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+--- Thread: 2006 BMW M3 (/showthread.php?tid=11292)
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - SlimKlim - 10-24-2016
Jake Wrote:I am blown away at how good it looks. Joey deserves another round of kudos for the detailing assistance. I have no idea what I'm doing and he both helped do the work and also made sure the work I did didn't ruin anything. There is only so much clearcoat you have to work with
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/GCvktC0KFy9l6/giphy.gif)
Jake Wrote:
![[Image: BKx97Sg.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/BKx97Sg.jpg)
God damn. We look good AF.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - CaptainHenreh - 10-24-2016
Looks great! :thumbup:
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - .RJ - 10-24-2016
dat ass
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Jake - 10-24-2016
Have been poking around on E46Fanatics and figuring out a few things I want to fix or tweak whenever I have time.
1. Heated Seats
There seems to be a common thought that the M seats do not get as warm as the non-M heated seats, for reasons unknown. Thankfully, you can use PASoft to just crank 'em up a little higher.
2. Seat Back Rocking
The driver's seat back "rocks" a little bit, like it's not fully locked in place. Not really noticeable but good to know where the problem lies and how to fix it. There is, of course, a bushing involved #BecauseBMW and it's not sold separately from the expensive seat frame. Looks like I can either DIY it or ignore it, and will likely choose the former for a while.
3. Speakers
The passenger door tweeter doesn't work. I think it was unplugged when the window glass was replaced (after a break-in a year or so back) and not re-connected when the shop installed the door panel. Should be a quick process to pull the panel and check the wiring.
Overall the system sounds pretty good, though some music makes me wonder if I don't have a blown mid-bass speaker (or two). Some stuff is a bit "fuzzy" sounding in parts. Speakers are cheap, the sizing is widely available online, the only issue is that a few speakers have depth restrictions based on where they mount in the car. Likely will be a spring project/investigation.
4. FM Radio Reception
It sucks.
There is an antenna amplifier in the trunk, and I need to check the grounds as that is a common source of the complaint. Otherwise, I could try to care more but likely won't.
5. Key Remote Reception
It also sucks.
I've been told these don't work from very far away, but mine works from like... 10 feet? Not sure if a new key would fix that or if it's something with the car. Doesn't bug me much, but my E36 remote would get a solid 50' of distance so I'd like to improve this if I can.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - SlimKlim - 10-24-2016
Jake Wrote:Have been poking around on E46Fanatics and figuring out a few things I want to fix or tweak whenever I have time.
1. Heated Seats
There seems to be a common thought that the M seats do not get as warm as the non-M heated seats, for reasons unknown. Thankfully, you can use PASoft to just crank 'em up a little higher.
So the seat heat level is software controlled? The fact that mine were tapped directly to a power source might explain why they are capable of singeing hair.
My E46 remote range sucked too. The batteries are supposed to charge while they're in the ignition so I'm not sure if it's the remotes getting old or something with the cars.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Jake - 10-24-2016
SlimKlim Wrote:So the seat heat level is software controlled? The fact that mine were tapped directly to a power source might explain why they are capable of singeing hair.
My E46 remote range sucked too. The batteries are supposed to charge while they're in the ignition so I'm not sure if it's the remotes getting old or something with the cars.
Yeah, pretty neat stuff.
E46Fanatics Wrote:The center console switch is actually a small computer that has temperature limits programmed for each stage. The default limits are 44, 40, and 37 degrees Celcius. When significantly below that limit, the heater elements are set to 100%. As the seat temperature approaches the limit, the module slowly pulls back the voltage until the system reaches an equilibrium.
You can mess with those limits in PASoft.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - RawrImAMonster - 10-24-2016
I had read that the heated seats not getting as hot was because the M's had thicker leather. Not sure how true that is, but my M3's seats definitely aren't near as hot as my 135i's were.
I'm guessing the key fob range is probably what Joey is saying. My car came with a brand new key and the remote range is pretty good on it. You can replace the battery in them, but it requires de-soldering and re-soldering a new one in place if I remember right.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - SlimKlim - 10-24-2016
If you compare them side by side the M Leather actually feels thinner/softer than the E46 non-M stuff. The non-Ms have a really noticeable texture to them, and the "Nappa" leather on the Ms is smoother and softer. It worked out well to swap the E46 M seats into my car because the texture is a nearly perfect match for the stock leather on my back seat.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - RawrImAMonster - 10-24-2016
Have you taken the CDV out yet or has the previous owner already done that? I hated the way mine drove until I did that.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Jake - 10-24-2016
RawrImAMonster Wrote:Have you taken the CPV out yet or has the previous owner already done that? I hated the way mine drove until I did that.
The delay valve? It's in there and I hate it. I'll get to it whenever I bleed the brakes and clutch, probably wintertime.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - RawrImAMonster - 10-24-2016
Yeah I meant the delay valve, I edited the post, but you quoted it before I hit save.
However, the CPV o-ring is also something you should do if you're ever messing with stuff on that side of the motor. It's under the exhaust manifolds and will start leaking oil eventually. There's a guy on the m3forums that will sell you an upgraded o-ring for a few bucks. I did mine while I was putting the headers in.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Senor_Taylor - 10-24-2016
Isn't the fob charging in the ignition a myth? I've seen it disputed often.
Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Jake - 10-24-2016
Senor_Taylor Wrote:Isn't the fob charging in the ignition a myth? I've seen it disputed often.
Unless they lied in the owners' manual, it's not a myth. The keys are just old by now so the batteries don't hold a charge as well. You can pry the key open and replace the battery (it's a standard size of something) but ask Maeng how that went on his X3...
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Maengelito - 10-25-2016
Jake Wrote:You can pry the key open and replace the battery (it's a standard size of something) but ask Maeng how that went on his X3...
Ugh, these key fobs are the worst. Mine still works sometimes but its held together with masking tape. Sometimes I have to jiggle the top and bottom half of the key to get it to work right.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Senor_Taylor - 10-25-2016
Maengelito Wrote:I never had a problem with my key fob. Nope, never. Did someone say I had a problem with mine? Who's saying that? ... because I never had a problem. Not once.Jake Wrote:You can pry the key open and replace the battery (it's a standard size of something) but ask Maeng how that went on his X3...
Ugh, these key fobs are the worst. Mine still works sometimes but its held together with masking tape. Sometimes I have to jiggle the top and bottom half of the key to get it to work right.
Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - .RJ - 10-25-2016
Maengelito Wrote:Jake Wrote:You can pry the key open and replace the battery (it's a standard size of something) but ask Maeng how that went on his X3...
Ugh, these key fobs are the worst. Mine still works sometimes but its held together with masking tape. Sometimes I have to jiggle the top and bottom half of the key to get it to work right.
jiggery pokery
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Beej - 10-26-2016
Shit that paintwork looks awesome. Some of those after shots look over HDR'd. What's that take, like a day? Joey you coming down to Richmond for say, 2 days anytime soon?
The keyfobs I use seem to stay decently powered. They'll do the hold-and-windows-down (top down for verts?) from a repsectable distance. The keyfobs I don't become keynonfobs.
So you've done some cool stuff and are gonna do more. But like how do you like it?
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - SlimKlim - 10-27-2016
Beej Wrote:What's that take, like a day? Joey you coming down to Richmond for say, 2 days anytime soon?
Yeah, anywhere from half a day to a full day for exterior correction. I've spent 2-3 days on full interior/exterior details before. It varies a lot depending on how much damage there is, how big the car is, how perfect I'm trying to get it, and whether or not I have a helper.
And nope, no plan or desire to visit Richmond anytime soon.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - Jake - 10-27-2016
Beej Wrote:Shit that paintwork looks awesome. Some of those after shots look over HDR'd. What's that take, like a day? Joey you coming down to Richmond for say, 2 days anytime soon?
The keyfobs I use seem to stay decently powered. They'll do the hold-and-windows-down (top down for verts?) from a repsectable distance. The keyfobs I don't become keynonfobs.
So you've done some cool stuff and are gonna do more. But like how do you like it?
I have no idea what my phone and Google Photos conspired to do with the HDR stuff but yeah, some photos I take get that effect. It's odd.
My key should do windows and top down, although I heard BMW disabled the feature due to safety concerns (of what, a child playing on the roof and being eaten by the Softtop Monster?) - my buddy Austin can re-code it to put everything up and down with the fob.
As to how I like it...
It's overpowered for a commuter, you don't get to use much of the power. If you have Sport turned on and hit a bump while accelerating, the electronic throttle freaks out and can get caught in this oscillating RAAAAH RAAAAH RAAAAH sort of moment, which apparently some Ferraris also like to do. Cute. The Eibach springs and low-profile 19" tires mean it rides "a little" firm and every DC pothole feels like you just blew the shock towers to pieces. It creaks and rattles less than my E36 'vert but still reminds you it's a convertible. Gas mileage is bad but still better than the F150 so I guess I'm ahead there.
So yeah, objectively as "an car" it's, you know, the exact opposite of a Camry.
But holy shit, the "overpowered" bit means that you can pass anyone, any time, with nearly any small stretch of road ahead of you. That's been my biggest and most fun realization. The S54 sounds like a delightfully angry chainsaw at full-tilt and I have a couple of spots on my commute where I can do a legit 0-to-Mexico type of pull with no traffic in my way. It handles well (from what I can tell so far) and the seats are very, very good. I'm looking forward to running it in the Refrigerator Bowl autocrosses this winter and learning the car more.
I think it looks great and drives very well. Being a 120k+ mile car and a convertible means it's still "special" because of the M-ness, but it's also not so rare or unique that I feel bad about daily driving it like I may have felt with, say, an E34 M5 or something of that nature.
Re: 2006 BMW M3 - PDenbigh - 10-27-2016
Jake Wrote:My key should do windows and top down, although I heard BMW disabled the feature due to safety concerns (of what, a child playing on the roof and being eaten by the Softtop Monster?) - my buddy Austin can re-code it to put everything up and down with the fob.
Beautiful car Jake! Really stunning. Great job.
On the above comment, I was able to use the generic "PA Soft BMW Scanner 1.4" to enable this on my E46. FWIW. I can open and close all windows and sunroof with the fob. Unlock once, unlock again and hold, and they open as long as I'm holding the button down.
Lock, relock and hold, and they all close.
All from about 10' away because my fob's battery sucks too. Kinda takes the edge off the cool factor ;-).
I also swapped in a sedan window switch so I could do one-touch open on the rear windows of my coupe.
Enjoy that ride. Swing by Staunton when you feel like doing a rt. 33-220-250-42 run sometime.