Karter16's E46 M3 Journal

[Karter16 466]

3 hours ago, deedub said:

Thank you. I'm a complete noob when it comes to vehicle ECU's. I've been trying to track down info around the motronic 1.x versions. Still got a bit of searching/reading to do but thanks for the heads up on the processor used. 

I don't have a read of the program ROM yet. Still trying to figure out how I connect to it so I can get it off.

I use Linux for everything except gaming. I'm hoping support for tooling on Linux is reasonable. Keep seeing windows come up in convos around diagnostics...

TunerPro have a bunch of xdf's (definition files for tunes) for the Motronics as well as binary reads of the tunes - might be worth poking in to: https://www.tunerpro.net/downloadBinDefs.htm#BMW

[Karter16 466]

Couple of updates:

1: The wheels arrived today 🎉 Mandatory photo, although we all already know what ARC8's look like 🙃

2: The male MAF sensor connectors arrived. I don't actually have need of these for myself, but I finally came across them and thought I'd order some to confirm they're a match and if so share the details with everyone as saves having to pay Turner money for their relocation harnesses.

These things appear to be the exact same item Turner are using and they come with the pins and seals.

I ordered 5 of these for the princely sum of $9.58USD total including shipping. per-unit price is $1.24USD.

You can purchase your own (you can order singles) here: https://www.hdconnectorstore.com/productdetail/32496.html 
 

[Karter16 466]

I ordered tires this evening. After much research I decided to go with the Bridgestone Potenza Sport. I had been planning to take the well-trod route of Michelin PS4S's, however they're not available in New Zealand (and importing tires was just going to be too expensive to make sense) in any of the sizes remotely close to what I need (I confirmed this with Michelin NZ directly), this was a surprise especially given I'd checked on their NZ website that those sizes were available here 👎

This meant I then needed to figure out alternative options. In Michelins that meant PSS's or PS5's (no Cup options available in NZ in the sizes I need). The PSS's are too old, and the PS5's while by all accounts very good had me a bit concerned about the softer tire wall than the PS4S. The RE050A's that I'm running currently, are fairly stiff in the sidewall department and while objectively terrible compared to modern options I am used to the stiffer sidewall. By moving to 18's I'm already introducing more compliance for a better ride and road stickability (that's the technical term 🙃), and I was a little concerned about also moving to an even softer sidewall as well.

I then looked wider, and after a bunch of research, looking at what is available in NZ, settled on the Potenza Sport. The Potenza Race would be an even better option I think, but they're not available in 18in options. The RE71-RS's while the stickiness would have been giggle-worthy, don't give the same degree of feedback and would be impractical in wet conditions, so the Sport it is. TireReviews.com have a good review of it and on dry handling it's very close to the PS4S, slightly better in the wet, and ranks worse on comfort (due to the firmer sidewall), slightly worse on noise and worse on wear. The wear doesn't bother me as I won't do enough km's anyway, the firmer sidewall I'm okay with and the noise will still be a lot better than the RE050A's anyway.

This is all splitting hairs of course, but might as well get the best option I can.


Big shout out to @Palazzo for suggesting Costco. Bridgestone NZ direct have the best price out of the rest due to a special deal currently which comes to only $2376.32 NZD for all 4 tires fitted. Costco, for exactly the same thing, is $1379.94, plus in addition you get a $360 store credit as well. Given we regularly shop at Costco for essentials this means the end cost for the tires comes to $1020. Which is quite astonishing to me. That's significantly less than I paid for new performance tires for my 318i in 2007!

[Eagle 1773]

1 hour ago, Karter16 said:

Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

I recently looked at those for my S55 as they were the only good in my sizes along with the PS5's (both around $1900 trade). Upon reading reviews they didnt have the characteristics i was after for the car so i went with the PS5's.

That pricing is insane in this day and age though, buying power that good or tyre shops got big markup, maybe both. Would of been interesting to see what the PS5 cost in the same sizing. May have to drive to Auckland for future tires.

[Karter16 466]

11 minutes ago, Eagle said:

I recently looked at those for my S55 as they were the only good in my sizes along with the PS5's (both around $1900 trade). Upon reading reviews they didnt have the characteristics i was after for the car so i went with the PS5's.

That pricing is insane in this day and age though, buying power that good or tyre shops got big markup, maybe both. Would have been interesting to see what the PS5 cost in the same sizing. May have to drive to Auckland for future tires.

PS5’s came to $1775.94. The fronts (245/40R18) were cheaper than the Potenza Sports, but the rears (255/40R18) were significantly more for whatever reason.