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

Yup should be here Monday or Tuesday.

I'll stick the old one for sale up on one of the Facebook groups, someone will have it for £25 I imagine.
 
Could be emissions yeah, before I replaced my MAF, my post cat O2 sensors were flagging error codes and had the same EML on the dash.

Replaced the MAF and reset the codes and nothing since. Simply resetting the codes brought the same ones back a few drives later.

You can use Carly for BMW app and a compatible obd cable. You will likely see other associated errors if it is also the same thing as mine, like "Minimum flow of secondary air" which is all related. Of the MAF is failing, then your O2 sensors won't be reading coreectly in turn.
 
What adapter do you have? Carly and apps like it for BMW are specific for certain adapters. ELM327 is the type that works if your adapter is Bluetooh. You could try the other mode settings in Carly?
 
Is that a genuine ELM 327 dongle? There are clones about that work on most cars, but some ECUs don't play ball with some apps/software you see.

In Carly settings you have options for communications type and adapter test, checked those?
 
If only the DSC light is flashing at those revs then possibly DSC pressure sensor(s) on the blink. They're £90 each and there are two of them. Best get that fault code read again to see if either sensor has flagged up.

How old is your battery? If it's the original or unknown, I'd replace the battery as your cells are likely degraded by now.

As for dongles, I gave my genuine one away to a member here as I use the cabled version instead and it was kicking around doing nothing!

I'll try finding the eBay link to it and post here in a bit :cool'

Edit*
That was easy, I keep everything in emails it seems lol. From June 2012:

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/110761891151?ViewItem=&item=110761891151&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160&ul_ref=http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11400.m1842.l3160/7?euid=f5fa666d874146368cf8ecc6776baf71&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D110761891151%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AL%3AOC%3AGB%3A3160&srcrot=e11400.m1842.l3160&rvr_id=0#vi__app-cvip-panel

Now the weather's booking up I can't wait to be out in it and enjoying it properly again though!

I know what you mean! Recent times with poor weather have meant i have not taken the car out for a drive with no destination on some evenings during the week like I used to. It's sometimes gone a full week just sat there waiting. A sad sight as I walk home from work and approach the driveway.

But, days like the above where it gets used, and the experience shared with others, just great :cool:
 
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Recently my front suspension has been making knocking sounds more audibly over cobbled roads and small bumps than before. I knew this was coming though as last MOT the advisory note was slight play in one of the front ball joints but my garage said at the time it was only slight so get round to it as and when.

Now is the time.

OnXHpNV.jpg

I've found the OEM wishbones on ECP for £469 using the current discount code, but I've also found this on eBay. Just not sure which to go for. My bushes were refreshed all round couple of years back anyway so I figure there's no need to replace the bushes, just do the wishbones?

And in the new year I'll be replacing the springs, shocks and top mounts. The car will then be riding "sweet as a nut". No reason to not keep it forever still really :p
 
Ah amazing thanks! I had that site bookmarked from ages ago but completely forgot about it!

Checked GSF but they don't have Lemforder parts for this, only TRW and "Standard" which I assume is a no name brand, or perhaps that's Lemforder just unlabelled on the site.
 
Ah good stuff!

Viper4AndroidFX is what I have installed to tweak the DAC to get the best out of the speakers. And it really does make a night and day difference. Even if you don't have HK audio, your stock speakers will sound far better than HK audio, and then some.

I can take pics of my EQ and settings if you'd like ok e you're up and running.

I suppose depending on what data connection you have, you could also install Netflix etc if you wanted, might be a bit unsafe I suppose with that level of distraction...

You'll want to root as well by entering the correct code via https://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Hui_Fei_Type#Factory_Settings_.22Passwords.22

Aside from that, I only really use Waze for nav, Spotify for music (have an unlimited 4G dongle connected in the glovebox) and Pushbullet so I can send and receive anything between car, phone, PC etc.

I have GoneMad music player installed for local music as well via a 128GB USB stick.

I use Nova Launcher for the custom front end of course as I launch apps via the buttons or homescreen gestures.
 
Viper is use din conjunction with the stock EQ really, it improves on it, which in itself is an improvement over the stock nav unit.

Let me know if you get issues with the viper apk as I have the specific apk that worked for me saved.

Do you have a link to the one you ordered?
 
Oh yeah that busy front UX can be stripped right down. Just install Nova Launcher and you’ll have the ability to launch apps with gestures and have a clean homescreen. Or just long press and swipe away the widgets and stuff from the stock homescreen if it allows you to.

This is what mine looks like when no navigation is running and music is just playing in the BG.

erisin_night_homescreen.jpg
 
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Wishbones were installed by a new m8. I knew him from back in the 318Ci days when he worked at a local garage and had his E46 M3 and worked on my wishbones back then. Forgot about him until recently and got talking. He's now an MOT tester/mechanic. Has no social media, and isn't on any forums or anything. He just works on his cars and does work for other people and gets hired in by local garages for specialist work as well as MOTs. The Wishbones job cost £80 which I feel is pretty great value considering how much of a mare those are to take off on these.

His house garage has an inspection pit and has had his E46 M3 for over 9 years with intent to never sell!

Nice to have a local guy who has the same car and works on them as well with all the tools needed to do most things.

The only thing he doesn't do is valve clearance checks due to time consumption, so that job gets sent to my usual specialist. I feel I now have everything/everyone I need in order to keep the car mechanically going to a solid standard.

powersteeringhose.JPG


Speaking of which, my power steering hose that connects pump to rack has a buildup of gunk. there are no leaks, and the fluid levels are fine. I guess this is gunk that builds up over time from high heat and hard driving going by online searches in the usual groups which then leads to the seals on each end giving way. So to avoid this I've ordered a new hose with washers and bolts from BM Conversions:

BMConversions.JPG


£110 inc del. OEM ones are about £50 more expensive, and I'm always for better engineered components like these at a lower cost.
 
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Definitely looked ready for replacement!
Although, why doesn't the replacement look anything like the original? :S

I've been told it's a different shape but does a much better job and is of higher quality than the OEM one I have. But will fit the same of course!
 
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The gammy old one came out!

rps20180717_215630_359.jpg


My guy said it's likely the reason the OEM one is so long and loops like that is for cooling, which the uprated part doesn't need due to being manufactured to withstand considerably more pressure/heat.
 
Two differences noticed, if your wishbone ball joints were worn like mine were then you will notice the same too.

1: No more clunking when driving over cobbled surfaces or small bumps.
2: Steering initial turn in is noticeably sharper and confident.

All my other bushes are 2 years old so in pretty much new condition still, the wishbones were the last remaining of the original bushings.
 
Oh I also notice that the steering self centers more than before. And of course now tramlines more than before as well. Makes sense given there's zero play in the ball joints now to absorb those two things. I imagine this is how the car would have felt when brand new :p
 
Did you change your lollipop bushes at the same time as your control arms?

Interesting name :D

Yes, I did even the old ones were only 2 years old max, when you hammer them off the arm, the rubber is compromised a bit so when the new arm is in the old bush, the fit isn't as tight as it should be. £80 odd a piece! But necessary really.
 
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