Bimmer Evolution, blee edition

[jpgurl]

Nice! Congrats.

[blee]

While driving away from work tonight, I found myself "greeted" by a Civic Si (the '02-ish model) and a GTI at two different times, each one unable to resist revving their engines at me and pulling away after slowing down and blocking traffic in the adjacent lane.

I'd forgotten all about this aspect of M3 ownership. It takes me back to a day when JST came over to see me flailing away at the rear main seal of my busted S14, and he let me drive his E46 M3 on a brief errand. Back then, of course, it was a current-model car, and the number of stares, middle fingers, and other gestures of gratitude really surprised me.

Oh well. My first "mod" last night was to find the old ///M3 key fob that I used with my '88, and maybe my '99.

[Plaz]

Originally Posted by blee

While driving away from work tonight, I found myself "greeted" by a Civic Si (the '02-ish model) and a GTI at two different times, each one unable to resist revving their engines at me and pulling away after slowing down and blocking traffic in the adjacent lane.

I'd forgotten all about this aspect of M3 ownership. It takes me back to a day when JST came over to see me flailing away at the rear main seal of my busted S14, and he let me drive his E46 M3 on a brief errand. Back then, of course, it was a current-model car, and the number of stares, middle fingers, and other gestures of gratitude really surprised me.

I hated that shit with the 1M. It was really bad for the first year and a half or so. I had people getting out of their cars at stoplights and taking pictures of me and my car with their phone on a couple different occasions. Hasn't happened in awhile thankfully. Still get the revvers from time to time though.

[bren]

Pretty sure my next mod is going to be a catalytic converter.

I don't recall too much attention, but I do get some questions about debaging it.

[blee]

Originally Posted by bren

Pretty sure my next mod is going to be a catalytic converter.

I don't recall too much attention, but I do get some questions about debaging it.

I think I'm going to debadge mine as well, right after its first oil change (fingerscrossednocopperplease) and coolant temp sensor change.

Oh, yeah -- the coolant temp. We used the OBD diagnostic menu to monitor the coolant during my test drive, where we found the coolant temp dipping as low as 68 degrees C. Weaver Motorsports (selling dealer, big thumbs up) replaced it for me and I drove home. Now the temperature hovers steadily at 75, going as high as 78 or so before coming back down. Fan clutch seems fine, water pump is not wobbly (and must be working anyway). Infrared thermometer shows surface temperatures of about 85C at the hose inlet to the thermostat, as well as the engine block right next to the sensor. I'm going to change the sensor, which gives me an excuse to remove the intake manifold and clean/explore down there anyway.

[bren]

Originally Posted by blee

IOBD diagnostic menu

This sounds like something I should know about.

Does it show o2 sensor live data?

[blee]

Originally Posted by bren

This sounds like something I should know about.

Does it show o2 sensor live data?

Unfortunately no, I don't think. You'll need an OBD scan tool for that. If you search for "E46 secret menu" you'll find instructions for accessing the diagnostics. You may also want to watch a YouTube video, as the instructions are probably only clear to a German.

NB: While the instructions all say to hold the Trip Reset button while turning the key to "on," you can access the menu any time the key is in the "on" position by just holding down Trip Reset long enough. You can get there while the car is running.

Instructions to access the hidden OBC functions:
1. Hold Trip Reset while turning ignition key to on position
2. OBC should show "Test"
3. Use Trip Reset to select function 19.0 that unlocks all the features
3. Wait for display to show "Off"
4. Depress Trip Reset for 1/4 second and release it
5. With no delay press Trip Reset several times to select one of the following function s
==========================================


BMW E46 On-Board Computer (OBC) Hidden Codes
nr example description
1 Car Engine and cluster data
1.0 46nnn Chassis nr/VIN serial number (last 5 digits)
1.1 4nnn K-number
1.2 690236 Cluster Part #
1.3 045210 Coding (04)/diagnosis (52)/bus index (10)
1.4 1200 Week (12)/year of manufacture (2000)
1.5 09_160 Hardware (09) and software # (16.0) of cluster
1.6 Not used
1.7 04__44 CAN-version (04) KI-revision index (44)
2 (test) Cluster System Test - Activates the gauge drivers,
indicators and LEDs to confirm function
3 SI Data
3.0 1098 Used fuel in liters since last SI (Service Inspection)
3.1 0231 Periodic inspection days; elapsed days (since last SI)
4 Momentary Consumption
4.0 0145+ Instant fuel consumption - 0145=14.5 liters/100km
4.1 0018 Instant fuel consumption - 0018=1.8 l/Hour
5 Distance Gone Consumption
5.0 082 Average mileage; 082=8.2 liters/100km
5.1 0536 Calc. km to refuel (momentary distance to go)
6 Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters
6.0 109330+ Fuel level averaged; Left half sensor input=10.9 liters; Right sensor input=33.0 liters
6.1 0439+ Total tank level averaged; vlgs 6.0: 10.9+33.0=43.9 liters
6.2 0442+ Indicated value (44.2) and tank phase
7 Temperature and Speed
7.0 021+ Coolant/Engine temperature (2.1C)
7.1 130 Ambient/Outside temperature - chg met 5 pts. 125/130/135
7.2 + Engine speed / Current RPMs 1/min
7.3 + Vehicle speed / Current Speed in km/hour
8 Input value in HEX form
8.0 1d0+ System voltage ADC-Value Hex code
8.1 26C33C+ ADC Values HG left/HG right
8.2 0000 ADC Value brake degradation sensor (000=o.k.)
8.3 18C ADC Value outside temperature
9 Battery
9.0 140 Battery Voltage - 140 = UB 14.0v
9.1 242013+?
9.2 074_78+?
9.3 0011+?
10 Not used
11 Not used
12 Not used
13 GonG Gong Test
14 Not used
15 Status cluster I/O-ports (bit codes) 0=low; 1=high
1st-belt contact, seat belt fastened=0; 2) ignition lock contact, key inserted=0; 3) door contact, door open=0; 4) clock button pressed=0; 5) SI reset=0, for reset=0; 6) EGS transmission failure=0
Status Digital Outputs (bits) 0=inactive, 1=active
1) Gong output; 2) Brake warning lamp; 3) Low fuel warning lamp; 4) EGA lamp; 5) seat belt lamp; 6) manipulation dot
16 Not used
17 Not used
18 Not used
19 Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18
19.0 L-On/L-Off Unlock: press button when "L-Off"
20 Not used
21 Software Reset; reset OBC settings
00 End of test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twM7NchxjXI

[blee]

Just some random thoughts after several hundred miles of ownership:

When JST turned in his E46 M3, I remember some of the reasons he had for disliking it; mostly, it was hard to enjoy in the everyday commuting environment, and it only got to be really fun at really illegal speeds.

I get it. There's plenty of horsepower and torque on tap, but you need to wind up the engine to really appreciate its character. This car is not super easy to drive at low speeds. Takeoffs from a stop are kind of clunky affairs if you're trying to accelerate slowly, and upshifts at lowish RPMs are also ungraceful. Downshifts are weird at low engine speeds, requiring more throttle than you'd expect to match smoothly. For that matter, the shifter (which maybe isn't aftermarket, after all) is not smooth in the first place, particularly when it's cold. Meanwhile, the wide tires and sporty suspension make for loud noises in the cabin, and even compared against other older cars, there are lots of mechanical noises that you have to accept as normal. I mean, it's almost 14 years old, and I'll readily admit to being less than the world's best driver, but I think my observations are valid.

Well, the weather finally decided to be nice to me this afternoon, 80ish and sunny. I very (im)patiently waited for the oil temp to rise as I drove away from the office, ending up at a light with no one in front of me and a 55 MPH speed limit. Windows open, radio off, and a couple of trips to redline reminded me why I love this car so much. Everything just falls into place as the revs go up, including that awesome exhaust rasp.* The clutch feels just right, the shifter slips into place perfectly, downshift blips are a piece of cake, and the car steers like it's reading my mind. Falling back to earth and rush-hour traffic, things still seemed somehow better, as if the car just needed to take a big breath and yell for a couple of minutes. It was a cathartic experience, a very necessary way to blow away the dregs of a trying day at work.

So yes, it's a little high-strung, and it doesn't enjoy tottering around from one city block to another. But I don't care. Hell, my other car is a truck.

*Yes, I seriously love the rasp. I'm curious to know whether a previous owner modified the exhaust at some point to reduce the rasp; my car doesn't seem to be as raspy as others, but it's hard to judge from inside the cabin. I'll figure it out in the next couple of weeks. And if it has been "fixed," at some point in the future I plan to install the Euro headers and cats, which should get rid of the second resonator that comprises most anti-rasp solutions.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by blee

When JST turned in his E46 M3, I remember some of the reasons he had for disliking it; mostly, it was hard to enjoy in the everyday commuting environment, and it only got to be really fun at really illegal speeds.

I thought those were his parting thoughts about his E90 M3.

The E46 is a great GT once you replace the shocks, exhaust notwithstanding. Good, usable and accessible power. My E46 M3 experiences are pretty far removed at this point, but I always felt like the six speed was much more livable than the SMG.



So long as you're enjoying it, who cares?

[bren]

Originally Posted by blee

my car doesn't seem to be as raspy as others, but it's hard to judge from inside the cabin.

Even with the (much louder) Borla mufflers on mine, it's pretty much all intake noise from the driver's seat. The rasp is more of a wake of noise that you leave behind.