My E90 M3 Dedicated Track build (with pix!)

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by dogbone

That is very nice of you. But I'm just gonna be patient and get it fixed on a more relaxed schedule. Just gotta get it fixed before going to CA in three weeks.

Are you gonna do the job yourself? I hear they're buried.

I'm not. Shop will do it along with SLON vanos covers, injectors, plugs, fuel breather valve, etc.

I got mine from M power motorsports, now known as Euro parts Palace. It took a month to get them, so plan ahead if you're going that route. I wanted theirs for the lifetime warranty.

https://eupartspalace.com/shop/

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by slcook54

I'm not. Shop will do it along with SLON vanos covers, injectors, plugs, fuel breather valve, etc.

I got mine from M power motorsports, now known as Euro parts Palace. It took a month to get them, so plan ahead if you're going that route. I wanted theirs for the lifetime warranty.

https://eupartspalace.com/shop/

Thanks for the heads up.

[dogbone]

Alright, well my consolation prize is on the smoker. Bought a rack of ribs on my way home. It's been on the smoker for 3 hours. Hey, if I can't track, I might as well smoke some pork ribs....

Here they are 3 hours in:


So, today started fine. I actually took the rig to the track yesterday, but didn't drive the car. Just got setup so I would have a decent paddock spot. Arrived this AM, all seemed good. Weather was great, around 50ºF and sunny.

Went out on the practice/qualy session. Got a warm up and one hot lap in, and then on the second hot lap, in Turn 6, the car dropped into limp mode. Crawled into the paddock. Was embarrassed that I ruined a bunch of peoples' laps......

Came in, read the codes---got a 2B25--Throttle-Valve Monitoring Bank 1. Uh oh. I had a throttle actuator go bad on my street car 5 years ago. It was intermittent. I was hoping I could clear codes and maybe it wouldn't come back for awhile.

Went out 2nd session, on the first hot lap in the same turn (!!), the car dropped into limp mode. Same code. Ugh. Weekend over.

So, that's that. Looking forward to getting it fixed and heading to CA now.

[///Mobbin]

A little bad luck means good luck is ahead … and those ribs look amazing!

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Alright, well my consolation prize is on the smoker. Bought a rack of ribs on my way home. It's been on the smoker for 3 hours. Hey, if I can't track, I might as well smoke some pork ribs....

Great chatting. I got you covered. Hit me up on Monday and I'll get them out to you.

[fanatic1]

October 22-23 at chuckwalla should be interesting. POC event was canceled for this weekend October 1-2, due to the new track surface not curing enough. Got some friends out there Friday, October 6 and hope to get more feedback.

From the Moto weekend last weekend, surface is smooth, but not fast yet. Picture shows a little bit of surface coming up, eerily similar to last time they repaved. Sounds like they're being smarter this time and giving it more time to cure properly.

[leftfootbr8king]

When I ordered my actuators from rebuild.org.uk I had them in two days. It was surprising. With the pound to usd conversion right now it's a no brainer.

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by leftfootbr8king

When I ordered my actuators from rebuild.org.uk I had them in two days. It was surprising. With the pound to usd conversion right now it's a no brainer.

That's the other option, Gabe. Euro parts palace is just the US distributor for Rebuild. If you can go through them directly and it's timely that will also work

[omgzirra_exe]

are you having actuator issues? i can bring mine to SLB and you can use them if needed.

edit I'm also in the process of fixing my own boards and stuff too. lol

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by dogbone

That is very nice of you. But I’m just gonna be patient and get it fixed on a more relaxed schedule. Just gotta get it fixed before going to CA in three weeks.

Are you gonna do the job yourself? I hear they’re buried.

If you can remove the plenum, you can swap TA's. Took me a few hours to do both start to finish.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

If you can remove the plenum, you can swap TA's. Took me a few hours to do both start to finish.

It's doable over a lunch break if the engine is cool, just remember to disconnect the negative terminal on the battery to avoid getting shocked. Good item to keep spares.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

October 22-23 at chuckwalla should be interesting. POC event was canceled for this weekend October 1-2, due to the new track surface not curing enough. Got some friends out there Friday, October 6 and hope to get more feedback.

From the Moto weekend last weekend, surface is smooth, but not fast yet. Picture shows a little bit of surface coming up, eerily similar to last time they repaved. Sounds like they're being smarter this time and giving it more time to cure properly.

Thanks for the info. Please do report back any other news you hear.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by Ximian

It's doable over a lunch break if the engine is cool, just remember to disconnect the negative terminal on the battery to avoid getting shocked. Good item to keep spares.

Yeah I did TAs in 1hr-ish. It's really quite easy, just have an 9" extension and some long needle nose pliers to grab the bolts.

Idle Control Valve is a bit more buried but you might as well do Fuel Breather and other Vacuum related stuff while you're in there.

I keep a spare fuel breather, TA and ICV (+plugs and coilpack) in my track box. Haha I'm also a maniac, guess tracking a finicky N54 car for years will do that to you lol!

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by spxxx

Yeah I did TAs in 1hr-ish. It's really quite easy, just have an 9" extension and some long needle nose pliers to grab the bolts.

Idle Control Valve is a bit more buried but you might as well do Fuel Breather and other Vacuum related stuff while you're in there.

I keep a spare fuel breather, TA and ICV (+plugs and coilpack) in my track box. Haha I'm also a maniac, guess tracking a finicky N54 car for years will do that to you lol!

TA is easy less than 1hr for sure... if you're not supercharged like gabe LOL.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

TA is easy less than 1hr for sure... if you're not supercharged like gabe LOL.

haha yeah.....the shop will be doing this round. I would like to watch if possible, but I don't have endless time to mess around and figure it out. Plus, as mentioned, the supercharger makes it more difficult.

I have placed an order with eupartpalace. They said they're getting them tomorrow. So, hopefully it works out. Otherwise, I will consider other options.

You know what I have the most difficulty with? BMW makes the most difficult connectors to disconnect. I have struggled mightily with BMW connectors----the connector for the gas pedal confounded me and frustrated a tech because it would not release. The connector for the brake booster pump air line was so frustrating, I just cut the hose and dealt with the repercussions of that later. The connectors for EDC in the trunk took me while to get disconnected......I just have no luck with BMW connectors. And I hear on this job, you need to disconnect all the harness connectors on top of the block.......uh yeah.....no thanks......I mean, what is it with BMW and their funky ass connectors?

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by dogbone

haha yeah.....the shop will be doing this round. I would like to watch if possible, but I don't have endless time to mess around and figure it out. Plus, as mentioned, the supercharger makes it more difficult.

I have placed an order with eupartpalace. They said they're getting them tomorrow. So, hopefully it works out. Otherwise, I will consider other options.

You know what I have the most difficulty with? BMW makes the most difficult connectors to disconnect. I have struggled mightily with BMW connectors----the connector for the gas pedal confounded me and frustrated a tech because it would not release. The connector for the brake booster pump air line was so frustrating, I just cut the hose and dealt with the repercussions of that later. The connectors for EDC in the trunk took me while to get disconnected......I just have no luck with BMW connectors. And I hear on this job, you need to disconnect all the harness connectors on top of the block.......uh yeah.....no thanks......I mean, what is it with BMW and their funky ass connectors?

let me know if you dont get them in time, i should have mine repaired this weekend, i have all the fets an stuff... but ill lend you mine, i've replaced TA ons supercharged cars before it's just a couple extra things to factor.

i also hate their connectors because i have less strength in my dominate arm/hands these days i cant pinch and get them off at all lol.

[BP709]

Originally Posted by dogbone

haha yeah.....the shop will be doing this round. I would like to watch if possible, but I don't have endless time to mess around and figure it out. Plus, as mentioned, the supercharger makes it more difficult.

I have placed an order with eupartpalace. They said they're getting them tomorrow. So, hopefully it works out. Otherwise, I will consider other options.

You know what I have the most difficulty with? BMW makes the most difficult connectors to disconnect. I have struggled mightily with BMW connectors----the connector for the gas pedal confounded me and frustrated a tech because it would not release. The connector for the brake booster pump air line was so frustrating, I just cut the hose and dealt with the repercussions of that later. The connectors for EDC in the trunk took me while to get disconnected......I just have no luck with BMW connectors. And I hear on this job, you need to disconnect all the harness connectors on top of the block.......uh yeah.....no thanks......I mean, what is it with BMW and their funky ass connectors?

I'm over here thinking BMW connectors are easy but I guess that comes with working with them everyday for nearly 20yrs.

[s0ldats]

idk if this is intentionally engineered but i have found that with bmw connectors, the plug and socket need to be pressed toward each other as if you were plugging them in and then pressing the 'release' button and pulling them apart. haven't really experienced this phenomenon with other makes!

[dogbone]

I'm at the shop right now getting the throttle actuators swapped. Holy cow---this was not a job for me to do......

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by dogbone

I'm at the shop right now getting the throttle actuators swapped. Holy cow---this was not a job for me to do......

It's not a job for the impact driver 😆

It's a pain in the ass to get the SC plenum off without disconnecting the coolant lines and get enough room to fiddle with that f'ing wire harness. Is the car still in CO or did it move to Cali?

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by DRLane

It's not a job for the impact driver 😆

It's a pain in the ass to get the SC plenum off without disconnecting the coolant lines and get enough room to fiddle with that f'ing wire harness. Is the car still in CO or did it move to Cali?

Honest Assembly did it here in CO.

I’m hoping to test the car on Friday at a High Plains. And then next Thursday is when I’m planning on heading to Chuckwalla.

Last minute, I added one more job today—-I’ve had the Slon Workshop CNC aluminum DCT side pan sitting here for a long time waiting for install. We’re putting that in on this round as well. It may necessitate partially dropping the transmission……there’s just no good time to do it because I don’t have any future plans to pull the transmission, so…..I guess we just do it now.

I also received the silicone filler strip to seal the gap at the top of the radiator. I squeezed that in there. Looks real nice! Thanks again for the heads up on that material!

[dogbone]

Got the car back today. The throttle actuators and the Slon DCT side pan installs were a success.

The Slon side pan install was a last minute decision, but I'm glad it's on there. It is an involved install because you need to partially drop the transmission. There's just not a lot of room in there to put that thing on the side of the transmission, especially considering you're working with a goopy gasket maker liquid. Thanks to the Honest Assembly guys for getting everything done.

Looks very colorful on the transmission now!






Anyway, I'm glad to be rid of the leaky BMW rubber gaskets on the trans pans. Man, those leaked a lot.

I'm signed up for the open lapping day at HPR on Friday to put the car through its paces.