» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM Yesterday 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 318,275 Views | | | | | | 03-22-2006, 11:52 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 60 | Springtime ritual I just took my steel rims and Pirelli snowsports off and put my summer wheels and tires back on for the summer. Wow, the pirellis are okay, but what a difference in handling. I was beginning to get used to the feel of the snow/ice tires which were, by comparison, a little mushy. In addition, I replaced my old worn out hood emblem. It had been sitting around on my desk at home for a few months. I could not belive the difference it made. All of the enamel had simply cracked and peeled away from the old one and the replacement was simplicity itself. It took me all of about 3 minutes to carefully work a screwdriver under the old one and gently pry it off, pull the old grommets out with some needle-nose pliers and install the new emblem. Even if you are not very inclined toward DIY projects on your ti, but need to freshen your hood emblem, it is super easy and was a tremendous improvement in the aesthetics of my car. I bought it from Bav auto for peanuts. So anyway, I also did a thorough wash and cleaning including the engine bay. I feel like a new man. Next weekend, I'll break out the zymol. | | | 03-23-2006, 12:20 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 420 | I know what you mean just did a 2 hour cleaning of the engine yesterday! When you wash your engine what areas do you cover? I am so afraid to damage any sensors, that I hand clean my engine with a brush and rag with window cleaner. Mothman. __________________ "Success is Never Final, Defeat is Never Permanent, it is the Courage to Continue that Matters!" - Winston Churchill Mothman [SIGPIC] | | | 03-23-2006, 12:20 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 1,906 | spring fever is contagious...you should post some pics of your ti when you get the chance. I'm getting new emblems also. __________________ | | | 03-23-2006, 12:31 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 420 | I have pictures load in my gallery it is just of the engine. Doing a full exterior detail tomorrow. I will take pictures then! Mothman __________________ "Success is Never Final, Defeat is Never Permanent, it is the Courage to Continue that Matters!" - Winston Churchill Mothman [SIGPIC] | | | 03-23-2006, 01:13 AM | #5 | Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington DC, Pittsburgh PA Posts: 81 | FLAVA FLAV just washed his car yesterday, YEAH BOY!!! seriously though, I washed my car yesterday and the difference is extremely noticeable. if it was possible i'd make love to my car. | | | 03-23-2006, 05:28 PM | #6 | Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 60 | Quote: Originally Posted by Mothman I know what you mean just did a 2 hour cleaning of the engine yesterday! When you wash your engine what areas do you cover? I am so afraid to damage any sensors, that I hand clean my engine with a brush and rag with window cleaner. Mothman. | Others may see this as reckless: The car wash down the street has an engine cleaner setting that uses some kind of degreaser/soap at a low pressure. I spray it with that, without covering anything, and then rinse it with low pressure spot free rinse. Back in my garage, I use a towel to dry off any wet spots and wipe off any other dirt or grease. It usually looks great and clean apart from all that cosmoline all over everything. | | | 03-23-2006, 05:48 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK Posts: 312 | I usually spray my engine/bay with a degreaser & rinse off with a hosepipe. When everthing is completely dry, give the whole lot a dose of detailer, it really makes everthing look good + nourishes the rubber parts. http://www.midwayautosupply.com/deta...ption.asp?4618 | | | 03-23-2006, 06:13 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I remember when I first went from my all season 205 15" wheels to Dunlop sport 8000 235 17" wheels. It was like night and day. With the 17"s , it feels like a go kart. Problem is the tires tend to get caught in the uneven areas of the pavement, and I get pulled side to side. All depends on if the road is smooth or not. Quote: Originally Posted by steelejared I was beginning to get used to the feel of the snow/ice tires which were, by comparison, a little mushy. | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 03-24-2006, 09:20 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 60 | Quote: Originally Posted by L84THSKY I remember when I first went from my all season 205 15" wheels to Dunlop sport 8000 235 17" wheels. It was like night and day. With the 17"s , it feels like a go kart. Problem is the tires tend to get caught in the uneven areas of the pavement, and I get pulled side to side. All depends on if the road is smooth or not. | That's awesome. Isn't that pulling effect sometimes called trammeling? tramlining? (sp?). I really felt the difference just going back to 205/55-15 all season tires as opposed to the 195/65-15 snow/ice tires. I can only imagine the improvement it would be to now go to lower profile stickier performance tires and even further eliminating all that sidewall flexing. I am now officially in the e-bay market for at least 16 inch wheels and tires and up to 17". Maybe that will also help reduce my current inclination toward the new GTI. | | | 03-27-2006, 07:47 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | Anybody with fog lights that lives in an area where they salt roads might want to think about pulling them and removing the plastic bit to clean it. I think it's been about 3 years since I had to change the bulb, but there was so much salt jammed up in there (1-2mm thick!) that I had to stick the thing in a vise to get it apart. The aluminum part is now soaking in some CLR, we'll see how it clears up. __________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |