Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Not directly related to thus thread, but I think an interesting observation on the durability and quality of the M cars...
I was at the Nurburgring on the weekend and as it was soaking wet on the Saturday I took s RingTaxi.de ride in the F80 M3. The driver (Dale Lomas, look him up) told me that the car had done about 17,000km on track (e.g. abused!) and in that time had only needed the left side wheel bearings replacing (front & back, front was first) and was about due to have the right rear replaced.
I think that's phenomenal considering it's a road car, and 17,000km on track is probably closer to 170,000km on the road!
I was at the Nurburgring on the weekend and as it was soaking wet on the Saturday I took s RingTaxi.de ride in the F80 M3. The driver (Dale Lomas, look him up) told me that the car had done about 17,000km on track (e.g. abused!) and in that time had only needed the left side wheel bearings replacing (front & back, front was first) and was about due to have the right rear replaced.
I think that's phenomenal considering it's a road car, and 17,000km on track is probably closer to 170,000km on the road!
It is a brand new car after all, you'd kind of expect it to last after tens of thousands of miles of track use
[TW]Fox;29830534 said:
All ordered now, Cotswold quoted me £48 inc. Should be here Thursday. Harry dealer supposedly did have the correct part, they asked the exact same questions as Cotswold as well in relation to the parts, colour and so on.
Replaced my PIAA wipers with Denso Hybrids. What a life I lead.
Great as PIAA wipers are, they don't seem to last that long. I've had the same set for 2.5 years (rubber replaced with refills once), but they started smearing and not clearing the screen correctly. I tried keeping them clean, but I was doing it more and more regularly and performance still seemed diminished. So I'm going to revert to cheaper blades again.
Great as PIAA wipers are, they don't seem to last that long. I've had the same set for 2.5 years (rubber replaced with refills once), but they started smearing and not clearing the screen correctly. I tried keeping them clean, but I was doing it more and more regularly and performance still seemed diminished. So I'm going to revert to cheaper blades again.
On an E46? I've gone OEM wipers for a while now, nothing beats the look of the OEM blades as they tuck into the arms and it all looks like one piece, just seems better and factory.
These are the OE ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350604232559?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
These are the OE ones: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350604232559?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
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That is well on the way to becoming one chavtastic car. It might already be there tbh.
No, they are not the OEM ones - they are Bosch ones. You've not got for 'OEM wipers for a while now' - you've gone for Bosch wipers. A sensible choice, I hasten to add.
However, these are the OE ones:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-BMW-Wiper-Blade-Pair/dp/B006VCUSUI
I believe they are made by Valeo for the E46/E39.
Personally I just buy the Bosch ones - they are as good and the best option. But you keep calling stuff 'OE' when it's not and it's getting my goat
OE will arrive in a manufacturer branded box. Now there is often no sense in buying OE as you can buy equal components elsewhere - often from the same manufacturer - but stop calling it OE damnit
Because all 3 previous E46s came with them and they are exactly the same fitment and design right down to the spoiler length and the way it matches the curve of the arm perfectly. They are also the same ones I bought from Scothall BMW for the old E46 shortly before they stopped selling them and moving onto aero blades.
I imagine what's happened here is that BMW had them manufactured by both brands to the same spec. Like how some of their brake discs are Textar, while others are Pagid.
I call them OEM because they're the same ones I've bought from BMW before in person, they just came in a BMW labeled package.
I imagine what's happened here is that BMW had them manufactured by both brands to the same spec. Like how some of their brake discs are Textar, while others are Pagid.
I call them OEM because they're the same ones I've bought from BMW before in person, they just came in a BMW labeled package.
Of course it matches the arm perfectly, it was designed to fit a standard wiper! The one you've bought wasn't made for the e46 specifically, it fits a whole range of cars
The wiper armis designed for the standard blade not the other way round. This means buying Bosch is the best choice.
The wiper armis designed for the standard blade not the other way round. This means buying Bosch is the best choice.
Gonna get some OEM fuel later Fox.
My point is, the ones I bought in person in the past were Bosch ones, just in a generic BMW package. Had the Bosch branding on them too. It's the same as the headlight lenses bought from BMW, they too have Bosch logos on them.
My point is, the ones I bought in person in the past were Bosch ones, just in a generic BMW package. Had the Bosch branding on them too. It's the same as the headlight lenses bought from BMW, they too have Bosch logos on them.
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Saw this and thought of you.
Puke gif needed.