What did you do for your M3 today?

[OldRanger]

Installed a PS Designs headlight duct.

(Mostly for the style of it, but when I installed brake cooling ducts, I thought a bit about how to compensate for the reduced air supply to the intake. The OE duct to the wheel also supplies air to the OE filter box. This is a decent option.)

[Dbutler]

Did a diff pinion seal replacement and installed a Corsa exhaust while I had it apart.

[BL92]

Still investigating oil leak

Just another bottom covers off and clean up day

[WestBankM4]

What did you do with your A and C pillars? My B and C pillars are peeling and I'm looking for some options on refreshing them. Thanks


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I pulled the sagging fabric off and just drove it without it for a few months. I still have them of course sans the fabric.

Really didn't mind them but since everything else is refreshed internally, might as well just buy new ones with lifetime warranty now.

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[Notan_S54]

Installed an ACS style lip and went on a nice sunset drive!

[Track Widow]

I absolutely hate myself, while finishing the interior I couldn't put back the A and C pillars in their condition. I bit the bullet.

Also installed some PedalHause aluminum pedals since I felt the AKGs I have are too small with no decent dead pedal option.

Anyway, coming along nicely. Dash is in, now it's slowly reassembling and freshen every plastic bit with a new one. I've also wrapped a few areas where friction may create noise using Telfa tape.

What did you do with your A and C pillars? My B and C pillars are peeling and I'm looking for some options on refreshing them. Thanks


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[WestBankM4]

I absolutely hate myself, while finishing the interior I couldn't put back the A and C pillars in their condition. I bit the bullet.

Also installed some PedalHause aluminum pedals since I felt the AKGs I have are too small with no decent dead pedal option.

Anyway, coming along nicely. Dash is in, now it's slowly reassembling and freshen every plastic bit with a new one. I've also wrapped a few areas where friction may create noise using Telfa tape.


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[DJAM3]

Sent my M3 that I've owned for 13 years off to her new owner.

[Chris442]

Wow, yeah, that might cause a little overheating...I can see some of my younger 19 year old radiator, though it does look like the fins have dirt on them, it's nothing like that, lol. I would have probably changed it out with a newer radiator too, knowing that was most likely the source of the problem. Glad to see you identified yours. I may end up going down that road too, but I'm trying to eliminate the smaller stuff before dropping a bunch of $$ to replace the radiator, water pump, hoses, and coolant. The coolant expansion tank and lower radiator hose are newer, replace within the last 2-3 years, and the thermostat and lower temp sensor were replace a month ago.

I would add that the condenser looked much cleaner than this, so it was really not visible until I pulled the radiator. I ended up blowing a lot of junk out of it with compressed air, but it was nothing like the radiator. I had just done the VANOS, which grew into a head gasket project, but I digress. The back of the radiator looked perfect when I had the fan off for that project. I was surprised it looked like this when I took it out, so my point is that unless you’ve really looked at it, there’s no way to be sure.

I totally understand the money thing. I was hoping to get away with the radiator for a while, but once I saw those temps, I knew I had to bite bullet. BTW, that temp gauge is pretty sensitive. 225 is the very edge of the red. Even with everything done, it still occasionally creeps up past the center (only 204 to do that), but it’s also frequently 110+ out there. Anyway, hope you get it sorted out.

[davidinnyc]

Did you used OEM valve cover gasket? New CPV oring?

Sorry, meant to say that I still have an oil leak but it’s not from the valve gasket and CPV ring area. Everything above the headers looks okay!

[Gt4]

I finished up the valve adjustment on my car this morning, CPV valve, etc... and still have a little oil drip. Double-checked the oil return line and now my only guess is the rear main seal. I'm of course going to get under the car with a flashlight and inspect, but anything I should look for?

David

Did you used OEM valve cover gasket? New CPV oring?

[davidinnyc]

I finished up the valve adjustment on my car this morning, CPV valve, etc... and still have a little oil drip. Double-checked the oil return line and now my only guess is the rear main seal. I'm of course going to get under the car with a flashlight and inspect, but anything I should look for?

David

[ramzM3]

I was having similar issue with the temps. I live in Phoenix and it's often over 110, monitoring the temp on iBus I saw it hit 225 and had to turn off the AC, which cooled the car off. It just seemed to not want to stay down to a normal level. I finally figured out that I never heard the clutch kicking on or any fan noise even with the elevated temps. I had recently changed the thermostat and clutch, so that stuff was good. The real issue is that the car had never seen so much heat as it never had lived in Phoenix until I got it. Probably it would have been ok in 90 or even 100 degree weather.

I broke down and just ordered a new radiator and water pump. I was done messing with it. For all the hand ringing about the cooling system in these cars, all the parts with the exception of the lower hose, which had just been replaced before I got the car, were original on my car from 2002 and with 124k.

I immediately found the issue when I removed the radiator. I probably could have cleaned it had put it back, but there's no way I was going to reinstall a 22 year old radiator.

Wow, yeah, that might cause a little overheating...I can see some of my younger 19 year old radiator, though it does look like the fins have dirt on them, it's nothing like that, lol. I would of probably changed it out with a newer radiator too, knowing that was most likely the source of the problem. Glad to see you identified yours. I may end up going down that road too, but I'm trying to eliminate the smaller stuff before dropping a bunch of $$ to replace the radiator, water pump, hoses, and coolant. The coolant expansion tank and lower radiator hose are newer, replace within the last 2-3 years, and the thermostat and lower temp sensor were replace a month ago.

[Chris442]

Thank you! Yes I did. I made a mental note of that after reading about it here, watched several DIYs, and took a few photos as I pulled it out of there. So, I'm 100% positive it's on the right way.

I was having similar issue with the temps. I live in Phoenix and it's often over 110, monitoring the temp on iBus I saw it hit 225 and had to turn off the AC, which cooled the car off. It just seemed to not want to stay down to a normal level. I finally figured out that I never heard the clutch kicking on or any fan noise even with the elevated temps. I had recently changed the thermostat and clutch, so that stuff was good. The real issue is that the car had never seen so much heat as it never had lived in Phoenix until I got it. Probably it would have been ok in 90 or even 100 degree weather.

I broke down and just ordered a new radiator and water pump. I was done messing with it. For all the hand ringing about the cooling system in these cars, all the parts with the exception of the lower hose, which had just been replaced before I got the car, were original on my car from 2002 and with 124k.

I immediately found the issue when I removed the radiator. I probably could have cleaned it had put it back, but there's no way I was going to reinstall a 22 year old radiator.

[ramzM3]

Did you install the fan in the correct orientation to the fan clutch? I made that mistake and a forum member caught it for me thankfully before I installed it. Just a thought!

Thank you! Yes I did. I made a mental note of that after reading about it here, watched several DIYs, and took a few photos as I pulled it out of there. So, I'm 100% positive it's on the right way.