My E46 M3 Maintenance Thread

[Sankekur]

awesome :rollsmile:
the thing is you now know you getting the best possible job just prepare yourself for the amount of missing bolts you will find because someone decided you did not need them :yuck:

Not to mention missing covers etc


Each thing you do will give you more confidence to tackle the next thing that you need to do.

 

[kabal]

Airfilter:

137 217 384 62 - R115

total time, about 10minutes, including removing of the airbox from the car.

difficulty: 10/10
releasing 2 clips and removing the old filter element is hard enough, but the real tough job is removing the new filter from the plastic wrapping.
suggestion: get this done at the dealer

 

[moranor@axis]

does the old filter have foam?

 

[KSINGH]

Y no performance filter?

 

[kabal]

does the old filter have foam?

yes it does, on the dirty/underside, not sure why. looked on m3forum, and all the pics have without.

Y no performance filter?

I like my MAF, I like proper filtering, I like spending R100 instead of R500, and I like OEM

 

[moranor@axis]

i think thats a awesome filter design probably the only reason we dont see it more is because it will cost more to produce...

 

[herr bmw]

great thread kabal.also used to do my own,now dont have the time anymore due to work.

may i give some advice?when trying to remove some thing stubborn,eg water pipe or you see that it a small area and a bolt is tight,use gloves,garden gloves work well for me,if you do slip,you dont remove skin.

been in the trade for 19 years,and in the begining learnt the hard way

 

[calypso]

The filter with the attached foam looks identical to the e36 M3 unit.

 

[Sankekur]

Y no performance filter?

I like my MAF, I like proper filtering, I like spending R100 instead of R500, and I like OEM

raise:

And to those wondering the filter in the M3 is exactly the same one that is used in the entire e46 range, everything from the 318i to the M3 uses this filter, so if it good enough for the monster of an engine in the M3 I doubt it will be holding your non-M e46 back too much.


The air filter that I took out of my car when I serviced it the first time also had the foam and the new one didn't.

 

[kabal]

this is another air filter part number, that actually shows on realoem - 13721730946 - basically every straight (6/4) engine from e36, e46, e39, etc


The part number of the part I have doesnt actaully exist on realoem, getbmwparts.com

 

[maximus]

Great write-ups damn M3 parts are expensive :fencelook:

 

[kabal]

Oil Service:

6 Litres Castrol TWS - R1377 from zeemax
Oil filter kit - 11 42 7 833 769 - R150

Did this today, super easy to do, really no need to pay someone to change your oil

Took about me about 3 hours to do, but that included 2 hours between me removing the sump plug and old filter, and reinstalling.

No point in posting all the steps I did, I just followed this DIY: http://m3.madrussian.net/diy_oil_change.shtml

1 thing, do not attempt to do this if you do not have a 6mm hex 3/4" socket. An allen key just wont work, you might strip the sump bolt, and then you wont be able to torque it to spec.

Difficulty: 3/10

All the sundries needed, 6litres tws and 1 oem oil filter kit

This is what the Castrol Edge looks like that you are allowed to put in your S54. DO NOT use Castrol Edge Sport 10W60!!

6mm hex 3/4" socket

---

random pic

 

[moranor@axis]

love the madrussian :rollsmile:

 

[calypso]

I still need to find an oil extractor. Jacking this car up is harder then it needs to be.

 

[kabal]

I still need to find an oil extractor. Jacking this car up is harder then it needs to be.

I used some "scrap" woodern beams, made into a "ramp". gives about 12cm lift, which is plenty for me to get under the car

 

[KSINGH]

I still need to find an oil extractor. Jacking this car up is harder then it needs to be.

Try midas in centurion. Got mine at a good price there. If they out of stock theres an importer in highveld but a bit pricier.

 

[Mpower3]

please keep this update. Lots of great info.

 

[Coisman]

raise: :bravo: :thumbs:

Really nicely done!!!

:ty:

 

[kabal]

Spark plugs:

for some reason, I forgot to do this :fencelook:

6x OEM Packaged NGK DCPR8EKP Spark Plugs -121 200 229 02 - R1360

Total time: +- 1.5 hours.

Difficulty: 3/10

More fiddly than difficult, made even worse by the fact that BMW dealers clearly dont give a shit and use the correct tools, as the previous plugs were way over "torqued"
No 5 & 6 are the worst, there is really little space to get leverage.

I pity the V12 DIYer

Some useless pics

6 of the best

strut bar and microfilter housing removed

engine cover removed

clean "channels" no oil leaks, etc

state of old plugs. pretty much consistent for all 6. not too sure what you can read from these, but they look OK

all back together

 

[Andy1GP]

Good Stuff!

Reminds me of mine. Good work there. No better feeling than knowing you did the job well first time. Peace of mind of note.

And Those bloody people that overtorque everything they get there hands on :argh: makes we want to punch people...