Used to be on a poster in my dorm: 2005 M3

[SlimKlim]

That reminds me, the VW got a recall for a new light control module doo-dad, apparently mine no longer switches to the higher output mode for actual night driving, it stays in the lower daytime running light mode. I didn't realize anything was wrong until I got the little thing in the mail, and then I immediately forgot about it again. ...I wonder if recalls expire...

BTW if you can handle some downtime you can send your wheel out and have it recovered. These guys will wrap anything you want in anything you want. http://cobywheel.com/2013-09-24-15-46-01...ducts.html

[Jake]

Recalls typically do not expire, whereas TSBs do.

[Beej]

Did some super minor stuff over the weekend (before the autocross) that - to risk jinxing it - bring the car to a place where I'm happier with it than ever.

1) Fixed the goddamn exhaust, once and for all. Tip location isn't perfect but damn good, but most of all, the pipes no longer hit anything. I finally figured out that a heat shield (interestingly enough, bolted to the exhaust and not the car) was actually hitting the inner CV joint if I hit a bump/dip just right. So I poorly slotted/drilled the muffler mounts a bit, and apparently like 5-6mm additional clearance was all it needed. Why can't aftermarket shit just fit?


2) Found "euro" side mirror glass for like half of what BMW charges - I figured why not. It was actually kind of disorienting at first, but cars in the usual blind spot don't leave the mirror until they're visible out of the corner of my eye, so...basically no blind spot (can't wait to make the same assumption when I drive any other car!). They take some getting used to, but I like them. "US" spec in my hand, "euro" in the housing - not a 50/50 comparison, but you can clearly see more in all directions. That line 1.5" or so from the left is where it gets super wide angle.

3) While ordering the mirrors, I decided to toss painted front bumper reflectors in the box. For as little of a change as they are, they actually have a bigger impact than I expected. The usefulness of those things as reflectors is pretty debatable, so they'll stay since they look cool. Took a lame photo of them in my driveway, but since some fine BRR-SCCA folks did such nice work, I'll use these instead pictures instead. Top one shows the piece (~1x4" silver piece on the corner of the bumper), the rest show the ballin':

[Beej]

Just a few little updates.

A couple months ago, replaced the CPV o-ring (and CPV, since you have to buy it to get the OE o-ring). I later found out that there's a better material o-ring circulating m3forum, so I picked that up and used it instead. Apparently it won't ever have to be replaced again. Car seems to have stopped the occasional spurt of smoke coming from the exhaust manifolds, so I guess the CPV might've been been the culprit.

Had to dremel a torx socket to get the right shaped tool.


It's only a matter of time before the fabric peels away from the C-pillar, and my car's time came. Replaced those with new ones.


And finally got around to taking it in for the passenger side airbag recall - just days before receiving a letter about the driver's side airbag. Very nice.

[SlimKlim]

NEW C-PILLARS? What you're too good for some glue in a spray can?




















:thumbup:

[Beej]

Holy shit what a gif! :lol:

I can only assume I'm as good with spray glue as I am with spray paint, so...c-pillars aren't that expensive.

[Beej]

Another boring update, which I guess is good news. New shit:

• Steering guibo: vague attempt at throwing a part at the random/slight highway shimmy. Old one looked good when it came out and no real change before/after.
  
• Rear license plate holder: one bolt broke off in it when I took it off to detail the car. Shiny new bolts, best change yet. /s
  
• New battery: it's cranked slowly in the cold the past few years, but after 10+ years of service, it finally gave up the ghost. Replaced it with an AGM type, and when the fuck did batteries get so expensive?
  
• OE valve cover gasket and CPS o-ring: I had puffs of smoke that were increasing in frequency over the past year or so. Oil was clearly dripping from the back of the motor onto the headers. Changed VCG with Victor Reinz (or Elring?) and that didn't stop it. I did an OE gasket and the CPS o-ring (sort of a pain in the dick, that one) since it wasn't clear which was causing the leak and they're pretty much the only things back there that could. I think I'm out of the woods.

[Jake]

Hopefully that did solve the leak! I'm currently chasing a nasty one on the Yukon and tremendously frustrated.

[RawrImAMonster]

Yeah my victor reinz valve cover gasket leaks as well. Going to switch to OE eventually.

[RawrImAMonster]

When are you getting headers again?

This video is making me reconsider my muffler choice. It's either going to be El Diablo or Scorza.

[youtube]t6D2BIEwAgc[/youtube]

[SlimKlim]

"Back Alley Boys" :lol:

That setup does sound pretty good, I've also heard BJs car in person and the muffler he has on it is pretty sensual sounding, but it's super easy to ruin an E46's sound, so many of them I encounter in the wild are just raspy and clattery sounding, like a chainsaw inside a 55-gallon drum.

[RawrImAMonster]

I think he has the muffler in that video based on this thread, just no headers.

And yeah there are very few setups that sound good with the s54. AP or SGT Headers + Rogue El Diablo or Scorza are about the only setups I've found that sound good.

[rherold9]

It's going to be Scorza.

FTFY.

My God, that sounded good. 5/7 definitely chubbed from that video.

[RawrImAMonster]

It's going to be Scorza.

FTFY.

My God, that sounded good. 5/7 definitely chubbed from that video.

Yeah but, this too:

[youtube]ycaUFdZrI5s[/youtube]

[rherold9]

It's going to be Scorza.

FTFY.

My God, that sounded good. 5/7 definitely chubbed from that video.

Yeah but, this too:

[youtube]ycaUFdZrI5s[/youtube]

That sounds great too but for some reason I like the Scorza a bit more. Maybe because it just sounds more angry like or something, idk how to explain it. Good choice regardless.

Edit: the more I listen the more it seems like they sound similar except the Scorza has a tiny bit of rasp that makes it just sound just right. Not too much rasp but that tiny bit that just feels right, imo.

[Beej]

When are you getting headers again?

Goddamn, that sounds near exotic. I guess since it's a second car (well, 1 of 2, I can't choose which is primary, ha), I don't have to worry about drone (at least I thought I read it does?) anymore. I still do take it on occasional trips though...

Yeah, I have the "original" Oakville Motorwerks Scorza - not sure if/how different it is from the SGT one (I'd imagine not very). For reference:
[youtube]IR6u-9UCT_o[/youtube]

"Back Alley Boys" :lol:

:lol:

I agree on the sound of these things. Done well, they sound exotic. Done poorly and it's just awful.

[SlimKlim]

Done poorly and it's just awful.

Case in point:

[youtube]2W0aS4Hhk4c[/youtube]

It's so odd, one of my favorite things about BMWs, at least pre-2005ish ones, is you're guarunteed to get a nice sound out of it just by hacking a few select pieces out of the OEM exhaust. Almost all of them sound absolutely erotic just by hacking the rear box off with a sawzall, or you can replace the resonator with a piece of pipe for a slightly-more-than-stock effect.

But if you want to make an S54 sound good you'd better have your wallet ready. :dunno:

[RawrImAMonster]

When are you getting headers again?

Goddamn, that sounds near exotic. I guess since it's a second car (well, 1 of 2, I can't choose which is primary, ha), I don't have to worry about drone (at least I thought I read it does?) anymore. I still do take it on occasional trips though...

Yeah, I have the "original" Oakville Motorwerks Scorza - not sure if/how different it is from the SGT one (I'd imagine not very). For reference:

I agree on the sound of these things. Done well, they sound exotic. Done poorly and it's just awful.

I'm guessing they are the same since SGT bought Scorza and the rights to their designs.

Apparently there is little, if any, drone with the AP Headers + Scorza muffler. I expect that the el diablo would have some drone though. I think it's a little louder in general.

I'm fine with either muffler really. I'm just waiting on a decent price on a used one of either. There is some guy trying to sell a used scorza muffler for the same price as new on m3forums right now. He says because of the wait time when you order it from SGT, it's worth the same being able to buy it from him now. :lol:

[JPolen01]

There is some guy trying to sell a used scorza muffler for the same price as new on m3forums right now. He says because of the wait time when you order it from SGT, it's worth the same being able to buy it from him now. :lol:

Well if the wait time is excessive he has a point. Some people will pay a premium to get something quicker.

[RawrImAMonster]

It took them like 3-4 weeks from the time I ordered my headers (also made to order) until when I got them. I can deal with a few weeks wait to have a new piece and the lifetime warranty if I'm paying the full price.