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Black & Tan 332iT

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    Since the weather has been nice and gas has been getting expensive, I've mostly been driving the electric jag. But today, the e46 finally got a little bit of love.

    Borrowing from karter16's method, I decided to re-do the screen protector on my XTRONS head unit so that it's continuous and the seam hidden under the bezel. I managed to do it without braking any of the electrical connectors which were potted into place.

    Here's how it started:
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    And the closest thing I got to a finished photo:
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    After that, I decided that I hate these chrome knobs enough to finally eliminate them. The plan is to 3D print (first one will be done in 45 mins) some knobs similar to the CD53 and factory nav head units. If I like this geometry, then I'll break this into two parts: A plastic inner structure and an SLA elastomer/resin or an SLS TPU grippy surface. This is probably the easiest way for me to mimic the stock knobs with a fun little project that also means trying out a new print process.
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    Last edited by Bry5on; 04-12-2026, 07:26 PM.
    ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

    Comment


      Excited to see how the knobs turn out - that will be a very nice upgrade!!
      2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
      Build Thread:
      https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...e46-m3-journal

      Comment


        Alright not super happy with v1, it's a little long and it repeats a problem that XTRONS themselves designed in where the button underlaps the fascia at the bottom:
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        v2 in the printer now, the button itself is 3.5mm shorter and 1mm larger OD at the tip transition. Also easier to print as a bonus:
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        ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

        Comment


          V2 is looking much better
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          ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

          Comment


            Alright I’m happy with V3. Just 1mm shorter than V2 and feels right. Time to figure out SLA printing​
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            ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

            Comment


              that looks really good! great job!
              2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
              Build Thread:
              https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...e46-m3-journal

              Comment


                Wow, I'm surprised at how different V3 looks to V2 after such a small change. Agreed that V3 is the way to go.

                Gonna farm out the SLA print? Or new toy incoming?
                2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

                Comment


                  Originally posted by heinzboehmer View Post
                  Wow, I'm surprised at how different V3 looks to V2 after such a small change. Agreed that V3 is the way to go.

                  Gonna farm out the SLA print? Or new toy incoming?
                  Farm out is the plan. Looks like they're about $30 a piece or so. Am I crazy for considering just printing the whole thing in 60A rubber-like-resin?
                  ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

                  Comment


                    Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
                    Am I crazy for considering just printing the whole thing in 60A rubber-like-resin?
                    Just don't park the car in the sun! lol
                    2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                    2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

                    Comment


                      Originally posted by heinzboehmer View Post

                      Just don't park the car in the sun! lol
                      Oof, thanks for sparing me the pain of that mistake. Now I'm trying to convince myself that this ABS plastic is good enough
                      ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

                      Comment


                        Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
                        Alright I’m happy with V3. Just 1mm shorter than V2 and feels right. Time to figure out SLA printing​
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                        Those look great

                        Comment


                          Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
                          Oof, thanks for sparing me the pain of that mistake. Now I'm trying to convince myself that this ABS plastic is good enough
                          Single data point, but my phone holder is printed in ABS and has seen many, many hours of direct sun. No warping or deformation that I can see.
                          2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                          2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

                          Comment


                            Originally posted by Bry5on View Post

                            Farm out is the plan. Looks like they're about $30 a piece or so. Am I crazy for considering just printing the whole thing in 60A rubber-like-resin?
                            Also would the rubber resin grip the rotary encoder shaft well enough?


                            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                            2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
                            Build Thread:
                            https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...e46-m3-journal

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by karter16 View Post

                              Also would the rubber resin grip the rotary encoder shaft well enough?


                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                              I’ll keep thinking on this as I think all printing methods are out for one reason or another. Maybe a tiny mold and pourable silicone or TPU would do it. Mold the soft stuff right on to a plastic center
                              ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

                              Comment


                                Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
                                3) I got to installing the fender brace with these awesome new rivet nuts (definitely recommend). Fitting up:
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                                Do you happen to know what the minimum clear air is on the other side of the bolt holes? I'm looking at riveting rather than bolting, but would need about 30mm of clearance to fully insert the rivets before crushing them. Wondering if it's clear air back there or additional layers of sheet metal etc. that might be in the way.
                                2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
                                Build Thread:
                                https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...e46-m3-journal

                                Comment

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