ZHPizza's Wascally Wagon

[ZHPizza]

Welp, with Peter's blessing, I just got what looks to be a bitchin' good deal on a touring!

30243

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-BMW-3-Series-323i/122528538227

So onto step one: figure out how to get it from TX > NC. I would LOVE to fly out there and drive it back, but we have commitments every weekend in June and the seller doesn't want the car sitting around that long. What are you guys' thoughts on throwing it on an open trailer with Montway?

Step two will be swapping the red interior for something subtle and heated (sorry).

[rguti153]

Wow !!!!!! Nice buy . I'm jelly n it was here in Texas too FUUUCKKK . I'm looking at that Imola m5 somebody posted on face book

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[RUS_ZHP]

Congrats on the purchase! That's a realy good deal!!!!!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[704sw]

It's going to look awesome with some black, heated, coupe, sport seats.

But seriously, this is awesome. Does it mean George is going bye-bye?!

[slater]

It's going to look awesome with some black, heated, coupe, sport seats.

that was my thought as well. :)

[BMWCurves]

First of all:

http://i.imgur.com/ku8TCg0.gif

Second:

http://i.imgur.com/PTRqNNX.gif

Third: you're getting rid of the red interior?

http://i.imgur.com/cOIMTLN.gif

Fourth: congrats...I guess. Enjoy your stupid dumb touring, you filthy animal.

[ZHPizza]

Wow !!!!!! Nice buy . I'm jelly n it was here in Texas too FUUUCKKK . I'm looking at that Imola m5 somebody posted on face book

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Yeah I don't know how this car didn't get more attention. I only found it because someone posted it on the e46fanatics Tourings For Sale thread, so it's not like no one knew about it.

Congrats on the purchase! That's a realy good deal!!!!!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
It really is. I feel awful for the seller. It's less than he paid for it a year ago...then he put about $8k into it.

It's going to look awesome with some black, heated, coupe, sport seats.

But seriously, this is awesome. Does it mean George is going bye-bye?!
I'm actually leaning towards offloading the Mazda first since it's losing value every day that it ages and isn't brand newish anymore. George has pretty much bottomed out in value at this point.


First of all:

http://i.imgur.com/ku8TCg0.gif

Second:

http://i.imgur.com/PTRqNNX.gif

Third: you're getting rid of the red interior?

http://i.imgur.com/cOIMTLN.gif

Fourth: congrats...I guess. Enjoy your stupid dumb touring, you filthy animal.

Yuuuuup. The red seats aren't heated, so they've got to go. The first time that the wife goes out on a brisk morning to sit on the cold red leather is the last time that I get to use the garage for the winter.

[704sw]

I'm actually leaning towards offloading the Mazda first since it's losing value every day that it ages and isn't brand newish anymore. George has pretty much bottomed out in value at this point.

Smart, George still has some serious utility value too. Plus think of how much space you'll free up in the garage by offloading all the Mazda stuff (read: think of how much extra space you'll have for more E46 stuff).

[johnrando]

Congrats. I think you can buy seat heaters? No idea if it's practical. And yup, car transport.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[anandoc]

It's going to look awesome with some black heated, power bolster and lumbar M3 seats.



FTFY...

Congrats BTW. I see Slater finally got to you!

[704sw]

FTFY...

Congrats BTW. I see Slater finally got to you!

Don't be interfering with my ability to get these extra seats out of the laundry room, Anando.

[BADCLOWN]

Looks great with the red interior. You be cray cray

[Johnmadd]

The ebay listing sounded good enough to me, congrats.

[anandoc]

Don't be interfering with my ability to get these extra seats out of the laundry room, Anando.

I'm only watching out for my buddy, pizza's best interests :)

[Besides, estoril sucks :ducking]

[slater]

Don't be interfering with my ability to get these extra seats out of the laundry room, Anando.

it only makes sense. :)

[Sreten]

Nice score! Seems the PO really took care of it.

Never seen such a bright interior. :cool

[RVAzhp]

Can someone enlighten me if that thing came with red interior or if the previous owner made that happen? That shit is horrid...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[holyc0w]

It must have been done by the owner. I don't think any E46 came with the kind of red. It looks closer to the e90 shade, which I'm a fan of.

[slater]

It must have been done by the owner. I don't think any E46 came with the kind of red. It looks closer to the e90 shade, which I'm a fan of.

it was indeed done by the previous owner. i kinda like it on silver!

[704sw]

it was indeed done by the previous owner. i kinda like it on silver!

That's what I said, too. Something tells me the woman driving it will think otherwise.

[slater]

That's what I said, too. Something tells me the woman driving it will think otherwise.

no heat = doesn't matter what color it is. :)

[704sw]

no heat = doesn't matter what color it is. :)

Most accurate statement I've heard all day.

[Oli77]

Congrats, nice and very clean looking wagon. Couldn't see pics of the red interior. Post some if you have time.

[rguti153]

Congrats, nice and very clean looking wagon. Couldn't see pics of the red interior. Post some if you have time.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170614/e56d159dbb3e066edce1cd186e1e5f85.jpg

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[ZHPizza]

Fresh off the truck! It's in excellent cosmetic shape in and out. Drives great. Interior is ridiculous.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/f5625380cc755ec01a439113db5517f1.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/b6d9a8d031c60341d8a4a371d16b1a95.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/b960e7db7be69705c025ef1acb2005bc.jpg

Edit: I had to go back and add a filter to the interior pics because they looked pink in the pictures. They are now a little too instagrammy, but the color is accurate.

[Vas]

Love it...

[704sw]

I hate how much I don't hate it.

[ZHPizza]

Love it...


I hate how much I don't hate it.

The fiancee hates the interior and it'll be her daily, so its future is grim.

Whoever did the work did an amazing job, though. The leather is so supple that the sport seats feel like the old la-z-boy recliners. And they did new leather on EVERYTHING. Every little crevice in the fold down rear arm rest, the door panel inserts, even the kick panels on the back of the front seats. All wrapped in fresh red leather. Unbelievable.


Now on to the important part: getting it registered so that I can drive it. I'm gonna need y'all to put on your thinking caps to help me come up with a plate, because my #1 choice was taken:

30336

https://edmv.ncdot.gov/VehicleRegistration/SpecialPlate/Detail?PlateID=4#term=Standard

[holyc0w]

The fiancee hates the interior and it'll be her daily, so its future is grim.

That's a shame. You need to buy another wagon to transfer it to. It would look perfect on an alpine white car.

[danewilson77]

I hate how much I don't hate it.
+1

I don't like how much I don't, don't like it.

Sent from my S8+

[Vas]

If only the front and rear would bolt into a sedan.

[ZHPizza]

More pics of the interior for you sick bastards. Somebody spent a loooot of time stitching all of this. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/b847841177f456b9e9e1d9949c0aaed7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/8b517e951103d607763b0254ffac824b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/ce107d6b34b21353671b9b1a9c80a9f1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/e61046549ede6219b1b3fcd27c28a26e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/6ac6e8bf1f9679ecbed8e26b6c739ff7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170619/eca3125c3bbf3f1cad93783d9c90ac07.jpg

[slater]

man, that is a lot of red. did the shells on the back of the front seats get covered as well, or dyed?

the work looks very well done.

[rguti153]

That looks amazing n. U want to get rid of it

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[ZHPizza]

man, that is a lot of red. did the shells on the back of the front seats get covered as well, or dyed?

the work looks very well done.
They're covered as well. Every bit of red is fresh leather. It's nuts.

[ZHPizza]

1st mod done before I've even registered it...halp...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170622/57327a94cfdd174d879f41afae092800.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170622/e3348d46283fcf7fc37b5a6e844ba6bb.jpg

[webster]

Much better!

[704sw]

Airbag out of the ZHP I'm guessing?

[ZHPizza]

Much better!
Yup!

The buttons are easier to reach on the four-spoke, but it just makes the car look so dated. This super clean three-spoke matches all of the brand new plastics that the PO put in.

Airbag out of the ZHP I'm guessing?
Yup!

Got another one on order to replace it. Learned A LOT about how to identify a Takata claymore today. Yellow label = danger!

Recall bulletin for identifying eligible airbags here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V047-4533.pdf

[704sw]

Takata claymore today. Yellow label = danger!

But does it say "front towards enemy?" That's how I identify claymores.

[BMWCurves]

But does it say "front towards enemy?" That's how I identify claymores.

That's assuming Takata had the foresight for this whole debacle to label anything properly.

[az3579]

Got another one on order to replace it. Learned A LOT about how to identify a Takata claymore today. Yellow label = danger!

Recall bulletin for identifying eligible airbags here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V047-4533.pdf


Always wondered if there was a second recall. Since they started replacing airbags back when they didn't know what the problem was, I just assumed they were putting in brand new versions of the same part, which I imagine to be a colossal waste of time.

I'll have to check my new bag to make sure it's still not affected...

[holyc0w]

I have to say, in addition to the red seats the wheels and rear taillights are pretty kick-ass.

[ZHPizza]

I have to say, in addition to the red seats the wheels and rear taillights are pretty kick-ass.
Dude the seats are still too much for me, but I checked out the connector on them and saw pins for heating, so if whoever recovered them took the time to reinstall the heating elements, then the red is here to stay. It's just too nice to get rid of.

I agree that the wheels are a perfect fit and, while I have NEVER liked smoked signal lenses on ANY car, I'm digging them on this one. Just trying to find some bright ass LEDs to make up for the reduced light output.

I haven't gotten any work done on it since I'm chasing a transmission leak. Will hopefully have a solution for that soon and can start ordering other parts.

[ZHPizza]

Throwing an update on here more for my project tracking than showing off some neat shit I did (because I haven't done any neat shit). This thing drives freaking awesome, but has a few issues that need to be addressed:


The transmission is leaking. That sounds worse than it is...it's a very small leak. The previous owner had a shop replace the torque converter seal THREE TIMES and they thought for sure that they had gotten it right the third time...apparently they didn't. I spoke with them and they asked me to take it to someone local that really knew these transmissions and have my people call their people and figure this thing out. I spoke to a guy today that has expert level knowledge of these finicky ZF slushboxes and I'll be dropping the car off with him on Friday. Cautiously optimistic.
-
The remote locks are acting up. Working when they want to and generally making me look like an idiot, of course. I just did some research on the GM5 module and that sounds like the culprit. I'm more of a hammer and wrench guy than soldering iron and precision, so I'm thinking about sending it in to Scott at www.bmwgm5.com to replace the relays. I could conveniently do this while the car is at the transmission shop. But could this be related to...
-
It probably needs a new battery. Looks like it still has the original and it needs to be jumped if I sit in it with the radio on for a few minutes. The fiancee might kill me for getting her into a BMW money pit BUT I SWEAR IT'S A GOOD CAR.
-
It probably needs new shocks. I need to get my red car back on the road to compare the two, but it feels like it's crashing hard on bumps. I already bought one set of FSD's this year though...muh walletz...
-
The sunroof shade is off track. Like any good e46.
-
The headlights suck. Like...bad. I don't know how I used to drive my last ZHP without HIDs. I need to dig into a retrofit solution. Suggestions?
-
The seats are still bright red and unheated. Sigh.


Other than that, it's [so far] a great car. It's smooth as can be at 100mph without a hint of vibration and the steptronic is responsive enough to let me tear through traffic in a hurry. I really like this thing.

[BMWCurves]

Sounds like a basket case and not worth the effort

Sell it to me

[anandoc]

Sounds like a basket case and not worth the effort

Sell it to me

+1

You bought a lemon (just like Spenser with his crappy Estoril coupe). Sell this PoC right away and move on :)

[slater]

Throwing an update on here more for my project tracking than showing off some neat shit I did (because I haven't done any neat shit). This thing drives freaking awesome, but has a few issues that need to be addressed:


The transmission is leaking. That sounds worse than it is...it's a very small leak. The previous owner had a shop replace the torque converter seal THREE TIMES and they thought for sure that they had gotten it right the third time...apparently they didn't. I spoke with them and they asked me to take it to someone local that really knew these transmissions and have my people call their people and figure this thing out. I spoke to a guy today that has expert level knowledge of these finicky ZF slushboxes and I'll be dropping the car off with him on Friday. Cautiously optimistic.
-
The remote locks are acting up. Working when they want to and generally making me look like an idiot, of course. I just did some research on the GM5 module and that sounds like the culprit. I'm more of a hammer and wrench guy than soldering iron and precision, so I'm thinking about sending it in to Scott at www.bmwgm5.com to replace the relays. I could conveniently do this while the car is at the transmission shop. But could this be related to...
-
It probably needs a new battery. Looks like it still has the original and it needs to be jumped if I sit in it with the radio on for a few minutes. The fiancee might kill me for getting her into a BMW money pit BUT I SWEAR IT'S A GOOD CAR.
-
It probably needs new shocks. I need to get my red car back on the road to compare the two, but it feels like it's crashing hard on bumps. I already bought one set of FSD's this year though...muh walletz...
-
The sunroof shade is off track. Like any good e46.
-
The headlights suck. Like...bad. I don't know how I used to drive my last ZHP without HIDs. I need to dig into a retrofit solution. Suggestions?
-
The seats are still bright red and unheated. Sigh.


Other than that, it's [so far] a great car. It's smooth as can be at 100mph without a hint of vibration and the steptronic is responsive enough to let me tear through traffic in a hurry. I really like this thing.

didn't see this. and was wondering about updates...

- remote locks: yep, sounds like GM5. did you send it off yet? i've got a bum one here that i need to send off for repair.
- battery: original? dang, BMW should give you a new one for free and display the original in their museum for Longest Lived Stock Battery Ever. seriously though, replace that thing. :)
- shocks: try those bilstein B4s! i might order a set of the black Touring.
- sunroof shade: never had this issue. but i have had the sunroof glass and shade out a few times during headliner swaps, so i know it's a piece of cake to fix.
- headlights: i've got that TRS kit sitting here that i was gonna use in the tank. what bulb type are your low beams?
- seats: yeah. i'll get you the harness stuff soon. :)


any more updates? just drivin' and enjoyin'? :cheers

[ZHPizza]

didn't see this. and was wondering about updates...

- remote locks: yep, sounds like GM5. did you send it off yet? i've got a bum one here that i need to send off for repair.
- battery: original? dang, BMW should give you a new one for free and display the original in their museum for Longest Lived Stock Battery Ever. seriously though, replace that thing. :)
- shocks: try those bilstein B4s! i might order a set of the black Touring.
- sunroof shade: never had this issue. but i have had the sunroof glass and shade out a few times during headliner swaps, so i know it's a piece of cake to fix.
- headlights: i've got that TRS kit sitting here that i was gonna use in the tank. what bulb type are your low beams?
- seats: yeah. i'll get you the harness stuff soon. :)


any more updates? just drivin' and enjoyin'? :cheers

Oh man this thing...

- Locks: I've been emailing with Scott that runs the GM5 website. We're not sure yet if it's a GM5 issue or a K-bus or something else. He's good about not letting you send the module to him unless he's sure that it will solve your problems. For now, I have to get out of the car, unlock the doors, and then I can lock them. Clown nose and lock/unlock flashes have completely given up.

- Battery: I found a date code on the negative terminal that showed it was from 2009, so not original, but not exactly new either. I swapped it for the battery in the red car and have it on the charger at home right now. It's not serviceable (sealed) and I don't think it's going to hold a charge, but it's worth a shot.

- Shocks: I'm seeing conflicting info on the B4s...some say they're actually 10% stiffer than stock...some have had their ride height go up 10+mm after install.....you buy them first.

I'll have to get back to you on the other stuff. Right now, I'm working on getting it into the transmission shop while chasing these electrical gremlins and a rattle in the rear hatch.

Oh and I worked on the red car for like 3 hours the other day. If I can squeeze in 3 more hours next month, then I should have it back on the road by 2023!

[slater]

Oh man this thing...

- Locks: I've been emailing with Scott that runs the GM5 website. We're not sure yet if it's a GM5 issue or a K-bus or something else. He's good about not letting you send the module to him unless he's sure that it will solve your problems. For now, I have to get out of the car, unlock the doors, and then I can lock them. Clown nose and lock/unlock flashes have completely given up.

- Battery: I found a date code on the negative terminal that showed it was from 2009, so not original, but not exactly new either. I swapped it for the battery in the red car and have it on the charger at home right now. It's not serviceable (sealed) and I don't think it's going to hold a charge, but it's worth a shot.

- Shocks: I'm seeing conflicting info on the B4s...some say they're actually 10% stiffer than stock...some have had their ride height go up 10+mm after install.....you buy them first.

I'll have to get back to you on the other stuff. Right now, I'm working on getting it into the transmission shop while chasing these electrical gremlins and a rattle in the rear hatch.

Oh and I worked on the red car for like 3 hours the other day. If I can squeeze in 3 more hours next month, then I should have it back on the road by 2023!

weird. swap GM5 from coupe to test?

i hear you on the red car.....................

[BMWCurves]

Replace that battery. I had an original factory battery that I replaced last year (11+ years old). It worked fine, held a charge, etc., but it was causing weird issues with my speaker system. I swapped it for a new Duralast battery and my speaker problems went away.

BMW's electricals are quite finicky when it comes to proper power. Start there.

[ZHPizza]

weird. swap GM5 from coupe to test?

i hear you on the red car.....................

The more I read about it, the more I don't think it's a GM5 issue. I think that you have to re-code a swapped GM5 too. I dunno...don't want to tear up anything that I don't have to.


Replace that battery. I had an original factory battery that I replaced last year (11+ years old). It worked fine, held a charge, etc., but it was causing weird issues with my speaker system. I swapped it for a new Duralast battery and my speaker problems went away.

BMW's electricals are quite finicky when it comes to proper power. Start there.

I swapped in the battery from my red car and the lock/unlock lights still aren't working (tried re-coding them too). I ran the codes and am currently showing two active errors with the ZKE:
07[007] Anti-theft alarm system: Siren, Radio interior protection, Tilt alarm sensor or Wire STDWA Short circuit
90[144] Battery Voltage: Open circuit

I'm hot on the trail of this electrical gremlin, but it'll have to wait. Just got a call to drop the car off at the transmission shop tonight so that my dude can pull the tranny and tear it down.

1like = 1prayer4wagon

[ZHPizza]

Updating my list as I've gotten some work done on the whip.


The transmission is still leaking. Ugh. I left the car with a local guy that is very, very experienced with these transmissions. He pulled it out, redid the pump seal, the pump bushing, some of the front clutches, and several other tidbits. He was very confident that everything was done right and this transmission was good to go...$1200 later...I got the owner of the shop in Texas on the phone (who had already done the seal three times for the previous owner) and he paid for the work right then and there, no questions asked. Great dude. http://bertiniseuropean.com for anyone looking for a shop in the Houston area.
...So all is well and good? Nah. Pulled the wagon into the garage last night and saw a small puddle of tranny fluid...here we go...
-
The remote locks are still acting up. It's not the GM5...I don't think it's the K-bus...I really don't know what it is. Sometimes the locks work great and the lights flash with them and all is well...sometimes they need some coercion and the lights don't flash...I'll just have to keep digging...
-
It got a new battery. I threw the battery from my red car in it and it's been working great ever since. Pulled out the 8-year-old BMW battery, put it on a charger for a few days, threw it in the red car and it read 10.8V...is dead. So, ordered this bad boy (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006N91C2M/) for $150 shipped. Hoping it actually gets here. For the time being, I pulled the battery out of the Jetta and used it in the red car...12 volts is 12 volts baby! Struggles to start the 3.0L six, but runs like a champ!
-
It probably needs new shocks. I don't care. It rides good enough and I've got other stuff to worry about.
-
The sunroof shade is [I]still off track. I was hoping it would get better with rest.
-
The headlights suck. Needs HIDs. Suggestions? *don't drive at night outside of the city* Ok, that works!
-
The seats are still bright red and HEATED. I hulked the passenger seat over to my red car yesterday, hooked up the connector, and let it idle with the seat heaters on. It probably took 30 minutes of jumping between cars to figure out if the heat was working (tough to tell in 85 degrees ambient), but I'm 95% certain I felt some genuine butt toasting. Now to get the seat heater wiring from Peterman (or a scrap yard). Totes back-burnering this project until it cools off though.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170731/579482c9fddc396bf4105ebe6ee906a5.jpg

[az3579]

Ah HA! So they do have heating elements installed...
So you're keeping the red seats, right??

[BMWCurves]

Ah HA! So they do have heating elements installed...
So you're keeping the red seats, right??

:begging

[ZHPizza]

Ah HA! So they do have heating elements installed...
So you're keeping the red seats, right??

I...I think I have to...

I have a brother that works in high-end interior restorations and he went through and checked them out one night. He thinks that it's actually Corvette red. They're really, really well done with fresh leather on the seating areas and vinyl on the sides -- the only way he could tell the difference was in flexing the materials and watching how the grain reacts. That's how nice these things are. And comfortable...it's like...like being held by a cloud. And now that I know they're heated...

But they're just hideously red...I mean...I freaking hate the color. The black/red door panels are the worst. Looks like it belongs inside a vegas limo or some shit.

Good problem to have, that's for sure.

[Sreten]

It's always entertaining reading your updates. :biggrin

[ZHPizza]

Ah I forgot that I finally chased down the one thing that was driving me crazy about this car too!

There was an awful rattle coming from the rear whenever I went over a bump. Like...something is loose and clanging around and I'm going to lose my mind kind of rattle. This has to stop.

1. I dug everything out of the spare area, tightened down the jack, tools, etc. Still getting the rattle. :scratchinghead

2. I had the fiancee drive it one [stormy] night while I crawled around the cargo area searching for the rattle...it's coming from the lift gate...I'm pressing on the plastic pieces and it's just rattling away laughing at my puny mortal attempts to stop it...if I can just *we hydroplane a bit in a deep puddle* :eek I'll return to my seat now.

3. Ok so I know it's something with the gate...maybe it's this big carpeted panel, it's kind of loose...I'll pull it off and see *breaks two tabs on the panel* :facepalm

4. It wasn't the panel, but driving around with it removed really upped the volume on the rattle. The rattle is somewhere inside of the lift gate...THE FILES ARE IN THE COMPUTER!!! :blink

5. I start tearing into the lift gate and find a new suspect: The backup camera and Depo tail light wiring that the previous owner installed. It's loose and could be slapping around on the sheet metal. Unlikely to be the source, but it's a mess and while I'm in here I can try out my new wire loom tape! (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EH6IZ6Y/)

Before:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170731/a9e0658dc4a01a7fa69203ef563b58fb.jpg

After (I really like this tape):
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170731/59beda5fdd458d7f575f512df863601e.jpg

6. Feeling good, I slam the gate closed and HEAR THE EFFING RATTLE. I poke around a bit, prying and pulling, and find that the license plate holder cantilevers out at the bottom and kind of slaps the sheet metal with the plastic edge. I remove it, see that the foam pads that are supposed to contact the car are matted down after 17 years, add some foam furniture pads to build it up, cover it with my awesome felt wire loom tape, and reinstall. The plate holder sits tight against the car, no more wobbles. :thumbsup

7. I give the plate holder a hard test shake and HEAR THE EFFING RATTLE AGAIN. Grab the lift gate handle and violently slam it back and forth, recreating the clunking noise. Son..of..beech. It was under my nose the whole time. Pop open the lift gate, grab a torx bit, and after a few iterations I move the striker a few mm out so that it latches the gate tight nice and tight when I close it. :fistpump

So all that to say, if any of the other two dudes on this site with tourings hear a rattle from the rear, check your lift gate latch first.


I earned these. :drunk

[anandoc]

You chased that rattle with some mad dedication! Mad props and glad that you figured it out!!

[704sw]

That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.

[slater]

Updating my list as I've gotten some work done on the whip.


The transmission is still leaking. Ugh. I left the car with a local guy that is very, very experienced with these transmissions. He pulled it out, redid the pump seal, the pump bushing, some of the front clutches, and several other tidbits. He was very confident that everything was done right and this transmission was good to go...$1200 later...I got the owner of the shop in Texas on the phone (who had already done the seal three times for the previous owner) and he paid for the work right then and there, no questions asked. Great dude. http://bertiniseuropean.com for anyone looking for a shop in the Houston area.
...So all is well and good? Nah. Pulled the wagon into the garage last night and saw a small puddle of tranny fluid...here we go...
-
The headlights suck. Needs HIDs. Suggestions? *don't drive at night outside of the city* Ok, that works!
-
The seats are still bright red and HEATED. I hulked the passenger seat over to my red car yesterday, hooked up the connector, and let it idle with the seat heaters on. It probably took 30 minutes of jumping between cars to figure out if the heat was working (tough to tell in 85 degrees ambient), but I'm 95% certain I felt some genuine butt toasting. Now to get the seat heater wiring from Peterman (or a scrap yard). Totes back-burnering this project until it cools off though.


dude... that SUCKS about the trans. new seals and still leaking... makes me think something is bent. but it shifts smoothly?

headlights - i got ya covered. that TRS kit i have here that i'm not using is H4/H7 compatible - you just need a harness adapter for the H7 bulbs (i bought one for H4 bulbs). i think it's $25.

seats... great that they're heated. and great that they're comfy. maybe you just need some black door panels and call it a day? i'll get you that harness by september.



...THE FILES ARE IN THE COMPUTER!!! :blink

oh man... i laughed so hard at this. forgot all about that one. :)




7. I give the plate holder a hard test shake and HEAR THE EFFING RATTLE AGAIN. Grab the lift gate handle and violently slam it back and forth, recreating the clunking noise. Son..of..beech. It was under my nose the whole time. Pop open the lift gate, grab a torx bit, and after a few iterations I move the striker a few mm out so that it latches the gate tight nice and tight when I close it. :fistpump

So all that to say, if any of the other two dudes on this site with tourings hear a rattle from the rear, check your lift gate latch first.

nice, that is a great find! no clunks yet there for my two longroofs, but i will file that one away! :cheers

[BMWCurves]

http://dailyurbanista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/great-success-gif.gif

[az3579]

seats... great that they're heated. and great that they're comfy. maybe you just need some black door panels and call it a day? i'll get you that harness by september.

If you're going to swap anything, do it right and every everything. It will not look right with all-black door panels.

[ZHPizza]

It's always entertaining reading your updates. :biggrin

u flirtin bro?

jk thx dude


You chased that rattle with some mad dedication! Mad props and glad that you figured it out!!

It was just a lucky trail of clues, really. "Ooh! Piece of candy!" but more like "Ooh! Loose rattley bit!"


That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.

Should I write this one the breaker bar the next time you need to use it on a fastener underneath your blue car?


dude... that SUCKS about the trans. new seals and still leaking... makes me think something is bent. but it shifts smoothly?

headlights - i got ya covered. that TRS kit i have here that i'm not using is H4/H7 compatible - you just need a harness adapter for the H7 bulbs (i bought one for H4 bulbs). i think it's $25.

seats... great that they're heated. and great that they're comfy. maybe you just need some black door panels and call it a day? i'll get you that harness by september.




oh man... i laughed so hard at this. forgot all about that one. :)




nice, that is a great find! no clunks yet there for my two longroofs, but i will file that one away! :cheers

Trans shifts great. Smooth as butter in D and responsive in manual mode.

I hate to swap them out since the door panels are in great shape, but I'm leaning that way too. It's just too much red.

The TRS kit sounds dope. I started looking into OE HIDs w/ autoleveling, but it looks way too complicated just to get the leveling feature. Would be nice when the thing is loaded down though.

I'll be up there again by November for beers and parts!


http://dailyurbanista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/great-success-gif.gif

Finally hittem em wit da great success

[slater]

If you're going to swap anything, do it right and every everything. It will not look right with all-black door panels.

nah... it'd look way better.



Trans shifts great. Smooth as butter in D and responsive in manual mode.

I hate to swap them out since the door panels are in great shape, but I'm leaning that way too. It's just too much red.

The TRS kit sounds dope. I started looking into OE HIDs w/ autoleveling, but it looks way too complicated just to get the leveling feature. Would be nice when the thing is loaded down though.

I'll be up there again by November for beers and parts!

so where exactly is the fluid leaking from?

is the car prepped for autoleveling? do you have the plugs at the FR and RR suspension for the sensors?

sounds good on the beers! :cheers

[BMWCurves]

Should I write this one the breaker bar the next time you need to use it on a fastener underneath your blue car?

Now I want to etch that on my largest breaker bar...

[holyc0w]

I hate to swap them out since the door panels are in great shape, but I'm leaning that way too. It's just too much red.


Those who would give up red door panels, to retain red seats, deserve neither red door panels nor red seats.

just kidding :D

[704sw]

Those who would give up red door panels, to retain red seats, deserve neither red door panels nor red seats.

just kidding :D

You really gotta see 'em in person to understand his comments. They're very, um, let's just say "vibrant." Much more so than pictures can do justice.

[ZHPizza]

Updating this thread per request from @t.er

The wife has been working from home for a year, so this car has barely been driven. I was going to go through it to check for any questionable bits before our one road trip of 2020, but then my new company delivered a new Nissan Rogue to my house so this thing went right back into the garage.

I had the Rogue the other day so she took this to class and called on the way to say "it sounded like there was gravel in the engine and now the red battery light is on." Got her to pull over just as the temp needle hit red [emoji51]

I knew exactly what it was because I had the airbag recall done at the dealership the day before and they called to say the belts were looking worn and I was all ahhh I'll get to it sometime no biggie.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210131/0665867a11b35ef55af1ed90011fd832.jpg

Luckily I pay the $6/month for roadside assistance on this car through Geico, so we flatbeded it back to the house and dumped it right into the garage.

I'm digging into the carnage now and thought I'd bring y'all along for the ride. Any and all guesses as to what is broken are welcome. Here's the clues I have so far:

- Coolant is full
- Power steering fluid is full
- Nothing leaking out of the bottom
- Belt is shredded and wrapped around the fan
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210131/7de7ea825db828cfcf42e771a1cd0efd.jpg

- The fan is uhh crooked
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210131/5f20a667c93085fda40503657c68298e.jpg

- Looks like something sprayed allover the place, but again fluid levels are fine
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210131/46902aa58dbfb9d3cdd30d3f8d2354c5.jpg

[t.er]

:hi

That brown spray is odd. Just thinking out loud here, perhaps the belt got pulled into the fan blades, which damaged the fan clutch, and in turn caused it to spray out the wax?

Looks like a good opportunity for an e-fan conversion :drevil

[ZHPizza]

:hi

That brown spray is odd. Just thinking out loud here, perhaps the belt got pulled into the fan blades, which damaged the fan clutch, and in turn caused it to spray out the wax?

Looks like a good opportunity for an e-fan conversion :drevilYep, definitely swapping to the electric fan because why not. There's a ton of play in the water pump so I'm thinking it was spraying everywhere as the shit went down, but didn't leak out much from the expansion tank.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210131/c1aa750d92ae8de8cac4c80f419a0ab0.jpg

Went to remove the AC belt and it's just gone lol
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210131/ba9841c744a572a6f1b05330b9165105.jpg

[Galapolis]

S54 swap when

[ZHPizza]

welltheresyourproblem.jpeg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210203/5f06accb03e97a1acf3b0cce777f2eee.jpg

[t.er]

lol holy shit, I thought the fan clutch would go before bending the water pump shaft

[ZHPizza]

I think it was the water pump bearings that went first and ended up destroying the belt, not the other way around. That bit to the right is a needle roller that fell out of the front bearing when I removed it. Original BMW part and I believe only a few years old.

[johnrando]

Wow

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

[BMWCurves]

I completely missed the update to this thread. I am so sorry.

https://i.imgur.com/NmztkSu.gif

[Smolck]

I’ve seen worse, but not many. I am convinced hanging that fan clutch off the water pump wears put the bearings a LOT faster than electric fan cars. In the last 15 years I have seen way more failures way more often on auto cars for this reason.

On my last 330 sedan I swapped the fan clutch to an electric fan (car was auto) and it was a noticeable improvement in acceleration. I’ve been told someone did a dyno run and the gain is around 7hp. My car never ran hot, even in the Alabama heat. I also deleted my aux fan to help airflow to the radiator. Hope that helps.

[ZHPizza]

I agree 100% on the fan putting too much axial load on the bearings. I was reading that BMW went with the engine driven fan on the autos because it fails on (clutch locks) whereas the electric fan fails off and there is more overheat damage that can occur on the autos.

IDGAF tho I'm not putting this piece of shit back in there. Gonna cruise the local yards for a manual so I can snag that electric fan and toss the pusher too.

[Smolck]

I agree 100% on the fan putting to much axial load on the bearings. I was reading that BMW went with the engine driven fan on the autos because it fails on (clutch locks) whereas the electric fan fails off and there is more damage that can occur on the autos.

IDGAF tho I'm not putting this piece of shit back in there. Gonna cruise the local yards for a manual so I can snag that electric fan and toss the pusher too.

If you dont find one let me know, I’ll check my local yard for you. I know the owner so I can usually get smoking deals.

[ZHPizza]

Update:
- installed the new water pump, idler pulley, and belts
- refilled the coolant
- removed the engine driven fan and front mounted aux fan, brushed out the radiator
- scavenged an electric fan out of the one manual junkyard e46 left in Charlotte
- tested the fan with a/c on and off to ensure it was getting the call to turn on and responding

Very happy with the results. The engine is smoother and quieter than it was when it left the factory. Only pics I took after sorting out the carnage was pulling the aux fan. Look at all the room for activities/airflow!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210210/e6d7185ef2ad26d592d1dbbcfa9020f1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210210/0b7065cb78fdecdda25e4c2ed36cd03f.jpg

[fredo]

Well done, man.

[johnrando]

Well done, man.+1

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

[ZHPizza]

First time using Leatherique as I prep this bad boy for sale

Before
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240717/65a743ecf1b73992fffb5a609f9faf7f.jpg

During
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240717/8f572dd15d66f414d1fb0a7aca09ef39.jpg

After
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240717/abd522be1f2c3309ce1afd1abaf5dd1c.jpg

Leather looks & feels better did than when it was new (7 years ago)!

[Galapolis]

The Pizza man is back! Also, if anything ever deserved to be called dog dick red, those seats have to be a top contender lol.

[BADCLOWN]

Dog dick red is hilarious.


The after is SOOOOOOO good

[///Mark_D]

Leatherique is like magic, it completely transformed a set of natural brown seats I bought for my wagon. Can't recommend it enough.

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=40293&d=1721414401

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=40294&d=1721414483

[slater]

First time using Leatherique as I prep this bad boy for sale

Leather looks & feels better did than when it was new (7 years ago)!

the ol' 7-Year Itch. that's why this thing is for sale

LOL. this car is rad. hopefully it's not still there when i'm down in october or i will have to buy it.

[ZHPizza]

Leatherique really is astonishing on real leather - one wipe down with the conditioner was enough to pull 7 years of dirt and blue jean dye out of those seats.

So after getting the run around with Bring-a-Trailer and Cars&Bids, I've finally listed the car on e46f

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/2000-323i-touring-tiag-red.1327509

Going to miss those supple dog dick seats!

[BMWCurves]

Good luck! What is in the pipeline for the next car (or no car)?

[ZHPizza]

Good luck! What is in the pipeline for the next car (or no car)?This one was already replaced with the electric go kart! Let me strategically cut the wife out of this pic...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240724/73606a43d60f998c081bb614f3926201.jpg

[san]

This one was already replaced with the electric go kart! Let me strategically cut the wife out of this pic...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240724/73606a43d60f998c081bb614f3926201.jpg

Nice!
BEV or REV?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fredo]

Congrats, man!

[BMWCurves]

This one was already replaced with the electric go kart! Let me strategically cut the wife out of this pic...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240724/73606a43d60f998c081bb614f3926201.jpg

Awesome! I have always liked those. My friend's dad had one that he loved with the range extender. Funny thing though, their drive home had this steep dip under a highway overpass, and the anti-collision nanny would slam on the brakes 50% of the time because it misinterpreted the overpass as a solid wall. Other than that, stellar car.


Nice!
BEV or REV?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tough choice between BEV(erage) and REV(olution)

[GeorgeH]

Always liked i3s, really would like to get my wife into one as well.

[ZHPizza]

Nice!
BEV or REV?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rex! I learned when I was searching listings every day that you can spot them quickly by looking for the gas filler lid on the passenger front fender.


Awesome! I have always liked those. My friend's dad had one that he loved with the range extender. Funny thing though, their drive home had this steep dip under a highway overpass, and the anti-collision nanny would slam on the brakes 50% of the time because it misinterpreted the overpass as a solid wall. Other than that, stellar car.



Tough choice between BEV(erage) and REV(olution)

Oh yeah I've heard the earlier systems were uhh jumpy if you will. We got the last model year of production (2021) so all the kinks were worked out.


Always liked i3s, really would like to get my wife into one as well.

Honestly this thing is a treat around town. Not great on the highway, but I've got a company car for that.


Back to the touring -- anyone interested in taking on a ZHP drivetrain swap and selling it on BaT for $20k? I don't have the time or space for that kind of undertaking but man...