BMW Guru's

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

MikeWhitney wrote:

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

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

Excellent! Made it through some of the items this weekend.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

OK, now that I've become convinced that Castrol Syntec 0w30 is highly desirable, where are you finding it? A quick check of the big three auto parts chains didn't turn up anything other than Castrol Syntec 5w30.
Charlie G

Brian Marks · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:20 pm

Scott Lusted wrote:

Hey Guys!

Thanks for all the input! I'm really enjoying the 330. First BMW I have owned and I really like how well it drives. I was tired of the 16mpg with the Sequoia for daily driving and so far this thing pulls off 30's which is amazing for a big 6!

From what I can research, the major weakness on these cars is the cooling system and all the plastic parts. It probably could stand a good tune up and fluid's exchange so I'll start with that tomorrow. Anything else on these cars to watch out for? It has 130k miles.

New stuff is fun!

-Scott

You should bring it over here. My wife's 330 needs a full cooling system overhaul and I have parts but not the time or energy to do the job yet. I have a lift - we could have a 330 party (only if you're a cool guy - I haven't met you in person, but all THSCC folks are cool, right?)

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:04 pm

Brian Marks wrote:

Scott Lusted wrote:

Hey Guys!

Thanks for all the input! I'm really enjoying the 330. First BMW I have owned and I really like how well it drives. I was tired of the 16mpg with the Sequoia for daily driving and so far this thing pulls off 30's which is amazing for a big 6!

From what I can research, the major weakness on these cars is the cooling system and all the plastic parts. It probably could stand a good tune up and fluid's exchange so I'll start with that tomorrow. Anything else on these cars to watch out for? It has 130k miles.

New stuff is fun!

-Scott

You should bring it over here. My wife's 330 needs a full cooling system overhaul and I have parts but not the time or energy to do the job yet. I have a lift - we could have a 330 party (only if you're a cool guy - I haven't met you in person, but all THSCC folks are cool, right?)

I'm doing the water pump, hoses, Vanos orings/seals and bearings, and tranny mounts next weekend on my ZHP. Come over and bring beer and parts and I'll do so on your 330.

Aaron Delong FTMFW for getting me the hook up on Bimmer coolant.

Charlie, GC is only found at Autozone and Pep Boys. Wait until Castrol Syntec is on a 5qts plus filter for $30-32 on sale and buy a crap-ton.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:49 pm

JamesShort wrote:

Brian Marks wrote:

Scott Lusted wrote:

Hey Guys!

Thanks for all the input! I'm really enjoying the 330. First BMW I have owned and I really like how well it drives. I was tired of the 16mpg with the Sequoia for daily driving and so far this thing pulls off 30's which is amazing for a big 6!

From what I can research, the major weakness on these cars is the cooling system and all the plastic parts. It probably could stand a good tune up and fluid's exchange so I'll start with that tomorrow. Anything else on these cars to watch out for? It has 130k miles.

New stuff is fun!

-Scott

You should bring it over here. My wife's 330 needs a full cooling system overhaul and I have parts but not the time or energy to do the job yet. I have a lift - we could have a 330 party (only if you're a cool guy - I haven't met you in person, but all THSCC folks are cool, right?)

I'm doing the water pump, hoses, Vanos orings/seals and bearings, and tranny mounts next weekend on my ZHP. Come over and bring beer and parts and I'll do so on your 330.

Aaron Delong FTMFW for getting me the hook up on Bimmer coolant.

Charlie, GC is only found at Autozone and Pep Boys. Wait until Castrol Syntec is on a 5qts plus filter for $30-32 on sale and buy a crap-ton.

Can I bring cheap beer and The Kid's wagon over too? All this free labor talk has me excited.............

Brian Marks · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:45 pm

Free labor? Great! Are you serious?

I already bought most of the parts but don't have VANOS items yet. Raj over at Beisan owes me for letting him borrow a car for like 3 months so he may offer to install those for me - not sure yet LOL

I do have the rad, hoses, pulleys, pump, thermostat, coolant, and all the belts. I also need to do trans and diff fluid and brake fluid flush. Probably power steering also. Not sure if any of the bushings or ball joints/arms need to be replaced. It's a convertible and only has about 53k on it but I'm more concerned with age rather than mileage. We've owned it for over 10 years now.

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

Brian Marks wrote:

Free labor? Great! Are you serious?

I already bought most of the parts but don't have VANOS items yet. Raj over at Beisan owes me for letting him borrow a car for like 3 months so he may offer to install those for me - not sure yet LOL

I do have the rad, hoses, pulleys, pump, thermostat, coolant, and all the belts. I also need to do trans and diff fluid and brake fluid flush. Probably power steering also. Not sure if any of the bushings or ball joints/arms need to be replaced. It's a convertible and only has about 53k on it but I'm more concerned with age rather than mileage. We've owned it for over 10 years now.

Is Beisan still the best/cheapest place to pick up vanos kits? Kendra's new-to-her 330i has some symptoms and I'm thinking about doing it eventually.

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

Brian Marks wrote:

Scott Lusted wrote:

Hey Guys!

Thanks for all the input! I'm really enjoying the 330. First BMW I have owned and I really like how well it drives. I was tired of the 16mpg with the Sequoia for daily driving and so far this thing pulls off 30's which is amazing for a big 6!

From what I can research, the major weakness on these cars is the cooling system and all the plastic parts. It probably could stand a good tune up and fluid's exchange so I'll start with that tomorrow. Anything else on these cars to watch out for? It has 130k miles.

New stuff is fun!

-Scott

You should bring it over here. My wife's 330 needs a full cooling system overhaul and I have parts but not the time or energy to do the job yet. I have a lift - we could have a 330 party (only if you're a cool guy - I haven't met you in person, but all THSCC folks are cool, right?)

I'm actually an ass.

j/k

Sounds like between everyone else's we just need to have a 330 party!

JamesShort · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:53 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Brian Marks wrote:

Free labor? Great! Are you serious?

I already bought most of the parts but don't have VANOS items yet. Raj over at Beisan owes me for letting him borrow a car for like 3 months so he may offer to install those for me - not sure yet LOL

I do have the rad, hoses, pulleys, pump, thermostat, coolant, and all the belts. I also need to do trans and diff fluid and brake fluid flush. Probably power steering also. Not sure if any of the bushings or ball joints/arms need to be replaced. It's a convertible and only has about 53k on it but I'm more concerned with age rather than mileage. We've owned it for over 10 years now.

Is Beisan still the best/cheapest place to pick up vanos kits? Kendra's new-to-her 330i has some symptoms and I'm thinking about doing it eventually.

I got the seals and anti-rattle kit for mine for $130 shipped (I already have soft vice jaws for doing the anti rattle kit). Or you can ship your vanos unit and have the car 'down' for a few weeks to Dr. Vanos and spend $250 and they'll rebuild it. Of course you can pay the core, but I'd rather know the rest of the vanos unit is from your functioning car and not the junk yard.

Anyway, looks easy. I might tackle is this weekend.

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

JamesShort wrote:

I got the seals and anti-rattle kit for mine for $130 shipped (I already have soft vice jaws for doing the anti rattle kit). Or you can ship your vanos unit and have the car 'down' for a few weeks to Dr. Vanos and spend $250 and they'll rebuild it. Of course you can pay the core, but I'd rather know the rest of the vanos unit is from your functioning car and not the junk yard.

Anyway, looks easy. I might tackle is this weekend.

Yep, I did it on my last E46 with the Beisan kit about 4 years ago. Sounds like he's still the best place to go. Gonna skip the anti-rattle kit, if it rattles I will just tell her to turn up the radio.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:33 am

Never updated this.

I did my water pump (Graf metal impeller) and the only one was perfect. Not a hint of radial or axial play but my E46 has an electric fan so the stresses on the water pump are significantly lower. Did the coolant too (props to Aaron Delong for the hookup on BMW coolant for a steal).

I also did the Beisan seals and anti rattle kit. It was pretty easy, but I took my sweet ass time so it took me all Sunday and a few hours on Monday. The axial preload required some loosening on the intake cam and a bit of tightening on the exhaust side. I'm surprised by house accurate Rajaie's estimates were for how much material is removed with one sanding session of the middle bearing washer or the ring...we are talking about +-0.01 mm.

My VANOS seals were actually in really good shape so by replacing them with super tight sealing ones, I actually had a brief *reduction* in power until they broke in. Most people have really worn/loose seals such that even at the beginning of the break-in, there is an immediate gain in power/torque.

I put the M3 trans mounts in too. Much better shift feel but surprisingly more NVH than I'd assume for a non poly option.

I need to get new tires for the front....Michelin Pilot Sports SUCK bad.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:51 am

JamesShort wrote:

Never updated this.

I did my water pump (Graf metal impeller) and the only one was perfect. Not a hint of radial or axial play but my E46 has an electric fan so the stresses on the water pump are significantly lower. Did the coolant too (props to Aaron Delong for the hookup on BMW coolant for a steal).

I also did the Beisan seals and anti rattle kit. It was pretty easy, but I took my sweet ass time so it took me all Sunday and a few hours on Monday. The axial preload required some loosening on the intake cam and a bit of tightening on the exhaust side. I'm surprised by house accurate Rajaie's estimates were for how much material is removed with one sanding session of the middle bearing washer or the ring...we are talking about +-0.01 mm.

My VANOS seals were actually in really good shape so by replacing them with super tight sealing ones, I actually had a brief *reduction* in power until they broke in. Most people have really worn/loose seals such that even at the beginning of the break-in, there is an immediate gain in power/torque.

I put the M3 trans mounts in too. Much better shift feel but surprisingly more NVH than I'd assume for a non poly option.

I need to get new tires for the front....Michelin Pilot Sports SUCK bad.

Pilot Sports suck? You do know the E46 is RWD right James? :roll:

PS2s rock and I hear the new version is even better. So I'm guessing you have an old or original version of the tire.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:54 am

The PSS (Super Sports) are supposed to be amazing, but the regular PS have no lateral grip and make the car push like a pig.

Brian Marks · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:55 am

JamesShort wrote:

The PSS (Super Sports) are supposed to be amazing, but the regular PS have no lateral grip and make the car push like a pig.

Yes, PSS are incredible. Pricey but incredible. Hard to get them to make any noise at all under heavy cornering unless you're drifting and/or doing something very illegal. Otherwise relatively quiet and well behaved and excellent in the cold and rain to boot.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:59 am

BMWs push like a pig out of the box generally but my first set of tires on my E36 were Michelins similar to what you have and they sucked as an autoX tire. They magnified the push as you have stated also.

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