NZ00Z3

Z3 - E36/7 Pro's - Tops off driving - Lovely curved lines - Suspension can be made very nimble cheaply - Quickest steering rack ratio in any BMW - No room for the kids when out for a cruise - Easy to work on - Parts are easy to get new or used off E30 and E36 - Plug and play cruise control retrofit for M52TU and M54 models Con's - The plastic cooling Y connector at the back of the M44 block (1.9L models only) - All the M54 issues for the 6 cylinder models - Scuttle shake if you push it really really hard in the corners - Boot floor cross member/diff mount failure in high powered hard driven models (2.8L, 3.0L and M's) - Peeling leather on the dash if its an extended leather model.

Hi Looking for a rough Z3 to clean up as a project car: - 6 cylinder models only (no 1.9L cars) - Live rego Regards Murray

Is there an "activate" option that will exercise the unit. Had a sticking valve on a ABS unit in a E36/7. Activating it a couple of times cleared the fault.

Welcome Peter. Good luck with your manual conversion.

Hi Do you have the clown nose on the bottom of the rear view mirror? If so, you have the IR system that uses the receiver in the mirror. If not, you have the RF system that uses the receiver in the "C" pillar. See below link on converting a IR system to a RF system. Good learning about the system in there. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1047612 It does not matter which key you start the programming with.

Looking for an engine stand to fit a M54 engine on. I'm in Timaru and can travel to CHCH and Dunedin to pick up. If its further afield, it'll have to be freighted.

Thank you for your suggestions Should have listed my resources in the first post. I have the following on hand: - Bentley Z3, which covers the M52 and M54 engines - Haynes 3 series (Sept 1998 to 2006) - TIS. Not the best flowing app in the world, maybe my Kiwi brain is struggling with the conversion to Germany thinking and how they put thing into order.

Hi There is an old M54B25 sitting in my shed and winter boredom has got the better of me. Going to pull the engine apart and put it back together a couple of times as a self learning task. Would like to learn the correct way of doing things and tolerances/clearances etc. Depending on what I find (and my skill) it may never run again. Have a couple of workshop manuals that cover the basics but looking for more in-depth books. What are your favorite engine rebuild books for BMW engines.

They are on the Daughter's 323 (E46) and the rear tyres rub a bit when the car is loaded. Should have ET47 on it, but they came with the car. Tyres are 205 60 15's two new Membat (fitted yesterday) and 2 near new Super Cat's (less than 4,000 km). Would work a deal for cash plus a set of 16" BMW wheels with new tyres that are the correct ET for the car. The car is in Timaru and the purchaser would have to pay the freight for both sets. PM me if interested

What's the going rate for a set of 4 AC Schnitzer Type 2's, 7xJ15, H2, ET30, #36113653 ???

Welcome to the forum, always good to see another Z car owner on here.

Sorry, getting off topic here. Thanks guys for showing me the love over owning two of the same model car. How many of you would like to be able to say that you own two (2) 1 of 1 cars in N.Z. of your favourite BMW model?

The plugs were recently replaced and they were checked over the weekend to confirm that they are still tight then removed to check condition. They all looked good.

HiCar:- 2000 E46 323i (M52TUB25 engine)- 120,000 kmSymptoms:- Slight dull knock from engine at idle- Cylinder 6 is off the scale (1.5 to 2) on INPA rough running graph, all others are very even (<0.5).Expected cause:- Run big end (con rod) bearing on #6Question:- How hard is it to remove the sump (oil pan) and replace the big end (con rod) bearings with the engine still in the car?Thanks in advance.

Don't have a blue Z3 (yet). I'm in Timaru and my daily drive Z3 is Mora Red (think purple) You don't know until you try. At the least put in a complaint with the Police. The person will not like having the Police knocking on their door and asking questions. That alone would likely stop them thinking of doing it again.

Under the Trademe terms and conditions you have a legally binding contract. Find it and read it. If Trademe is not going to try and enforce it, you can. Communicate clearly to the seller that you have a binding contract and want to complete it. Do it in writing and keep all correspondence. Take the person to the Disputes Tribunal if the matter is up to $15,000. Doesn't cost much. No lawyers needed. https://www.disputestribunal.govt.nz/ If its not a Disputes Tribunal matter, Lay a complaint with the Police.

Have only seen 3 different cars advertised for sale in the last 3 years, so they are around. Will PM you with details of lasted one from Jan this year.

I'l be thinking about how hard it would be to get it's next WOF in a couple of weeks: - Speedo not working. May be related to the engine/diff change or might need a cluster change and re-code for the modifications - Check that it has a LVV certification plate for the engine change and any other modification that needs certification.

Hi Will be changing the Auto Transmission fluid in a Jap import 2000 E46 323i with a A5S 360R (GM 5L40-E) transmission in it. Green lable on the sump, transmission code is VP. Research says it has ETL 7045E ATF in it, which sounds to be a special mix of DEX 3. Considering using: - Castrol Transmax Multi Vehicle, which is DEX 3 with special additives for Jap import cars. -Penrite Multi-Vehicle ATV LV, which is DEX 6, since its backwards compatible with all GM auto's What do people use in these auto's? Cheers Muzz

Thank you for your comment. The ECU should all be good. The M52TUB25 engine is the M54B25 beta. Both are dual VANOS, 2.5 L and use all the same sensors, injectors, MAF and thermostat. I'm taking the M52TUB25 out and putting the M54B25 in with the M52TUB25 manifold and header. The ECU should not see any difference. It will adjust the fuel trims as it learns the new engine in hot/closed loop mode. The fuel trim tables for cold/open loop mode will still be for a 2.5L engine, so should not notice any differences. - Engine is on its way south from Auckland. - Two boxes of "all those other parts you should replace when the engine is out" are in the air from around the world - Will be making good use of any rainy days over the Xmas break with my head under the bonnet. - Have suggested to the family that a 4 day tin of good luck would make a great Xmas present for me.

Update, An engine has been purchased.

Thanks everyone, M54B25 has been purchased

Hi Looking at engine replacement options for a 2000 E46 that has a M52TUB25 from the factory. Don't want to get into LVV certification over Xmas so sticking to the 2.5L options. Been researching if a M54B25 will be a direct replacement if I use the existing headers and manifold. Yes I'll drop a HP or 2 off the M54 spec's, but if the engine fits, it will do nicely for a daily drive. Its looking very promising, but I can't confirm is the existing headers will bolt onto the M54 head. Has anyone tried this engine swap or can confirm the header question? Cheers Muzz

Hi Looking for a good running BMW M52TUB25 engine for my daughters E46 323i. PM me it you have one. This post is targeted at the normal forum member who may have an engine gathering dust in their shed. I have already sent Emails to the usual commercial BMW parts recyclers including this forums sponsor. Just changed the oil in the car and found lots of metal partials, slight knock in the engine, sounds like 1 big end minimum. Time to change the engine. Have considered and researched a range of alternative engine swaps, strokers etc and have decided to stick to the 2.5 L engine so that I don't get caught in Xmas rush time delays trying to certify fitting a bigger engine. Would consider a M54B25 if someone could tell me how to set it up to run it with a Siemans MS42 DME. Regards Murray Wall Phone 021 053 6070

Hi I have checked VANOS operation with a logging app called Testo. The link below is a direct download, so only click on it if you want to down load it. http://phenoboy.kapsi.fi/testo It runs on the same platform as INPA and allows you save test data to a CSV file and in Excel create a chart of the Instantaneous and reference settings of one cam at a time. Just set it up and rev the engine through a couple of cycles and see if the VANOS is functioning. Sample Chart attached. This is a M52TUB20 with 160,000km on the clock before VANOS seal replacement. Hope this helps Regards Muzz Here's the Exhaust chart, where you can clearly see the decay due to the spring in the Exhaust Vanos cylinder pushing back the piston e.g. oil getting past the Vanos seals.