My E36...

[NeilP]

looks good! how are you finding the new top mounts?

[BenKoflach]

looks good! how are you finding the new top mounts?

I haven't picked them up yet Neil

[NeilP]

I haven't picked them up yet Neil

isn't the stance solution kit just an aired top mount?

[BenKoflach]

isn't the stance solution kit just an aired top mount?

Nope, sits below the topmount. The f*cked bearings in my current topmounts are stopping the SS cups turning properly, so they keep stretching the lines. So as soon as I have non-f*cked M3 topmounts in I can get the lines all re-installed and everything should be hunky-dory.

[BenKoflach]

I made a start on my Evo axle this weekend! Everything was a bit crusted up but it seems to all be in good nick. The brakes don't look to old on it, though I might change them anyway for something a little prettier - the pads have the BMW badge stamped on the back, so I'm presuming they were done at a dealership with genuine parts. I think one of the wheel bearings may have been done recently too by the looks of things.



Plenty of penetrating fluid was called for! Everything so far has come apart pretty easily, the RTAB carriers were a bit of a pain but nothing a bit of swearing and shouting couldn't sort out.



So far I've basically removed the ARB (which was fun when a drop link sheared and stabbed my hand), fitted my UUC braided hoses, unbolted and removed a few random bits and also removed the subframe mounting bushes.







I had borrowed these to help remove the bushes, but I didn't really have the right size sockets, and also with the way most bits are positioned there wasn't anywhere to hook the arms on to.



So there was only one thing for it!



So that's where I'm at now, I've got Powerflex subframe bushes to go in tonight if I get the time, then I'll be getting the control arms off to replace the inner bushes with Superflex items. I've also got new Meyle balljoints to replace the outer control arm joints, though I haven't quite worked out how I'll get the old ones out yet - probably in a similar fashion to the way Sam did it recently.

The diff seems a bit leaky too so I wouldn't mind getting some new oil seals for that while I've got it on the ground.

[BenKoflach]

Also, this just turned up thanks to CA, so I should be able to have my induction kit ready to this weekend

[pecs]

Ben, i do like what you doing with this car.

[BenKoflach]

Ben, i do like what you doing with this car.

Thanks

Got quite a bit done this weekend - fitted Powerflex subframe bushes to my axle, serviced the missus' Pug, and this - spot the difference

[beemer-e36]

Looking great, was thinking of fitting the VDO gauges to mine, I saw your car at bimmerflex (i think) last year, looked and sat great, keep up the good work,

[BenKoflach]

Looking great, was thinking of fitting the VDO gauges to mine, I saw your car at bimmerflex (i think) last year, looked and sat great, keep up the good work,

Yeah, I've had the VDOs for ages now, they're from a UR Quattro I believe. Need to connect them up, though I'm tempted to swap them out and get an easier system that plugs into an oil filler cap.

The new addition is where the clock used to be

[Wout CSL]

Like the subtile VDO gauges

[BenKoflach]

Like the subtile VDO gauges

Thanks! Just gotta get them working.

[BenKoflach]

Yesterday me and my mate Ben headed up to visit Kav and George (aka KG Kustoms) for a touch of work to both our cars. This included generation 2 angel eyes for the pair, as well as LED interior bulbs for mine - the parts were all supplied by Hidesh at carproductsdirect.com (CPD), who also headed down to lend a hand.

This was my lights before, just the LED sidelight on here:



This was the kit, which came complete with the wiring loom for remote fade:



Kav set to work on the lights themselves, while George tackled the wiring, which he did so that the angels would run as DRLs.









And ta-dah!



And then fitted:



Kav also fitted my carbon dial surround for me, which Ben kindly bought me after I did a couple of bits to his '46 - after I took the 'after' pic we noticed the fuel gauge so it had to come apart again! :lol:

Before:


After:


My LED interior bulbs were also then fitted, though my car is a bit of a tip so I'll get some decent pics when it's a little tidier! I was impressed by the fact that the floor-lighting ones replace the complete light unit rather than just the bulb, and as a result they're super-bright and look fantastic, as do the rest of the CPD bulbs.

Once Ben's E46 was sorted, we were then ready to head home, as two happy customers:



Ben's mate & passenger Jamie also borrowed my camera and got some cracking shots!











Quite like these too:





All-in-all, a cracking day, and I'm really pleased with how much fresher and meaner the Touring now looks! Next up is to fit new arch liners (as you can see I don't have any at all at the mo) and remove the splitter, which I'll probably replace with an M3 one. Quite looking forward to seeing it without one at all though!

[pecs]

Ben i thought you where getting new paint, or is that just the light on the door.

[BenKoflach]

Ben i thought you where getting new paint, or is that just the light on the door.

Just the reflection!