Soldato
It was standard spring replaced with standard spring so no difference in ride height. After a couple of journeys the ride height has settled and returned to the level it should be and was when it was last aligned.
Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
- Start date
I have said it before on several forums, but it usually goes unnoticed because people believe the spring is the weak link. If you don't replace the rubber spring pad at the same time, or at least clean it out, 9 times out of 10 the spring will crack again. If you periodically clean and/or replace the spring pad, you springs will last a hell of a lot longer. Dirt and gravel gets stuck in the pad, impacting on the coil and fatiguing it. So in part the spring thickness is an issue and changing to after market springs i.e. Eibach will cure it, but if you want your stock springs to last longer, keep the pads clean and free of stones/gravel/debris.
I recall you mentioning in the past about the pads. They are not too expensive either iirc so end up being a no-brainer.
Get em while they're hot?
7m19s is for @Voxination - We talked about how much play the gear lever has at the recent meet, and even the M5 is the same
7m19s is for @Voxination - We talked about how much play the gear lever has at the recent meet, and even the M5 is the same
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I've not watched the video, but my opinion is that they might shoot up in value, but only for low mileage pristine examples. Servicing costs and general running costs will continue to be high and I don't believe that with the exception of a few models, anyone will ever break even or make money on a car if running costs are taken into account.
It's more to do with not being able to find a decent one in a few years, as it's rather hard right now as it is. The barry scene over in the States is just as rife as it is here, and people slapping all manner of stick on tat and wheels that rub the arches etc doesn't I spire hope!
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Broke down today!
Was joining the motorway off a short sliproad in lane 2, lorry in lane 1 so needed to haul arse before motorway traffic caught up. Doing good, nice progress, move into lane 3 as traffic ahead and just as I'm about to pass them the throttle cuts out! I'm now costing
Managed to coast the car to the hard shoulder through the traffic and attempt to start it back up. Engine fires up but within a second cuts out again. Applying throttle during startup yields no throttle response either, so immediately I'm thinking the engine isn't fuelling correctly or something along those lines.
I've had the post cat o2 sensor replacement booked for a while now so that is still yet to be done.
I ring RAC, man arrives within 45mins, I take some clown mask selfies in the meantime to keep spirits high.
RAC man does some things, tells me to stay safe. I stay safe.
I hear M3 come to life, he applies some throttle, I hear the exhaust blow me some RASPberries. Nice.
Turns out the MAF has died. by unplugging the MAF connector, the engine fires up fine, obviously running in reset/lean mode. Normally unplugging the MAF would cause the engine to cut out within seconds, not the other way round.
I now also believe my post cat o2 sensors are most likely fine, and it was the failing MAF skewing the other sensor readings. I'll pick up a Bosch MAF tomorrow and monitor and check to see if the o2 sensor ECU flag pops back up.
Was joining the motorway off a short sliproad in lane 2, lorry in lane 1 so needed to haul arse before motorway traffic caught up. Doing good, nice progress, move into lane 3 as traffic ahead and just as I'm about to pass them the throttle cuts out! I'm now costing
Managed to coast the car to the hard shoulder through the traffic and attempt to start it back up. Engine fires up but within a second cuts out again. Applying throttle during startup yields no throttle response either, so immediately I'm thinking the engine isn't fuelling correctly or something along those lines.
I've had the post cat o2 sensor replacement booked for a while now so that is still yet to be done.
I ring RAC, man arrives within 45mins, I take some clown mask selfies in the meantime to keep spirits high.
RAC man does some things, tells me to stay safe. I stay safe.
I hear M3 come to life, he applies some throttle, I hear the exhaust blow me some RASPberries. Nice.
Turns out the MAF has died. by unplugging the MAF connector, the engine fires up fine, obviously running in reset/lean mode. Normally unplugging the MAF would cause the engine to cut out within seconds, not the other way round.
I now also believe my post cat o2 sensors are most likely fine, and it was the failing MAF skewing the other sensor readings. I'll pick up a Bosch MAF tomorrow and monitor and check to see if the o2 sensor ECU flag pops back up.
Broke down today!
Was joining the motorway off a short sliproad in lane 2, lorry in lane 1 so needed to haul arse before motorway traffic caught up. Doing good, nice progress, move into lane 3 as traffic ahead and just as I'm about to pass them the throttle cuts out! I'm now costing
Managed to coast the car to the hard shoulder through the traffic and attempt to start it back up. Engine fires up but within a second cuts out again. Applying throttle during startup yields no throttle response either, so immediately I'm thinking the engine isn't fuelling correctly or something along those lines.
I've had the post cat o2 sensor replacement booked for a while now so that is still yet to be done.
I ring RAC, man arrives within 45mins, I take some clown mask selfies in the meantime to keep spirits high.
RAC man does some things, tells me to stay safe. I stay safe.
I hear M3 come to life, he applies some throttle, I hear the exhaust blow me some RASPberries. Nice.
Turns out the MAF has died. by unplugging the MAF connector, the engine fires up fine, obviously running in reset/lean mode. Normally unplugging the MAF would cause the engine to cut out within seconds, not the other way round.
I now also believe my post cat o2 sensors are most likely fine, and it was the failing MAF skewing the other sensor readings. I'll pick up a Bosch MAF tomorrow and monitor and check to see if the o2 sensor ECU flag pops back up.
Exactly what happened to my 911 in my first months ownership, it kept cutting out at idle. When you unplug a maf, most modern cars will resort to an alpha-N map as backup to get you by. BMW's are the same.
Have you got a maf? If not I can check my garage tonight and try to find the stock air box as it will have a maf sensor in it which I can post you FOC to use.
Running CSL setup, it uses MAP and IAT sensor for fuelling, so no maf or alpha-N.
Cheers Gibbo, appreciate the offer! Although I've already ordered a new MAF which will be ready for collection tomorrow! At least this way one sensor at a time, they are all going to be new.
Next on the (low priority!) agenda? PDC loom.
Next on the (low priority!) agenda? PDC loom.
Associate
That's bad luck! Sounds like it could have been a lot worse in the circumstances though.
No symptoms until it died??
No symptoms until it died??
No immediate symptoms other than suddenly cutting out!
Over the last 4 months I have had the odd startup issue which I thought was the o2 sensor related whereby the car would need two key turns to start on the odd cold start here and there. I seareched online and found people mentioning mostly fuelling and air fuel mixture as the culprit. Whilst many owners had dirty fuel filters, I knew mine was good as it was changed during my ownership anyway so can't have been that.
I also ran diagnostics that only turned up the air flow flags which again I thought was o2 sensor.
MAF issues were mentioned all too often so I figured I'd replace the MAF on the next service as it had been fine for the last 2 months.
A faulty MAF now makes sense given all of the above.
Lots of people recommend cleaning it every so often, I've never cleaned mine as it's never something I've thought about. It is on the original one too, and typically people have been getting around 80k miles out of them.
Over the last 4 months I have had the odd startup issue which I thought was the o2 sensor related whereby the car would need two key turns to start on the odd cold start here and there. I seareched online and found people mentioning mostly fuelling and air fuel mixture as the culprit. Whilst many owners had dirty fuel filters, I knew mine was good as it was changed during my ownership anyway so can't have been that.
I also ran diagnostics that only turned up the air flow flags which again I thought was o2 sensor.
MAF issues were mentioned all too often so I figured I'd replace the MAF on the next service as it had been fine for the last 2 months.
A faulty MAF now makes sense given all of the above.
Lots of people recommend cleaning it every so often, I've never cleaned mine as it's never something I've thought about. It is on the original one too, and typically people have been getting around 80k miles out of them.
Associate
Ahh good to have a clear problem to fix rather than a mystery I suppose (silver linings and all that).
I suspect mine is the original too, but no signs of an issue with it at 106k. Might look into cleaning it just to see if there's any change.
I suspect mine is the original too, but no signs of an issue with it at 106k. Might look into cleaning it just to see if there's any change.
Soldato
Would be interested to hear what the differences are when you've got a new MAF. Watch how the car is with the MAF unplugged, when I accidentally left mine unplugged it was prone to stalling at low speeds.
Soldato
Considered an Evolve Alpha N tune?
Aloha N is no good for regular driving as it's pretty rough. It also means I'd need to ditch the MAF and go MAP/IAT. So additional expense.
If I had SMG then I'd maybe consider the CSL software upgrade, but again way more expense than just what I have (Eventuri).
I'm actually really happy with it like this. The sound and feel is really amazing. I'd love more induction sound still, but the only solution for that costs nearly £3000
If I had SMG then I'd maybe consider the CSL software upgrade, but again way more expense than just what I have (Eventuri).
I'm actually really happy with it like this. The sound and feel is really amazing. I'd love more induction sound still, but the only solution for that costs nearly £3000
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Aloha N is no good for regular driving as it's pretty rough. It also means I'd need to ditch the MAF and go MAP/IAT. So additional expense.
If I had SMG then I'd maybe consider the CSL software upgrade, but again way more expense than just what I have (Eventuri).
I'm actually really happy with it like this. The sound and feel is really amazing. I'd love more induction sound still, but the only solution for that costs nearly £3000
Alpha N does not require map sensor, all they are doing with an Alpha N tune is eliminating maf sensor for those with CSL air boxes. It is why as you say they don't drive to great down low as the fuelling trims are not perfect as they are running from the Alpha N backup mode / Limp mode.
Its the CSL setup which uses IAT/MAP sensor combination which results in silky smooth driving.
Stock/Evolve map on stock air box or air box with maf sensor: Smooth
Evolve Alpha N remap for CSL air box: Not so smooth, good power up top
CSL Map / TTFS Map or other CSL remap with IAT/MAP sensor: Silky smooth and generally more power/torque everywhere
The CSL ECU and map sensor upgrade is for those running CSL style air boxes that eliminate the maf sensor, if your not running a CSL air box its a total waste of money and would result in nothing for you on your car. I ran them all on my M3.
Yeah that's what I mean, I'd have to have the extra expense to get the CSL or CSL style airbox, and then the Alpha N or CSL software and accompanying things to go with. Not really a viable option for a car with a manual gearbox mind.
I've tried starting the car just now with and without the MAF connected.
Connected = Car starts but cuts out within 2 seconds of idling at cold start rpms.
Disconnected = Car starts perfectly, and with a silky smooth idle.
My MAF is almost definitely dead!
I'll use daylight tomorrow to also check the intake boots between the plenum and eventuri, as the rubber on those can perish over time and cause vacuum leaks, might be worth just undoing the clamps on them too and check to make sure it's all seated correctly underneath.
I've tried starting the car just now with and without the MAF connected.
Connected = Car starts but cuts out within 2 seconds of idling at cold start rpms.
Disconnected = Car starts perfectly, and with a silky smooth idle.
My MAF is almost definitely dead!
I'll use daylight tomorrow to also check the intake boots between the plenum and eventuri, as the rubber on those can perish over time and cause vacuum leaks, might be worth just undoing the clamps on them too and check to make sure it's all seated correctly underneath.
Yep 100% sign of failed maf that, my 911 acted exactly the same.
Yes for you a full CSL setup would give you very little, louder induction and maybe 5-10HP more. But the cost of a CSL air box, CSL ECU, map sensor and then the tuning well your getting no change from a few grand, its not worth it, unless you absolutely crave the noise and trust me with it there is no hiding I can just blip the throttle and a whole street of pedestrians will turn round with very angry looks on their faces looking for a speeding car. It is great amusement the look on their faces when they cannot see any car flying by and as such have no idea what just made that racket to shake hand gestures at.
In their minds they are thinking "who the hell is throwing a bag of spanners down the street??"
Soldato
Fair enough - I didn't realise the Evolve Alpha N tune wasn't so good low down on the M3. It's well liked on the M5, but I imagine that it'll be down to the individual engine characteristics.