E46 M3 Maintenance & Improvement Diary

[slotcars1]

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

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.

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

No it doesn't, I was not too phased about the light, warms the hand and didn't particularly like it. You can get the ZHP with light, but it is mooooooorsssee expensive

 

[Lunatik]

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

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.

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

No it doesn't, I was not too phased about the light, warms the hand and didn't particularly like it. You can get the ZHP with light, but it is mooooooorsssee expensive

Yeah i'm also not phased by the light, i just need to get the boot then i can fit the new gear knob on.
Thanks again :thumbs:

 

[khakhi]

Hi guys,

im looking to buy an E46 M3 SMG...what maintanance cost can i b looking at?

Cost for:
Clutch?
SMG Pump?
Tires for standard rim?
The different service inspections?
Dif?
Sub-frame?
VANOS?

Any thing else i should be on the lookout for?

 

[slotcars1]

Small update:

I did the piano black interior trim pieces but it did not come out as I expected and I am not actually liking it. I think I am going to try the carbon wrap...

Yesterday I purchased Ravenol gearbox, diff and Engine oil as well as ordered some powerflex bushes and the VANOS seal kit from Moranor.

Waiting on final pricing on Koni sport and Eibach springs from Moronor and then will decide between those and the BC's.

More to follow

 

[Peter@AEW]

IMHO the Koni Eibach combo is far better suited for everyday use providing for better control without requiring that you undergo numerous chiropractor sessions.

 

[Slick-wp]

Changing the H&R springs?

 

[slotcars1]

yeah the shocks are not in a good state and it would appear that the springs are to blame so that is the reason for changing

 

[Nikhil]

consider the bilstein range of shocks to combine with your H&R springs. Makes for an awesome handling car :rollsmile:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

IMHO the Koni Eibach combo is far better suited for everyday use providing for better control without requiring that you undergo numerous chiropractor sessions.

I see what you did there... Sir Greek...

:fencelook:

 

[slotcars1]

IMHO the Koni Eibach combo is far better suited for everyday use providing for better control without requiring that you undergo numerous chiropractor sessions.

I see what you did there... Sir Greek...

:fencelook:

Was that a personal attack? :tease:

:fencelook: :rollsmile:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

LOL. Peter and I have a joke about my car being so stiff that I need a chiropractor every time I drive her. He's right...

 

[Nikhil]

LOL. Peter and I have a joke about my car being so stiff that I need a chiropractor every time I drive her. He's right...

S54 whore when you updating your thread:bat::ka-boom:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

Soon. :fencelook:

 

[slotcars1]

Soon. :fencelook:

yes... when? huh? when? :bangdesk:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

there is a certain midnight ice cream run happening soon... maybe then.

:fencelook:

 

[slotcars1]

So these arrived today, thanks to Moronor from Axis and the efficient service you will receive from him!



I have decided to go for the BC coilover kit type BR-RA, you can read more about them here http://www.bc-sa.co.za/products0eac.html?view=BR_Type

I have just about everything to send the car in for its first bit of TLC, now just waiting for tyres (went for the advan neova ad08 tyres), the powerflex bushes and the coilover kit.

Updated spreadsheet on what I have purchased/spent on the ///M3 to date.

 

[slotcars1]

Tyres just arrived from the courier, super excited. They are frightfully sexy.

Now just the wait for the powerflex and the coilovers and she goes in for some loving.

---

Here is a nice video on the AD08 tyres for anyone who is interested:

[video=youtube]

 

[moranor@axis]

why not do it step by step fit the tires now :rollsmile:

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

Looks like a great tyre.

 

[kabal]

Awesome stuff Matt raise:

Yeah i'm also not phased by the light, i just need to get the boot then i can fit the new gear knob on.
Thanks again :thumbs:

When I did mine, I decided I didnt care about the old gearknob, but still wanted the nice nappa boot, so I just cut the knob off, and folded the boot in on itself, securing with a small ziptie