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

Philz0r said:
seems a few people are using this stuff

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G48-Xstr...021818&hash=item5b416d7f1d:g:iOkAAOSw0O5aJdxs



also, I think ill go with BMW diff oil to save the trouble of mixing.
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That coolant will work!

And yeh, the BMW stuff is just plug and play. Best prices from Harry Fairbairn Kirkcaldy on BMWforums.info

Http://bmwforums.info/harry-fairbairn-bmw/

Re: the power steering fluid - be careful and sure about what you're getting. Comma list CHF and ATF for the E46 M3 and seems to be whether the cap says ATF or CHF11S.
 
Philz0r said:
so, the car currently has (almost) full BMW service history, apart from the inspection 2, the previous owner got it done at an indy.

I love working on cars, and the BMW seems like a doddle to work on with plenty of access.

do you think its worth attempting to keep a stamped full service history, do it all myself and keep receipts for all parts, or buy parts myself and pay for labour just to get a stamp?.

the only thing I haven't looked into is the valve check, there is a German specialist near me who comes highly rated so if need be, just book it in with them for the valve checks. (I'm sure I could learn to do it myself if need be)

BMW wanted £1200 for a standard inspection 2, I can buy parts myself for £300 (that's including fuel filter and SMG fluid which I bet has never been changed (I don't trust lifetime products, especially on a 100k car)), £250 for valve clearance check and gaskets from specialist (ballpark estimate) and if decided to pay an indy, £150 for labour (estimate).


no doubt the car will be easier to sell with a full BMW/indy history, but these cars are already in the enthusiast only section, and surely fellow enthusiasts can understand anyone with a bit of competence can do a full service without much hassle?.

this isn't because i'm cheap and can't afford it, its simply because I know (and enjoy) how to service cars.

what do you guys think?.



(I'm using inspection 2 as a guideline as that's the costly one)
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You can by the Genuine BMW Inspection ii kit from BMW for about £210 including spark plugs, all the seals you need, microfilter, air filter, fuel filter etc etc

I would buy the parts yourself then get someone to do the work. An E46 M3 without a FSH is going to tank in value, especially if it's had FBMWSH. The labour isn't much at all (£200?) and is worth it for the stamp. Insp II from BMW themselves should be fixed price at like £850, not £1200.
 
Hmmm won't copy and paste in... One sec

Edit...http://imgur.com/a/GIukCCu

£367 if you buy individually from BMW. £300 if you buy individually from Harry Fairbairn. £210 if you buy as part of the kit.

An awesome price and way less than even aftermarket parts
quote]
 
Great price for the INSPII kit that!

My BMW shall be getting some treats in next month or so, just those treats will cost a small fortune, M Life. :D
 
Simon said:
Diff oil doesn’t need the FM. That’s just to make it quiet (and less effective)
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This, in the M diff, do not add any FM, just buy the BMW stuff. The M differential is quite delicate, only use the official stuff. So many people have tried using other oils and FM, goodbye LSD.
 
I think this is right for full refresh.




Hilda Doolittle biography


along with Gaygle's inspection 2 buy



and using ECP for oil


funny concrete poems

with all of this I can do:

Oil and filter
spark plugs
pollen filter
air filter
fuel filter
Power steering refresh
coolant refresh
brake fluid refresh
SMG oil refresh
LSD refresh

if I can get the shims, I can just pay for labour as I'll have everything for valve check.


I think this will be the full inspection 2 plus more.
 
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Parked in asda to run and buy baby milk, parked in the far corner away from everyone.

Came back out and some rusty focus was parked door to door to me, i knew exactly what they were playing at.

At the time, i struggled to get in and didnt see any damage, as i looked up 2 people were sat in the car goaping at me (about 70years old).

I shook my head at them and drove off, pulled over and rechecked door to see a bit of damage on the door protector (scratch right across it and a light scratch on rear quarter pannel), drove back in to go pull the person but focus was gone!.

They did it purley on purpose!. Im hoping it might Tcut out. I was ready to have a large shouting match with him.


edit: now I've calmed down a bit, at least its on the plastic and not the metal. dick move but at least it wasn't keyed or anything.
 
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I've had similar before in a some motorway services. Parked miles away from everyone to get some food and came back 20mins later to find some woman and her young child parked literally 8inches from my door.

I opened my door delicately and was hoping she'd see this and say "oh sorry, I'll shimmy up a bit!" but oh no. She was so close that I couldn't even get my foot between the door and the rear wing. So I eventually politely/jovially asked if she would mind moving up a bit so I could get in. She ignored me at first, then when I said "excuse me again" she started shouting at me for a good 30 seconds that i had plenty of room to get in the car and that I should have parked straighter (it was arrow straight) etc.

I was a bit taken back as it wasn't the way I thought it was going to go. Told her to move her car or I'd open my door into it...

Weird people...
 
Recently I parked at an Aldi and it was all nice and empty either side not too close to the entrance. I was fiddling with the stereo when quite large ladies in a small hatchback rocked up on one side. They took ages to get out of the car. I think they noticed I was still in the car so didn't want to get out in-case the door hit my car. I clocked this and stayed put. They eventually very carefully got out, I could see the passenger was struggling a bit to weasel her way out without touching my door panel.

Philz0r said:
edit: now I've calmed down a bit, at least its on the plastic and not the metal. dick move but at least it wasn't keyed or anything.
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This will sound weird, but crunchy peanut butter /will/ remove that if it's just scratches to the plastic. It's amazing what the stuff can remove :cool:

This thread has developed a bit since I last checked, didn't even get a forum email saying posts were made in it!

Anyway, car still never ceases to be an enjoyment for all. I had a cousin I grew up with come visit recently as I'd not seen him in the good side of 6 years. He's a bit of a petrolhead himself but has never been in an E46 M3 before.


Weirdly the audio sounds better on phone speakers, some reason Premier Clip on mobile tweaks the audio to cater to phones!
 
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I was gagging for a drive the other night but as i had the baby it was not to be, so i instead did the next best thing and went on youtube.

I found this vid of my cars previous owner at the ring.

Weird.
 
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