patsbimmer1

I wanted to share a giveaway I just launched with my fellow WI Bimmers peeps. As I dive into this full-time content creator life, I'm trying to sell more of my BMW-inspired merch. What better way to do that than to do the infamous "buy a t-shirt, win a car" method!? Except I'm not in a position to give away a car... so instead, I'm giving away a Doc Race N54 intake manifold, or $1,000 cash if you're not into unreliable N54-powered BMWs.
Buy anything from my website and you'll automatically be entered to win: https://bimmerstreet.com
You'll get 5 entries for every $1 you spend. So if you buy a $5 decal, you'll get 25 entries. If you spend $100 on a hoodie, a couple t-shirts, and a keytag, you'll get 500 entries (+10 bonus entries for spending over $100). It's pretty simple.
If you’ve wanted to show support for all of the BMW content I've created over the years, this is a great way to do so. Not only will you get something physical in return, but you’ll have a chance to win big!

The thought of a V12 Z8 made me so happy.  It makes me want an Alpina even more after hearing so much about them.

I absolutely love this car!  Factory mint paint AND it's a euro spec s50b32!  It's so 90's and I love it.  I think they fucked up by putting out a "coming soon..." craigslist ad advertising it for $96k though.  The auction has a reserve and I won't be surprised if it doesn't hit that reserve.  The story they're telling is neat about finding the car, storing it, etc.
https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/euro-spec-1996-bmw-m3-mint-green/

The upholstery project has been going better than I anticipated and is a lot of fun. The rear bench is almost done. 
 
 

I'm resurrecting myself from the dead...
 

Alright, alright. I forgot to take pics of the finished bracket, but here is one of the test print before doing it for real in black ABS. 

I then bought the DIY wireless phone charger kit from ECS Tuning to make it an easy install. 
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-inbay-parts/wireless-charging-retrofit-kit-3-coil/240000-10-1~iby/

And here it is installed.

BMW part # 51470010557 is the cargo net if you're missing it.  Works wonders to keep the groceries in place during those high speed return trips.  Can't miss an apex just because you've got eggs in the trunk!

BMW part # 51470010557 is the cargo net if you're missing it.  Works wonders to keep the groceries in place during those high speed return trips.  Can't miss an apex just because you've got eggs in the trunk!

Bummer. You and @patsbimmer1 can start keeping score on squirrel hits

Can't end the driving season without a little carnage. Had a run in with a fat squirrel while out on my last drive before winter storage. Bent and broke the front splitter I made. Was slapping the bumper the whole ride home. Give me something to do over winter I suppose.  

Car has been washed, gassed up with stabil and in it's spot for the long hibernation. Mirrors are tucked, it's official!

Whelp, sold the Volvo bought a Volvo. Drove her back from D.C. this weekend - lets hope she's as reliable as the wagon!
2012 XC90 3.2 R-Design, Ice White w/Black interior
Most of my drive was at night, but here's the dealer pic.
Its a big honkin thing, but will keep the fam safe. 

I completed the service interval and noticed a few extra things that I wanted to address. I somehow managed to overlook the transferase fluid flush, so I ordered fluid for that from FCP. I also noticed oil weeping from the back of the VC, so I snugged the bolts and cleaned everything really well to decipher where the leak is coming from. So far I think its from the O-ring on the oil filler neck, so I ordered a replacement. The car never had TPMs sensors in it when I got it, and it warns me every time I drive it. I ordered TPMs sensors and installed them, I just need to get them programmed to the car now. 
I also ordered new pads and rotors for the rear. When I took the car on the tail of the dragon, I noticed that when the brakes got really hot, one of the rear calipers would drag. I summed this up to sticky slides, and pulled the slides out, cleaned and greased them when I got home, and all seemed well. I never really checked the pads and rotors closely as the PO said he did the rear brakes. So when the car was in the air this last time, I noticed the rear pads were "Brake Best" brand and one of the rotors was starting to crack. Thus I ordered the parts. NOW what I didn't notice the first time I greased the slides was that one of the guide pins was ever so slightly bent. THIS is what is causing the rear brake caliper to drag when it gets hot. I never would have noticed this, but when I went to clean the slides this time, I chucked the pins in a drill and used a brillo pad to get them polished clean. I noticed the very subtle bend in the pin check all the others, and decided to order a new one.
FUN FACT; Chrysler Pacifica, Fiat 500L, and 2020 Honda Accords use the same caliper slides as most BMW's from 2010-2015 
Here's a list of the additional parts:
Transfer case fluid Rear discs Rear pads Valve cover O-ring Rear brake guide pin  TPMS sensors  Front brakes all done

Test fitting the OZ Hamann's to see what specs I will need to make them work.

Failed Breather hose. 

 
My repair, as the part is damn near impossible to find. I found one in Europe for $240. I figure this wont crack like the brittle plastic did and I could fix it right away. Judge me all you want for using worm clamps.
Took a look at the crank pulley when I flushed the coolant. Seems like these have the same issues as the M57's with the rubber failing. I will have to add this to my list. 

The car drives much better now, too bad the season is almost over. I haven't decided if I want to drive it in winter or not.
 

e90 gang!  That's a nice green.  I've left my e90 untinted but after getting my truck tinted it's so much more comfortable on long trips.

That's what she said

Not a BMW but from the same site as the X6... Sign me up for this!
https://www.equipmentfacts.com/listings/trucks/auctions/215428901/1900-ford-f3

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/madison-bmw-sport-utility-35d/7529194958.html

Not a BMW but from the same site as the X6... Sign me up for this!
https://www.equipmentfacts.com/listings/trucks/auctions/215428901/1900-ford-f3

Hoping to get back into project mode w/the M5 next month. This summer the focus has been on my new daily.
Couple of immediate tasks:
DSP Amp replacement + reinstall BlueBus PDR on hood - highway debris Power steering lines Aesthetic refresh due to backroads driving (conflicted about this one) Front and rear bumper replacement Headlight replacement  

Hadn’t seen the wheels on the car yet, didn’t have much to do today, so I did a test fit on one side. 
 



Between these and the style 225’s, I think the E9X had some of the best M sport wheels. Looking forward to these being on the car full time. Just waiting till winter(currently on snows as stated in previous post).
Think I am going to do some ST coil overs next year to get rid of just a little bit of the wheel gap. 

https://www.xdelete.app/

Ok, so I spoke too soon.  I'm not 100% sure what I hit but when I was driving home from Appleton last night I heard a loud flapping noise so I pulled over at a Kwik Trip and was surprised to find out most of my front lip was missing.  I'm not 100% sure but I'm fairly confident it was not another squirrel. I was right though, the spot that I just fixed held up! 🤣
I don't think I can fix this one so the car is naked for the time being.

No joke, I've hit at least 3 squirrels/chipmunks and my lip continues to take a beating but thankfully I've gotten pretty OK at fixing carbon pieces.  It's not perfect but it's a solid 5 footer.  I could have spent more time sanding the resin after it hardened to get it to conform to the curve upwards better but I figured if anything I just added some stiffness to an area that's bound to get hit again.
Here's how it started:

Here's how it went:


 

Spotted this in Barcelona last week! The guy had a big smile after I snapped the picture and gave him a thumbs up.

I think that looks fine.  I am not a fan of forged/chopped carbon fiber.  It looks messy, chaotic and incomplete to me.

I finally decided to put on the side mirror caps. Looks much better, but also out of place. I think forged carbon would be a better fit with white.