Just another S54 Sedan swap

Whoa...Thanks for that link, Buffalo Wild Wings! I had no idea JeppeJ used Epoxy to reinforce his subframe. This is a much easier option for my 328i as it is getting Powerflex bushings for the subframe and Solid Bushings for the Differential and I can do it in my driveway and not have to pay the welder to make a house call.

Been following your thread closely, glad to see you're making awesome progress!

do you really think epoxy is going to last like a weld over time?

Yea, i'm not sure about the epoxy stuff. I am sure you can get a welder on wheels, maybe even one that'll plug into a regular outlet that should work. Me and my dad have something like this, it works great for all of our projects. http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-K2688-...1325488&sr=8-6

I meant hire a mobile welder, who'll come to your house prepped with years of welding experience and all the equipment needed. If you're going to own the car for years and years, I wouldn't trust epoxy like I would a weld.

I saw what Jeppe did, but still wouldn't trust it. What does HPF recommend?

Y'all have no faith in the modern age...if NASA uses epoxies in space the it's good enough for a car. Keep reading beyond the DIY and gain some knowledge. I have an older friend who uses epoxies to join metal for just about everything other than making tubular frames.

HPF Subframe Reinforcement Plates
This subframe reinforcement kit for the E46 M3 includes all the components you'll need to stiffen your rear subframe to protect it from tearing apart under high horsepower applications. We recommend this kit for all E46 M3's. The HPF kit is the thickest kit on the market using 1/10" thick steel and reinforces the rear subframe mounting points in the unibody. It must be installed by a professional welder or fabricator. Requires grinding, metal cutting, welding and major component disassembly and assembly.

most of these cars arent goign to last or be kept long - so why bother (not saying this to OP)

Originally Posted by vI6ious

HPF Subframe Reinforcement Plates
This subframe reinforcement kit for the E46 M3 includes all the components you'll need to stiffen your rear subframe to protect it from tearing apart under high horsepower applications. We recommend this kit for all E46 M3's. The HPF kit is the thickest kit on the market using 1/10" thick steel and reinforces the rear subframe mounting points in the unibody. It must be installed by a professional welder or fabricator. Requires grinding, metal cutting, welding and major component disassembly and assembly.

i understand that the proper method is to weld it, and that is the reason i planned on welding originally, but as some people have mentioned i dont think that i will have any issues with the epoxy over time. NASA FTW

worst comes to worst in 20 years ill have to pull down the subframe and weld the pieces that are epoxed..?

today i got some bad news, im told that BMW has none of this structural foam and cavity foam!!! does anyone know where i can get this stuff??

ok well i think i found the cavity foam.. on another note i found a good valve adjustment DIY found here

http://www.euroaddiction.net/forum/m...djustment.html

Where you getting the foam?

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Bimmer

Originally Posted by darksideracer69

Where you getting the foam?

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Bimmer

Im getting it from www.thebmwpartstore.com

Mike found it for me, they changed the p/n for the structural foam and for the cavity foam and apparently its one p/n and it's a kit now, After a bit of work Mike was able to find the kit for me and he is having it shipped to his place to make sure everything is legit (not expired and the correct product) because the foam has a shelf life.

This is just another example of how thebmwpartstore.com (Mike specifically) has went out of his way to find the parts I need and get them to me ASAP. I always tell Mike it's no rush and he usually ends up Priority shipping my items anyway. Can't say enough about their customer service

Thanks again Mike!

Ok so I had 3 big issues this week.

1.Vanos-get it off and ready to be sent out to get cryogenically hardened, also replace cam bolts (known for failure), vanos filter, gaskets ext.-DONE

2.Subframe reinforcement-figure out exactly what I'm going to do weld or epoxy-epoxy wins as I'm having to much difficulty with welding issues.-DONE AND WILL START THE RE ENFORCEMENT AS SOON AS I GET THE EPOXY (hopefully next week)

3.Wiring-Figure out exactly what needs to be done and start wiring in all the new stuff-STRUGGLING TO FIND GOOD INFO ON THIS IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A WRITE UP ON THIS LET ME KNOW

After I complete these 3 things I only have to decide one more thing; paint or not to paint the engine bay? (It's getting cold and I'm worried it will cause problems with painting)

After I have finalized the stuff I listed above it will be time to start the fun part of putting everything back together.

Starting to figure some stuff out after looking at spaghetticoder for hours, I still can't find the diagram for the M button or sport button whatever it's called? Does anyone know the official name? Because I didn't see either of those name anywhere...

This is some of the wiring stuff i found so far..
fuel pump relay - http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...4408.svg?m=e46
Fuel pump relay- http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/zinfo/E46_EK96B.htm
Fuel pump relay- http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/zinfo/E46_PK96A.htm
Accelerator pedal module- http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...4432.svg?m=e46
Accelerator pedal module- http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/zin...FB1214_PWG.htm
Engine management signals/aux - http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...2870.svg?m=e46
Display info and functions - http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...0997.svg?m=e46
Instrument cluster - http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/zin...-001621103.htm


Also a good vanos filter diy i found..

started installing my Turner Power pulleys last night when i hit a snag. I CANT GET THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY OFF? what is the secret? there is a torx bolt in the middle of a normal bolt? what one do i remove first? how do i stop the thing from spinning free?

everything i found from seaching just talked about issues removing the fan, am i the only one who has had a problem trying to remove this stupid thing?

Also i found that no special tools are required to remove the fan, ill explain more and post pictures later

do they need to make a special tool for everything!!! how annoying

http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?2/24/86

sorry for the lack of updates, i have been very busy with school lately, however, i did manage to get my fuel relay out of the m3 harness!! after taking a few hours to get farmilar with everything it actually went smooth. I was dreading the wiring aspcect of this swap but it seems to be much less dificult than i originally thought..

on the to do list for the next week or so...

1.get the drive by wire wires and the sport mode wires out of my m3 harness and ready to go into my 328i harness.
2. get the subframe re enforced (still waiting on one more thing, should be coming in the mail next week)
3.post some pictures for everyone to see that i have been slowly getting stuff done

Lol #3

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Bimmer

what took up most of my free time last week was helping one of my sponsors (Good 'N Plenty Restaurant) build a gingerbread house for their upcoming contest.

they actually built a replica of their resturant complete with interior lighting

FYI the gingerbread house is not complete in these photo's

i started doing the pulley upgrade also last week, until i got stuck trying to get the alternator pulley off (still stuck on this BTW)

took some reference pics so i know how the belt was routed (learned from my mistake last time when replacing the pulley's on my m52