Just dropped a deposit on some M Power - Trackday Project Car

[Gibbo]

I'd remove the module even if you leave the other airbags in the car, brake sensor light isn't a problem, my car has that lit for the past 2 years

But the airbag light will prevent the car from getting an MOT?

Previous owner had no issue, so either not a problem, or just take it to a friends MOT station.

 

[Gibbo]

I was told that disconnecting the SRS module would put out the light on the e36. So without further ado, I unplugged it, the dash light continued to burn brightly. You can't even take the damn bulb out, it has a backup one buried inside the cluster somewhere.

Once the module is disconnected you then clear the airbag code using a computer, BMW might have to do it though being an airbag system. But once done the light will be gone, unless you re-connect the module. On safety warnings sometimes only the dealership can hard wipe them.

 

[Gibbo]

Gibbo count me in for the 'Ring, let's book one of them houses with 3 bedrooms and get a driveway of win on the go.

Likewise any trackdays coming up please count me in.

http://www.lindner.de/en/hotel_ferienpark_nuerburgring/180_ferienpark/docfolder_view

Went a few years ago, was epic.

Yeah had new plugs fitted today, was gonna check engine compression but their tool did not fit, they've ordered one and will check later this week. Tried to remove curtain airbags tonight but damn things run entire length of car and down into dash where canisters are, so had to give up. They are gonna remove dash at some point in future remove front carpets, all the tar and all airbags, module and wiring loom to it. Plus all roof lining to come out too! Considering buying a genuine CSL carbon boot too, weighs only 4.5kg, whereas stock item is 20kg+
So still another 50kg to get out yet.

At moment in a straight line it's marginally slower than the 911 and about on par with what my EVO was at 400BHP. So goes well!

If compression is good then all cool, if not gasket change and more power to come.

Hoping to flash CSL firmware one night this week, just waiting for cable and will then work on removing weight from engine bay along with some 100 cel cats fitted as they are £275, lighter and good for a bit of power, should be matching 911 in a straight once done but a good 100kg+ lighter.


Shall let you know on track days, where you based? Shall be doing Donny, Oulton and Bedford for sure. Next year we should organise a forum Spa or Ring trip.

 

[Gibbo]

More rubbish to come out the inside and then put a cage in tbh, fix the harnesses to the cage then.

Lighter wheels than those fitted, de-skin the current bonnet unless selling it and buying a plastic one works out cheaper.

Need to get the wheels weighed, can't see them being bad, they are small and as the previous owner purchased them for track use I am hoping he went for something lightweight.

Bonnet not gonna bother, stock is aluminium weighing 11kg, a full blown carbon fiber unit weight 5-6kg, so £1000 fitted is simply not worth it for 5kg, that's £200 per kilo, so no way on that.

In a few weeks local garage is gonna remove dash, remove all remaining airbags, airbag loom and module. Also going to remove all carpets, all sound deadening including the sound deadening tar from the entire vehicle.

Am also hoping to buy a CSL boot, stock weighs over 20kg, CSL one is 11kg and a carbon CSL one is 5kg, so going with carbon, good 15kg saving and its £400 painted, so much better value than the bonnet.

Then the big decision in the future will be heaters / AC, the AC is 25-30kg and heaters another 20kg or so, that's 50kg+, but heaters/AC are very useful for rainy trackdays and driving on the road, so that is a last resort.

 

[Gibbo]

Think i'd rather replace the rear glass with plastic before losing the heaters and AC.

Gonna do what I can at no cost or just labour charges along with CSL boot, then weigh it. Hopefully be sub 1400kg and around 1350kg mark. If not then will have to look what else can go or can be replaced with lighter items without costing too much.

Trying to do it as cost effective as I can, otherwise its a bit crazy if I go spending thousands. Any performance parts I buy shall either be second hand or group buys, need to keep the build cost as such down, as its far to easy to go crazy and spend a fortune.

 

[Gibbo]

Got to be honest cant see the HVAC incl AC system weighing any more than 25kg, thats the E90 320i and E60 530i system weight. AC compressor, condenser, heater, heater distribution box moulding, pipes and hoses.

My thoughts too and to be frank I use the heaters and AC a lot when its hot or in damp weather, I'd miss it too much to remove it.

 

[Gibbo]

Yea i hear you on the cost thing and it would be easy to go overboard, but removing weight from the top half of the car must be a priority i would have thought?

At around £320 for 3 rear windows doesn't seem that bad to me, should give you a 50% weight saving over glass?

Edit: just replacing the two rear windows works out at 4.4kg saved for around £160.

Hi m8

Makes sense, where are you getting prices from though?

Yes tonight/tomorrow I am going to remove all the headlining and sound proofing from the roof, shall be leaving the roll bars in place though.

£160 for rear windows seems good value, do you know how much the rear window saves and assume that is £160?

 

[Gibbo]

hey mate, I think you mentioned earlier you were flashing csl FA setings. you cant flash csl settings onto anything that doesn't have the mk60 module, yours is pre face lift so it wont have it, anyone who tells you otherwise is fibbing unless you are exchanging ecus, but that's a dramatic waste of money much better off geeting a blower/charger.

all it gives you is m-track mode which you would switch off on the track anyway, oh and duty rates on the brakes and as you dont have csl calipers these would just be rubbish anyway.

just trying to help

Hi Will

Im flashing the SMG module m8 which is possible on all SMG cars, it gives you the CSL shift speeds, rev matching and launch control.

You are right in saying the CSL M-Track mode only works on cars with MK60 module which is very late 2002 cars and mainly 2003 onwards.

So Im just doing the one which makes a difference, the SMG, I want those 0.08ms shifts and rev matching.

 

[Gibbo]

Just a thought.....


http://www.moseleymotorsport.com/parts_e46.htm

Now that is not bad at all and they are local, shall give them a call at somepoint in the future sure.

Front bumper and front bonnet be perfect, be nice to save 10-20kg of the front end.



Removed all the roof lining tonight, along with sun visors, lights, plus once curtain airbags and metal brackets are out, should be upto 5kg out the highest part of the car.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

An update:-

1. M3 XSV Plates arrived - £20 as reg was included in sale
2. Changed Vanos oil filter - £5, took 2 minutes.
3. All roof lining removed, trim, interior lights etc. - £0
4. CSL SMG firmware loaded onto SMG module. - £0

The shifts are now even faster but smoother as well. Full auto is now smoother and quicker too. S6 mode though, mental!

 

[Gibbo]

Awesome - how long did it take to update the SMG software? Was the Vanos filter particularly dirty when you changed it? Tempted to do it on mine.

The flashing procedure is rather intensive and quite dangerous. You have to keep the voltage around 13-14v on the battery, sub 12.5v or above 14.5v could cause it to crash and brick the module.

So you either need a Ctek 13.6v charger or run jump leads from another car. I went with jump lead option.

I then used BMW DIS to clear any error codes and then made the files using WinKFP and then did the flashing process which takes approx 15 minutes. Once this is done, the cog of doom will be lit. Switch car off for 10 minutes. Come back to it and wipe any error codes once again, switch off for 5 minutes.

Now switch on and all should be fine, if CSL firmware is working you will notice the car always defaults to A3 mode when turning on and you'll have 4500rpm launch control. Driving wise you will notice its quicker but also smoother and S6 changes are nothing but brutal.


My vanos filter looked clean, which on cars which have had frequent oil changes it will, but some can look dirty/clogged. At £5 and literally a 2 minute job to change out, it is good preventative maintenance and something which in my view should be changed every 20k miles.

 

[Gibbo]

Awesome - I'll get my Vanos filter changed I think. I've heard stories about people changing them and getting Vanos failure shortly after, but can't see how changing it could ever cause problems.

I knew the CSL SMG update was involved and risky, but that is a lot of effort! I think I've got a CTEK at my parent's so might give it a go.

Needs to be a Ctek10 with 13.6v or just use jump leads.

Well can't see how the filter would cause a failure unless it came off as it just clips on, just gotta make sure you put it on properly.

If my Vanos fails, I shall cry and people will know not to try it, but as long as it stays attached to the bolt, then the filter should not cause any issues and as such any failure would be a mere coincidence.

 

[Gibbo]

Rich was no problem, the grin on your face said it all.

Just had engine compression checked, 185-195psi across all six cylinders which is pretty much bang on what a new engine is, very happy with that.

 

[Gibbo]

If youre using the M3 on the track, and the Jag to drive everyday to work etc, whats happening with the 911?

I am using the 911 as a daily, M3 as track and bit of fun here and there, Jaaaaag as winter car or long commute.

But mid-end next year shall sell the 911 no doubt or trade it against something.

 

[Gibbo]

The S54 is a bullet proof lump mate assuming the recalls were done on the lower end but I think very few go pop and they can take a lot of hard work. Couple of my mates had new lumps under warranty but I've not heard of any major points of failure. Give it beans and look after it and it will look after you.

What recalls m8 and I take it BMW can check from the VIN if all recalls have being done or if any are outstanding?

Yeah its proper quick, think by the time I am finished it could even have the 911 in a straight line.

I did see an E60 M5 engine with 34k and all ancillaries for sale other day for 4k, and trust me I seriously considering sticking it on the CC and plonking the 5l V10 in the car, 545BHP would be crazy!

 

[Gibbo]

ah of course I forgot you had SMG, enjoy it then mate, the CSL '6' setting snaps your neck when changing gears

get an evolve remap for the shift lights I had that it looked awesome, I'm still trying to figure out how to code that but I seem to spend more time int he pub than i do playing with inpa etc... no bad thing

Hi m8

Got shift lights as standard.

Might get an Evolve map in the future, will have to if I remove secondary air pump.

 

[Gibbo]

How do they cope with big miles, say 100k+?

If they get there ok from wha I know they should do another 100k, it's a very strong engine. With age the issues are head gaskets and potentially vanos bolts. So if your buying a high miler do some preventative maintanance:-

1. Check engine compression, if two adjacent cylinders are sub 150psi, get a head gasket kit for about £300 and fit it, takes circa 4hrs. Over 150psi and all fine, a new engine has around 185psi and mine 91k miles on is still on 185psi.
2. Change vanos filter - £5
3. Change vanos bolts, if they go they take engine, not expensive and not too hard to do, if vanos fails for other reasons it can be repaired/refurb for about £800
4. Change oil every 6k
5. They are very sensitive on fuel, run on only 98+
6. ensure maf and filters are clean, if you change reset long term fuel trims to prevent any running lean issues.
7. Manuals are fine, SMG has some issues but again pretty solid.
8. Ensure inspection 2's are not skipped - valve clearances, say every 20k miles.


Do the above and I see no issue for superb reliability.

Facts are 6k can get you a very clean well cared for M3, I know one for sale at 5.5k which is very clean and solid. They are absolute bargains and one seriously capable car in the dry.

 

[Gibbo]

I think you are confusing 'fact' with 'opinion' on that one

They exist amongst the dogs, just because a car is a good price does not mean it's a dog, just gotta know what to look out and check for.

Could easily spend double and still get a headache car, most important thing is to buy smartly.

 

[Gibbo]

Got a link for the 5.5k one?

Try this
http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=83765

You might need sign up, but was a bargain for sure.

 

[Gibbo]

They are very rare then. The "diamonds" in the rough don't exist, as if they are actual diamonds, the sellers are perfectly aware of this and will command a premium.

The M3's that have a full BMW/specialist service history, reasonable mileage, rear subframe checked/replaced and which you can tell have been looked after cannot be found for £6k.

I got one for practically 6k (£6995) and it has all that you mention plus a few grand in track bits, admittedly it's done 91k, but touch wood the engine seems superb and compression check today showed it to be spot on.

Maybe I got lucky as it's got 4 nearly new matching decent tyres and fresh brakes all round, with subframe clear, FSH, fresh SMG oil, trans oil and oil changes every 3k miles. Hopefully it shall be reliable I hope.