Cement

I did look at the codes, and nothing stood out from memory ... ASC was moaning about no CAN signal to / from the ECU (which has been removed). Checked the brake fluid sensor connector but unsure how it functions, one terminal was ground and one had about 10v on it. Might take a look at the wear sensors next i think, assume continuity is broken when the sensor wears through normally and I should be able to jumper the plug to simulate 'all good' ?

Brand new pads, discs and sensors all around ... but in saying that it could be wiring or similar hmmm. Any way to check via INPA or other diagnostics so I don't have to jack it all up in the air etc ?

I'm trying to get to the bottom of the things that can cause the dash brake light to stay on (red) in my E46. So far I have: Validated I'm getting all 4 wheel speeds from the ABS unit Validated the make / break switch on the handbrake itself is functioning Checked there is plenty of brake fluid in the reservoir When I lift the handbrake slightly when driving I get the audible beeps so that confirms the actual switch function. Anybody aware of the requirements for the light to go out ?

Ran the VIN and I have the below (https://www.mdecoder.com/decode/wbabl32040jr45006) ... which i take it is the basic bits. Did you have a source for the MB Quarts in NZ or just ordered from overseas as per most things for our cars ? 😅

So I just got the CD changer working again in the E46 and have a great collection of the previous owners music to now listen to ... but the speakers are all rooted. This is a NZ new coupe with the 'Business' audio. This is the front door setup ... hoping somebody can ID the speakers and replacement options (good mid price range not crazy expensive ideally) before I remove the door cards etc. Will be looking to replace fronts and rears, all poked basically.

More pics of workshop please 😍

Also, major development on the engine output front !! Had been feeling like it was no where near as potent as it was lately although it was driving much better (idle, rev hang etc). Have been trying to data log my a/f ratios or voltages via Android app NCSIII and OBD2 dongle but alas they only have readings in 'alpha' ... this was on the thought that my sensors are much further back in the exhaust than previous and may not be getting hot enough etc, hence skewing things. Annnnnnnyyyhoooooo ... via the phone app I could at least reset the fuel trims, so I did that. Idle and drivability back to been a bit pants BUT it must have picked up 100hp !! Back to ripping like it used to. So will have to get it on a dyno with some calibrated wide band and see what the story is some time soon ... great that I was not imagining it slowing up at least !! Now, these may look essentially like the same photos but ... they're not 😆 Did a ceramic spray coating, dressed the tyres and finally cleaned under the bonnet. Its probably looking about as good as its going to for a while !!

The WoF didn't turn up anything unexpected which is great, so with a couple weeks to go before certification booking I have been hitting off more odd jobs: New BMW 'evo' wiper blades installed after the Bosch ones didn't wipe a patch of the window New fog lights and surrounds arrived last week so installed those Ordered a replacement clock spring which should fix the airbag and horn Installed new oil pressure switch, no longer leaks yuuusss Installed swanky little air filter for the rocker cover Probably most fun of all was giving it its first post op bath and then a luxurious clay bar treatment Will give it another wash then onto some polishing to get it looking sorta pretty. So many stone chips in the bonnet and the bumpers have spider web sorta cracking .... but looks good from five meters at least

Soooo back on topic here, confirmed the source of the issues which is great !! Also explains why the horn was not working Clock spring is completely fubar !! Ribbon detached and some plastic bits broken also.

I reckon they're on the right track there (😜), but still eludes me why people don't spend a few hours cleaning to make it look 3x better !! Like selling a house with your skiddy undies on the floor and last nights nachos still on the bench.

Unfortunately not its just the very basic one with just the one button ... the horn

Ya, told them I was hoping with some cleaning of contacts etc on the way through it would be resolved ... they were keen to keep the car for longer to diagnose but I had another appointment to get to so could not. Horn is not working also (can't hear relay activate, fuses have power) so could well be something in the clock spring or similar which sounds kinda common.

Sorry I should have clarified, the error was present before I took it in for the replacement. Was hopeful it would be fixed as part of the process but alas no.

So I need to get this resolved to fail my WoF to get my cert to get my Wof to get my rego Translated from German INPA. Has just had the drivers airbag replaced under recall. Anybody faced this one and have some ideas of where to head first ? Or alternately a recommendation on workshop who can resolve cost effectively ?

Yuuur not sure, I assume they put them in place pretty accurately ... I should have made a little jig to test them out hmmmm. When my new Powerflex bushes arrive i'll try and remember to check it out 👍 Made up the remaining lower bracket for the dry sump tank which is adding some piece of mind, although it was very secure with just the top mount installed. Replaced all of the shocks with the near new items I got from @Eagle, which is great as it has a go at a WoF today (essentially generation of another todo list probably hah). Drivers airbag was replaced this morning at BMW under recall but alas did not clear down the code there Will start a thread for that as will need to get it resolved. Completed the custom pool noodle intake tubes, could have spent longer getting them looking perfectly round / smooth but compromised to get things moving. Got a custom can of 2k clear satin to finish them up but ended up with a lot of pinholes for some reason. Still look ok, just don't inspect closely !! Finally got the air filters installed which is pretty exciting ... had to change out to some compact models as the original cheap pod's I got were never going to fit once the guard liners were in place.

Yea, one of the few times I have been pleasantly surprised !! Would be keen to make up some jig and compare the spring strength to the stock item 🤔

Got the sway bay back from Archers Auto Springs, paint job is a bit industrial (expected) but looks accurate to my mockup. Had it made with three holes per side with the middle being the OEM location. Mounts up fine and is a really great fit Stoked !! Pretty cost effective also at only $405.

Got out for a drive last night to see if my oil leek repair had been successful and its definitely better. Got to and from the motorway on the test mission and made some observations: Driveline is smooth which is really nice Calculations seemed to be accurate and 100kph was about 2250rpm Really got to get the throttle response / idle sorted as it makes shifting and cruising at moderate rpm a bit pants It feels much faster than you are actually going, probably just getting used to sitting much lower plus the sound Radiator performs real well, showing about 40 degrees at radiator outlet to the engine indicating partial thermostat opening under steady state driving. Oil temp never gets high enough which I'd like to sort but really don't know how, most I saw was about 70 degrees at the tank Seems to pull fairly well, yet to get past 5k rpm as there is just a lot going on experience wise 🤣 Booked in Monday for the airbag recall at BMW then to see if the Nissan folks can do the idle air volume relearn process via their diagnostics etc. Got the PWM radiator fan controller mounted up in its little 3D printed box ... learnt that the power is on all of the time and draws about 100mA in standby so might need to put a relay in front of it. Works well though, highly recommend the controller if you need one Below some more snaps from the making of the intake tubes, the carbon sleeve was SO much better than trying to spiral wrap !! Peel ply applied and hung up to cure. Moved to a 100mm wide peel ply and was pretty well behaved to wrap. The PVC conduit pulled out of the tubes fairly easily once I softened it with steam again then it was down to getting the noodle and tape out. Made up a series of hooks out of 8mm steel rod with a sharpened end ... worked away until the mother load came out ... very satisfying. Test fitted the tubes and should work well ... once the filters arrive i'll finalise the length and make them pretty by painting on more resin, sanding back and clear coating. Also got the radiator fan mounted up with two bolts out of 4, bit floppy but functional

Not stoked with how the glass layers went but it'll be workable and functionally good ... the trick now will be getting plenty of epoxy filler on and sanding back to a reasonable shape before the carbon goes over the top. Need some sort of oven or heating arrangement to cure things faster and also post-cure the finished product which is a good idea according to the helpful man at NZ Fibreglass Supplies. On a side note, the same nice man at the shop has just made a mold of an E46 (to confirm) carbon roof ... they made the first part off it and it looks super swanky !! He is going to give me a call when they make another ... super interesting !!

Back on the arts 'n crafts jobs now ... reeeeeally hoping a nicer flow through the MAF sensors sorts out the throttle response / hang and idle. Decided to mount the factory plastic MAF tubes inline with the new tubes to keep things simple and have the diameter / sensor readings match what the ECU is expecting. Have taped the tubes ready for wax and composite ... located a chap with some carbon sleeves also which will be awesome as I can get two layers of flat cloth on then fill and sand etc then two layers of the sleeve to finish.

Popped in the Chase Bays window washer reservoir finally which the WOF man will be happy about; its the lower one attached to its cousin the power steering tank. Also did a quick test of my steam punk noodle solution to make the intake tubes ... should work really well and super easy to get a bespoke shape out of it !! Only complication with the intake tube creation will be the MAF sensor tubes which are a bit smaller than the noodle so will probably end up integrating the factory plastic parts into the composite tubes.

So I got out for another short drive this afternoon to try and get the idle sorted (no luck) and I can concur, its in need of the LSD alright !! Got my front sway bar mocked up this weekend, welding the spring steel is not easy (apparently needs pre-heating and other black magic) but it should hopefully hold up long enough to have the real item made. The wacky step in it will be some kind of bend in the real item ... unless they make it like the mock, which would be really funny ... but also really lame Yes, thats a piece of 16mm rebar in there to lengthen it a little hah. The source of drama around the oil pump plumbing ... will be a pretty tidy solution once made at least. Had to bore a hole in the bracket to tack the cut pieces back together at a new orientation. Ta daaaa ... what a thing of beauty 😆

Hope thats Hirepool's problem and not yours now !!

Ha, that was me on Treadme asking about the shocks 😂 I know my front left is pretty sad and will hold me up at WOF / cert time shortly. Online decoder says I have "S226 Sports suspension settings" for my 318Ci so should be perfect. Consider them sold, please PM me bank acc details etc ... are you in Akl any time soon ?

Not sure if this is a bit controversial but I spotted ... myself 😆 First time in over two years parking the car any place but my garage, took a couple quick happy snaps to celebrate the occasion !!