Bassboy3313

It's the little things that count. Front center jack pad for xi models. Mine was missing since I got the car. Finally got around to ordering a new one.

It's the little things that count. Front center jack pad for xi models. Mine was missing since I got the car. Finally got around to ordering a new one.

After more failed attempts at coding the B25 DME (kept having issues with connecting and finding the dme in the software), it was time to turn to plan b. Thanks to @m42b32 for having an extra MS43 DME and being able to flash it with everything I needed. Joe ended up putting the stock B30 tune, EWS delete and SAI delete on it and it worked like a charm. 
After a couple startups to see how things were going, the engine started running extremely rough and wouldn't idle. @B C ended up stopping over with his computer. We checked fuel injectors, good. Checked coilpacks, good. Nothing was obvious from the outside, so we plugged the computer in to check error codes. After translating a few we narrowed it down to the DISA valve. Turns out the plug wasn't fully seated on the connector. Plugged it in and purred like a kitten. Sweet! 
Torqued down axle nuts and crank bolt, bled the clutch a million different ways until it finally got all the air out, dropped it on the ZHP wheels and took it for a short "around the block" drive. All seems pretty good. 
Time to throw the front end back on, hood, fill AC install airbox and start daily it. 👍

Recently rolled past 201,000 miles. I haven’t been driving this as much as I should, but I haven’t been keeping it at my apartment and time to drive it is not as available as I’d like. 
 
About a month ago I installed the lowering springs and sport shocks I picked up from @timmer at the e30 picnic (thanks again!), and I’m really digging the new height and ride.
Definitely firm, but not overly harsh or bouncy and very go-kart like. It’s a blast and so responsive, but I’ve been struggling with how low the oil pan now sits (truthfully, most of the reason I haven’t driven it much) so I decided to grab a skid plate from HIKFab thru bimmerworld along with a muffler hanger kit and some fresh front wheel bearings. If anyone here is capable with a welder and would be willing to install the skidplate for me, I would happily compensate you for it.

All that stuff will go on in a few weeks, and I’ll be (hopefully) back and ready to go for peak driving season. Then, it’ll be back apart for a new fuel tank, manual trans swap, diff swap, and subframe bushing replacement this winter.
Speaking of, if anyone has a lead on garage space or a decent storage facility that is preferably in the greater MKE area, let me know. I can make Madison work too, but the closer to Pewaukee the better. Heated and with electric would be a plus, but not necessary. Would rent year round and use for storage and wrenching.
 
 
 
 

After more failed attempts at coding the B25 DME (kept having issues with connecting and finding the dme in the software), it was time to turn to plan b. Thanks to @m42b32 for having an extra MS43 DME and being able to flash it with everything I needed. Joe ended up putting the stock B30 tune, EWS delete and SAI delete on it and it worked like a charm. 
After a couple startups to see how things were going, the engine started running extremely rough and wouldn't idle. @B C ended up stopping over with his computer. We checked fuel injectors, good. Checked coilpacks, good. Nothing was obvious from the outside, so we plugged the computer in to check error codes. After translating a few we narrowed it down to the DISA valve. Turns out the plug wasn't fully seated on the connector. Plugged it in and purred like a kitten. Sweet! 
Torqued down axle nuts and crank bolt, bled the clutch a million different ways until it finally got all the air out, dropped it on the ZHP wheels and took it for a short "around the block" drive. All seems pretty good. 
Time to throw the front end back on, hood, fill AC install airbox and start daily it. 👍

After more failed attempts at coding the B25 DME (kept having issues with connecting and finding the dme in the software), it was time to turn to plan b. Thanks to @m42b32 for having an extra MS43 DME and being able to flash it with everything I needed. Joe ended up putting the stock B30 tune, EWS delete and SAI delete on it and it worked like a charm. 
After a couple startups to see how things were going, the engine started running extremely rough and wouldn't idle. @B C ended up stopping over with his computer. We checked fuel injectors, good. Checked coilpacks, good. Nothing was obvious from the outside, so we plugged the computer in to check error codes. After translating a few we narrowed it down to the DISA valve. Turns out the plug wasn't fully seated on the connector. Plugged it in and purred like a kitten. Sweet! 
Torqued down axle nuts and crank bolt, bled the clutch a million different ways until it finally got all the air out, dropped it on the ZHP wheels and took it for a short "around the block" drive. All seems pretty good. 
Time to throw the front end back on, hood, fill AC install airbox and start daily it. 👍

After more failed attempts at coding the B25 DME (kept having issues with connecting and finding the dme in the software), it was time to turn to plan b. Thanks to @m42b32 for having an extra MS43 DME and being able to flash it with everything I needed. Joe ended up putting the stock B30 tune, EWS delete and SAI delete on it and it worked like a charm. 
After a couple startups to see how things were going, the engine started running extremely rough and wouldn't idle. @B C ended up stopping over with his computer. We checked fuel injectors, good. Checked coilpacks, good. Nothing was obvious from the outside, so we plugged the computer in to check error codes. After translating a few we narrowed it down to the DISA valve. Turns out the plug wasn't fully seated on the connector. Plugged it in and purred like a kitten. Sweet! 
Torqued down axle nuts and crank bolt, bled the clutch a million different ways until it finally got all the air out, dropped it on the ZHP wheels and took it for a short "around the block" drive. All seems pretty good. 
Time to throw the front end back on, hood, fill AC install airbox and start daily it. 👍

After more failed attempts at coding the B25 DME (kept having issues with connecting and finding the dme in the software), it was time to turn to plan b. Thanks to @m42b32 for having an extra MS43 DME and being able to flash it with everything I needed. Joe ended up putting the stock B30 tune, EWS delete and SAI delete on it and it worked like a charm. 
After a couple startups to see how things were going, the engine started running extremely rough and wouldn't idle. @B C ended up stopping over with his computer. We checked fuel injectors, good. Checked coilpacks, good. Nothing was obvious from the outside, so we plugged the computer in to check error codes. After translating a few we narrowed it down to the DISA valve. Turns out the plug wasn't fully seated on the connector. Plugged it in and purred like a kitten. Sweet! 
Torqued down axle nuts and crank bolt, bled the clutch a million different ways until it finally got all the air out, dropped it on the ZHP wheels and took it for a short "around the block" drive. All seems pretty good. 
Time to throw the front end back on, hood, fill AC install airbox and start daily it. 👍

After more failed attempts at coding the B25 DME (kept having issues with connecting and finding the dme in the software), it was time to turn to plan b. Thanks to @m42b32 for having an extra MS43 DME and being able to flash it with everything I needed. Joe ended up putting the stock B30 tune, EWS delete and SAI delete on it and it worked like a charm. 
After a couple startups to see how things were going, the engine started running extremely rough and wouldn't idle. @B C ended up stopping over with his computer. We checked fuel injectors, good. Checked coilpacks, good. Nothing was obvious from the outside, so we plugged the computer in to check error codes. After translating a few we narrowed it down to the DISA valve. Turns out the plug wasn't fully seated on the connector. Plugged it in and purred like a kitten. Sweet! 
Torqued down axle nuts and crank bolt, bled the clutch a million different ways until it finally got all the air out, dropped it on the ZHP wheels and took it for a short "around the block" drive. All seems pretty good. 
Time to throw the front end back on, hood, fill AC install airbox and start daily it. 👍

Just picked up a very nice 1999 Z3M Coupe this past weekend. Only 56k on the clock. Originally cosmos over black, repainted very well back in 2005 in Laguna Seca Blue. Can't wait to start modifying it! Stock currently, other than H&R springs. First order of business is finding some oem headlights. 

This past weekend we had 2 of my wife's friends stay at the house with their kids and husbands.  On Saturday the girls went to get their nails done and go to a beer garden in Waukesha and they took the M3.  When they got back my wife said her friends need to drive the car but were "afraid" so I spent the rest of the day egging them on.  On Sunday one of the girls was ready so I threw her in the drivers seat and we went for a drive.  She eventually fell in love with it and spent the rest of the weekend asking to drive it anywhere so we put a few more miles on it.  Her other friend drove it but it was too stressful of an event and she was done after one drive lol.
This is one of the reasons I bought a DCT.  I love handing my keys to someone and letting them rip!  It's even more fun when they've never really driven a sports car.  With a 6 speed there is a barrier to entry that scares people away.  You have to want to drive a manual trans AND have one available to learn on.  The DCT is a terrible automatic but the fact it can shift on it's own takes one barrier down.  
It also made me think about why these girls were "afraid" to drive my car.  They kept saying they're afraid they'd hurt the car.  It made me ask more then we got to the root.  They know how much I love the car and they don't want to be responsible for disappointing me.  Also, the perception that it's a terribly expensive car if something did get damaged scared them.  I had to go above and beyond to assure them it's a car, I have insurance and they can't hurt it.  I took them for a drive and they saw how I drive.  They won't be harder on it than I already am.
This also reminds me that it just takes once to get someone hooked.  One time behind the wheel to spark something you didn't know you had in you.  It's one thing to always be a passenger and enjoy a ride but to have the opportunity to push the pedal and control the noises coming out of the exhaust pipe is a whole different experience.  The friend who enjoyed it spent the rest of the weekend asking me about how to get into a car of her own like this and convincing her husband that it's do-able.
 
TL;DR - Don't be a dick.  Share the keys.

@YoungCR @patsbimmer1 
Installation: Super easy. Took 10 min. 
Pros:
Planted in the seat - I didnt realize how much of a difference this makes on backroads. Normally you are constantly compensating for lean with your body and arms, freeing yourself up from that lets you focus on car control and other inputs Easy for daily use - Takes 30 seconds to go from 3 point seat belt --> 4 point harness Airbag remains intact - not all harness setups allow for this Bolt-in Install - This was really important to me since E39 M5s are appreciating and I didnt want to drill anything out Harness Grips - recommend purchasing. Soo much easier tighten the harness Cons:
Wasnt expecting the shoulder pain. Makes sense why they make harness pads Overall: 10/10 - wish I had done this sooner

The ship has landed!

It was a guy on craigslist in Trevor, WI, close to IL border that had a couple storage garages full of parts. He's always parting out different bmws and has parts galore. I can look at CL again and see if he has another post to get contact info.

330i front brakes installed

Like it never happened...


Still have to seam seal and undercoat the underside, but I'm very happy with it. Shifts through all gears like it should. 
I have to get a new black leather shift boot instead of the grey one I found at the u-pull. Also, once this whole project is wrapped up, this thing is getting a full interior detail for sure. Yikes!!!

Well I'll call that a success. Ended up cutting the dash console piece in one spot to make room. This spot will allow everything to bolt back together and never be seen. This extra space allowed me to cut back the carpet inside shifter area. 



I made a template of the inside hump piece and traced it on the car to prep for cutting. 

I then proceeded to cut it out carefully with a dremel, not to hit any of the wiring or catch something on fire.


Fits great and shifting feels exactly as it should now! 👍
Now I just have to get some panelbond, seam sealer and rivets to attach it permanently and put all the interior back together. 

Like it never happened...


Still have to seam seal and undercoat the underside, but I'm very happy with it. Shifts through all gears like it should. 
I have to get a new black leather shift boot instead of the grey one I found at the u-pull. Also, once this whole project is wrapped up, this thing is getting a full interior detail for sure. Yikes!!!

Like it never happened...


Still have to seam seal and undercoat the underside, but I'm very happy with it. Shifts through all gears like it should. 
I have to get a new black leather shift boot instead of the grey one I found at the u-pull. Also, once this whole project is wrapped up, this thing is getting a full interior detail for sure. Yikes!!!

What kind of slob owned this thing before that let dirt build up behind the tail lights!?!?  

Its time for an UPDATE!
Holy shit has the past month been a stressful but rewarding in the end, so thats why I have been slacking on updates here haha
For starters the street tuning went well. There's still some touch ups the tuner wants to make which I'm fine with but the car rips pretty well!
20210526_200253.mp4
 
Here is the completed version for now. I made some delete panels for the rear diffuser, it turned out good enough lol.


And with the tune being safe to drift on that meant it was time for some testing at DD80 at USAIR.

 
The car did well, stayed cool the whole day even though it was not super hot out. The power difference is definitely noticeable although I still can't run 3rd. (Might have to consider playing with a different diff, but it does not hinder driving at all)



 
20210530_161118.mp4
 
The bumper fell off and got scratched to shit so that's lame but oh well lol.

 
The biggest issue that arose was the clutch was slipping once the car cooled down at the end of the day, not surprised that it glazed over lol. The current clutch was a FX "HD" kit with a single mass flywheel.
Now began the headaches....
We unloaded the car on Thursday and put it on the lift. Pulled the trans and installed a brand new FX stage 2 kit (e36 style without the self adjusting pressure plate).

While that went smoothly and the car was back on the ground and driving that Thursday night there was a vibration between 2k and up in almost every gear.
I ended up bringing the car home from the shop anyways. I then decided I was not okay with that vibration, so I jacked the car up and pulled the trans out on the following Saturday. 

I replaced the pilot bearing as I was ignorant and didn't do it the first time at the shop. I checked and retorqued everything without finding any true smoking guns.
I drove the car Saturday and Sunday and the vibrations still persisted. So Monday night I went back up to the shop and snagged Sam's old FX stage 4 kit since we know it is tried and true. 
Then on Tuesday I pulled the trans again and threw in the stage 4 kit. At this point I'm getting way to fast at this job lol had everything taken apart and back together in about 3 hours and 15 min hahaha


I then test drove the car on Wednesday and the vibrations were gone thankfully! I also should have mentioned that the vibrations happened when free revving so thats how I knew it was clucth/flywheel related.
 
Now the reason there was such a big rush to get this clutch situation solved is because we had a big event coming up at the Milwaukee Mile hosted by Track Day Direct.
In final preparations for the Milwaukee Mile event I added some seems legit garage axle spacers.


 
Now on to the fun!
We made it! 

 
The track was FAST and took quite a few runs to get the balls up to really send it. This was my first time drifting using 3rd gear and eventually I figured out how to set myself up to get back into second for the final turn, she didn't seem to have enough to let it eat in 3rd on the last turn but I would like to try again next time we are here.
Here are some photos! There was a night session as well and I will share a few photos when they become available!

 



Here's an in car. I really struggled on turn 1 and had to straighten and re-initiate into turn to but when I did that she absolutely ATEEE and thats where the speed came in! Super fun!
received_499992047905259.mp4 received_499992047905259.mp4
received_318451406669939.mp4
received_681255366018396.mp4
And here is proably my favorite clip I have seen so far.
VID_23610504_061746_537.mp4
 
All in all it was a great event. I learned alot and was able to put on a show too. 

 
I do have a few things I want to address before the next event hopefully. But summer and this season is off to a hell of a fun start! 
 
 
 

Well I'll call that a success. Ended up cutting the dash console piece in one spot to make room. This spot will allow everything to bolt back together and never be seen. This extra space allowed me to cut back the carpet inside shifter area. 



I made a template of the inside hump piece and traced it on the car to prep for cutting. 

I then proceeded to cut it out carefully with a dremel, not to hit any of the wiring or catch something on fire.


Fits great and shifting feels exactly as it should now! 👍
Now I just have to get some panelbond, seam sealer and rivets to attach it permanently and put all the interior back together. 

Excellent surgical work!

Well I'll call that a success. Ended up cutting the dash console piece in one spot to make room. This spot will allow everything to bolt back together and never be seen. This extra space allowed me to cut back the carpet inside shifter area. 



I made a template of the inside hump piece and traced it on the car to prep for cutting. 

I then proceeded to cut it out carefully with a dremel, not to hit any of the wiring or catch something on fire.


Fits great and shifting feels exactly as it should now! 👍
Now I just have to get some panelbond, seam sealer and rivets to attach it permanently and put all the interior back together. 

Prepping for surgery. Cut out the raised trans tunnel section for shifter from a 330xi at wallys u-pull in Oshkosh this morning.