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Olaf

Blue Ming - my e46 325i LCI Touring

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It's old news really, as I've had this car 9.5 years.  I figured it should be time I made a project thread for it!

Purchased 28 Mar 2012 from Auckland with 112k kms on it.  I'm the first NZ owner.  It's Orientblau Metalic, hence the name.  2002 model.

I've done plenty of work on it.

  • Brake rotors (Stoptech) and Pads (Akebono Euro), and parking brake kit.
  • Suspension: Sachs OEM shocks, Meyle HD & Lemforder; thicker ARBs
  • Wheels: Style 194 with RE003 225/45R17, 245/40R17
  • Tons of maintenance: PCV, Cooling, Coils, all o2 sensors, VANOS seals (Beisan), engine and trans mounts, oil pan gasket, the usual valve cover gaskets, fully rebuilt trans, fuel pump, replaced broken rear spring a couple of times (first time wrong springs supplied), window regulators.
  • A few minor changes: MD deck to CD deck (factory).

Next up maintenance:

  • high pressure fuel line, VANOS oil line
  • Possibly the springs (OE Msport?)
  • Fix the stereo speakers
  • Fit new sunroof seal (preventative maintenance)

Next up changes:

  • Msport steering wheel (I have the wheel, need a post-recall airbag), and multifunction integration
  • Programming for all doors unlock, eliminate reversing 'bong'.
  • Maybe a manual conversion in the distant future?

She's part of the family, can't seem to part with her.  Enjoy driving her too much.  

Here she is when we first bought her, stock as a stock thing.  The wheels are long gone, there's a bit less paint from 9.5 years outside.  Character!  She still looks good with a wax job.

883204413_April2012stockascanbe.thumb.jpg.8e7712227b1c10ff6754b15e75901b69.jpg

Edited by Olaf
2002 model
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Oh, and she flew through a WoF last week.  

I fixed the windscreen washers, and replaced two parking bulbs.  And popped on a new rear wiper blade.

The windscreen washer jets had clogged again, something growing in the washer fluid tank snots up the pre-pump filter.  Looks like frog spawn.  I use only BMW fluid (have done for about 6 years).  I think it's plastic breaking down?  Anyway, I decided to replace the reservoir, pre-filter, pump - so they're all fresh and new.  I'll get to the washer jets soon.

98CEDB2F-61CC-4122-A806-A67D1F44DF83.thumb.jpeg.56cba418cb8187717558727ecf0a64d8.jpeg

Ewww.  Snot, last week.

 

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flash new reservoir

 

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new park light bulbs - easy!  NB - you want the 5W items.

 

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new tailgate wiper blade

 

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200670kms

 

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nozzles will go in soon.

Edited by Olaf
part details
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Don't mind a bit of Orientblau E46 touring (though yours has a better engine). HAY357 still alive and kicking 8 years after I sold it though

DSC_6356.jpg

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N42 powered even.  Though on carjam appears to be doing less than 3k kms per year.  Interesting to see one with shadowline and the clear lights; I'd previously considered doing mine, decided to leave the subtle stainless accents and amber turn signals as a point of difference.

Edited by Olaf
linky

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Mine started life with orange indicators but personally I prefer the Euro style clear lights. 19 year old N42 is good going I would have thought...

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