adro

I have really enjoyed Frank Stephensons channel on YouTube, more of a design perspective than just a practical car review. https://youtube.com/c/FrankStephensondesign

I wondered if there was suppose to be a gasket in there as I cleaned it up, no sign of an o ring and then it was leaking straight away. Thanks

Few little bits ticked off over the last few weeks. I finally wrapped my steering wheel. Thanks @Sammo for the heads up on Mewant, and @Vass for sharing his version as this motivated me. Added this German Engineering expansion cap. Some heated debate on the forums about this product but my take on it was it's just going to vent some pressure before the 2 bar stock cap would...maybe saving some cooling pipes....pipes are new so also not too sure I'm too worried either way...was more a magpie purchase of a guy in the bimmer club...shiney engine bay thing for M54....take my money...and yes, I need a new power steering reservoir, or cap or something as it's leaking. This modlite module turned up from Bulgaria yesterday. I had one of these in the E39 to give me key fob folding mirrors and I really like it.They have since come down in price so I got one for the E46. https://modbmw.com I'm in no way affiliated with them, but i do think its a cool product. You can do the functions with a newer LCM but i couldn't find any. This gives you welcome/follow me home lights, 3 click courtesy indicators and fold/unfold electric mirrors (providing you have the powerfold function to begin with). There's some other options but these are the ones i care about. I spliced it into where a cd stacker once lived in the back of the touring (ground, 12V and Kbus). Real easy spot and cable ties neatly to a bracket with some foam so it doesn't rattle. These little features make the car feel a touch more modern...and it’s nicer to use the fob to fold the mirrors than having to karate chop them manually.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3480716223.htm Looks like a nice example.

I’ve been digging into my low/rough idle issue again. I have the 6 pin TPS version as it had the sport auto box and it won’t give me continuity for wide open throttle (according to E30 zone it uses the volts to send that info through the TCU to the ECU but obviously the TCU is no longer in use as it’s been manual swapped) . I have a new 3 pin TPS which has continuity at idle and at wide open throttle. I’m wondering if I can splice a 3 pin connector into the exisiting TPS loom and have it talk to the ICV/ECU as it should (providing I get the wire colours correct) im not sure this will solve my idle issue as the ICV is clearly working with the 6 pin TPS at the moment. The ICV is measuring within spec. I found a thread that had @polley , @Etwenty1 , @_ethrty-Andy_ with the same sport boxes doing a manual swap, can you guys offer any help here? Did you ever run into lean running after your manual swaps due to not having the ECU know it was full throttle? Or did you swap to the 3 pin TPS? my car is a E30 325i SE that had the sport auto box and now has a getrag 260 running motronic 1.3 cheers, A.

That’s a nice birthday right there

220,000km I scooped up some power folding mirrors from @Vass This was a pretty simple install, door cards off and a bit of trim removal, modules already there so was a matter of plugging and playing. The last step was to swap the colour caps over.....and of course, to my horror mine had the tabs broken and have been RTV'd in place. wazzup 2 tone. Went to Union Hardware this morning and got a colour matched can of spray paint to return them back to white. These silver ones were in good condition so didn't require a massive amount of prep work. Light scuff and pissht piisshhht. The old mirrors were in bad shape so needed tidying up anyway. Old mirror: The bloke at Union thought i might not need the clear coat (clearly did n't think my car was very shiny 😜) but turns out i think it does. So they are in place for now but will go back and get some clear coat another day. Thanks to @Eagle for a nicely greased idler pulley. No more squeaky engine bay noise for the time being. My pulley was all crusted up with dry old grease. I noted the hydraulic tensioner pulley is spinning very freely and a bit wobbly so that's next on the list.

Thanks @Gaz . Sounds like Union hardware up here off a similar service. I’ll check them out on Tuesday. Cheers.

Hi, I need to paint my wing mirror caps (the coloured cap on the outside of the mirror) on my E46, I'm wondering if anyone has had any success with an off the shelf product like 'Dupli Colour Alpine white touch up' or can you recommend some options? Since they are small items and have some black between the mirror and the car panels i was hoping to not have to go to a bodyshop for such a small job.

Beast mode! Awesome work.

Yeah we need to do that this year!

Ok cool I’ll give it a try.

I'm finding it perfect for our needs, the auto makes it feel a bit old compared to modern cars but it's really not that bad. Excellent, I couldn't hear it today so I'll get in touch when it becomes more prominent.

Out trying to drive the teething child to sleep. Noticed an intermittent noisy belt/pulley that will need further inspection while jumping out to take photos. Can't hear it from in side the cabin.

I've got 1/4 of a tank to go!

yes, Koni's, E90 top/drop hats and H&R sport springs. I do have 10mm spring pads in the rear to make that sag less...could do with another 5mm imo. I use to think the ride was abit harsh, but now I think it's perfect, depends on the roads really but for city, highway/spirited B roads and the odd driver training track day i think it's optimum. It's quite different to the Eibachs in the E46 but I guess thats an apples and oranges comparison.

Got a new lens today so took the E30 out for abit of a test.

Are the electric mirrors electric fold in type?

😳 I had no idea. Thanks

I also wanted 20W50 but apparently the 20/60 is pretty much the same. Mineral vs Synthetic…I’m just putting in what the manual said. I also run it on 91 as that’s what the fuel map on the Turner Motorsport chip is. I’m doing 750km between wof’s atm so not doing enough km‘s to really have any notes. would be interested what everyone else is putting in there M20’s?

125,xxx km Did a routine yearly oil change a few weeks back. Penrite 20W-60 mineral and filter. As per @Olafs thread, we met up and took some photos. I had cleaned it the week before hoping to get to the Southwards meet. I did make it, just in the E46 instead....swapping car seats around really is a PITA.

Poetry in motion

looks like the 1 series is a real all rounder

219,000km Much needed wheel alignment. Didn't get the sheet but he said it was very 'out' . Tyres pumped up to 40psi up front and 36 in the rear, cars feeling great. Here's my photo assistant taking a smoko break.

It was obviously meant to be, and perfect it needs some love, you ( and us) would get bored otherwise. How good is the engine noise!