hampton roads

So who here has done the 100k preventative maintenance routine? what all did ya change and with what parts? stick to OEM/stock or upgrades? I am at about 93k and want to start planning out what I am going to get. I had originally wanted to go the Stewart Water Pump and upgraded pulleys route at the same time, comments/suggestions?



Edit: Turner (and I am sure others) Sell a Cooling System Overhaul Kit.... is this a worthwhile bundle? http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-19...328i-330i.aspx

Includes: "Our kit includes one OEM Behr radiator, an Original BMW water pump (with updated composite impeller), thermostat (complete with housing), radiator cap, and new hoses" with options to upgrade water pump and add the sensors, expansion tank etc...

Don't go with another plastic capped radiator. The mishimoto one works wonders. I bought mine with bimmerworld was branding them and its been great. Other than that the kit looks OK. Is there a metal thermostat housing for the e46 around somewhere? Get the upgraded water pump soon. Some people have been ordering the known metal brands and been getting plastic pumps.

I've read the mishimoto is hit or miss. At least on E46 Ms

So friday is only looking like 50, but mostly sunny. Car wash at Freedom, then some beers/cheap food at AJ Gators on Holland afterward?

and the non-m mishimoto is more like the e36, hopefully better.

Bimmerworld has a kit also, but they dont list a radiator upgrade as a option for the kit... also I didnt see a Mishimoto on their site?

Don't feel like paying for a BW radiator. I'll probably be staying OEM.
Just paid for water pump, t stat. Sensor and expansion tank for the M.
Whole this was almost $600 shipped. Them damn M3 water pumps are frikin expensive.

Originally Posted by Impulsed7

some beers/cheap food at AJ Gators on Holland afterward?

I was driving by there the other day and thought to myself, "I need to go by there one day.. the entire time I've lived here I've never been"

Bimmerworld doesn't sell them anymore. They only ordered one batch with their name on them.

Re: the cooling system refresh, definitely get a new expansion tank. That's one thing that can fail without any warning and ruin your day. The other stuff will leak or make noise before failure. Right before I bought my wagon, the previous owner had replaced an asploded ET. I had the car for a month or two and it started throwing a T-stat code, so I took that as an omen to replace the whole works.

Using one of the vendors' refresh kits as a guide (ECSTuning & Pelican also have them), shop around. I saved a few bucks by buying my parts at a couple different places, and not buying a kit. It's surprisingly easy to get over the free shipping thresholds.

I splurged on the EMP Stewart water pump. Damn is it a nice part. Stuck to OEM for most of the other parts.

I've heard about the metal housing T-stats, but I don't see how they help. Failure mode seems to be the electronic innards (like mine did), as opposed to a housing leak.

What do you mean electronic innards? nothing electronic in there?

The plastic rots and cracks the same as all the other plastic cooling components. E36's have been around longer, so look to them for suggestions. Also, I don't think the e36 euro style expansion tank would work in the e46's, but there may be something similar to try. There really hasn't been a failure of that style system.

I haz mishimoto... I havent had it long but has treated me well.

Run mine on the race car. Did an hour and some change in one session at this last track day with steady below mid temps. BTW euro temp gauge is real.

So anyone want to hit up freedom, then Gators after work today?

To much to do before I leave tomorrow morning for a week. I will not be going

aFE intake elbow and RPI intake scoops are here.
All I need is transmission drain and fill bolts and I'll be set for a day of work.

Waiting on cooling parts to show up too. They're enroute.

Originally Posted by Impulsed7

What do you mean electronic innards? nothing electronic in there?

The plastic rots and cracks the same as all the other plastic cooling components. E36's have been around longer, so look to them for suggestions. Also, I don't think the e36 euro style expansion tank would work in the e46's, but there may be something similar to try. There really hasn't been a failure of that style system.

An E46 thermostat is electronically controlled by the DME - it can open/close it to better suit emissions and such by keeping the coolant temp at what it thinks is the optimal temp. There is a built-in backup mechanical portion that would work and keep your engine from frying if the DME had a brain fart. The DME control isn't necessarily a good thing - you'll see some discussion it keeps the engine temps higher than they need to be. At least in the E46, the electrical part is what seems to fail most in the thermostats, not the plastic housing. Haven't read much about the housings failing. Could be that they get replaced long before that could happen.

Zionsville sells a racing thermostat for the E46 (or any BMW with an M54), which is a pure mechanical thermostat in a stock plastic housing with a spacer plate. It will set an error code, and it isn't cheap: http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s...de/M54CTPK.htm

It irked me that my thermostat was "bad", when I think it was just the electrical part acting up. The backup mechanical part was still working fine, but the DME wasn't happy I suppose.

Theres an 850ci for sale on craigslist, locally. Ugly wheels.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/3428051401.htm

Hello once again, back home from hopefully my last deployment. what's new in the land?

mostly on facebook, see if you can find the group. Hampton Roads BMW M owners, or the e46 fanatics group.

ahh, got it, see if I can do the FB thing....

Also, usually at the cars and coffee's. big turnouts are the virginia beach one on laskin at le prominade shops. the first saturday of every month
and the williamsburg one which you can find on google (I dont know the address) on the third saturday of every month.