the fact I'm dropping thousands of dollars into my car currently (turbo upgrade and some other bits), I'm thinking I'll hold off on this. Will wait until I've worn out my stock arms or maybe I'll feel the need for this once I get used to the other upgrades. Will be interested to hear impressions from you guys though

While trying to make my mind up on this, I came across this interesting write up on the M3 rear suspension, this guy has actually measured the bushing stiffness and tested what it takes to bend the arms http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1079383 Doesn't sound like M3 rear arms provide much benefit.

The rears are also very cheap. Search these to find them: JTC1430 JTC1431 JTC1428 JTC1429 Not sure they're as worthwhile though. Oh doh Herbmiester pointed this out already.

If it was the emissions code I don't think the car would go into limp mode. What's the actual code?

Found them, you have to search by the TRW Part number to get the cheap ones. https://www.amazon.com/TRW-Automotive-JTC1424-Premium-Control/dp/B00T9YJKV8/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501831201&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=trw+e90+m3+front+arms https://www.amazon.com/TRW-Automotive-JTC1423-Premium-Control/dp/B00T9YJL6M/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501831201&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=trw+e90+m3+front+arms https://www.amazon.com/TRW-Automotive-JTC1427-Premium-Control/dp/B00T9YJL8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501832321&sr=8-1&keywords=trw+JTC1427 https://www.amazon.com/TRW-Automotive-JTC1426-Premium-Control/dp/B00T9YJL0I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501832272&sr=8-1&keywords=trw+JTC1426 Seems to be the right ones by comparing against the FCP Euro kit. Damn that's cheap. Have I definitely got the right parts?

Woah, that still available?

You have downpipes... you could use MHD to disable the cold start sequence which will help with the loud cold start. Main purpose of the cold start sequence is to heat the cats. Maybe you've done that, just worth a mention in case you weren't aware.

Take a peek at tyres on some random parked cars whenever you walk past some... you're not wrong. That and heaps of people run the cheap Chinese crap.

Stopped at BM Workshop on Friday to fetch the turbo. Got to see the inside of my engine up close, pretty interesting. Aside from a little oil where it shouldn't be due to the loose headbolt, the engine looks perfect. The workshop suggested replacing a few seals on parts of the DCT transmission that are unreachable when it's in the car, since they'd be easy to do now, so I agreed and said to just do a full service while they're at it. Breaking My Wallet pretty hard here And this is what a 150 000km N55 turbo looks like, which has endured some hard driving with the MHD tunes... The turbine wheels spin nice and smooth with no visible play. My untrained eyes can't see any sign of wear. I'm thinking I should get some solid subframe bushings. Inserts are cheaper than a full replacement, and my bushings all look fine. So I'm leaning towards ordering some Powerflex Delrin inserts. Already got a differential lockdown brace on the way so I'll leave diff bushings for now. Looked into getting an LSD... that's looking like it'll cost even more than the turbo upgrade... so that's for another time!

The CSL wheels just match the M3s perfectly.