E46 Things

[B C]

New windshield.

Had 1 rock chip that showed potential to expand rapidly and picked up another rock chip last week that i don't remember hearing. Now I have a clean slate to pick up more rock chips with

[Boris3]

For future reference who did the replacement?

[B C]

autoglassfitters.com

[Jdesign]

Price?

[B C]

Jdesign said:

Price?

I have glass coverage on my insurance so glass repairs/replacements are no cost/no deductible. The insurance was billed $430

[B C]

I dropped my car wash mitt. 
This is not unlike the scene from I Am Legend where the German Shepherd is bit and infected by the zombies and Will Smith has to part with it. 

R.I.P. Mitt Romney

[Jdesign]

RIP ROM 

[B C]

Clear->Amber because you always want what you dont have, and it will match the front amber turn signals better. Thanks to @wasnt m3 for the idea

[B C]

working on the interior trim as well:

[YoungCR]

Vinyl wrap? Looks good!

[patsbimmer1]

Nice job!

[KaiserRolls]

Keep an eye on that POR-15. I’m sure it’ll be fine but POR usually doesn’t like to adhere to smooth unprotected metal (unless you got the primer/jazz for bare stuff)

Vinyl crunch wrap supreme looks better than silver

[B C]

KaiserRolls said:

Keep an eye on that POR-15. I’m sure it’ll be fine but POR usually doesn’t like to adhere to smooth unprotected metal (unless you got the primer/jazz for bare stuff)

Vinyl crunch wrap supreme looks better than silver 

I know what you are talking about. I have had it peel off as a nice single chunk before. I used the acid etch. I have never had an issue when I have used the etching-fluid or whatever one would call it. 

I have never had a crunch wrap but that sounds so good right now

[SteelBlue]

iz that carbon fiber

[B C]

SteelBlue said:

iz that carbon fiber

Just a wrap. 

Finished the dash trim. The door armrests are going to be a challenge. I had enough trouble with the minimal curves on the dash trim

[SteelBlue]

The center console and dash trim are easy. I never attempted the arm rests for that very reason. So many curves at the same time.

[HipMF]

KaiserRolls said:

Vinyl crunch wrap supreme looks better than silver 

B C said:

I have never had a crunch wrap but that sounds so good right now

$5 box is a great value, but you're gonna need a catch caddy.

[KaiserRolls]

Use heat and quality vinyl for the arm rests

we did the roof on the evo and it has some really weird/sharp bends by the drip moldings. Just takes some heat and patience

[KaiserRolls]

Also use knifless tape if you have some edges that are giving you issues. Makes wrapping even easier

[B C]

Upon further review I decided to apply a second layer of orange film to the lights since in some light settings they looked too yellow.

I like to experiment and feel like the cold shift quality could be improved so I am trying out some Redline D4 ATF. 

and after checking @gilber33 ‘s build thread I noticed some ramps that would be very helpful for using the jack points so I picked them up for $38 off Amazon.

I broke the cardinal rule of oil changes by not loosening the fill plug before the drain plug and then struggled for some hours to get the fill plug off. This happened because the E46 M3/E39 M5 fill and drain plugs (according to many internet posts sharing similar tragedies) require a hell of a lot of torque to remove. I had the wrench slip and get the ball rolling down the path of roundness.

I estimate about 120 ft-lb of torque to remove the bolt.

I tried many methods but the Sears Damaged Bolt extractor kit was the saving grace.

Buy a set while you still can. This tool has saved me on so many occasions.

http://www.searshometownstores.com/product/Craftsman-52166-10-pc-Damaged-BoltNut-Remover-Set?store=&preview=3894&isClearanceItem=F&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&utm_campaign-SC Shopping&scid=scplp39919909&sc_intid=39919909&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8MSGhIDZ4wIVyrzACh1sBwBoEAQYASABEgK_w_D_BwE

 It took many hours to get it to perform for me because there is barely any hammer space so a mini sledge driving it on at a 45 degree angle is as good as I could get.

The right combination of luck and cursing helped too. So glad to have that behind me now.