Now that I am more active on this forum, thought I would copy over some of the details of my car from other forums where I have been more active.
I bought the car with 141k miles in August 2012, I am now at ~150k miles.
When I bought it:
Nearly immediately I replaced the wheels with stock 15x7 wheels, as the 17" Team Dynamics were rubbing on full lock. Here is a picture I have of it with my very first BMW, a 95 325is, which the M3 replaced:
It quickly became apparent the sunroof was not keeping water out, and in Seattle that was a problem. Apart it came to fix the sunroof drains and dry everything out.
Not much later someone hit it at Fred Meyers
Thankfully Haury's straightened it back out, and re-painted the rear bumper in the process.
I picked up a set of 16x8 Style 4 wheels for summer use, but didn't get them taken off last winter, made for a good photo opportunity when it snowed.
Over the past 6 months I have replaced a number of broken/cracked pieces (side marker lights, fog lights, etc.), new emblems, re-painted the wheel caps, and installed a new set of US Ellipsoid lights, as I always liked the look. I also raised it ~1" on the adjustable Ground Control suspension (Eibach springs, 375lb/in front, 450lb/in rear, with Bilstein Sport struts)
As it sits:
I am trying out 4300K HID bulbs, and 6500K LED high beams (only color/temperature available). The LED is a bit blue for my taste, but not too terribly tacky, considering high beams are never really on when anyone is looking at the car.
I also picked up a 385mm M-Tech 1 wheel (those 370mm wheels are expensive!), and an OEM single-piece shift knob
I also decided to put the stock exhaust back in for the time being, as the SuperSprint Race exhaust was a bit too loud for my taste
Immediately after changing the exhaust I realized I was suffering from a failed rear shock mount (I couldn't hear it clunking over the exhaust before), so put in the turner HD rear shock mount with AKG re-inforcement plates
Projects in the near future when I find time are:
1) Distributor cap + rotor
2) UUC Evo 3 SSK w/ DSSR, Garagistic delrin bushings
3) Sunroof seal
4) Brown+Blue engine coolant temp sensors
I also have suspicions that the rear wheel bearings or drive axles may be due for replacement soon (hopefully not an issue with the diff). When starting out from a stop there seems to be a bit of hesitation to get the wheels to turn, and there is a slight metallic humming sound at speed on the highway, though no noticeable vibration. I plan to tackle that job this spring.
I am also having issues with rough running when warm (hesitation under throttle, vibration at idle), I am hoping the distributor cap+rotor or temp sensors may be the sources of that issue. In the past the car would randomly die, and unplugging and plugging the AFM back in always solved the issue for a few minutes, but that issue hasn't plagued me for a while now, after adjusting the AFM sweeper arm. It is possible the AFM is still sending mixed signals which is causing the running issues though.
And eventually when finances are looking better and everything is running as it should:
1) New headliner installed
2) Re-spray the roof/trunk and front bumper (or maybe the whole car)
I bought the car with 141k miles in August 2012, I am now at ~150k miles.
When I bought it:
Nearly immediately I replaced the wheels with stock 15x7 wheels, as the 17" Team Dynamics were rubbing on full lock. Here is a picture I have of it with my very first BMW, a 95 325is, which the M3 replaced:
It quickly became apparent the sunroof was not keeping water out, and in Seattle that was a problem. Apart it came to fix the sunroof drains and dry everything out.
Not much later someone hit it at Fred Meyers
Thankfully Haury's straightened it back out, and re-painted the rear bumper in the process.
I picked up a set of 16x8 Style 4 wheels for summer use, but didn't get them taken off last winter, made for a good photo opportunity when it snowed.
Over the past 6 months I have replaced a number of broken/cracked pieces (side marker lights, fog lights, etc.), new emblems, re-painted the wheel caps, and installed a new set of US Ellipsoid lights, as I always liked the look. I also raised it ~1" on the adjustable Ground Control suspension (Eibach springs, 375lb/in front, 450lb/in rear, with Bilstein Sport struts)
As it sits:
I am trying out 4300K HID bulbs, and 6500K LED high beams (only color/temperature available). The LED is a bit blue for my taste, but not too terribly tacky, considering high beams are never really on when anyone is looking at the car.
I also picked up a 385mm M-Tech 1 wheel (those 370mm wheels are expensive!), and an OEM single-piece shift knob
I also decided to put the stock exhaust back in for the time being, as the SuperSprint Race exhaust was a bit too loud for my taste
Immediately after changing the exhaust I realized I was suffering from a failed rear shock mount (I couldn't hear it clunking over the exhaust before), so put in the turner HD rear shock mount with AKG re-inforcement plates
Projects in the near future when I find time are:
1) Distributor cap + rotor
2) UUC Evo 3 SSK w/ DSSR, Garagistic delrin bushings
3) Sunroof seal
4) Brown+Blue engine coolant temp sensors
I also have suspicions that the rear wheel bearings or drive axles may be due for replacement soon (hopefully not an issue with the diff). When starting out from a stop there seems to be a bit of hesitation to get the wheels to turn, and there is a slight metallic humming sound at speed on the highway, though no noticeable vibration. I plan to tackle that job this spring.
I am also having issues with rough running when warm (hesitation under throttle, vibration at idle), I am hoping the distributor cap+rotor or temp sensors may be the sources of that issue. In the past the car would randomly die, and unplugging and plugging the AFM back in always solved the issue for a few minutes, but that issue hasn't plagued me for a while now, after adjusting the AFM sweeper arm. It is possible the AFM is still sending mixed signals which is causing the running issues though.
And eventually when finances are looking better and everything is running as it should:
1) New headliner installed
2) Re-spray the roof/trunk and front bumper (or maybe the whole car)
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