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KyleBrown

E46 BMW Build. (POS)

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I'm transferring this over from another forum/ Some things might be out of order. 

 

I'm getting the car for next to nothing but it needs some work. So far I have replaced both front control arms and sway bar links. I'm redoing all of the front end (P/S pump, racl etc.) The sway bar bushing look swollen, so those are going to be ordered too. I'm hearing a slight "clunk" when I throw it in to reverse which I believe is either a bushing on the rearend or the flex bushing on the drive shaft. The carrier bearing is new, so I don't think that's it. 

 

The car has 209k on it. I'm also going to be ordering new plugs. Service the trans and rearend. 

 

I have a fair amount of cosmetic work too. I need to order clips and mounts for both bumpers. Plus the side skirts. 

 

If anyone has some input on where to find the niknack stuff, let me know. Or anything else I should dive into before I put it back on the road. I also want to replace the wheels. Either a factory style set of 18s or some decent aftermarket ones. 

 

 

Here's the car. You can see the front bumper hanging low and the rear bumper is pushed forward almost 2 inches. 

20140426_174332_zpsvactxvdl.jpg

 

20140426_174312_zps8vzg0oml.jpg

 

More of the front. 

20140426_095608_zpsklyl2umo.jpg

 

20140426_095551_zpskcuo1btg.jpg

 

20140426_095539_zpsg6dd3z9a.jpg

 

20140426_095530_zpsubr4rpho.jpg

 

She needs a bath very badly.

20140426_095524_zpsc36ytxaw.jpg

 

20140307_214930_zpsfwiwbeev.jpg

 

 

 

I plan on doing shocks and struts but I'm going to hold off until I decide to keep or sell it. I really want a manual E46 coupe. If I keep it, I'll put bags on it or drop another inch or so.

Edited by armykyle1

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20140507_213202_zpszfsq1h8g.jpg

 

Got a bunch of parts in. Everything went well until I got to replacing the power steering pump. I messed up by ordering a 2000 pump instead of a 1999. But the rack, reservoir and tie rod end are in. I'll probably have to drop the rack back out too. My alignment was way off and used pretty much all the adjustment I had in the passenger side. Easy fix though. Just drop the rack a little, undo the steering coupler and adjust the rack. 

 

 

Also, it seems the speedo isn't working. It's an auto. Any tips to figure out why? I'll of course be searching the site.

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They sent me the wrong power steering pump. Got that all squared away now. Went ahead and put a new one on instead of a remanufactured. Finally got to go drive the car. Engine still has a good bit of pep left in it. But I also discovered more issues that need addressing. Needs shocks and struts bad. I also have a clunk up front, I guess it might be a strut mount. I also have oil leaking from the front of the engine somewhere and of course the valve cover is leaking. 

 

Old pump

20140517_160738_zpsezs8en4q.jpg

 

New pump :)

20140517_162014_zpsgecprxgw.jpg

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It has been a while since I updated this. Lets see about progress. 

 

Fixed rear bumper cover.

New brakes all four corners.

New rack from rack doctor. (A1 cardone blew at 50 miles)

New P/S pump. 

New front control arms. 

New front sway bar links. 

New center support bearing. 

New OFH gasket. 

New valve cover gasket. 

New outer tie rod ends. 

New struts and strut mounts.

New shocks and shock mounts. 

Currently replacing the CCV system, intake mani gaskets and the intake elbows. 

 

New grille

20140710_185604_zpsifxs9mqj.jpg

 

Lawn mower has a cup holder, why not the vacuum?

20140710_191045_zps3as1arts.jpg

 

20140718_184128_zpsakrmxcnu.jpg

 

Getting started on the second rack...

20140719_194750_zpszwcrwc2k.jpg

 

Did the brakes at the same time. 

20140720_010825_zpsqsfs6kbj.jpg

 

A1 cardone vs Rack doctor. Initial build quality is much better. 

20140720_160631_zps05xx67f7.jpg

 

Balls deep in this ccv crap.

20140726_223945_zpsxd1zcxtq.jpg

 

One of the bigger issues I found in the ccv system.

20140726_224007_zpsvwununbz.jpg

 

New part installed on intake. 

20140726_224021_zpsjymqfjjr.jpg

 

 

Once I get this done, all I should need is a proper alignment. Then it's on to making the audio right.

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Making a mess. 

 

20140820_193301_zpsfoj8fbfd.jpg

 

Got the three way **** going. I'm only using the the front channels on the 200.4 for now. 

 

20140820_200207_zpstnguvzgi.jpg

 

I need to figure out what do with the fog lights. They don't match now.

 

20140820_201408_zpsjrsdnsxj.jpg

 

 

I'll clean the wires up when I figure out what I'm doing for subs.

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All cleaned up. 

 

20141110_195815_zpso9c6nfkz.jpg

 

The stock wire inside the car.

 

20141110_200818_zpslryba0rd.jpg

 

Stock and upgraded. 

 

20141110_202407_zpsnusydbph.jpg

 

These are all crimped with my 16ton crimpers.

20141110_203901_zps0mnrytgz.jpg

 

Hows looks under hood. 

 

20141110_210342_zpsbszfw31y.jpg

 

Mocking up the rear deck.

 

20141113_203811_zps5uom8vw6.jpg

 

The other side.

 

20141118_201538_zps6vmvbwql.jpg

 

Using some PL 3x that I had laying around. I will also screw them to the rear deck.

 

20141118_201552_zpsqrwqhmw3.jpg

 

20141118_201609_zpshwyuwilt.jpg

 

Some of the sheet metal I cut out. 

 

20141118_201637_zpstwn0yzul.jpg

 

Stupid oversized wire.

 

20141120_200811_zpsrk6wnfmr.jpg

 

From the back. You won't see the ugly unless you crouch down.

 

20141120_204313_zpsud41z5in.jpg

 

Lots of clean up to do. 

 

20141120_204359_zpspknoaavw.jpg

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20140507_213202_zpszfsq1h8g.jpg

 

Got a bunch of parts in. Everything went well until I got to replacing the power steering pump. I messed up by ordering a 2000 pump instead of a 1999. But the rack, reservoir and tie rod end are in. I'll probably have to drop the rack back out too. My alignment was way off and used pretty much all the adjustment I had in the passenger side. Easy fix though. Just drop the rack a little, undo the steering coupler and adjust the rack. 

 

 

Also, it seems the speedo isn't working. It's an auto. Any tips to figure out why? I'll of course be searching the site.

Broken speedo cable?

Also not a bad lookin car. Some elbow grease and new parts and she sould be great.

J

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Upgraded the RTAB to some poly bushings. Huge improvement but I need an alignment again. 

 

20140906_182111_zpsrvnjspty.jpg

 

The front bumped needed some adjusting since the previous owner bottomed it out a few times.

 

Before

 

20140906_164229_zpsv3ltmvae.jpg

 

After

 

20140906_165056_zpsb0yqn3k2.jpg

 

 

I know it's not huge, but it's a big difference too me.

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Just some mechanical updates. I was getting an annoying clunk in the rear dude some failed bushings on differential. So I have to drop the exhaust, the diff, the drive shaft and a few other things.

 

I'm also replacing a few other parts while I'm in there. 

 

 

Dropping the exhaust.

20141130_160909_zpss7efyawj.jpg

 

Got the diff out. Worst part was unbolting the axles. 

20141130_182512_zpsowelqt4a.jpg

 

Needs new u-Joints too. 

20141130_182532_zpsii07va5h.jpg

 

Long ass exhaust. 

20141130_182541_zps9ugv5oda.jpg

 

Yea, I would say it was a bit wore out. 

 

20141130_182833_zps1whbgrxf.jpg

 

The main culprit for the clunk. The whole diff could move almost a 1/2" I'm replacing it with a poly bushing. 

20141130_193300_zps43i6jpz1.jpg

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The more work I do on the car, the more I far in love with it. Everything is coming together and I'm very happy so far. 

 

This was on the way to the SEC championship game. I had to snap a pic of this sexy bitch. 

 

20141206_092134-1_zpsg8i8iev0.jpg

 

 

I have undergone another project. The car wasn't reaching full operating temperature so I knew it needed a t-stat. Well, on automatic cars, you have to take out the clutch fan and shroud. So I decided it was good time to do a water pump and why not do an electric fan conversion? I also found that the radiator was not mounted properly, so I addressed that as well. 

 

FB_IMG_1418090717055_zpscmtvqqfw.jpg

 

Don't mind the cheap head lights. They're getting some attention soon. Pulled the front bumper off the help set the radiator and remove the old pusher fan. 

 

20141222_192210_zpss9sjj93t.jpg

 

As you can see, the clearance isn't quite there. I also installed an aluminum W/P pulley, the plastic pos had a chip in it. 

 

20141222_192231_zpsubylouun.jpg

 

Pusher fan tossed aside. 

 

20141222_192243_zpsjzbkc2lw.jpg

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BMW had a lot of issues with the batteries going bad on their clusters. The boards are also known for shorting out. I had to replace the batteries on my E30 and then the speedometer worked again.

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BMW had a lot of issues with the batteries going bad on their clusters. The boards are also known for shorting out. I had to replace the batteries on my E30 and then the speedometer worked again.

 

 

Hopefully that doesn't happen. 

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20140507_213202_zpszfsq1h8g.jpg

 

Got a bunch of parts in. Everything went well until I got to replacing the power steering pump. I messed up by ordering a 2000 pump instead of a 1999. But the rack, reservoir and tie rod end are in. I'll probably have to drop the rack back out too. My alignment was way off and used pretty much all the adjustment I had in the passenger side. Easy fix though. Just drop the rack a little, undo the steering coupler and adjust the rack. 

 

 

Also, it seems the speedo isn't working. It's an auto. Any tips to figure out why? I'll of course be searching the site.

Broken speedo cable?

Also not a bad lookin car. Some elbow grease and new parts and she sould be great.

J

 

 

 

Most of the issues have been addressed. 

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Nice, I love Beamers. :popcorn:

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Nice, I love Beamers. popcorn.gif

 

 

I have mixed feelings about them. But I'm really growing to love them. I'm really hoping I'll be able to afford an M6 soon. 

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I've always mentioned using DDMTuning whenever possible since owning my old 97 M3 a long while back. I have since only used them for HID's and LED's, but they still carry all the desirable interior/exterior parts for most e36,e39,e46, and e90 series.

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nice

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