BMW Guru's

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

MikeWhitney wrote:

Scott Lusted wrote:

Hey Guys,

Where is a good location to get OEM parts for BMW's? I picked up an e46 330i that needs some of the basic trouble spots tended too.

Thanks!
-Scott

Ha! I just got a E46 330i also

Most of its "basic" trouble spots have already been addressed, but the car has some "advanced" trouble spots to deal with

Honestly I have been getting most of my parts from Amazon. Prime rules

I always forget about Amazon Prime. I'll take a look!

BTW, so there is a really short list of BMW approved engine oils. Castrol Syntec looks to be the factory fill? I guess I'll stick with that since they previous owner always had the service done at the dealership.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

E46 front control arm bushings typically are mush after 50k miles, so replace those. If you ever plan to track it, I'd recommend doing control arms too. $71 each, like $20 for the bushings. There are plenty of upgrades, but for the price, IMO, stock stuff is fine.

Oil - These days I put Rotella T6 in everything. Not because it's some super oil or something but I like the weight, I like that it's synthetic, and I don't think oil brand really matters much. (Go ahead, show me some engine failures caused by poor brand selection and I'll change my mind.

)

However I DO recommend BMW branded coolant. IIRC there was something special about it that is really supposed to cut down on corrosion and minimize buildup of insulating laters on the alloys BMW uses in the engine.

Pop out the nibs on the top of the front strut hats for a little extra camber, the holes are slotted.

Let's see some pictures! I would take pics of mine but it's been on the lift for the last 2 weeks being rejuvenated...

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

Here are some pics!

I had fun working with it all day. I did all the mechanical I needed to for now today and I'll spend tomorrow detailing it!

Images: https://plus.google.com/photos/11841759 ... 7P4uqHthwE

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:05 pm

Scott Lusted wrote:

Here are some pics!

I had fun working with it all day. I did all the mechanical I needed to for now today and I'll spend tomorrow detailing it!

Images: https://plus.google.com/photos/11841759 ... 7P4uqHthwE

Sharp car. I like it!

steve remchak · **Posted:** Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:35 am

Interesting vanity tag.

Scott Lusted · **Joined:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:52 am **Posts:** 215

steve remchak wrote:

Interesting vanity tag.

Lady at the DMV asked if I ran it through the urban dictionary before she punched it in. I laughed for awhile on that one...

And no, it is not a tally... If those numbers change I have TWO doctors to pay a visit too.

-Scott

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Scott, grab a beer and read through this. Start making your list....

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthre ... aintenance

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

MikeWhitney wrote:

Scott, grab a beer and read through this. Start making your list....

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthre ... aintenance

ZOMG there is a website called "zhpmafia" wow.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:30 pm

Yeh, but they are a no troll, no antagonistic behavior website.

Odd for a website named "mafia". Great source of info apparently.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:55 am

Scott Lusted wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Scott Lusted wrote:

Hey Guys,

Where is a good location to get OEM parts for BMW's? I picked up an e46 330i that needs some of the basic trouble spots tended too.

Thanks!
-Scott

Ha! I just got a E46 330i also

Most of its "basic" trouble spots have already been addressed, but the car has some "advanced" trouble spots to deal with

Honestly I have been getting most of my parts from Amazon. Prime rules

I always forget about Amazon Prime. I'll take a look!

BTW, so there is a really short list of BMW approved engine oils. Castrol Syntec looks to be the factory fill? I guess I'll stick with that since they previous owner always had the service done at the dealership.

Make sure to get Castrol Syntec 0w30....nothing else.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

JamesShort wrote:

Make sure to get Castrol Syntec 0w30....nothing else.

Why?

I have owned and driven the piss out of 7 different BMWs, and I have never used Castrol Syntec 0w30.

Bring some real failure-related tech, not just internet BS...

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:28 am

We've been using Mobil1 0W40 in the E46 for 3-4 years now since the warranty ran out, changing about every 7k miles. Burns almost zero oil, 92k miles, pristine clean inside when valve cover gasket were replaced. Same thing on the E90 -- used BMW Castrol 5W30 for the first 50k miles while under warranty, switched to Mobil1 0W40, now at 110k miles. Change there about every 7-8k miles, never have to add oil between changes. It was super clean too when...guess....valve cover gasket was replaced at 98k miles.

Mobil1 0W40 has an excellent HTHS rating as does the BMW (German Castrol) 5W30 oil. Either one are excellent choices imo.

FWIW, this is what the top end of the N52 in the E90 looks like at 92k miles. I was a bit amazed it was so clean:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:28 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Make sure to get Castrol Syntec 0w30....nothing else.

Why?

I have owned and driven the piss out of 7 different BMWs, and I have never used Castrol Syntec 0w30.

Bring some real failure-related tech, not just internet BS...

My point was not to ONLY use that oil and nothing else, just clarifying among other Castrol Syntec oils.

I'm saying that Castrol Syntec 5w30 is NOT equal to BMW Castrol 5w30 and you should not use it. Vanilla grade 5w30 is generally barely in the 30 grade viscosity range 9.5 centistokes to 12.5 centistokes and is made from predominantly (if not completely) from group 3/3+ base stocks. It's great for companies to advertise increases in your fuel economy despite the fact it may not be great for your engine.

Castrol Syntec 0w30 (aka German Castrol, aka GC) is a very robust near 40 weight oil made from group 4 and 5 (ester and PAO based) base stocks that has very high HTHS and noack volatility and excellent shear resistance and meets BMW specs to boot. BMW 5w30 is close to German Castrol but virgin oil analysis shows that it is not exactly equal to GC
.
M1 0w40 is what I'm running the ZHP and what I have Jeremy running in the S2000, and what I put in Ram's Cayman S. It is also a BMW spec oil with the same niceties cited above about GC, and despite being a 40 weight, is on the lower side of the spectrum of the 40 weight range. It also works quite well in BMWs.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:17 pm

JamesShort wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Make sure to get Castrol Syntec 0w30....nothing else.

Why?

I have owned and driven the piss out of 7 different BMWs, and I have never used Castrol Syntec 0w30.

Bring some real failure-related tech, not just internet BS...

My point was not to ONLY use that oil and nothing else, just clarifying among other Castrol Syntec oils.

I'm saying that Castrol Syntec 5w30 is NOT equal to BMW Castrol 5w30 and you should not use it. Vanilla grade 5w30 is generally barely in the 30 grade viscosity range 9.5 centistokes to 12.5 centistokes and is made from predominantly (if not completely) from group 3/3+ base stocks. It's great for companies to advertise increases in your fuel economy despite the fact it may not be great for your engine.

Castrol Syntec 0w30 (aka German Castrol, aka GC) is a very robust near 40 weight oil made from group 4 and 5 (ester and PAO based) base stocks that has very high HTHS and noack volatility and excellent shear resistance and meets BMW specs to boot. BMW 5w30 is close to German Castrol but virgin oil analysis shows that it is not exactly equal to GC
.
M1 0w40 is what I'm running the ZHP and what I have Jeremy running in the S2000, and what I put in Ram's Cayman S. It is also a BMW spec oil with the same niceties cited above about GC, and despite being a 40 weight, is on the lower side of the spectrum of the 40 weight range. It also works quite well in BMWs.

I think is what Whitney is getting at is that all of that means 0 in real world applications.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:29 pm

I can't believe Mike called out _James_ on some tech, any tech. I mean I'm sure James uses a torque wrench on his muffler bearings and a measures his blinker fluid in milliliters! :lol:

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