Talk about tough crowd. Moans when many pictures are posted and not enough time "behind the wheel", Moans when time behind the wheel is posted also 
Welcome to OcUK motors etc.
Welcome to OcUK motors etc.
Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
- Start date
I think one of the captains at work has the elusive e38 you're looking for! Want me to put in a word?
Strictly 2 seats only. The extra reinforcements to the chassis take up some additional room along the flooring or something like that. It does mean the rear seats are more comfortable though as you're surrounded by more leather padding.
I've got new headlamp lenses to fit later today, would be at it now but have to show my face around a wedding I don't really fancy attending but hey ho, free food
Long as it's not raining later I'll get to it. Turns out BMW made the M3 lenses super easy to replace as you don't need to take the whole light unit out, just pop off the indicator lens, undo the lower trim after flushing the washer fluid and popping off the washer jet,then pop off the 6 clips mounting the lens and hotswap the lens.
Strangely not a single video diy guide on it, only the non M3 models where you must take out the whole unit and take other bits apart.
Let's see if it's as easy it reads to be.
I've got new headlamp lenses to fit later today, would be at it now but have to show my face around a wedding I don't really fancy attending but hey ho, free food
Long as it's not raining later I'll get to it. Turns out BMW made the M3 lenses super easy to replace as you don't need to take the whole light unit out, just pop off the indicator lens, undo the lower trim after flushing the washer fluid and popping off the washer jet,then pop off the 6 clips mounting the lens and hotswap the lens.
Strangely not a single video diy guide on it, only the non M3 models where you must take out the whole unit and take other bits apart.
Let's see if it's as easy it reads to be.
Oh I see, I was going off the videos I saw where the older coupe diy jobs involved taking the headlight unit out in order to remove the weather strip on top so you can take off the lens clips. I don't have that. Maybe they didn't need to either I guess but did anyway though now, not sure.
Only you can answer that
So I've fitted the lenses. I royally messed up the driver side lens by wiping the inside of it with a microfibre cloth to remove some dust I spotted. What I should have done was used a rocket blower (I have one for my camera gear) and simply blown the dust away. What resulted from wiping was it leaving micro-scratches on the surface as it's a very delicate surface on the inside, just like torch reflectors, the moment you touch them with a cloth they're done for as it marks the surface.
I didn't realise this was the case for plastic lenses for headlamps but now I know better. I will have to buy another (£45 thankfully) for that side only and take this one on the chin as a learning experience.
Anyway, fitting the lens was really easy. Probably 30mins each side but took a bit longer as I cleaned the grub that has built up over the years around the hidden away areas and also cleaned the weather strip that runs along the trim piece below the headlight. The only thing I needed to remove was the indicator lens, the trim piece I unclipped just up to the bit where it meets the wing.
That clip is hard to remove anyway but the trim can remain in place. Popping off the washer jet allowed an opportunity to give that a clean also. I figure it's worth cleaning these things every couple of years anyway, my damp cloth was black from all the crap it collected cleaning those bits.
Before:
After:
And the ruined driver's side lens:
It was a good thing the headlight itself didn't need to come out, my extended ratchet simply wasn't long enough to reach the nut at the back anyway!
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I could try it I guess, but it's going to be the same principal as torch reflectors. The surface is coated and shouldn't ever be touched (they should come with labels stating this caution!!), polishing would remove that coating and it just gets worse.
I'll likely just keep it as a hot spare, if a stone cracks the driver's side one one day and I need to quickly fit a non cracked one to protect from damp etc while I order a replacement.
New lenses let through more light and stop more reflections off the front end. I expect they will allow the headlights to illuminate a bit brighter on the road surface now too.
I'll likely just keep it as a hot spare, if a stone cracks the driver's side one one day and I need to quickly fit a non cracked one to protect from damp etc while I order a replacement.
New lenses let through more light and stop more reflections off the front end. I expect they will allow the headlights to illuminate a bit brighter on the road surface now too.
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Did yours have a perished seal for dirt to get inside? 
Fitted the re-replacement for the driver's side this fine afternoon, noticed a stone scratch on the passenger side...
Also, the windscreen that Autoglass fitted back in January has started to show a fault under the rain sensor coating bit:
Phoned them up as it's under lifetime guarantee, am due a call within 24hrs. Looks like I will be getting a new-new windscreen then
Fitted the re-replacement for the driver's side this fine afternoon, noticed a stone scratch on the passenger side...
Also, the windscreen that Autoglass fitted back in January has started to show a fault under the rain sensor coating bit:
Phoned them up as it's under lifetime guarantee, am due a call within 24hrs. Looks like I will be getting a new-new windscreen then
The coating under the rain sensor area is defective, it's not something that can be replaced. They'd have to replace the windscreen as it's clearly a fault.
Oh the fitting itself is brilliant and the guy seemed to enjoy his job etc. It's the bit under the sensor that's dodgy on mine!
Still waiting the call from Autoglass...
Still waiting the call from Autoglass...
True that! the other week I gave my mum a lift and she was commenting on maybe one day going for a drive on a nice open road just to feel the long pull of the gears.
I think that can be arranged
I think that can be arranged
I used a guy in Reading as Royal was away for new years. He did exactly the same job with same materials, and was the same price although he didn't take the old wheel away so I sold the old one for £120 and called it a win
I still have my driver side seat bolster to get done at furniture clinic but that's low priority for the time being.
I still have my driver side seat bolster to get done at furniture clinic but that's low priority for the time being.
Oh sorry no it was £170 odd! So effectively ended up costing £20 once I sold the old wheel. Years back when I used Royal I think he charged me £120 with him doing the direct swap and taking away the old wheel.
No idea, I found him on eBay. Think I posted the details in this thread at some point though. Will try finding the link again.
Edit*
This is the guy: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-M...953?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35e72cce31
But at the price, it's shot up just a bit!
Edit*
This is the guy: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-M...953?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35e72cce31
But
at the price, it's shot up just a bit!
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So Autoglass CS is pretty pants. Called up twice, both times to be told someone will call me back within hours... No call back.
So this evening on the way home I phoned again and said I'm not going anywhere until I speak to someone. The CS rep put me through to the branch who did the work, waited on hold while they pulled up some details or whatever (took about 10 minutes...) and have a man booked for the 24th this month (earliest available).
They will replace the windscreen if he deems it replacement worthy (pretty much a given considering the faff I've been through with them so far).
Meh.
So this evening on the way home I phoned again and said I'm not going anywhere until I speak to someone. The CS rep put me through to the branch who did the work, waited on hold while they pulled up some details or whatever (took about 10 minutes...) and have a man booked for the 24th this month (earliest available).
They will replace the windscreen if he deems it replacement worthy (pretty much a given considering the faff I've been through with them so far).
Meh.
All I want is a decent windscreen
Well let's hope they fit a non dodgy one on Friday
I'm beginning to realise that a soft top may end up being a lot of faff to keep in good condition. There were a lot of tree crumbs (don't know the technically correct term for them lol) this morning before I set off for work so I sucked them away with the vacuum. After work I came back to this:
^The top half that's not as black is what I mean, tiny tree crumbs and dust/sand or whatever else has gotten caught in the threading. The lower half I've already run the vacuum along nicely.
I can see why a lot of convertibles on the road have softtops in a poor state, people are CBA with general maintenance, let alone a using vacuum on the roof a couple times a week!
There's a Beetle I walk past every day that has a softtop which looks like someone has wiped their butt with :S
I'm beginning to realise that a soft top may end up being a lot of faff to keep in good condition. There were a lot of tree crumbs (don't know the technically correct term for them lol) this morning before I set off for work so I sucked them away with the vacuum. After work I came back to this:
^The top half that's not as black is what I mean, tiny tree crumbs and dust/sand or whatever else has gotten caught in the threading. The lower half I've already run the vacuum along nicely.
I can see why a lot of convertibles on the road have softtops in a poor state, people are CBA with general maintenance, let alone a using vacuum on the roof a couple times a week!
There's a Beetle I walk past every day that has a softtop which looks like someone has wiped their butt with :S
I wake up at 5am and usually get to work for 8-9am. Most days I end up drinking my tea and swearing at the seagulls for marking their territory on my side skirts 
Sorry I am not a tree expert!
I suppose you stroll into work looking like you've had no sleep and will lamp the first person to ask you a question
I suppose you stroll into work looking like you've had no sleep and will lamp the first person to ask you a question
Ah so you too work in an office environment then
It's not a daily though I just took it today as I dropped it off on the way to work to have the brake fluid change done as it was due now.
Otherwise it sits there looking pretty most work days!
I just took it today as I dropped it off on the way to work to have the brake fluid change done as it was due now. Otherwise it sits there looking pretty most work days!