Today on my Bimmer I...

Originally Posted by crisscross

I want the ds2's, i'll trade you my 15's

DS1s are mine

BTW, sold two of my 5s yesterday, and someones on their way to come pick up my 15s tonight... Im down to 1 and a half sets. wow

Aok, at least when I come down there, let me try them on for size?

Oh yeah most definitely. Why not? lol

I wonder what ltw's look like on a boston green sedan

Sama, am I going to have to boot you off the wheel whoring team???

Originally Posted by gone2plaid

Swapped out my stock exaust with rusted out baffles for an used M3 unit I picked up cheap. I love projects that only involve 6 bolts. It took me about an hour just because some were a bit stubborn. Can't wait to try it out tomorrow after the exhaust sealer dries (I don't want no stinkin leaks.)

Actually this mod begs the question. Since I have a CAI and now a more free flowing exhaust, should I switch out my Turner chip for one that accommodates the Intake/exhaust combo I have?

Nope...you dont need a chip for exhaust...you get the gains (or losses) just the same with or without one...

Originally Posted by crisscross

I wonder what ltw's look like on a boston green sedan

I wonder how an asian guy looks like on a bost...uhh...nvm...

Originally Posted by hornhospital

Sama, am I going to have to boot you off the wheel whoring team???

Nope, ima come back... Jus wait. It'll be a more valuable set this time tho. Wanted more than just 15s and 16s. Tryna step it up lol

22's

Originally Posted by Moeman10

22's

silly goose....


they're 24's...

Today I reconditioned (dyed) the front & rear plastic bumper trim. I left the side trim on the doors and rear quarters after some of the clips started breaking. I'm going to order new clips before I even begin that job.

One thing though: how do you remove the front license plate bracket trim? I removed all the other pieces except this part, and it seemed like it had more than just the one push-rivet at top center. It seemed to be attached to the lower bumper grill, but I couldn't see how in the 30 seconds that I spent looking at it (I was in my work clothes, parked on the street, with groceries...). I'm sure it's exceedingly simple, but knowing how brittle E36 plastic is, I didn't want to force anything.

It'll be donk status.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Today I reconditioned (dyed) the front & rear plastic bumper trim. I left the side trim on the doors and rear quarters after some of the clips started breaking. I'm going to order new clips before I even begin that job.

One thing though: how do you remove the front license plate bracket trim? I removed all the other pieces except this part, and it seemed like it had more than just the one push-rivet at top center. It seemed to be attached to the lower bumper grill, but I couldn't see how in the 30 seconds that I spent looking at it (I was in my work clothes, parked on the street, with groceries...). I'm sure it's exceedingly simple, but knowing how brittle E36 plastic is, I didn't want to force anything.

I don't think you have a choice but to yank on the plate frame. There's one circle clip thing In the middle that connects the bumper cover to the bumper support...

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Today I reconditioned (dyed) the front & rear plastic bumper trim. I left the side trim on the doors and rear quarters after some of the clips started breaking. I'm going to order new clips before I even begin that job.

One thing though: how do you remove the front license plate bracket trim? I removed all the other pieces except this part, and it seemed like it had more than just the one push-rivet at top center. It seemed to be attached to the lower bumper grill, but I couldn't see how in the 30 seconds that I spent looking at it (I was in my work clothes, parked on the street, with groceries...). I'm sure it's exceedingly simple, but knowing how brittle E36 plastic is, I didn't want to force anything.

The lower part of the bracket "hooks" onto the front grill with plastic tabs that extend upwards about 1/8 of an inch. If you can undo all the clips that lock it into the bumper, you can swing the top of the trim/bracket down and unhook it. Even if you use a little bit of force, I don't think you'd break anything. I just did this on my car and a little fiddling got it off with no problems.

Originally Posted by KaptinKP

Nope...you dont need a chip for exhaust...you get the gains (or losses) just the same with or without one...

Thanks. I can tell you that the exhaust is much quieter than the blown out/clogged up unit I had on there, and I seem to be getting better gas mileage. Mileage went up about 1mpg on my normal morning route.

I think the guts of the previous unit had just colapsed and all the wadding/packing/muffling stuff had just clogged it up and made it more restrictive and louder at the same time. When I picked up the old muffler to throw it in the back of my truck, it rattled like a can of peanuts and a bunch of rust chunks came out. Odd because the thing looks brand new from the outside.

Originally Posted by cmy_bimmer

I don't think you have a choice but to yank on the plate frame. There's one circle clip thing In the middle that connects the bumper cover to the bumper support...

Originally Posted by gone2plaid

The lower part of the bracket "hooks" onto the front grill with plastic tabs that extend upwards about 1/8 of an inch. If you can undo all the clips that lock it into the bumper, you can swing the top of the trim/bracket down and unhook it. Even if you use a little bit of force, I don't think you'd break anything. I just did this on my car and a little fiddling got it off with no problems.

Great. Thanks guys. If there is one thing I've learned in my nine months of E36 ownership, it is to never yank on something without having an idea about how it is supposed to be removed.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Great. Thanks guys. If there is one thing I've learned in my nine months of E36 ownership, it is to never yank on something without having an idea about how it is supposed to be removed.

unless you have mutiple spare peices laying around the garage... 2 spare bumpers at the moment I can afford a little yanking lol

Yesterday I flushed and filled the coolant, changed the oil, changed out the HVAC resistor pack, installed new strut mounts, H&R Sport Springs, Koni sport shocks, new PIAA wiper blades (replaced the cheezzzzy white plastic double blades from the previous owner), cleaned the windows with glass cooktop cleaner(removes all the crap better than Bon Ami), hit the front glass with Rain-x, and polished out the foggy headlights. Next comes a new driver's window regulator (the roller wheel is cracked), new ball joints, and then I start on the bodywork. Wheew, I'm pooped today.

Wow, that is a LOOOOOONG list. Nice work!

I've had it a week had hadn't been able to touch it until yesterday. I took a vacation day from work and borrowed a friend's lift. He helped so it went quick. Oh yeah, I also hit the BMV and got the plates and title taken care of and mounted a set of used 16" ASA A7 wheels. Those need to be painted. I need to post some photos. The H&R springs dropped it nicely and the ride quality is still great. I haven't had a chance to really try things out yet. I'm waiting until I get the ball joints replaced before I do any serious driving with the car.

Today I finally got to the bottom of my steering wheel vibration that was happening at speeds over 55mph. Turns out the wheels were out of balance and the previous owner bent the front wheels somehow. Potholes, I'm guessing.

I had a full balancing performed and moved the bent wheels to the rear until I get some new wheels & tires. Now I can only notice a very slight vibration at about 80mph, and not at all at lower speeds. Perfectly fine for city and most highway driving.

This means I'm now looking for a set of 17x8.5" Kosei K1s, if any of you have some laying around the garage.

Turtle wax headlight restore FTW!

Thanks Adamklondikeman!

and 10 min microfilter change









Oh and an hour in the twisties in the mountains!!!

blew my 4.44 rear end

Originally Posted by cmy_bimmer

unless you have mutiple spare peices laying around the garage... 2 spare bumpers at the moment I can afford a little yanking lol

sounds way to familiar. i need sell some crap.. at least i got rid of a nose panel today.. ugh i got 2 sets of wheels, trannys, driveshafts, exhausts, an e30, hella random filters , bottles of mobil 1, ughhhhhhhh dont wanna clean.... haha

Originally Posted by E36_Hater433

blew my 4.44 rear end

well it wasn't designed for that much power.. suckks man.

an e30???

Talk to me