Round 3....another M3 build

[MikeyRa]

Are you using the factory power steering reservoir?

[hinrichs]

Nothing really new to update other than I pulled the Zima off....and stopped driving it again due to steering issues. When its hot outside it steers like crap again, and I have a nasty shimmy that I havent been able to figure out yet. Loosing interest in the car once again since I got rid of my jeep and have a new super reliable daily. One of the local hill climbs is this weekend tho which maybe will get me wanting to actually race it...if I can get it to drive better. Also picked up a boat so the bmw is more house art than anything sitting out front.

sierra boat by minthinrich, on Flickr

[hinrichs]

Finally its running right, and I finally got 5th gear to work. I never adjusted the stops on the shifter. Little bag is my "glove box" hah

interior1 by minthinrich, on Flickr

Wanted to try this idea out, prolly redo the hood since I made it a little small. When I measured it seemed to make more sense to keep it in the hood lines.

zima 2 by minthinrich, on Flickr
zima 1 by minthinrich, on Flickr

[MikeyRa]

Clean yo MAF!

[hinrichs]

Did the vanos over the weekend....kept asking myself why I didnt just order some cams as well.

VANOS by minthinrich, on Flickr

Still have a missfire on cylinder #4. Plugs will go in tonight. I am at a crossroads however...thinking about future plans since the car just sits anyway....

[hinrichs]

made it to work, back apart tonight again

first drive april by minthinrich, on Flickr

[hinrichs]

Drove it on saturday a little, I always laugh how small I look in the car.

outside 2 by minthinrich, on Flickr
outside 1 by minthinrich, on Flickr

Rebuilt vanos comes today and tools and such comes tomorrow I think. Not excited to redo it, but I think that will cure my one CEL that I constantly have. PO said it was done, but he could not provide any receipt of this happening or he actually did it and the timing is slightly off.

[cblock406]

I had the alignment shop center my rack for like an extra $50 when they did the alignment. Congrats on the 1 year!

[hinrichs]

Ready for the most exciting update yet?

I got a new windshield which only took me like a year. It cracked one day when I jacked the car oddly.

windshield by minthinrich, on Flickr

Also over the weekend got my new rack installed. Wasnt too bad to do but I need to pull it back out and re-center it cuz of course I had to mess that up. Everything went back together relatively easy which was nice. Glad I didnt loose any hardware needed when I pulled the whole power steering system out of the car. Ideally I will get all new lines, but nothing is leaking that I can see. Still not happy with the feel, but I think it might be something in the steering shaft where the bearings are that its rusty or something. I really need to drive another one to see how it feels.

steering rack 2 by minthinrich, on Flickr
steering rack 1 by minthinrich, on Flickr


Also completely forgot I have had the car a year now...I am only 4 days late . Came a long way in 1 year I would say.

CLEAN 2 by minthinrich, on Flickr
bmw1 by minthinrich, on Flickr

Next up is a vanos rebuild tho, since I still have a code for the actuator which I have replaced. I am thinking its stuck and not working properly or out of time.

[Benwalsh91]

I think I will just be getting another stock one. Going through rackdoctor.net which I think you have to get whatever you will be sending back to them since they need a core which doesnt cost anything but I think you get a lifetime warranty at that point. Its only $250 shipped which is nice as well instead of 500+ for the reman ones everyone else sells.

shit man! you can get purple tag racks here for like £80.

[hinrichs]

You know I love this!! if you got to change the rack, maybe its worth putting a purple tag in there?

I think I will just be getting another stock one. Going through rackdoctor.net which I think you have to get whatever you will be sending back to them since they need a core which doesnt cost anything but I think you get a lifetime warranty at that point. Its only $250 shipped which is nice as well instead of 500+ for the reman ones everyone else sells.

[Benwalsh91]

You know I love this!! if you got to change the rack, maybe its worth putting a purple tag in there?

[hinrichs]

I'm glad that worked out for you!

Thanks ! I was surprised honestly how just one changed it. I have yet to drive it as I was working on some other things and I didnt want to put the car back on the ground. I will be ordering a rebuilt steering rack tomorrow which hopefully gets my power steering working again. I can handle the no power, but its getting really old.

[MikeyRa]

I'm glad that worked out for you!

[hinrichs]

Bought the correct size cable yesterday, drilled 2 holes, and now I have what seems to be a solid setup.

wing cables by minthinrich, on Flickr