E46 M3 Maintenance & Improvement Diary

Thought I would start a thread on the maintenance and little improvements I plan on doing with the ///M

Plans for this year include

Improvements
Today I have ordered the ZHP weighted gearknob and performance package alcantara gear gaitor as well as a new headlamp cleaning cover (someone stole the original one) through SMG canal walk. everything except the gearknob is ex germany so will be waiting a few weeks.
Full bush upgrade with Poly bushes through Axis
New suspension bits and bobs
-here I am still deciding between a good shock and spring combo and coilovers
Re-do interior trim piano black (plan on doing myself time depending)

Maintenance and general
New Tyres (Looking at the Yokohamma advan neova AD08'S)
VANOS rattle and seal kit (Axis and SVG)
Full inspection 2 service (SVG)

I will update over time with pics and pricing etc. which will hopefully serve of some interest to someone in the future

Ex VAT Prices on parts ordered today from SMG

Part Number....................Description....................Price
25117919219....................Gear lever cover......................422.69
25117896886....................Gearshift knob/M plaque/6-speed heavy vers 540.17
61677066843....................cover, spray nozzle left primed....164.90

Had a couple of projects waiting on payment, in order to start some of the work but it should be coming in soon and hoping to have completed most of the above by end of June

Nice thread!

Cant believe I never checked with the dealer first regarding the headlamp cleaning cover as mine also got stolen, and I ended up paying
R400 for a OEM 2nd hand one :bangdesk:

zama said:

Nice thread!

Cant believe I never checked with the dealer first regarding the headlamp cleaning cover as mine also got stolen, and I ended up paying
R400 for a OEM 2nd hand one :bangdesk:

Click to expand...

I have also come to realise (today actually) that some dealers are cheaper than others (by a long way).... :fencelook: not sure how this all works but will not argue

---

and I asked for discount and got quite a nice one... I have a thread somewhere for the original prices... but pretty sure it was more

Nice. Will be doing a detailed thread on e46 M3 diff maintenance and upgrading with 3:91 ratio.

Not as easy as people think.

Got pics, with prices of parts and part numbers and where to source etc. Will post soon.

Nice idea!!! :thumbs:

Good thread on an even greater car

Awesome.......I will also be doing this :

VANOS rattle and seal kit (Axis and SVG)
Full inspection 2 service (SVG)

once i get my Z4M, i searched and those seem the only things really that affect the motors on the facelift E46 and Z4M's?

Eust said:

Awesome.......I will also be doing this :

VANOS rattle and seal kit (Axis and SVG)
Full inspection 2 service (SVG)

once i get my Z4M, i searched and those seem the only things really that affect the motors on the facelift E46 and Z4M's?

Click to expand...

There are a million things that can often go wrong with an ill maintained e46 M...

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=190111

a nice thread on maintenance...

Check out crash's threads as well... http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/search.php?action=results&sid=ce2cdfdc9962d718133b072a6dd59f1b

So the first bit of parts have arrived, unfortunately cannot do anything without spraying the nozzle cover and waiting for the boot to arrive just yet, but here they are

I cannot wait to install this gear knob. It feels so tit. It's heavy and just feels soooooo good

Certainly picked up some new tips and traits

Great thread :thumbs:

SOOOOOOO.... the alcantara gear boot has arrived :joy:

install pics to follow, going to test the piano black on the gear surround as well at the same time. Hopefully will have an update by the end of the weekend.

BOOM

Niiiiiice. I waaaant

So I installed the boot and the shift knob last night. ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SUGGESTED THIS KNOB. WOW, it is amazing.

For any of you looking for the Alcantara boot DO NOT use the part number I used above, the "long part" tapering is the wrong way round (I suspect I ordered for LHD). it worked as I swapped the plastic clip from my old one around and it worked 100% but just means you can't really sell the old knob etc.

I will try and find the correct part number.

Before:



After:



pics don't do this little improvement justice, nor the interior of my car but you will get the just of it

Looking sweeet. I like it

Looking good :thumbs:
How did you remove the old gear knob?
I have tried and tried but its so difficult to remove :argh:

Lunatik said:

Looking good :thumbs:
How did you remove the old gear knob?
I have tried and tried but its so difficult to remove :argh:

Click to expand...

HAHAHA WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY!!!

I ended up standing with one leg on either side of the centre console... making sure I am not pulling towards my balas, head on the sunroof and PUUUULLLLLLL...

Not easy.

word of advise, lift the boot up and disconnect the light cabling otherwise you will destroy it when the knob finally lets go.

Sooooo pretty!

Wanted to do the Alcantara in my 135i as well.
A decent upholsterer said he could make a boot for R180.00 for me.
Should I not sell Im doing that!!! Go nicely with my steering wheel

UpNcOmiNg! said:

Sooooo pretty!

Wanted to do the Alcantara in my 135i as well.
A decent upholsterer said he could make a boot for R180.00 for me.
Should I not sell Im doing that!!! Go nicely with my steering wheel

Click to expand...

Once all the other bits and bobs are sorted, the steering wheel will go on this list. working on a "have to do" or "I can't live with it like this" basis for now

slotcars1 said:

Lunatik said:

Looking good :thumbs:
How did you remove the old gear knob?
I have tried and tried but its so difficult to remove :argh:

Click to expand...

HAHAHA WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY!!!

I ended up standing with one leg on either side of the centre console... making sure I am not pulling towards my balas, head on the sunroof and PUUUULLLLLLL...

Not easy.

word of advise, lift the boot up and disconnect the light cabling otherwise you will destroy it when the knob finally lets go.

Click to expand...

Thanks dude :rollsmile:
Does your new gear knob have a light inside?

Very nice [THUMBS UP SIGN]
Haven't been on here for ages.

I Like :inlove: :bravo: