Herbmiester

To be clear that's not my car, just a photo of the before and after on a US 50k mile car. I have found out First Class European in Petone can do the walnut blast for $230.

Before and after.

Nice 335i just bought a 335i coupe myself and have already started down the upgrade path. If you decide to get rid of those wheels let me know.

I am unfamiliar with the vapour blast process but having spent decades using walnut media to clean brass cases I cannot see how it can damage the ports or the valves. As to the why, pretty simple really just do a Google search on the before and after pictures of an N54 Cylinder head. The combination of direct injection and an average PCV system means a lot of carbon fouling in the intake valves and intake ports.

Has anyone in Wellington had their N54 intake ports cleaned? If so where in Welly and how much. Tried Jeff Gray and the Service manager said he had never heard of the process and was very skeptical that it needed to be done.

It will be coming dont worry. Hoping to do before and after Dyno readings as well.

Thanks for the kind words I will get the interior photos done today or tomorrow at the latest. I think the price is fair and its a great driver.

Ok for shocks I was quoted by Stocks $1866.40 for a set of Koni Sports (Yellows). I went to a company in Britain and got the same set with a set of H&R Sport springs for $985 NZD including shipping. Now I will have to pay GST when they get to NZ so adding GST is $1132.75 and $75 for customs clearance that's $1207.75. Now as I already have sport suspension I may or may not fit the H&R springs, if I dont and choose to sell them then they are worth around $300, so my total cost of the Konis is $907.75 which will be half of what Stocks quoted me. I am not posting who I bought them off as I dont want Stocks complaining to Koni worldwide and shutting this down so if you want to know PM me.

I know most of the Mobil 98 came from Altona in Aussie or from Singapore, from what I remember BP was Aussie or Singapore as well.

As I see it still a reasonable tyre with sharp steering response and good dry performance which is definitely on my list. They can stay on while I use the funds for the Konis.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=190 Worth a read

No not at all, it's a bit tricky but not too bad. http://www.i6automotive.co.uk/bmw-disa-valve-intake-adjuster-unit-aluminium-repair-kit-3-0-only/

Well that 335i fell through but as luck would have it another one came up with less KM's and slightly tidier overall. It's only on 17's but has reasonable Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2's, so we will see how they go. Found a cheap option for Konis will post details as soon as I confirm it will happen.

I have just bought an E90 335i so its time to say goodbye to the 330ci. The specs and mods are as follows. 2003 330ci Auto, 193 k, Half Leather black interior, Silver Trim (Was walnut and can be included if new owner wants it). Color is Orientalblau. Vin is WBABN52030JU76397 Upgrades: BMW Motorsport steering wheel. Ohlins/4D Design Road and Track Fully adjustable suspension, better than Koni or Bilstein (Certified) Eibach Sway bars. (Stiffer than M Sport Bars, front adjustable) Poly Bushes front and rear. Strut Tower reinforcement plates. Rear shock mount reinforcement plates. Sony Bluetooth/USB/Aux in headset. Leather Gear Selector. Strut Tower brace. Staggered Style 68 Wheels 7.5 and 8.5 225/45/17 Pirelli P Zero Nero's and 245/40/17 Bridgestone RE003. Pirelli's are half worn, Bridgestone's are like new. Slotted front Rotors with Hawk HP+ Pads. (Front) Braided brake lines. (Fronts Fitted Rears included). Maintenace: Recently Serviced by First Class European in Petone. Transmission recently flushed and new filter. New Oil Level Sensor New Water Pump and Belt. Vanos Seals replaced. (Big difference in mid range torque!) New Valve Cover gasket. New Radiator Overflow tank and main radiator Hose. Idle Control Valve stripped and cleaned. (Smooth idle now) DISA Valve rebuilt. (Noticeably better Throttle response) Radiator flushed. New Cabin Air Filter. Oil Filter housing seals replaced. (Typical leak in an M54) Comes with new Lemforder front arms but not fitted. Bad Points: Sunroof internal cover does not track smoothly and has been removed. Sunroof works perfectly no leaks.(internal cover included) Clock spring clicks intermittently. Paint has a few nicks and chips. The car drives very well and has no know problems other than those listed, the auto shifts smoothly and the engine revs cleanly all the way to redline and is stronger in my opinion than two other 330's I have driven. The highlight is the way it handles, the Ohlins and the Eibach bars make a huge difference (Just ask Olaf) and on the 7 KM twisty road to my house the neighbors STI cant get away from me. The brakes are strong and its just drives really well. All the items that go wrong in an E46 are fixed, and the upgrades transform the car. It is in getting the cert for the Ohlins as after passing its previous WOF with them in the garage decided they needed a cert. So I will have all the detail photos next week. Based on the mechanical condition and the upgrades I was thinking $7500. .

Good to know.

Not that keen on Nittos, the new Asymmetric 3 gets a good review and the Michellins are just too much so we will see what happens with the S001's.

So at present I have prices on BS S001's, pretty decent tyre from what I can gather at set would be $1500 but the 265's are not in country so will find out Monday if that's a go. Goodyear F1 Asymetric 2/3 about 2k. Michelin Pilot Super Sport, about $2900. Nitto Invos, 2k. Just read some reviews on the new Goodyear F1 asymmetric 3 but looks like its not available in 265/30/19 but may be available in 255/35/19

The title of this post is pretty obvious but it was a bit of shock to me how much more expensive they are. Actually the biggest surprise was that decent mid range tyres like Bridgestone RE003's just aren't available in some of the bigger sizes and even the better bridgestones just aren't available at at all. (I like bridestones when they have the buy one get one half price deals). Any thoughts one 245/35/19 and 265/30/19 tyres?

Well the shocks might have to go on hold for a month or so. I went to inspect a 335i I am keen on and its quite tidy and cheap, not words you often use in the same sentence but the tyres on the 19 inch rims are junk so I suspect I will be shelling out somewhere around $12-1500 for some decent rubber.

True why even bother think that way, I have upgrade-itis.

Yes I was looking at that same kit from FCP a few days ago, ah so much to buy. Perhaps one day I will get a car that i dont then spend thousands upgrading.

Yes good points Ron, I have Ohlins in my E46 and the setup is very good indeed.

Ron the STrT's are non adjustable but are designed for lowered vehicles, my research says they are firmer than stock shocks. Having driven a few M Sport E90's I am pretty happy with how they handle, I would just like a little less roll and looking at the diameter of the rear sway bar I suspect it starts there. Koni yellows would be better no doubt but I also want some extra horsepower and perhaps a LSD as well, only so much money to go round.

I have done US pricing it's about the same or a little dearer than NZ pricing but they do have what I want so I am considering it.

Yes have a car in my sights just discussing money. M3 is an option I guess as it seems to fit the standard e92 chassis. I will have a look.