What have you done with or to your M3 today?

today I bought and added a USB(A) male to a right angled USB(C) female dongle/adaptor, so I can connect my iPhone to the armrest USB(A) slot with a USB(C) cable. Previously I was using a USB(A) male to USB(C) male cable, but it was extremely finicky (even when plugged un securely), and my phone would disconnect with the slightest movement of the cable.. Happy to note that the new dongle works well, and doesn't give any iDrive lag!

MLT Engineering under tray, and detail/paint correction/ceramic coating. Even the wife was impressed with how good it turned out!

It lives

What started as an alternator failure ( $293 ) quickly became a series of "while you're there" parts:

- Pulley / tensioners R+R ( $354)
- WP / thermostat R+R (121 + 86)
- Oil filter housing gasket R+R ( 19 )
- fuel tank breather R+R ( 17 )
- Injector R+R ( 391.05 )
- Upper / Lower radiator hoses (~80, plus another 20 for Oehtiker clamp kit)

Pulled the valve covers and found that my VANOS caps were cracking. Replaced with Carbahn washers and re-timed.

- Carbahn Washers ( $121 shipped )
- Vanos Bolts ( ~$18 x 4 = 72 )
- "MITZONE" Valve covers on Amazon ( ~$500, includes bolts + grommets, PCV, gaskets; orig PCV, rein gaskets used).
- Rein Valve cover gaskets, Drei Bond sealant ( 74.58 + 21 )
- Timing tool - Amazon warehouse "CTA" brand ( 121 )

- Oil, filter, and coolant, say $150
- Allocate another $100 for various consumables, o-rings, other parts.


S65 timing is very easy as long as you follow TIS and have the timing toolset. Amazon toolset worked perfectly.

I got ahead of myself and timed Bank 1 on the wrong half of the rotation (cams are half-timed, 360 for every 720 of engine rotation) and had to wait another 2 days for more bolts. Grateful I caught it.

Engine was bolted up to exposed ITBs and threw misfire and low oil pressure. Panic. Coil #8 was loose. No explanation for oil pressure.

R+I oil pressure sender, read 1M ohm at open, ref 1 ohm. Replaced with cheap o'reilly part @ 9:55pm, further annoying my neighbors. Oil pressure light did not persist.


Good for another 137k ! Too tired to fix image orientation, crane that neck.

chocstraw wrote

It lives

Having this car out of commission for about a week and a half and driving it again reminds you of all the quirks of the S65. They make a ton of weird noises, they don't love 1450~1850rpm, the oil level sensor takes longer and is more annoying than you previously remember, etc etc etc.

I could go on.

I'm of the opinion that this is a profoundly easy engine to work on, it's laid out logically and you can visually figure out what you need to do.

edit: Drained the Kirkland 10W-30 I put in there for the initial startup and filled with 10W-60. The new pulleys, tensioners, and VCGs + surrounding rubber have dramatically quieted down the engine bay. Underrated maintenance item.

Finally pulled the trigger on this, I'll work on getting some proper sound clips soon. Eisenmann Race paired to a catless Active Autowerk X-pipe. Drones from 1800-2300 rpm but above that is perfect. Will wait for it to break in with a few more miles before final judgement. I may add on high flow cats to tame the drone if it doesn't improve

m3s65b4.x wrote

I know that forward X gains more hp and torque. I don't track this car and no need to split the seconds. Stg2 tune is also for front H.
S65 compared to American muscle not correct, i know. Just watched one YT video about Netherland's E39 M5, different engines but M5 sounds better IMO.

There’s a big difference between the s62 4.9 L NA V8 with its peak power at 6600 rpm and a redline of 7000 rpm vs. the s65 4.0 L NA V8 with its peak power at 8300 rpm and a redline of 8400 rpm. The s62 will sound more like an American V8, albeit with a different firing order (why, along with header designs, Chevy and Ford V8s sound different), but the s65, and s85, sound closer to a F1 engine (low displacement, high rpm redline). The s62 is a beautifully sounding engine but I just don’t see the point of trying to make a s65 sound like something it’s not and something it will never be.

Reddevils7 wrote

Finally pulled the trigger on this, I'll work on getting some proper sound clips soon. Eisenmann Race paired to a catless Active Autowerk X-pipe. Drones from 1800-2300 rpm but above that is perfect. Will wait for it to break in with a few more miles before final judgement. I may add on high flow cats to tame the drone if it doesn't improve

Funny I was thinking of putting my AA Xpipe back on today. FYI, If your car is lowered at all the hi flow cats will be the lowest point and will hit speed bumps.

M43ver wrote

There’s a big difference between the s62 4.9 L NA V8 with its peak power at 6600 rpm and a redline of 7000 rpm vs. the s65 4.0 L NA V8 with its peak power at 8300 rpm and a redline of 8400 rpm. The s62 will sound more like an American V8, albeit with a different firing order (why, along with header designs, Chevy and Ford V8s sound different), but the s65, and s85, sound closer to a F1 engine (low displacement, high rpm redline). The s62 is a beautifully sounding engine but I just don’t see the point of trying to make a s65 sound like something it’s not and something it will never be.

I’ve had a forward X on my car for about two months. There’s plenty more low end torque but I’ve been getting some weird backpressure vibrations from the setup. Think these cars need a tune with any forward X setup. It does make the car sound more racey with a deeper growl.

Ajolives wrote

I’ve had a forward X on my car for about two months. There’s plenty more low end torque but I’ve been getting some weird backpressure vibrations from the setup. Think these cars need a tune with any forward X setup. It does make the car sound more racey with a deeper growl.

I noticed a nice increase when I went from the stock tune to my Epic forward x tune although I was previously untuned with quite old firmware on the DME so hard to quntify gains from the forward x specific tune over standard tune with a forward X but I think its well documented that its worth it if you have a forward x to get the right tune for it.

Ajolives wrote

Funny I was thinking of putting my AA Xpipe back on today. FYI, If your car is lowered at all the hi flow cats will be the lowest point and will hit speed bumps.

I have an AA full exhaust setup with their HFCs installed on one of my e92 M3. I’ve only had issues with three speed bumps since installing the exhaust 15 years ago and my car has been lowered quite a bit on MCS 2WR for track use. I take speed bumps slowly but I’ve rarely rubbed on speed bumps.

Ajolives wrote

I’ve had a forward X on my car for about two months. There’s plenty more low end torque but I’ve been getting some weird backpressure vibrations from the setup. Think these cars need a tune with any forward X setup. It does make the car sound more racey with a deeper growl.

Absolutely. The Epic Motorsport forward-X catless x-pipe tune produces 20+ whp and torque above an aftermarket mid-X catless x-pipe. It’s power and torque that you can feel. These results are very close to what the MRF forward-X catless x-pipe produced. I’ve never seen a before and after dynos of either a single-H catless or double-H catless x-pipes. With its reduced scavenging effect I wonder whether it can even come close to producing the full rpm or even peak outputs of a mid-X catless x-pipe? Sounds like it’s primarily for sound tuning, not developing more whp and torque. Yes, exhaust mods aren’t always made to exceed stock power and torque

M3SQRD wrote

Absolutely. The Epic Motorsport forward-X catless x-pipe tune produces 20+ whp and torque above an aftermarket mid-X catless x-pipe. It’s power and torque that you can feel. These results are very close to what the MRF forward-X catless x-pipe produced. I’ve never seen a before and after dynos of either a single-H catless or double-H catless x-pipes. With its reduced scavenging effect I wonder whether it can even come close to producing the full rpm or even peak outputs of a mid-X catless x-pipe? Sounds like it’s primarily for sound tuning, not developing more whp and torque. Yes, exhaust mods aren’t always made to exceed stock power and torque

I may need to get a tune then, sounds like it’s in my best interest. For the speed bumps, I’ve got some very aggressive ones around where I live but agreed with some patience and skill most can be avoided.

darren p. wrote

I noticed a nice increase when I went from the stock tune to my Epic forward x tune although I was previously untuned with quite old firmware on the DME so hard to quntify gains from the forward x specific tune over standard tune with a forward X but I think its well documented that its worth it if you have a forward x to get the right tune for it.

That sounds promising, Epic was always the tune I had in mind.

I went and reunited my E92 with his long lost uncle Shark Nose.

Love the E24, and I think it is a great pairing. The M30 sounds delicious in such a different way than the S65. Best of both I6 and V8 IMHO.

Let the restoration begin on the E24. Good bones but needs a bit of love. And wheels. Needs BBS RS for sure.

Happy motoring!!

Ajolives wrote

That sounds promising, Epic was always the tune I had in mind.

BPM has one too and I would have probably gotten his if he was around at the time, heard good things about it as well.

I have the BW with GESI HFC in secondary postion and haven't rubbed any speed bumps that I'm aware of since installing.

Took the car out on a back road run this morning. After spending 1.5 years messing with the suspension, car seems to be finally working correctly and not eating axles. The poise and pace it has in the corners is simply incredible.

Did have to swap out the Turner weighted shift knob since it was developing a rattle/buzzing at high RPMs. Just swapped it over for the ZHP knob. For some reason, the transmission seems happier with the lighter knob and shifts better.

Finally got the rear bbk installed, along with new rings up front… only to realize that they mislabeled a box, and sent me two right side rings. Sigh. Oh and an oil change.

Took it for a back road hoon with my mate in his GT4. Both very happy boys!

kolosy wrote

Finally got the rear bbk installed, along with new rings up front… only to realize that they mislabeled a box, and sent me two right side rings. Sigh. Oh and an oil change.

Awesome. Looks great. Very curious how you like the new rears. I am semi itching for a set to match my fronts. Any leads on a good deal?

Also I better check my replacement front rings sitting in the garage. Thanks for posting this.

pirategenes wrote

Awesome. Looks great. Very curious how you like the new rears. I am semi itching for a set to match my fronts. Any leads on a good deal?

Also I better check my replacement front rings sitting in the garage. Thanks for posting this.

Going to the track shortly, will let you know! And I’ve had good luck shooting them a note and asking if they have any deals going
May be worth reminding them you were part of the group buy.

Replaced all 8 fuel injectors