Dumb Question Thread - No Flaming Allowed

[ugaexploder]

I’m planing on doing this soon. While I can remove the door panel and can see benefits to doing so, can this repair be done with the panel on? I remember seeing a video on YouTube of a guy doing it without pulling the panel, looked a little tricky when holding the mirror and getting enough wire harness slack pulled through to actually work on the mirror.

I think it’s possible keeping the door card on, but I could also see it causing frustration as well. I do believe there is enough slack to pull off the 2 bolts and still have enough room to tighten the torx bolts that need tightening.

On the driver side, it was a pain trying to release the side view mirror connector. I actually rested the door card on a stool while I detached the armrest to avoid damage to the connector.

I could snap some photos of that area with the card removed if helpful.

[ATB88]

I'm going to pick up my car from a body shop for the very first time today, I've never had paint work done before. As for paint match, they've repainted everything EXCEPT the driver's side front/rear fenders and door. Should I be expecting a perfect match to the original paint on those panels and the new paint on the rest of the car, and if not, to how high a standard should I be holding them? If I can see the difference between the old/new paint, should I be asking them to repaint? I have no idea of what's reasonable here. But if it's supposed to be damned near perfect then I think that's important to know before I pay them. Color is Carbon Black Metallic, shop is King's Auto Body Shop in Huntington Beach, CA, who were recommended by forum members.

Thanks for any advice on this!!

[PSUEng]

When fixing the wobbly side-view mirrors, is it a bad idea to use red loctite on the screws?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txZrqJu7bWg&ab_channel=ShopLifeTV

I’m planing on doing this soon. While I can remove the door panel and can see benefits to doing so, can this repair be done with the panel on? I remember seeing a video on YouTube of a guy doing it without pulling the panel, looked a little tricky when holding the mirror and getting enough wire harness slack pulled through to actually work on the mirror.

[Cubieman]

I haven't put any thought into this so could easily not even be possible due to spacing. Just throwing it out there before going to bed because of the beauty of this thread.

Considering deleting the fogs on my car so I had the thought of a setup using something like one of those dual hole cover plates running flex pipe from the 2 holes to the snorkel, secondary hole and then brake cooling duct using a Y splitter somewhere. Gut instinct is that it's not possible to fit / it's not worth the effort but that's why we all love the E46 anyway. Any chance there's something there worth looking into?

Pics for refence:

That may just work but if you do a small amount of cutting on the factory ducting you can have some air going to the airbox and some going to the brakes as well still.

[SUPREM3///]

I would either cap it off or duct it as it will draw in hot engine bay air otherwise. However many people just leave it open and don't run the flap and don't seem to have any real problems. The eventuri scoop is a nice middle ground as far as getting in cooler air, or so it would seem.

Just wanted to duct as much cool air to the intake as possible as I am running the CSL intake without the intake tract/bumper it was designed to run with.

I haven't put any thought into this so could easily not even be possible due to spacing. Just throwing it out there before going to bed because of the beauty of this thread.

Considering deleting the fogs on my car so I had the thought of a setup using something like one of those dual hole cover plates running flex pipe from the 2 holes to the snorkel, secondary hole and then brake cooling duct using a Y splitter somewhere. Gut instinct is that it's not possible to fit / it's not worth the effort but that's why we all love the E46 anyway. Any chance there's something there worth looking into?

Pics for refence:

[Slideways]

When fixing the wobbly side-view mirrors, is it a bad idea to use red loctite on the screws?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txZrqJu7bWg&ab_channel=ShopLifeTV

Yes, blue is a better choice as those screws might need to come out again at some point.

[ugaexploder]

When fixing the wobbly side-view mirrors, is it a bad idea to use red loctite on the screws?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txZrqJu7bWg&ab_channel=ShopLifeTV

[fourmula1]

Does anyone know what the hex bolt (M6) identified as # 4 in the bellhousing image is for? Thanks...

Pretty sure that's to retain that sheet-metal shield or "gasket". Not sure what it is called...I'll try to find a picture or something.

Edit: retains this https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...BoCMmoQAvD_BwE

[BMWE46M3]

Does anyone know what the hex bolt (M6) identified as # 4 in the bellhousing image is for? Thanks...

[BigRussia]

I just did this and wish I could tell you bolt size, I went to ACE and just compared and used thier pitch finder board and easily found the right stuff.

This is from screeshot from a DIY off buildjornal.

Awesome, thanks for that! I didn't know that BuildJournal DIY had the exact specs. I looked up the exact same ones from the bag in their pic and bought them on Home Depot, here is the link for anyone else interested, $2.75 for bag of 3:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt...3248/204281931

[fourmula1]

EDIT SOLVED: Had a question about MCS true rear coil over clevis mounting. Holes line up with OEM mounting location.

[jet_dogg]

Just use the right driver, problem solved.

[PSUEng]

Looking to preemptively replace my TPS, and I see alot of folks mention replacing the OE screws that strip easily (pn 13541726918) with allen/hex or torx head screws; what thread pitch and length should I be looking for the replacements?

According to Real OEM, the Pozi screw is M4x25mm. I dug around in the fastener bin at work and decided on some M4 socket cap screws (3mm hex drive) in 25mm length with a lock washer. I've not yet done this myself, but I plan to, and these are the screws I'll attempt to replace the Pozis with.

[Cubieman]

Looking to preemptively replace my TPS, and I see alot of folks mention replacing the OE screws that strip easily (pn 13541726918) with allen/hex or torx head screws; what thread pitch and length should I be looking for the replacements?

I just did this and wish I could tell you bolt size, I went to ACE and just compared and used thier pitch finder board and easily found the right stuff.

This is from screeshot from a DIY off buildjornal.

[Shonky]

Looking to preemptively replace my TPS, and I see alot of folks mention replacing the OE screws that strip easily (pn 13541726918) with allen/hex or torx head screws; what thread pitch and length should I be looking for the replacements?

You know RealOEM lists this (for any part numbers)?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BL92-EUR-08-2004-E46-BMW-M3&diagId=12_1103#13541726918

Similarly for things like crush washers.