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03-06-2017, 07:00 PM | #1 |
No more BMWs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
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rumatt's E46
Matt dropped off his E46 on Saturday with the goal of fixing everything that's wrong with it. This thread will serve to document that process.
This is a pretty special car for a few reasons. He's owned it since new, he took European delivery of it, it doesn't have a sunroof, and it's won an SCCA autocross national championship. Many of us have memories of this car back when it was younger. And when we were younger. I was surprised to see that it still had the double-adjustable Koni shocks, big front sway bar and Borla exhaust from back in the day. The patient. Next to the usual patient. Aside from needing a front bumper, it is actually in excellent cosmetic condition on the outside. The paint is really quite nice. It may be in need of a little maintenance, though. Oil leaks abound Leaking oil filter housings are common. I'm happy that the oil pan doesn't leak, nor does the front main seal! Underneath the valve cover looks very clean. It could probably use new control arms and bushings. I'll try to do a better job of photographing things as I go along. |
03-06-2017, 07:05 PM | #2 |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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Context: the car has 170k miles over 13.5 years. Exterior: I obsessively applied Klass AIO and SG to the car every 6 months for about the first 3 years of ownership. I haven't washed it or waxed it since then. I don't know how the paint is in good shape. Maintenance: I did just about nothing other than oil changes. I attempted to change it every 6-7k miles using Mobile-1, but sometimes forgot and it was more like 8-9k. That cylinder head sure look cleaner than I was expecting. . Last edited by rumatt; 03-06-2017 at 07:49 PM. |
03-06-2017, 07:46 PM | #3 |
dogged
Join Date: Dec 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC
Posts: 13,342
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Wow. Neat!
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03-06-2017, 08:05 PM | #4 |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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Does anyone know where I can buy a leather e46 M3 steering wheel at a reasonable price? I recall buying one for $300 back in the day, and selling it to Bren's father once I discovered it was illegal for autox. Now I'm looking and they're $890 new.
I'm not seeing anything on ebay. I put a WTB on E46 fanatics. EDIT: Bren does he still use it or can I buy it back? |
03-06-2017, 09:04 PM | #5 |
lawn boy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,029
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03-06-2017, 09:18 PM | #6 | |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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Quote:
The return date might be a ways out given that I missed the winter when JV actually had free time. But I'll let you guys know, maybe we can do beers or something. |
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03-06-2017, 09:39 PM | #7 |
Chief title editor
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,599
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That could be fun. As I shamelessly invite myself.
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OH NOES!!!!!1 MY CAR HAS T3H UND3R5T33R5555!!!!!!1oneone!!!!11 Team WTF?! What are you gonna do? |
03-06-2017, 09:45 PM | #8 |
dogged
Join Date: Dec 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC
Posts: 13,342
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I miss that wheel from my M3C. The M240 wheel is nicely shaped but very strange feeling alleged leather.
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03-06-2017, 09:49 PM | #9 |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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03-08-2017, 08:29 AM | #10 |
Tilting Rocinante
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Havre de Grace, MD
Posts: 6,244
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