Dumb Question Thread - No Flaming Allowed

[karter16]

Good looking out on the parking brake cables. The little brace is so already off, reason I'm in this situation is because I needed to access the diff mount bolt.

And yea one side seems like it will be not so bad for access, the other side might be harder.

Did you have to do it for the same reason by chance?

Similar reason - partway had everything back together before realising I hadn't put the spacers in in place of the hex studs (RACP brace install with through bolts in place of the studs) 🙃


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[Nate047]

Yep I did this a few weeks ago.

You also need to undo the 4 bolts that hold the v brace center bracket on.

It'll be tight access to the front left but you'll be able to do it. If you haven't already remember to undo the handbrake cables at the handbrake end before you lower and make sure you don't go so low it excessively bends the cables.


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Good looking out on the parking brake cables. The little brace is so already off, reason I’m in this situation is because I needed to access the diff mount bolt.

And yea one side seems like it will be not so bad for access, the other side might be harder.

Did you have to do it for the same reason by chance?

[karter16]

Can I lower my rear subframe by like 10-15mm if I just loosen the 4 mount bolts, and don't touch anything else? Is there anything that won't move enough to allow that? Driveshaft and exhaust are already off. I have a trans jack on loan from a buddy to support things.

I need to lower it enough to get a wrench on those hex washers built into the front mounting studs. The nuts on those two studs were stuck, leading to me driving the stud out of the car as I was trying to remove the nuts, pushing the subframe away from the body a little. I was able to drive one of them back into place using the two nut method, but unfortunately the other side is being a bastard and not releasing from the stud. Trying to avoid fully dropping the subframe obviously lol. Haven't tried a blow torch yet, possible that heat might help the nut let go of the stud? I had this nut off and then I thought oh I'll put it back in place temporarily to hold things, and now it won't let go of the threads. Just spins the stud and pulls it out. Fuckin love this car sometimes.

Yep I did this a few weeks ago.

You also need to undo the 4 bolts that hold the v brace center bracket on.

It'll be tight access to the front left but you'll be able to do it. If you haven't already remember to undo the handbrake cables at the handbrake end before you lower and make sure you don't go so low it excessively bends the cables.


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[Nate047]

Can I lower my rear subframe by like 10-15mm if I just loosen the 4 mount bolts, and don’t touch anything else? Is there anything that won’t move enough to allow that? Driveshaft and exhaust are already off. I have a trans jack on loan from a buddy to support things.

I need to lower it enough to get a wrench on those hex washers built into the front mounting studs. The nuts on those two studs were stuck, leading to me driving the stud out of the car as I was trying to remove the nuts, pushing the subframe away from the body a little. I was able to drive one of them back into place using the two nut method, but unfortunately the other side is being a bastard and not releasing from the stud. Trying to avoid fully dropping the subframe obviously lol. Haven’t tried a blow torch yet, possible that heat might help the nut let go of the stud? I had this nut off and then I thought oh I’ll put it back in place temporarily to hold things, and now it won’t let go of the threads. Just spins the stud and pulls it out. Fuckin love this car sometimes.

[oceansize]

I just did mine. BMW vcg for sure. I went bmw for everything but others may have used something else. Again VCG is strictly bmw, do not deviate. Replace whatever is brittle.

[Slideways]

What's the latest on valve cover gaskets? I can't remember which ones we want to avoid.

How often do the spark plug tube seals need to be replaced?

Other grommets included in the valve cover gasket kits?

The BMW VCG is made by Bruss and is only available from BMW.

The OE spark plug tube gaskets have EK written on them, which I presume is for Elring Klinger, similar to the original cylinder head gasket.

A few people have had issues with only the Elring VCG.

[Nate047]

What's the latest on valve cover gaskets? I can't remember which ones we want to avoid.

How often do the spark plug tube seals need to be replaced?

Other grommets included in the valve cover gasket kits?

[ugaexploder]

OK, I need to get some brake bleed tools. Many I find say Motive is the way to go, some mention "one-man" bleeders (containers with check valves), and then there is the vac style tool. Would love some input here.

Check out Speedi-Bleed as well, I like their system.

https://speedibleed.com/search-products/?make=BMW&model=M3&years=2001-2006&option=E46

[Slideways]

OK, I need to get some brake bleed tools. Many I find say Motive is the way to go, some mention "one-man" bleeders (containers with check valves), and then there is the vac style tool. Would love some input here.

Motive is the easiest one-man brake bleed method. Even TIS shows a machine that BMW uses to pressurize the system from the reservoir. The Motive collection bottle is also nice to have versus using a random bottle.

[PSUEng]

OK, I need to get some brake bleed tools. Many I find say Motive is the way to go, some mention "one-man" bleeders (containers with check valves), and then there is the vac style tool. Would love some input here.

[Gt4]

What are some of the best fitting CSL style diffusers? I bought a cheap one, the fitment is really starting to bug me already after just a few days. I thought I could make myself be be okay with it but it’s getting on my nerves lol

I have one diffuser ready to go. Tariffs free

[Avedis]

What are some of the best fitting CSL style diffusers? I bought a cheap one, the fitment is really starting to bug me already after just a few days. I thought I could make myself be be okay with it but it’s getting on my nerves lol

Gt4 composites. I don’t have any personal experience with this one, but if it’s anything like his other stuff, it’s perfect.

Vorsteiner. Just did my install yesterday, 95% fitment with zero adjustment. 99.5% with some minor tweaking. I bought this about a year before GT4 started making his, but if I were to buy one today I’d go with the GT4.

[Nate047]

What are some of the best fitting CSL style diffusers? I bought a cheap one, the fitment is really starting to bug me already after just a few days. I thought I could make myself be be okay with it but it’s getting on my nerves lol

[jayjaya29]

Dumb question here, but do these Trinity Graphics rear bumper mounts work on the M3? It doesn't specifically say and a google search told me that non-m3 mounts are different.

I bought a set of these but have not gotten around to installing them. Seems the same is true for many other people on here. 🤣

[kryptokatalyst]

Questionably dumb, but is there a stickied thread with reported NLA parts for the E46 M3? I vaguely recall seeing one somewhere, but I can't seem to find it now. My search skills also failed me in this endeavor.

Thanks.