What have you done with or to your M3 today?

[E55 Bulldog]

Originally Posted by dny30

Lowered on H&R springs with Innerwerks 359+ wheels

F: 19x10 +20 - 275/30/19
R: 19x11 +25 - 295/30/19

Looks so good man!!!!

[e39Origin]

Nothing wild today - a quick differential oil change and new wiper blades.

Stuck with Genuine BMW for the gear oil, two new drain/fill plugs, and wiper blades.

I was more than surprised with how well this Penzoil transfer pump worked. It built significant pressure to move the gear oil effortlessly. I have heard endless stories on how cheaply made or inefficient these pumps can be, but this one gets my nod of approval.

This is the second time I’ve used my two-piece 10” Race Ramps wheel cribs and have to give kudos to them as well. Most importantly, they’re safe - the car doesn’t budge an inch on them. Secondly, the two-piece design is convenient for gradually lifting one axle from 5” to 10”, or for getting all four corners elevated to 5”. Lastly, they’re light and easy to store. I couldn’t recommend these enough!

[E55 Bulldog]

Knocked out a few things...

1. bought a used CIC screen, polished it, and added screen protector... looks like new. Screen protector was a total PITA to install. As soon as I peeled it off the backing from the store the thing swung around my arm due to static. Instantly getting particulate on it. Took me 4 or 5 times cleaning the screen as well as literally washing the protector with soap and water and installing it wet and squeegeeing out the air and water. all in all it turned out good.

2. Had a whistle from the engine bay that fluctuates with RPM. Initially thought it was pulleys but the more and more I got my ear in there it was loudest at the hood air intake... Pulled the plenum and RVT'ed the rubber gasket in the plenum and bingo-bongo it was gone.

3. Replaced the plastic driver side door pull and window switch bezel. I rolled the dice and order some off ebay from china for $50... not expecting much but when it was delivered I was surprised the finish was really good. Has new soft touch feel as well. It was a bit more involved swapping it out but I was aleady pulling the door card to replace it since my arm rest leather was torn at the seem. Just a heads up for anyone who wants to replace this you need to remove door card and then remove the arm rest. Arm rest much come off door card! The arm rest is held on with clips that can be popped out with pry tool but there are 2 studs held on with push nut washers. Then once the arm rest is off you need to break the 2 round plastic weld spots. Once thats done it comes rigth out. The kit comes with 2 screws that take the place of the plastic welds.

[mym3adventures]

Originally Posted by E55 Bulldog

Knocked out a few things...

1. bought a used CIC screen, polished it, and added screen protector... looks like new. Screen protector was a total PITA to install. As soon as I peeled it off the backing from the store the thing swung around my arm due to static. Instantly getting particulate on it. Took me 4 or 5 times cleaning the screen as well as literally washing the protector with soap and water and installing it wet and squeegeeing out the air and water. all in all it turned out good.

2. Had a whistle from the engine bay that fluctuates with RPM. Initially thought it was pulleys but the more and more I got my ear in there it was loudest at the hood air intake... Pulled the plenum and RVT'ed the rubber gasket in the plenum and bingo-bongo it was gone.

3. Replaced the plastic driver side door pull and window switch bezel. I rolled the dice and order some off ebay from china for $50... not expecting much but when it was delivered I was surprised the finish was really good. Has new soft touch feel as well. It was a bit more involved swapping it out but I was aleady pulling the door card to replace it since my arm rest leather was torn at the seem. Just a heads up for anyone who wants to replace this you need to remove door card and then remove the arm rest. Arm rest much come off door card! The arm rest is held on with clips that can be popped out with pry tool but there are 2 studs held on with push nut washers. Then once the arm rest is off you need to break the 2 round plastic weld spots. Once thats done it comes rigth out. The kit comes with 2 screws that take the place of the plastic welds.

The door pull looks great! It looks to match quite well - even if it didn't, a clean non peeling pull looks much better.

Do you mind sharing the link to the one you bought on eBay? I may have to put this on the to-do list

[THEROK]

Drove my new to me EAG E92 for the first time.

This may well be my fav M car to date and I've owned many mint examples. Only current mod is Eisenmann Race (necessary, lovely) and en route are Ohlins RT and custom three-piece wheels with stepped lip.

Well done, BMW M!

[spammysammich]

New lights thanks to mashimarho, put the cold weather shoes back on and put her up on her tippy toes. Back to ZCP ride height as best I could, approximately 10 mm lift all around after absolutely obliterating my transmission cover on a speed bump. I had been running GTS spec ride height for 18s and got sick of close calls and scrapes.

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by THEROK

Drove my new to me EAG E92 for the first time.

This may well be my fav M car to date and I've owned many mint examples. Only current mod is Eisenmann Race (necessary, lovely) and en route are Ohlins RT and custom three-piece wheels with stepped lip.

Well done, BMW M!

Only 10k miles?

[E55 Bulldog]

Originally Posted by mym3adventures

The door pull looks great! It looks to match quite well - even if it didn't, a clean non peeling pull looks much better.

Do you mind sharing the link to the one you bought on eBay? I may have to put this on the to-do list

For sure man!!! Here you go.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/355736522754?var=624824242763

[E92Bean]

Swapped back to my 359M/Ps4s setup for winter. Missed this look, and it’s nice not sliding everywhere in the rain.

New spark plugs are in too, a bit over due looking at cylinder 4.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by E92Bean

Swapped back to my 359M/Ps4s setup for winter. Missed this look, and it’s nice not sliding everywhere in the rain.

New spark plugs are in too, a bit over due looking at cylinder 4.

Yeah, looking great! Btw how many miles on the plugs?

[Helmsman]

3 meter ladder right in. Cause Sportscar with carrying capacity. I love this car.

[UPSROD]

Originally Posted by THEROK

Drove my new to me EAG E92 for the first time.

This may well be my fav M car to date and I've owned many mint examples. Only current mod is Eisenmann Race (necessary, lovely) and en route are Ohlins RT and custom three-piece wheels with stepped lip.

Well done, BMW M!

More pictures and information please!

[E92Bean]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Yeah, looking great! Btw how many miles on the plugs?

Can’t say for sure, it’s my first time changing them under my ownership but the old ones were NGK’s as well. The car has 123k miles.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

3 meter ladder right in. Cause Sportscar with carrying capacity. I love this car.

Share same sentiment...actually several instances M3 has transported 'uncharacteristic loads'; a capability most sports cars cannot

[e39Origin]

Today I took the M3 to the dealer to cash in the last pre-paid oil change bought into by the previous owner. A no-cost visit to the dealer - why not!

And on the way there, the German engineering Gods smirked as they began to flutter my RPMs while stopped at a red light. Soon enough, she stalled out and presented me with the “Service Engine Soon” light. This occurred twice on my way to the dealership.

My initial thoughts were either idle control valve or throttle actuators. Then I recalled an unusual driving behavior from just minutes earlier - when lifting off the throttle, the car continued to surge forward as if the gas was still being applied gently. I thought little of it in the moment but knew something was off. Looking back on it, I could picture the failing throttle actuators unable to maintain the necessary positioning.

Anywho. The dealer is diagnosing tomorrow during the “free” oil change. My code reader presented no codes. Should it be the throttle actuators, the silver lining is that I planned to put the car up for the winter next week so there’s no rush to DIY.

Thoughts on my back-of-the-napkin diagnosis?

[CamasM3e93]

Last weekend I buttoned up a few projects on the car - just need to get my winter tires on next week and should be good for the season (Michelin Alpina's on 19s, Michelin AS4s on 18s which is my standard winter tire unless actual winter weather threatens).


I did a partial transmission flush, swapping out the Redline AT DT4 or something like that for Redline MTL. As predicted, the shifts were a little stickier when cold but improved after I added 50g of Liquid Moly 2019 - a friction modifier for manual transmissions and transaxles. Overall my key shift 1 into 2 is faster and I can actually catch the rev match going from 3 into 2. At 159k miles, there's probably a MT change in my future but for the moment it's shifting much better than I would expect given the brand and vintage. There's multiple threads on changes to support precise, crisp shifts and I've checked all of those changes off over the years.

Last month I had my shop put in the Valvetronic V2 x pipe with 200 cell cats. I have zero drivability issues with this forward X design running a BPM stage 2. The cats do hang lower than the primaries on stock but I don't think it changes the overall clearance of the car when taking into account the diff cooling fins. It's a very different sound pared to the Corsa than the stock X with test pipes, less V8 rumbly but still a unique character. Yesterday a young guy in an f87 M2 pulled up on the freeway and took a video....on his flip phone which cracked me up. So I guess it's still a crowd pleaser. Exhaust smell is comparable to running on the factory secondaries, maybe a little better when cold and nonexistent once the cats are warmed up. Suspect that other’s reports are due to leaking at the donut gasket or just not knowing what 200cell cats will accomplish.

Lastly, I installed my alibaba aluminum transmission pan, the OEM fabric pan being impossible to source new this year. It doesn't require all of the attachment points but they can be used if you please. It went in without complaint and doing the job without a peep. I spent $300 all in, $100 each for product, shipping, and tariff. This is the one I got: http://https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/For-BMW-E90-E92-E93-M3_11000025492361.html?spm=a2756.trade-list-buyer.0.0.23d776e9yCbWKm for which I have no affiliation.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by e39Origin

Today I took the M3 to the dealer to cash in the last pre-paid oil change bought into by the previous owner. A no-cost visit to the dealer - why not! And on the way there, the German engineering Gods smirked as they began to flutter my RPMs while stopped at a red light. Soon enough, she stalled out and presented me with the “Service Engine Soon” light. This occurred twice on my way to the dealership. My initial thoughts were either idle control valve or throttle actuators. Then I recalled an unusual driving behavior from just minutes earlier - when lifting off the throttle, the car continued to surge forward as if the gas was still being applied gently. I thought little of it in the moment but knew something was off. Looking back on it, I could picture the failing throttle actuators unable to maintain the necessary positioning. Anywho. The dealer is diagnosing tomorrow during the “free” oil change. My code reader presented no codes. Should it be the throttle actuators, the silver lining is that I planned to put the car up for the winter next week so there’s no rush to DIY. Thoughts on my back-of-the-napkin diagnosis?

When Throttle Actuators fail the DME typically goes into Limp Mode with a "Reduced Power" message displayed on the iDrive screen with a forced 4300RPM redline max shown on the Rev Counter dial. Failed T.A.s often present all sorts of codes as well. It's possible the Idle Control Valve or some other source of vacuum leak maybe the culprit. Let us know what the Dealer finds in the "no codes" diagnosis of this. Thanks. PS: This story reminds me of animals on their way to the vet.. They know they're going there... I bet the car knew it was on the way to the Stealer.

[Herofmine]

I did Rod Bearings and Mounts for engine, Transmission.

My car is 2012 59k miles, I regret doing rod bearings, oem rods came out like brand new…. Oil change on this car done every 5k since its new.

Also doing oem back up camea, following SaNGRia diy proccess

[e39Origin]

Originally Posted by Herofmine

I did Rod Bearings and Mounts for engine, Transmission.

My car is 2012 59k miles, I regret doing rod bearings, oem rods came out like brand new…. Oil change on this car done every 5k since its new.

Also doing oem back up camea, following SaNGRia diy proccess

You’ve bought yourself a handful of worry-free miles with this preventative service. Money well spent IMO.

I’m at 46k and plan to replace the rod bearings and engine mounts after this winter’s hibernation.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Herofmine

I did Rod Bearings and Mounts for engine, Transmission.

My car is 2012 59k miles, I regret doing rod bearings, oem rods came out like brand new…. Oil change on this car done every 5k since its new.

Also doing oem back up camea, following SaNGRia diy proccess

Interesting, planning to post some pics here https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1253084&page=143?

[Bigtriece]

Installed EPM under tray. Fitment was perfect.

[M3JayM]

Tore up the north GA mountains. This thing is so much fun in the twisties