Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...

acemastr · 4 Jun 2019 at 15:54

You need a V8

BananaDunka · 4 Jun 2019 at 15:55

Need is a relative term

Uncle_Gravy · 4 Jun 2019 at 16:16

mrk said:
I follow the Petrolicious motto and drive tastefully!

I've had it installed for around 4 years now so you may have seen an older clip! Even though I'm used to it, there's never a day the burble from the Eventuri doesn't put a smile on my face

From inside the engine bay:

From Outside (@20s):

That sounds amazing.

Simon · 4 Jun 2019 at 16:23

Eventuri do a V8 airbox now too. That must sound good. Videos never sounds as good as real

InvaderGIR · 4 Jun 2019 at 16:35

mrk said:

Golf is loudest therefore best.

BananaDunka · 4 Jun 2019 at 16:36

ASBO

Simon said:
Eventuri do a V8 airbox now too. That must sound good. Videos never sounds as good as real

Yup it took them years of being pestered by E92 owners before they finally released one. I think I recall Imran saying that the V8's version has a small benefit other than the induction sound increase because the stock intake is very good as it is for performance. The S54's intake plenum was improved by the Evolve CF plenum couple years after the Eventuri was released. Sadly it's a £3000 option but at least you retain the MAF so no Alpha maps and things needed.

Uncle_Gravy said:
That sounds amazing.

Oh yeah the latest video shows the sound even better from inside the cabin with roof down, was in the motors tube thread but...

Edit*

And on the way to lunch with a friend, might try something out with this sort of series, think it has some scope!

BananaDunka · 30 Aug 2019 at 20:33

Can anyone explain to me what this white stuff is? It appears to be coming off the edge of this pulley/wheel. I've never seen anything like it, it's just light residue that wipes off but it's always there. The belt seems to be on normally, everything else seems normal too. The wheel bit is new along with all belts and stuff as part of the engine swapout when the bearing shells went on the original engine.

Just a bit odd lol.

Conscript · 30 Aug 2019 at 20:40

Looks like its grease from the pulley wheel or something, perhaps it's some sort of packing grease that's being ejected from the bearing within it?

Vita · 30 Aug 2019 at 20:47

Defo grease.

BananaDunka · 30 Aug 2019 at 20:59

Well that's annoying!

I just went back and fired up the bag of spanners and recorded this for a better view:

Does look like grease.

Vita · 30 Aug 2019 at 21:06

It'll clear up. Don't worry.

Conscript · 30 Aug 2019 at 21:23

Lick it.

BananaDunka · 31 Aug 2019 at 15:56

I emailed Redish before posting too and they just got back to me, it looks like it could b the water pump bearings.

They said:

I'm quite confident that 'spray' residue on the plastic fan cowling (and pulleys) is Antifreeze/coolant mixture.

I've seen this a few times before and it's usually when the Waterpump bearings are failing and allowing a small amount of Antifreeze/coolant mixture past the bearings (i.e a leak), and then it gets forced (centrifugally) outwards and lands on that plastic fan cowling in the engine bay.

Nothing immediately to worry about today, but I would recommend you have it double checked by either us or a local specialist. It will probably require the Waterpump to be changed, that's all.

Genuine BMW Waterpumps are quite pricey around £360 but aftermarket copies are available nowadays for a lot less. Always use Genuine BMW BLUE Antifreeze though (this is important).

As for the other video showing the genuine idle/running of the engine - this is very good. This sounds exactly as I would expect and I cant hear any issues at all there.

I just thought of another test you could try yourself to check those Waterpump bearings: With the engine OFF, reach into the plastic fan blade area and grab one of the fan blades (MAKE SURE THE ENGINE IS OFF). Rock the fan up and down and see if you can see the pulley (i.e waterpump) moving?

This is because that fan is screwed on directly to the waterpump/pulley. So if the pulley moves or 'knocks' then you can tell the waterpump bearings are worn and that's what's allowing the very small water seep, which in turn is being thrown outwards onto the engine plastics.

I'll try the test they mention when I'm home :cool:

-westy- · 31 Aug 2019 at 18:50

If they changed the water pump when the engine was rebuilt, wouldn’t it still be under warranty?

BananaDunka · 31 Aug 2019 at 18:59

Didn't need a new water pump back then as it was all fine. If it is bearing related then it's only started recently.

tsinc80697 · 31 Aug 2019 at 21:06

I’d only buy genuine BMW for the water pump. I had my track car engine rebuilt 2 years ago and thought I’d get an “OEM quality” water pump. It literally lasted 15 minutes before I stumped up for the OEM one.

And I’ve just bought another OEM water pump for my new track car. Expensive but they seem to last a good while.

BananaDunka · 1 Sep 2019 at 23:04

I've had a bit of a browse tonight and came across a cutters thread that contained very good info. Seems OEM is ideal, but Meyle is the preferred choice for the waterpump. A tried and tested brand and often used as OEM. Also at £70 odd it's well priced.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/waterpump-failing.215744/

I won't replace the thermostat as I've had this replaced a couple of years back so there's no need. Just the pump and o-rings/

BananaDunka · 4 Sep 2019 at 15:19

Right so bit of a no man's land this water pump business.

Seems Meyle do not do one for the E46 M3 but they do for the E36 and others. Their waterpump is of a higher standard than OEM with seal break safeguards etc to stop fluid reaching the bearings, and higher quality bearings. Bummer...

Nobody knows who makes the OE water pump for the E46 as there's no stamped branding on it. Not Meyle, not First Line etc etc. But some keen eyes on forums noted that the composite impeller on the OEM pump was the same configuration as the pump made by Saleri who are Italian and also make water pumps for Ferrari etc.

Looked on Saleri's website and drilled down their parts catalogue and found the part:
http://aftermarket.saleri.com/web/catalogo-dettaglio.asp?cod=PA1297&marca=BMW&modello=3 Cabrio (E46) M3 3.2

Then using the SIL part code I found it at FCP Euro with lifetime warranty at $107. I fully expect around £30-£50 on top for import duty however but still a good deal cheaper than buying in the UK.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-water-pump-m3-11517838159

eBay for the same pump is around £200

Before I order tonight, anyone spot anything out the ordinary? I am happy with this even though there have been no reported cases of the cheaper Circoli (ECP own brand) ones failing to date, I don't know what the flow rate of non OE ones are in comparison to the OE one so best keep things original spec.

Dominic-Toretto · 5 Sep 2019 at 13:54

mrk said:
Right so bit of a no man's land this water pump business.

Seems Meyle do not do one for the E46 M3 but they do for the E36 and others. Their waterpump is of a higher standard than OEM with seal break safeguards etc to stop fluid reaching the bearings, and higher quality bearings. Bummer...

Nobody knows who makes the OE water pump for the E46 as there's no stamped branding on it. Not Meyle, not First Line etc etc. But some keen eyes on forums noted that the composite impeller on the OEM pump was the same configuration as the pump made by Saleri who are Italian and also make water pumps for Ferrari etc.

Looked on Saleri's website and drilled down their parts catalogue and found the part:
http://aftermarket.saleri.com/web/catalogo-dettaglio.asp?cod=PA1297&marca=BMW&modello=3 Cabrio (E46) M3 3.2

Then using the SIL part code I found it at FCP Euro with lifetime warranty at $107. I fully expect around £30-£50 on top for import duty however but still a good deal cheaper than buying in the UK.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-water-pump-m3-11517838159

eBay for the same pump is around £200

Before I order tonight, anyone spot anything out the ordinary? I am happy with this even though there have been no reported cases of the cheaper Circoli (ECP own brand) ones failing to date, I don't know what the flow rate of non OE ones are in comparison to the OE one so best keep things original spec.

Not sure how far you got with this, but FCP Euro will not ship to the UK, at least that is what they said last time I spoke to them.

BananaDunka · 5 Sep 2019 at 14:16

I haven't ordered anything yet as was waiting for them to come back and confirm UK shipping is possible!

Edit*
They got back saying because of recent EU privacy laws, they don't ship to UK

But I have found it on eBay:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PA1297-P...401376&hash=item2384822f1a:g:LXoAAOSw6Tdb0ZVP

Coolness.