91 318is Never ending project(s) journal

[bradnic]

Been looking for a couple of those! Where’d you find it?

NM found them on ECS. Let’s see if they really come in
Thanks for posting the pic :-)

[monty23psk]

Finally got to install something I have head for a few years in my hoarding days. I had bought a driver side euro mirror that includes the outer wide angle strip for better visibility. Here is a picture of my original one on the left which was basically useless. The new one is on the right with the box above. I believe they can still be purchased for about $40. I think I paid $20 as it was like 5-6 years ago. There is no wide angle for the passenger side. I did also buy a perfect used wide angle mirror with the heating element. I wanted to use it but my car is not pre-wired for it, got to love the base m42 cars. I will be selling it, but need to figure out how much. If interested, let me know.

[monty23psk]

Getting back to the e30 m3 suspension installation. It's time for the rears. I have rebuilt the used calipers after having them powder coated in gloss black to match the front. Rebuilt with new ATE seals and cleaned up the piston with #0000 steel wool and some CRC brake clean. They were much easier than the fronts. I now have all the main parts to start on the rear. AKG subframe bushings, as well as AKG rear TA bushings. I have new AKG rear show months, Porterfield rs-4 brake pads and new Balo rotors. Will see how the diff is. I do have new seals and fluid for it. Waiting for some new jack stands to do this inside my garage, instead of in the driveway.

[monty23psk]

My OEM glovebox flashlight was getting worst and worst on light output. I found a DYI for replace the button batteries with a AAA version that home phone uses. This was done in Europe so sourcing US equivalent parts took a week to find but I got it. I opened it up and little by little solder in the new components and boy is it bright. The bulb is yellow but its has a bright white output around 5700K color.

Here is a picture of the insides:


Any one here going to the Vintage in NC? I registered on 1/1 and this will be my first time.

[monty23psk]

A few more updates.

Here is the tow hook painted and cleared in body color, after the fast etch and primer. Also a picture of it installed. Matches rear strut bar nicely.




With extra paint, I painted the front IS lip spoiler that I have owned new for over 5 years. I also installed the Ryan G splitter that I bought at that time. I also installed new clips to hold the lip plus a tow hook cover.







Here is a picture of it installed. Exterior needs more work, parts and paint.


I also got my 2nd rim, 16x7.5 e28 m5 wheel. It looks like they were going to refinish it as the paint was stripped. 2 more to find and don't want to buy them new.

[Schnitzer318is]

^Nice. I miss my 318is. :(

I'll be installing some of those old slash v1 amps here soon in my E53. I have a 500/5 already and am looking for a good 300/4 to go into it. Damn E53 w/DSP has so many speakers to drive...

[monty23psk]

Another update. I have some rust pitting on my trunk lid, so I grinded it out, and then treated it with an epoxy primer and then bought a can of factory color in a spray can from paintsratch.com. Then applied 3 coats of clear. Nothing professionally looking but it covers the white keeps it going until I paint my car. But with with leftover product, I decide to primer my tow hook and rear strut bar, which was unfinished. Here are a few pictures.

Primer:


Here is the bar painted with 3 coats of paint and 3 of clear:


Here is it installed. Sound system is a mess because I am changing the configuration:

[monty23psk]

when you cracked open the gauge cluster did you replace any odometer components?

No. The gears were replaced around 8 years ago.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[MCreally?]

when you cracked open the gauge cluster did you replace any odometer components?

[monty23psk]

I got my steering wheel spacers. I found out in the ETK there is a smaller ring on the end, towards the firewall that looks smaller. I receive it and sure enough, same diameter but 7mm in length, not 14mm. Its half in size. So instead of having a ~1/2 inch gap from column to steering wheel, it is much closer, about 1/4 now. The switches are closer and will still have to get use to it but if I dont like, it, I have the standard 14mm spacer to swap in.

The smaller one is on the right. Left is the standard one we all get. If I use both 14mm spacers, it brings it back to airbag oem distance but the gap is insanely huge.



Here is picture with no spacer:


Here is the picture with the 7mm ring:


I also fixed my exicter wire issue. I decide to replace the voltage regulator and glad I did, because the brushes were all wasted. I know bet 14.1 instead of 13.6. This still didnt fix my issue on the exciter circuit. I did more research and decided to put the regular bulb back in because the LEDs work at 3v or less. Sure enough, that was it. I know have it working just fine and this is the only bulb I was not able to swap out with an LED.

Here is a picture of the old and new VR. I went with a Bosch new unit and I replaced it with everything still mounted in the car. Very easy job. I have done some in the past on other cars.

[monty23psk]

I just realized the pigtail pictures a few post up did not post. I just corrected it.

[e30s50dan]

I like it with the trim rings better.

This

[monty23psk]

Did you replace the amber plastic that disperses the light behind the cluster, or are the LEDs just really bright?

I had one good one and used another good one from the spare cluster. It works with out it but the amber hue was not the same. Our light is more of a orange red mix.

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[ba114]

Did you replace the amber plastic that disperses the light behind the cluster, or are the LEDs just really bright?

[jdt10768]

this one correct?

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/center-high-mount-stop-light-bulb/1156-led-bulb-18-smd-led-tower-ba15s-retrofit-car/163/720/