Free mods / cheap mods under $10 DIY

THREAD PURPOSE: To collect all information for e46 free mods

THREAD DEFINITION: Free mods defined as: UNDER $10 (excluding any fluid replacement) sometimes a mini-budget is good...

THREAD RULES: Do NOT double post a MOD, do NOT comment on mods...just LIST EM'

THREAD STRUCTURE: I would like you all to adhere to the FOLLOWING ORDER:

MOD NAME
MOD COST
MOD BENEFIT
MOD DESCRIPTION (PICS OR FAIL)
MOD LINK (other sites/threads that contain a comprehensive DIY or provide more info)

Go Team e46Fanatics!

MOD NAME: Golf Tee Mod

MOD COST: FREE, $0.00

MOD BENEFIT: More low rpm 'rumble' exhaust note.

MOD DESCRIPTION: Remove vacuum line that closes a metal 'butterfly' valve. plug removed vacuum line with a golf tee or similar.

In the picture below you will see a metal butterfly valve in the right exhaust pipe, immediately above this is a rubber hose that connects to it. Nothing needs to be done on the exhaust side, as it will just stay open now.


This is the rubber hose that you pulled off of the exhaust, you can see I plugged the hose with a wire crimp.


MOD LINK

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=585653
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=520094

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MOD NAME: Clutch Delay Valve (CDV) Delete

MOD COST: FREE, $0.00

MOD BENEFIT: Smoother Shifting (Manual Transmission Only).

MOD DESCRIPTION: Remove an inline restriction valve that "limits" clutch slip for newbie's but is a major PITA for everyone else...(not in all e46's)

...CDV removed...



MOD LINK

http://m3.madrussian.net/diy_cdv.shtml

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MOD NAME: Clutch Stop Mod aka Perfect Clutch Stop

MOD COST: <$5.00

MOD BENEFIT: Less Clutch Travel, Faster, Shifting (Manual Transmission Only).

MOD DESCRIPTION: Screw in a 1.5" elevator bolt with a adhesive furniture leg pad in place of stock clutch stop.

Clutchstop installed:


MOD LINK

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=206363

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MOD NAME: Custom CAI

MOD COST: >$3.00

MOD BENEFIT: Colder/Free Flowing Air, Better MPG's

MOD DESCRIPTION: Cut 2" hole in bottom of air box, run flexible tube from air box to bumper cavity.

Tubing Installed:


MOD LINK

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=596255

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Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

MOD NAME: Golf Tee Mod

MOD COST: FREE, $0.00

MOD BENEFIT: More low rpm 'rumble' exhaust note.

MOD DESCRIPTION: Remove vacuum line that closes a metal 'butterfly' valve. plug removed vacuum line with a golf tee or similar.

Wow, I'm so glad I read this. Turns out my butterfly valve was so covered in soot it was NEVER opening! I had to jab it with a screw driver to get it to move rumble=

Originally Posted by grogers

Wow, I'm so glad I read this. Turns out my butterfly valve was so covered in soot it was NEVER opening! I had to jab it with a screw driver to get it to move rumble=

Mine is stuck closed too. How hard did you have to jab it? I don't want to break anything. Did you have to disconnect the vacuum hose first?

Originally Posted by grogers

Wow, I'm so glad I read this. Turns out my butterfly valve was so covered in soot it was NEVER opening! I had to jab it with a screw driver to get it to move rumble=

So is mine, I tried hitting it with a screw driver and hammer, but it just bent it open a little. I don't know how to get it all the way opened.

MOD COST: ~$10.00

MOD BENEFIT: Cleans out your motor.

MOD DESCRIPTION: Sea Foam Engine Cleaner

The picture below is from the link below, basically, slowly pour about a third of the sea foam into the vacuum line indicated below. Turn off the car, re connect the vacuum tube, pour another third into your gas tank, wait 10 min, fire your car up and rev it up. It will blow out crap from inside your motor.


*Note* my car threw 3 codes after I did this, they were all related to fuel mixture and such, so I went to autozone to have them read & cleared. Couple months later and its all good!

MOD LINK

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=238957

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

MOD COST: ~$10.00

MOD BENEFIT: Cleans out your motor.

MOD DESCRIPTION: Sea Foam Engine Cleaner

The picture below is from the link below, basically, slowly pour about a third of the sea foam into the vacuum line indicated below. Turn off the car, re connect the vacuum tube, pour another third into your gas tank, wait 10 min, fire your car up and rev it up. It will blow out crap from inside your motor.


*Note* my car threw 3 codes after I did this, they were all related to fuel mixture and such, so I went to autozone to have them read & cleared. Couple months later and its all good!

MOD LINK

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=238957

Not really a mod, it helps clean out your engine of deposits, but i wouldnt recommend doing it on a car unless it has 175,000+ miles and was poorly maintained. Sea foam corrodes your fuel lines and can really mess with your engine if done too much. My friend sea foamed his S4 every 500 miles, and boom goes the dynamite, RIP S4.

Originally Posted by dumped323ci

Not really a mod, it helps clean out your engine of deposits, but i wouldnt recommend doing it on a car unless it has 175,000+ miles and was poorly maintained. Sea foam corrodes your fuel lines and can really mess with your engine if done too much. My friend sea foamed his S4 every 500 miles, and boom goes the dynamite, RIP S4.

175k miles is definitely NOT when you want to be treating your car with this Seafoam. Gunk built up in an abused motor is one of the only things keeping it from burning 1qt of oil every 500 miles.

That said, a well maintained motor will benefit from this treatment. More specifically, the M54/S54 engines should only be Seafoamed through the brake booster and gas tank. The additives in our synthetic oil are actually very good at what they do, and adding it to the crankcase is not necessary.

Show me evidence that this petroleum based product corrodes fuel lines. Your buddy's S4 went "boom" because its an Audi.

Mod name: debadge

Mod cost: free

Mod benefit: looks good

Mod description: use credit card and slide underneath each letter or number, removing the "badge" then use goo gone or alcahol wipes to remove the remaining gunk, whatever you use to take off the gunk wipe it off as soon as your done using it because its probably not that great for you paint.


Mod link:http:
//forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=594465&highlight=debadge

Originally Posted by zach113092

Mod name: debadge

Mod cost: free

Mod benefit: looks good

Mod description: use credit card and slide underneath each letter or number, removing the "badge" then use goo gone or alcahol wipes to remove the remaining gunk, whatever you use to take off the gunk wipe it off as soon as your done using it because its probably not that great for you paint.


Mod link:http:
//forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=594465&highlight=debadge

Thin fishing line is also good to use to take the old badges off with.

Originally Posted by Wezza

Thin fishing line is also good to use to take the old badges off with.

Dental floss works good also. Clay bar to remove excess residue, or adhesive remover spray. Either works great. Then wax/polish the affected area to ensure that the water beads even and not in the shape of the old lettering.

Mod - Painted Reflectors
Mod Benefit - cleaner looking appearance
Cost - about $10 total for paint, primer and clear.
Difficulty - Easy, just takes time.

Painting the stock front and rear bumper refelctors vs. paying close to $100 for a set (front and back, or $60 for fronts).

I used Metailic Silver for mine. Did three coats of primer, 4 coats of color and 3 coats of clear. Not an exact match, but pretty close. The more Zanio (polish as they are now painted as well) I put on them with the rest of the car, the closer they match.

Nice thread keep it coming. I'm painting Kidney grills and pillars for less than $10, sandpaper, matte black bumper paint, and primer. I may also re-paint the mirror housing.

Damn, you beat me to it. I was going to make a "Kpeng's 10 low-cost/free mods" thread.

Originally Posted by kpeng

Damn, you beat me to it. I was going to make a "Kpeng's 10 low-cost/free mods" thread.

well u make like 161316414 threads so he did it instead

/subscrizzled...
but i'm still a little confused about the golf tee mod...

Originally Posted by bryan3091

/subscrizzled...
but i'm still a little confused about the golf tee mod...

just look at ur exaust. theirs a rubber hose. unplug it. stuff it with a screw

I have to post something here to subscribe.
Cant think of a cheap mod. Cheap and BMW are not in the same league

Originally Posted by watchbuff

I have to post something here to subscribe.
Cant think of a cheap mod. Cheap and BMW are not in the same league

I know how you feel. F*** man...

i have never heard or seen my valve in my exhaust close. and i have tried everything to see it close