The E46 M3 Journal
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Did some work on the M3 today with the help of Dan The Exhaust Man. Now waiting on parts that should be showing up tomorrow.
4 out of the 6 cylinders were leaking at the exhaust ports due to loose bolts. Hmmm, why do some shops reuse one time use components?!!?
Just got the valves adjusted... leaking oil??
Took some material off of the motor mount and its heat sheild to make room for the header.
Missing some material. This is the #6 cylinder which has had the most issues.
@DrLeadFoot
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What headers are going on?
The same that were on before. Just installing the correct hardware the correct way. Getting all BMW parts from Concours.
@DrLeadFoot
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Seeing this work makes me angry. I dedicate a lot of my time training technicians and service managers and trying to pound into their heads that auto repair is a professional industry and we should carry ourselves accordingly. You are only as good as the quality of work you put out and the image you portray. If you want to be treated like a "grease monkey" and you want to lie to customers by putting out crap work and denying liability when faults are pointed out then you will never make it for any length of time in this industry. What bothers me most is that shit like this only perpetuates the idea that all technicians are selling snake oil and cheating and stealing there way to a paycheck. There are honest shops and honest techs out there but these cock gobblers keep fucking it up! The customers loose out the most in this whole thing because they feel they need to question every recommended service or repair and waste time getting 2nd opinions or just flat out not believing anything and not getting the repair done at all!
/rant
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I am going to try to always do my own work and make time for it even with my busy schedule. Every time I go back over a shop's work I always find something wrong.
Kummrow has cost me lots and lots of money with re-using one time use parts and over torquing everything they touched on both the e30 and e46. I just hope to god that they torqued the head down properly.
Urban Motorwerx did a good job on what they did but didn't find any exhaust leaks on 4 of 6 cylinders?! They did find some loose nuts and missing studs but never mentioned that the gaskets might be bad or the leaks were still there. And the oil leaking from the back of the valve cover has me concerned that they reused the valve cover gasket but I will never find out for sure.
My new approach is working hand-in-hand with Dan the Exhaust Man. He builds roll cages, drag cars, and the like. A finish carpenter turned mechanic. Details, details, details. Takes his time but moves fast when he needs to and he has me helping out. We got the headers out in two hours of me pulling up to his shop. Now cleaning up the contacting sides of the head and headers, removed and cleaned all of the studs, brake clean in the head holes for the studs and will do red loc-tite to secure them. Slapping some copper sealant on the gaskets when we install them and using NEW OEM 11mm nuts that will be snugged up.
@DrLeadFoot
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So ready for the summer wheels...
Wiped down the paint and did the windows with the completion of the wheel swap.
@DrLeadFoot
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Ohhhh nice! I did the same thing this morning!
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Feels really good.
Now we wait to see how long until the engine light stays off for.
I'm getting a PO128 for low coolant temp. Could my thermostat be stuck open? I did just clear it so we shall see if it comes back up.
@DrLeadFoot
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That's where I would put my money. Replace that and call it a day.
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Cleaned out the threads of the #6 exhaust stud. The stud was threading in crooked.
Red loc-tit on most of the studs in the pic but every one got the treatment. A majority of them are new M50 studs which are longer than the S54 studs to clear the flange on the headers.
@DrLeadFoot
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I'm actually surprised at how not-shitty those winter wheels looked
They were fun for a little but the 19s transform that car. Actually proud to drive it again.
Update:
I hopefully will get to the bottom of this too rich issue. I finally got the laptop to talk to the ECU. Waiting on Tuning Tech to unlock the software and then I can do some logging. I'll get the tune right and go from there.
@DrLeadFoot
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I talked to Frank Smith at Tuning Tech and he thinks the bank 1 and 2 pre-cat O2 sensors are crossed or not getting a good reading being tucked into the bung too far and not in the stream of exhaust flow.
I am still waiting for them to send over a key code so I can unlock the software and see if the the O2s are crossed by watching the lambda codes. They are supposed to rise and fall in unison and do opposite ways if in the wrong banks.
@DrLeadFoot
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Did a thermostat on the bimmer. I think the old one was stuck open and messing with the tune.
Pretty easy access.
Three 10mm and one hose clap and she is off!
Shiny
I have to use at least a couple zip ties for good measure.
Well the engine light came back on but my computer doesn't recognize that there are any. I think my O2 sensors are crossed and I will start doing some digging.
@DrLeadFoot
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I will just get some new pre-cat o2 sensors from BMW and make sure they go in the right banks.
@DrLeadFoot
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Showed the M3 some love today. Full wash, vacuum, wiped down the interior and did the windows. 3 hours of cleaning! I used to detail so I like to think I'm pretty efficient.
Also replaced my fuel pump relay located in the trunk, passenger side. 61357892976 part number black relay.
It's like a scab... you gotta pick at it.
I noticed a difference in power delivery immediately. Smoother and a lot quicker. I got pretty excited so I went over to O'Reilly's to scan and clear the computer. Too rich bank 1 & 2. After clearing it I took a mild drive up to Bayside then took Lake Dr. back home. No light and I averaged 21ish MPG!!!!! I was getting 13 before.
Will the M3 be back at its full potential? Will the infamous engine light stay dark? Stay tuned in to the next adventure of the 2003 money pit! Sponsered by the Cabelas Club VISA. Rack up your card, mount racks on the wall!
Still need to microfiber the interior to get the streaks and dust cleared off everything.
@DrLeadFoot
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Engine light is on...Need to man up and do the O2s ASAP.
It still is running better with the relay though. Or because I cleaned it?
@DrLeadFoot
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Have you tried smacking the dash?
Usually takes care of my lights (when the car wasn't in a bajillion pieces)
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This is riveting!
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