Tyler's 04 slicktop 6spd Silvergrey MCS/Brembo/CSL/Karbonius/Nogaros/Supersprint

[Tbonem3]

Yes that'd be awesome. Maybe if/when I convert this thing to a race car!

[maupineda]

I forgot I had bought a new gas fill neck-gasket IDK what to call it, but my original was badly cracked. I had assumed it was a hard job, so I put it off until 0-60motorsports did his and said it was easy.

Really easy actually. I coated the new one in 303 aerospace which both helped it slip on and made it look fresh rather than so ugly with some sort of protective gunk it comes with.



I also got around to doing the Powersteering pump shim mod... After driving an E9x m3, even with steering servo on low, you get real disappointed when you get back into the ol' E46. The E90's steering is so stiff and heavy, but my favorite part is that it's so linear - it feels stiff from 0 whereas the E46 feels pretty loose at first, then gets a bit better (and I have zhp rack plus wide front wheels/tires!). So I was very interested in something that would reduce boost and get me closer to the E90 feel.



Got shims from @bigjae. Volke said each is about 12.5% reduction iirc. I settled on 2 shims for 25% - didn't want to get too crazy.



Work is done from below, but I removed my airbox "trunk" for more light and so I could refill the PS reservoir at the end. Loosen the big nut on the line



And fluid will drain. Maybe you lose like half a quart? You will definitely need some ATF on hand, not more than a quart/liter imo. Though not a bad time for a complete flush.



Now, remove the regulator with a big hex like 26mm - I only had standard that big and 1-1/16th was perfect



This was the hardest part. The little valve is pretty stuck in there (hydraulically I mean, I think) and it took many tries to coax it out. In the end, the only method that worked for me taking 3 skinny cynlindrical magnets, grouping them together, then pushing on the valve, then pull to use both spring force and magnetism to pull this guy out. It barely worked, but enough to grab it and pull it out.



There's one shim on there by default, now I have 3 total



Topped off and ready to test!

Unfortunately, it didn't make things much better. There does seem to be more effort needed, so I guess the 25% claim is pretty spot on, but the initial "play" is still there, and the springy character remains. It also feels like it gets stiffer in a gradual way. Maybe I could add another shim, but I feel like I've scratched this itch and will let sleeping dogs lie. The E90 can reign supreme on this one.

At least it's an almost free mod!

I think if you change the steering guibo for a u joint may fix that dead center feel. The Z4M has that design and is uniform from center to lock.

[heinzboehmer]

Yes that'd be awesome. Maybe if/when I convert this thing to a race car!

No need to make it a race car! Here's my solution for the triangulation:




Keeps all the street car comforts and the braces come off with four nuts for working on the engine.

I really need to get to posting all the stuff from this project so others can adopt on their cars...

[Casa de Mesa]

Tyler - thanks for the detailed steps on the P/S shims.Will likely do this over the winter, doesn't look that bad. Wish I had done that when I had the car disassembled.

No need to make it a race car! Here's my solution for the triangulation:

I really need to get to posting all the stuff from this project so others can adopt on their cars...

Yes please! 😀

I've been delaying the Slon strut brace just due to competing projects on other cars. Very curious about this. Almost looks factory.

EDIT: I just went over to your build thread. Holy hell Heinz! That strut tower conversation there is awesome.

[heinzboehmer]

Yes please! 😀

I've been delaying the Slon strut brace just due to competing projects on other cars. Very curious about this. Almost looks factory.

EDIT: I just went over to your build thread. Holy hell Heinz! That strut tower conversation there is awesome.

Done!

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/321060-e86-front-triangulation-braces-retrofit#post321060

[405]

Great work on the build. Really enjoyed reading through this thread, definitely motivating.

[Tbonem3]

Thanks, glad it gives inspiration.

I'll have a big update for the thread in a coupe of weeks...

Since the last post, it's only received a paint correction/ceramic coating

And I sold the 9.5"/10" arc-8s and put it back on OE CSL wheels. I'll get some pics soon.

[0-60motorsports]

Thanks, glad it gives inspiration.

I'll have a big update for the thread in a coupe of weeks...

Since the last post, it's only received a paint correction/ceramic coating

And I sold the 9.5"/10" arc-8s and put it back on OE CSL wheels. I'll get some pics soon.

I hate you T.....................OE CSLs

They look gorgeous..........

[Tbonem3]

Polished the car (1 step) with Griot's Boss perfecting cream, then applied Gyeon Pure Evo coating. No pics from the job, just some pics soon after that, hopefully, show off the finish.





Some videos below. They show off the gloss more than static pics:

https://youtube.com/shorts/E1IKSxtjKAc?si=_ekhOB58C1S6bc3j

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4OrvmSfTgmQ
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VcwflpMnqIo

[fattycharged]

gah this makes me want a silver grey every time I stop in, so clean


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tbonem3]

Thank you!

So to bring it up to date this year....

I had my bi-annual smog test. Nothing to report, always goes smoothly, just posting some pics for the record and 'cause I polished the CF and cleaned the bay a little, so it makes for some nice shots.



Going back to stock always gives me the "ick" 😆



After it passes, the mods go right back (airbox, SAP delete & tune flash). Hand polished the CF and dressed the plastic/rubber parts in the bay (303 aeropsace).








I love this shot (I've seen others do it)

[Tbonem3]

Ok so as I had mentioned here earlier today, and in another post in the main forum recently, I have decided to put the E88s on the E46. They were originally on an E46, but they are pretty agressive (9.5/10.5et22s), so I put them on my E90 (they fit perfectly).

They will need new tires, and I'll stick with sticky tires, but did not really enjoy how harsh and sticky the A052s were, so I'm settling on Michelin Cup 2s with the newer 240tw which I hope is a good compromise between typical 200tw and PS4s' 300tw.

A big motivator here was how much I came to dislike dished 18"s on the big body E90. I think a full face 19' wheel is the perfect match. I think the E46 body is still 1990s style enough that it looks good with a dished wheel, and 18s still look great on E46 (yes 19s look amazing).

So first step was locating a set of wheels for E90 - ZCPs aka M359s. Found a nice set with tires (old PSS oh well) in AZ that a long time forum member was able to secure for me. Then I sold the Apex w/ A052s. A bittersweet move as the wheelspec was just so perfect for me and the tires are unreal, but I feel like E88s will elevate my E46 to as high as it can get basically (cause I'm pretty done with it otherwise :P )

Well I don't have the ZCPs yet, so the E88s must stay on the E90 for a bit longer. In the meantime, I borrowed a set of OE CSLs from my friend to hold me over on the E46. I had my own set a while ago, so it's been really nice to see my car in its best form to date. I only got rid of the CSLs because I want the car to have lightweight 18s.

Found a used set of Cup2s, so that's sorted.



Here's a shot of one of the M359s wheels. They're in really good shape. Off a '12 1M.



I started mounting the Cup2s in preperation for the swap, wanted to take this pic as a cool teaser:



But who doesn't love OE CSL???





In order to fit over the 996 calipers, you need a 10mm spacer minimum. I knew I wanted a a 12mm spacer for the E90's front 9"et31 ZCP wheel, so I bought a set now to use on the E46 that will get swapped over.




I'll have to get some more pics of the car again on CSLs. Photography time is limited for me these days.

[Keith_MN]

Love those engine bay detail shots.

[0-60motorsports]

LOVE THOSE CSL WHEELS!!!!!!