The wagon_ e46 touring m/t

[SLC450]

Can't wait to see more!

[1badg35]

Color on the wheels has been determined and it's insane. Better than I could have expected. Pics a week from today once I do the same to the lips and dry assemble the set. Everything else will work around this color scheme though, so at least one thing is settled.

[Tino21]

Looking forward to see this !

Give us a teaser during the week !

[1badg35]

a little hold up as we have yet to powder the outer lips or inner barrels (swamped with work).

ACS



decided the ACS forged type2s will be going on the car after all.. didn't want 3 sets of wheels for one car as i already have those situations on all of the other cars… but whatever. I would rather commute on a 1 piece wheel as i won't have to worry much about where the car gets parked



for now though since we still have snow every other day, prior to the coils and spring wheels, here is how she sits.. winter mode. big tires.. lifted





235/55/17 blizzaks btw.. car is so high its hilarious.

[1badg35]

A few bumps in the road… Cracked windshield from a plow driving by while the car was parked.. Front bumper has a small crack from a chunk of ice thrown in front of me while driving through lower manhattan.. A nice mishap with a middle aged man in NJ attempting to steal the wagon.. Lets just say I caught him by surprise and pulled the dude to the ground by his neck…..

And just last night alternator failed, so a nice 11pm sunday night flatbed trip home.

So a few things next on the list:

tints
black out the side window trim
ACS 1 piece being powder coated in a new color and put on the car
alternator, pulleys and associated items being swapped out this coming weekend.
coil overs going in as soon as the maintenance is done




I need thoughts on the color of the 1 piece ACS going on the car. i like the textured silver on them currently, and may end up tinting over it with a light smoke tint powder and seeing what that looks like.. but I'm open to suggestions

[Tino21]

That's a shitty weekend, at least the car will be getting some nice work soon.

the acs looks beige to me itll look nice a little darker if your going for a blacked ot look.

[1badg35]

Yeah I think I might be shooting metallic silver and then tinting the powder a shade or two to darken it up just slightly. Then I can put those tires back on. All depends on my mood Saturday morning.

[Tino21]

pmd you

[244Brick]

Did you call the Police?

[1badg35]

for which part?

[1badg35]

so this weekend was a better one. finally had a single moment to work on my own projects… Well not really, but I made time anyway. People can wait an extra day for their stuff.

I have good news, and then better news. Alternator was the source of the issues as expected, and about 90 min after i popped the hood, the car was back on and driving. access was easier than i thought to yank it out.

And the better news

so there is all this talk over on the bmw forums, that there are no suspension items for XI cars, and that the e46 2wd parts dont work on awd variants. As is true for most of the stuff said on those forums…. that is false

Bought e46 325i BC BR coil overs.. got the chance to do the install yesterday.. bolted right up. One small spot where the locating pin is on the bottom of the coil over had to be tapped out (a whole 5 min ordeal) and they bolted right up. Had no hope the sway bar end links would work (figured i would fab my own), and they do in fact work

So, all of the manufacturers, all of the bmw guys that don't actually work on their own cars, and the guys who live by the forums and don't take any chances… well 325i coil overs work on 325xi variants.

drove the car for about 50 miles so far to do a full shake down, and everything clears the front drive axles, and work as they should. car drives far better and feels a billion times more solid. through the north shore twists, the car is far more predictable, and even with winter tires its more fun to throw around the turns. it holds to the road far better than expected for a 3600lb wagon. actually far superior when compared to the 4.2l audi s4 i had previously

pics soon. currently still on the snow tires, the coils are at a height only slightly lower than stock, but they are in and the car drives like a completely different car.


oh and install took 3 hours and required a small amount of tools. nothing that the average person who works on cars wouldn't have. I didn't even have to open any of the special tool drawers. breaker bar, a few sockets, a 1/2" ratchet, a few close ended wrenches, and off they came

[Chasen88]

Probably about the guy trying to break into the car, wow what a scumbag in despise thieves.

[Tino21]

Glad to hear the alternator got sorted out quickly...You cant rely on forums when nobody tried and are speculating that it wont work, really nice to see someone who went down and plugged coilovers on an xi wich turned out fine.

Im guessing you didnt have time to work on the wheels

[1badg35]

haven't touched the wheels.

decided the ACS were going on permanently, and the 3 piece set would be going on for a show or two with a FS sign on them.

ACS coupled with 255/40/18 pilot super sports all around

3 piece bbs coupled with 225/40/18 azenis rt615k all around

[lublub]

As is true for most of the stuff said on those forums…. that is false

funny how that is...when will you put your new wheels on (aka when can I see a picture of your newly lowered, freshly shod wagon)?