The official E36 OT Thread!!

It's done. Everything was surprisingly straight forward really.

Had to grind the holes out on the bracket a little to make it fit right, the airbag light is no more broken or fixed than it has been, (the light has stayed on for ~3minutes after starting for the entire time I've owned this car, used the E46 occ sensor but it still does the same thing) and even the seat belt switch and occupancy sensors plugged right in. I ran a 12g ground wire for each seat, and they are sharing the cig lighter's power source so no simultaneous adjusting will be allowed.


I didn't quite expect it to take me 9 hours (including a trip to the store) and I didn't think it was going to be quite so goddamn hot today. Too tired for a DIY right now but I think I got enough pics to do a good one, I'll write one tomorrow.

I'm happy though. I swear they fit better in the car than the ones that are supposed to be designed for it. More room between the seat and console, more rear leg room, lower seating position. And the adjustable bolsters are unbelievably cool.

Uber sh1tty teaser pic, I'll take better ones tomorrow.

Seats look great. Congrats! I didn't know you had a Euro wheel, either. That's a clean interior you got now!

More rear leg room is something the e36 drastically needs unless those in front are short

anybody wanna buy an airbag?
cluster, or dme?

Originally Posted by cj.surr

Seats look great. Congrats! I didn't know you had a Euro wheel, either. That's a clean interior you got now!

The only thing I missed about the E46 when I sold it was the condition of the interior. That car was so perfect it wasn't even funny. I think it had 3 scratches on the interior, and was otherwise completely showroom fresh. I've always hated how crappy my interior was on this car, but it was never a priority. Now that I have the wheel and seats I finally feel like the inside of my car is a pretty nice place to be again.

I'm thrilled with them. If it wasn't so damn hot in the garage I'd be sitting in them now.

Looks great. They don't look out of place at all. Nice work!

those are M seats?

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Looks great. They don't look out of place at all. Nice work!

Thanks! I'm amazed at how well they fit, its fair to say they fit better in the E36 than the vaders do. I applied a coat of leatherique to the vaders to soak overnight to clean them up for their next owner, and then figured what the hell and went out and did the new seats and the rest of the leather in my car. They say its good to let the leatherique "steam," and my garage is effectively a sauna right now so I might as well.

Gonna clean it up tomorrow and vacuum the interior again and take some nice photos.

Originally Posted by Dino1394

those are M seats?

Yessir. Fully loaded E46 M seats.

Sweet Joey!

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Dude, that looks absolutely gorgeous Joey. Nice going!


I just spent the afternoon teaching my little brother to change oil on his Disco. He hated it . I taught him Righty Tighty Lefty Loosey, but he based it off the bottom of the bolt "since it was closer to him" and did a great job tightening it instead of loosening it for a solid ten minutes.

In all seriousness, I told him to take it to a shop for future oil changes because that thing is a total bitch. The drain plug goes straight to the right and is even with the exhaust pipe an inch away so it sprays on there (and every where else) as I learned last time. This time I covered it in foil and made a spout of foil for it to go down too, but the drain hole is just way too big. It overwhelms my pan, which works fine for everything else.(including the Range Rover). Dumb design.

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If you guys can help me out a bit with my AC woes, it'd be much appreciated!


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...31#post6927431

Originally Posted by Shigeta

If you guys can help me out a bit with my AC woes, it'd be much appreciated!


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...31#post6927431

Just posted some things to check to your thread.

A really good, but expensive, day. This stuff, plus an on-sale trunk liner for the touring, was $800 . At first, I almost killed BavAuto, because they didn't have the 2 convertible top parts in stock (even tho the website said they were in)...but luckily, the nearby BMW dealership had them, and they were only $10 more ($10 is not much when you're dropping $410 on the new motor, and another $110 on the housing )

Plus, I was able to balance out all that testosterone, picking up some on-sale work clothes at the Talbots store right across the street from the dealership

I can do without Hampton Beach, NH, but I could really move to a coastal northern New England town. I took the scenic route home (60 miles in 3 hours)....and I forgot how absolutely gorgeous and serene it is just 1 hour outside the city. And, the last 2 songs playing while I rolled into the city were STP's 'Interstate Love Song' and finally, Van Morrison's 'Into the Mystic'. How much more perfect could a day be?

In regards to Monday, you guys interested, perhaps, in a 2 day fest? One day at Ken's, one day @ Jen's? I can do any day next week until Friday.

Originally Posted by SlimKlim

It's done. Everything was surprisingly straight forward really.

Looks great. Congrats!

Originally Posted by TechieTechie

A really good, but expensive, day. This stuff, plus an on-sale trunk liner for the touring, was $800 . At first, I almost killed BavAuto, because they didn't have the 2 convertible top parts in stock (even tho the website said they were in)...but luckily, the nearby BMW dealership had them, and they were only $10 more ($10 is not much when you're dropping $410 on the new motor, and another $110 on the housing )

Plus, I was able to balance out all that testosterone, picking up some on-sale work clothes at the Talbots store right across the street from the dealership

I can do without Hampton Beach, NH, but I could really move to a coastal northern New England town. I took the scenic route home (60 miles in 3 hours)....and I forgot how absolutely gorgeous and serene it is just 1 hour outside the city. And, the last 2 songs playing while I rolled into the city were STP's 'Interstate Love Song' and finally, Van Morrison's 'Into the Mystic'. How much more perfect could a day be?

In regards to Monday, you guys interested, perhaps, in a 2 day fest? One day at Ken's, one day @ Jen's? I can do any day next week until Friday.

$800 for the trunk liner?! That's crazy expensive.


The interior in my car is completely stripped from the dash up, hopefully it will be back together by Monday morning. Pulling the sunroof liner out of the cassette was a huge PITA. Plus the cassette had to be pulled out of the car.

Originally Posted by cj.surr

$800 for the trunk liner?! That's crazy expensive.


The interior in my car is completely stripped from the dash up, hopefully it will be back together by Monday morning. Pulling the sunroof liner out of the cassette was a huge PITA. Plus the cassette had to be pulled out of the car.

All the stuff in the picture, plus the trunk liner, was $800. The 2 parts for the convertible alone were $540.....that's why I wanted to do the top as a DIY, cause the parts are so darn expensive. No worries, about the date, CJ, I'm around all week, just let me know when you're ready!

Originally Posted by TechieTechie

All the stuff in the picture, plus the trunk liner, was $800. The 2 parts for the convertible alone were $540.....that's why I wanted to do the top as a DIY, cause the parts are so darn expensive. No worries, about the date, CJ, I'm around all week, just let me know when you're ready!

Ooooooh, that makes much more sense.

I should definitely be done with the interior tomorrow as long as I have no unforseen problems (like that will happen!). I don't even mind driving without it as long as it doesn't rain.

Jen's Ballin

Dino, are you coming on Monday? We could meet on 95 and cruise up.

yeah if its monday im in there

what time you hitting the road?

Not sure yet. Probably around 8.

we could meet in dedham, or norwood and hop back on 95 or somethin

No idea where those places are lol. We'll figure it out tomorrow when I'm at a computer

Lol alright, just shoot me a text when you ready

cj don't drive without a sunroof cassette..... will drone the **** outta your cabin. (ask me how i know)


And I really want a new e36 project.

I haz powwwaaaa!

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