cameras ready prepare to flash

[s14brent]

ugh. I dipshitted today. came home with this problem child.



2002 525i 5spd touring, car has e39 m5 brakes all around. Car idles like shit. It has 150k, and has codes for a misfire (on cyl 4/5 startup), o2 sensor bank 1 sensor 1 (replaced bosch o2) and replaced the battery already. I replaced the spark plugs (awesome...they use s52 ngk's which I had sitting around for my next service on the e36! and the plugs I pulled out were way overdue!) but i think I need to check the coil packs next since it's still idles rough. I got it for a smoking deal and I've been trying to get a wagon back in my life! over $200 in parts ordered already, sorry e30!!

[s14brent]

yup! adapters were from hita (ngampleh)
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I finally had the chance to rebuild the four calipers.

ended up getting new guide pins and bushings w/new caps. Car will be street driven and used on road trips to events so brass guides were out of the question.

piston seals were replaced as well.



reassembled and loaded. fronts have brembo pads, rears are just ATE. just waiting for new bleeder valves for the e36 m3 calipers, and they're good to go!



My shorter swaybar hex turnbuckle came in. 6" vs 7" that I had on my e36 m3. Went with grade 8 lock nuts this time around as well.



I need to unhook the driveshaft from the differential side next. and start working back there since the front camber plates are still over a week and a half out.

[ngampleh]

Hey Brent, where'd you end up getting the adapter's for the e46 calipers. Looks identical to the 300mm.de but I'm sure a lot cheaper.

He bought from me..
Check this out

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=325258

I make also front kit for e46m3 on stock e30 knuckle..
Will be available soon!!

[318isbmw]

Hey Brent, where'd you end up getting the adapter's for the e46 calipers. Looks identical to the 300mm.de but I'm sure a lot cheaper.

[ngampleh]

vht high temp primer

Cool!
I will looking those spray cane in my place

[s14brent]

I was going to say, till I saw you ended up painting your calipers already, that the G2 caliper paint is very good. It's not in a spray can, you have to bush it on or use a paint gun, but it is good stuff. I've had it on my Audi for a couple of years now without any change other than brake dust making them dirty.

Love this build. Keep up the good work.

Thanks man! I saw the G2 stuff while browsing caliper paints.....I've never been the biggest fan of single piston calipers...or hand brushing anything....I could have easily thrown it into a spray gun, but tbh I've had decent results with high temp spray paint in the past, so it was a quick/easy decision.

Whats primer did you used?

vht high temp primer

[ngampleh]

Whats primer did you used?

[jeenyus]

I was going to say, till I saw you ended up painting your calipers already, that the G2 caliper paint is very good. It's not in a spray can, you have to bush it on or use a paint gun, but it is good stuff. I've had it on my Audi for a couple of years now without any change other than brake dust making them dirty.

Love this build. Keep up the good work.

[s14brent]

Super slow progress. got quoted $260 or something obnoxious for powder coating, so I ended up using vht high-temp paint for like $40 instead.

I spent way too much time cleaning up these calipers. after a nice wipe down with acetone and primered



just like my work attire "production black" /boring lol



started to decommission the e36 m3. reinstalled the old FK konisports front coilovers. I ended up shortening some febi swaybar endlinks 2" to keep the swaybar at the proper angle. I had made some adjustable endlinks on the m3 before. I will be making some modifications and end up using them on the e30.

the front fk coils didn't have camber plates, so unfortunately theres a gang of camber up front currently. I ended up having to raise the car even more to fit the 18's. I really miss the fiskes' on there, but I can't wait to see them on the e30! It will be totally worth it!! The e36 m3 still looks good and handles decent. It's actually a lot more comfortable now, so much that I'm wondering if I should throw on those 75a akg motor mounts since it probably won't bother me as much now.... I told myself all future e36 nonsense will have to happen post-e30-5lug swap. Not sure if I'm going to fix that camber issue immediately also because this is getting expensive.



I'm also very up in the air what to do with these e30 gc's. I feel like I should cannibalize it for parts, since the front L koni is blown, I need to keep/use the rear spring perch, and I have a local interested in buying the gc camber plates already if they go up for grabs. I also wouldn't mind keeping these rear mounts. but wtf....::adds cost of coilovers to this conversion::

speaking of camber plates. I took some comparison photos.
e36 fortune auto vs e30 ground control



The E30 Ground control camber plate wont fit the e36 fortune auto setup, shock diameter is larger on the gc koni shock. Spring ID is slightly larger on the GC as well.
I contacted fortune-auto for a new mounting plate. I will probably be ordering it in the morning. They sell just the mounting plates separate so it helps vs buying a full camber plate setup with spherical bushings, etc.

and here's a side by side of the front coilover springs (e30/gc is about a full coil shorter)



Hopefully I will start to rebuild the calipers next week, so i can install e36 m3 front lca's, spindles, calipers/rotors and front coilovers right when the new camber plate arrive. Then i can move to the back and remove the exhaust/subframe. Drop off axles for rebuild, and then start to reinforce the trailing arms and finish the subframe.

[ngampleh]

Nice man!

[s14brent]

That's awesome, the FD photographer community looks like they have way to much fun.

Vegas has got to be a good spot for wheeling!

QFT. tbh i've been looking at wagons more than trucks lately. Something about better gas mileage and staying with bmw.

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Turns out the driver front (ground control koni yellow) shock was blown (no resistance going up and down, but not leaks...)and i had noticed before that the front wheel bearing/hub had a small amount of play. I contacted GC and its $250 for the shortened shock specific for that kit. I guess they will just sit in storage for a while. (seems like a waste esp since technically I'm going to have to use 2 kits to make this 1)

So this has been pretty costly, and I'm just collecting parts at the moment. repurchased the Fk konisports that were on the e36 previously (i had sold to a friend over a year ago). The only problem is the rear koni shocks are on the cosmo (auto m3). So I'll have to wait until I can get that car to swap back stock shocks onto before i start to decommission the daily. Also picked up some bbs knock offs 18" str's with tires, so the e36 m3 will still look somewhat decent.

944 porsche booster, e28 brake master cylinder (23.81mm), wilwood bias valve, e30 parking brake hardware, shoes, and new e-brake cables all new. I also decided to go with z4 hubs/e46 325i rear calipers, so I got those adapters and new wheel bearing - everything brand new except I sourced the e46 calipers at the local yard from a 03 325i. All new seals, & guides to rebuild all 4 calipers ordered. Then I ordered some garagistic rear trailing arm reinforcements/rear sway bar tabs, rear strut reinforcement plates, and a differential stud kit. All that goes on the reinforced rear subframe that has the caster/camber adjustments and poly mounts already. I got some bosch oe replacement rotors for the fronts locally, I just need to buy the rears when I get closer to needing them.
I contacted a local drive train shop and got quoted about $95 per axle (rebuild). I might end up doing that vs going 3rd party like feq.




couple box of goodies.

I started to clean up the calipers. not sure if i'll be painting or powdercoating them....paint on the fc calipers didn't go so well and I used VHT caliper paint iirc. Kind of leaning towards powder coating if i can find a reasonable place to do it locally.

[jpod999]

Yeah, which is how I met Linh (previous owner) a long time ago shooting motorsports/formula d.

That's awesome, the FD photographer community looks like they have way to much fun.

Make sure you wipe down your engine bay good with some kind of surface prep. I think i know of the silver foil you speak of, you need to use dei adhesive spray for that one. I actually have some of that stuff in my trans tunnel. I recommend doing the gold foil for that blower motor cover just so you have a little more clearance there vs using foam.
I drove the car only for a short distance, but I had it at running for a while to reach operating temps and didn't notice any heat coming from the firewall while driving, so I'm guessing it's doing its job . The only thing is, I purchased the foil at a "going out of business" fire sale price. I'm not sure I'd do as much if paying retail.

That's good advice, I think I'll do the same and wrap the trans tunnel up to the firewall with the matted stuff and then use the thin gold foil for the firewall. Thanks!

And actually, the e36 m3 is on the chopping block. I think I'm going to sell it once the e30 is fool-proof (hence me stealing all the good parts off of it), and buy a 4x4 96+ toyota tacoma or a mid-late 80's FJ60. Something I can haul parts and go on occasional off-road trails with. goodbye money.

Vegas has got to be a good spot for wheeling!

[s14brent]

Now it makes sense that you are in Vegas, this must keep you super busy!

So basically once you have gone 5 lug, you will have two of the same cars just with different bodies.

I'm almost ready to finish up all my engine bay prep in my swap, my last step is going to be wrapping the firewall since I pulled all the foam insulation. How well does the gold foil work? My local speed shop can get me the DEI tape but they also have this 1/8" thick silver foil that's backed with matted insulation that I think will work better but won't look as nice.

Yeah, which is how I met Linh (previous owner) a long time ago shooting motorsports/formula d.
Make sure you wipe down your engine bay good with some kind of surface prep. I think i know of the silver foil you speak of, you need to use dei adhesive spray for that one. I actually have some of that stuff in my trans tunnel. I recommend doing the gold foil for that blower motor cover just so you have a little more clearance there vs using foam.
I drove the car only for a short distance, but I had it at running for a while to reach operating temps and didn't notice any heat coming from the firewall while driving, so I'm guessing it's doing its job . The only thing is, I purchased the foil at a "going out of business" fire sale price. I'm not sure I'd do as much if paying retail.
And actually, the e36 m3 is on the chopping block. I think I'm going to sell it once the e30 is fool-proof (hence me stealing all the good parts off of it), and buy a 4x4 96+ toyota tacoma or a mid-late 80's FJ60. Something I can haul parts and go on occasional off-road trails with. goodbye money.

[jpod999]

Thanks, I'm a freelance concert/event photographer, so I will be out at the iheartradio music festival this weekend while one of my staff photogs will be at Life is Beautiful music festival this weekend.

Now it makes sense that you are in Vegas, this must keep you super busy!

So basically once you have gone 5 lug, you will have two of the same cars just with different bodies.

I'm almost ready to finish up all my engine bay prep in my swap, my last step is going to be wrapping the firewall since I pulled all the foam insulation. How well does the gold foil work? My local speed shop can get me the DEI tape but they also have this 1/8" thick silver foil that's backed with matted insulation that I think will work better but won't look as nice.

[ngampleh]

Awesome build!