UK Project BMW E46 357ci V8
01-08-2012, 04:23 PM
#42
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Got Some E90 mirrors from VasJ he'd already started fitting the drivers one but some muppet decided to modify his car before he'd finished
A few hours with belt sander/air saw/drill I got the drivers one something like it should be still needs a small adjustment to get the top edge where I want it, altho the triangle is the same shape it's a different size so a bit of creativity is going to be required to make them look factory & I'm going to have install the motors from an E46 as the E90 is canBus.
I've done just over 2000 miles in it since UBMW @ SantaPod and I'm still loving it so much in fact it's become my everyday car I've still got a few bits to finish re-do but that's to be expected with a project of this scale.
My diff needs a rebuild while I'm doing this I'll be changing the ratio from 3.64 to 3.2 to make 6th gear a real overdrive.
The gearbox needs some love too I'm having difficulty changing gears at higher rpm so at the moment I'm deciding which way to go either the new Tremec T6060 box or rebuild my box with new carbon shift pads & syncro's.
I've got a patch of rust that's appeared on the inside of the left rear arch so this needs sorting too & I'm also considering refurbishing the dash trims & seat backs with Carbon Fibre.
SimonLpearce came over the other night to collect his HSD's for his track slag so took him for a quick spin around the estate & think he was impressed.....
Not sure how much or any of the above will get sorted before the magazines feature it as I have a new job so can't spend half my week at DynoTorque playing with it anymore but I'll do my best to make sure it's as close to perfect as I can.
Few more pics I've found
Must have been dirty.... Dad washing it for me!
05-16-2012, 01:45 AM
#49
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So after what seems like forever but in reality is only 6 weeks or so the car is back up & running and better than ever to boot! So why has she been off the road? Well I've had a little change in my work & I'm now working from DynoTorque's workshop full time doing wiring DynoTorque & Driftworks being my main customers, being here full time gives me more time to mess with my own motor....so... The gearbox hasn't been playing ball shifting gears when revving the engine hard hasn't been possible and over time shifting has become an unpleasant experience good job I've got plenty of torque, my quick shifter keeps coming loose, the rear seal is leaking and the diff input seal is leaking to.
So gearbox out & stripped
Lots of parts are ordered even tho only spring washer for 1st gear was broken much of the box was slightly worn so we replaced as needed & fitted some upgraded shifter pads & filled it with some Redline oil. Craig noticed I'd bottomed out the quick shifter bolts which is why it kept coming loose..
While it was in bits I was offered some BBS LM reps for almost no money so I had to have them, they weren't in perfect condition & the polished rims were a bit to bling for me so I had them powder coated silver & binned the fake chrome pretend bolts & tapped the holes out & put some stainless steel bolts in.
Tried them on the car & they wouldn't clear the brakes so with Craig on the lathe some spacers were turned down so the wheels sit perfectly.
Something that's bugged me for a while is the MPG needle it's the final bit of the cluster that won't do as its told! And I really wanted an oil pressure gauge but noway will an aftermarket gauge be getting fitted into my car so I stripped an aftermarket gauge & removed the mpg needle workings from the cluster
I used an old landrover gauge as they read right to left so here it is with the engine not running.
Craig fitted a sender unit to the engine for me, unfortunately it didn't seem to work so doubting myself I pulled out the cluster & fitted a Mazda gauge only to have the same issue, after checking the sender unit it seems I've ordered the wrong one (NC at rest instead of NO) so a bit more creativity from Craig and a spare sender unit fitted & my mpg needle is now an oil pressure gauge
I've ordered a new sender & gauge so I can do it again with better quality components.
Another part which I've not been 100% satisfied with is the air intake even tho it has a large Pipercross filter by the N/S fog light the intake was creating a slight vacuum so I ordered some 90mm tube & bends for Craig to make me a new intake, what I thought would be a quick job was a lot more involved than I thought & after much cutting & welding the filter now sits perfectly behind the N/S air intake & is no longer restricting the car. I've made a couple of other very minor changes the silver trim has been painted black and suits the car much better.
I've done a 100 or so miles in it now & the gearbox is superb, the shift is very positive & will shift as easily at WOT as at tickover it might be cause I haven't driven it for a few weeks but it really seems to rev faster too, corners keep throwing themselves at me! I'm still loving the car & making more & more like a factory car.
A friend of DynoTorque 'Lippy' called down the other day by day he works in car design & has driven way to many new cars and being a massive petrol head & nervously handed him the keys!
Lippy said
Blair
So gearbox out & stripped
Lots of parts are ordered even tho only spring washer for 1st gear was broken much of the box was slightly worn so we replaced as needed & fitted some upgraded shifter pads & filled it with some Redline oil. Craig noticed I'd bottomed out the quick shifter bolts which is why it kept coming loose..
While it was in bits I was offered some BBS LM reps for almost no money so I had to have them, they weren't in perfect condition & the polished rims were a bit to bling for me so I had them powder coated silver & binned the fake chrome pretend bolts & tapped the holes out & put some stainless steel bolts in.
Tried them on the car & they wouldn't clear the brakes so with Craig on the lathe some spacers were turned down so the wheels sit perfectly.
Something that's bugged me for a while is the MPG needle it's the final bit of the cluster that won't do as its told! And I really wanted an oil pressure gauge but noway will an aftermarket gauge be getting fitted into my car so I stripped an aftermarket gauge & removed the mpg needle workings from the cluster
I used an old landrover gauge as they read right to left so here it is with the engine not running.
Craig fitted a sender unit to the engine for me, unfortunately it didn't seem to work so doubting myself I pulled out the cluster & fitted a Mazda gauge only to have the same issue, after checking the sender unit it seems I've ordered the wrong one (NC at rest instead of NO) so a bit more creativity from Craig and a spare sender unit fitted & my mpg needle is now an oil pressure gauge
I've ordered a new sender & gauge so I can do it again with better quality components.Another part which I've not been 100% satisfied with is the air intake even tho it has a large Pipercross filter by the N/S fog light the intake was creating a slight vacuum so I ordered some 90mm tube & bends for Craig to make me a new intake, what I thought would be a quick job was a lot more involved than I thought & after much cutting & welding the filter now sits perfectly behind the N/S air intake & is no longer restricting the car. I've made a couple of other very minor changes the silver trim has been painted black and suits the car much better.
I've done a 100 or so miles in it now & the gearbox is superb, the shift is very positive & will shift as easily at WOT as at tickover
it might be cause I haven't driven it for a few weeks but it really seems to rev faster too, corners keep throwing themselves at me! I'm still loving the car & making more & more like a factory car.A friend of DynoTorque 'Lippy' called down the other day by day he works in car design & has driven way to many new cars and being a massive petrol head & nervously handed him the keys!
Lippy said
After working yesterday morning, and the previous day trash talking about monster V8's on FB went to see Craig's progress with his monster 7 litre twin turbo Mazda. Great fun shooting the breeze with old mates laughing at old pic's of us racing SM. Then Blair slid me the keys to his LS1 5.7 E46 BMW coupe and said....”Take it out for a spin, tell me what you think...”
Out the door faster than Usain Bolt, sliding into the drivers seat it feels just like my old E46 Coupe, until you turn the key and get the unmistakable crobba,crob thunder rumble of a big bore V8. There are many superlatives I could use to describe the almost OEM like ride comfort (really well chosen dampers and springs, firm, and precise but never jarring),lovely steering feel, superbly judged brakes etc, etc...but the engine is the dominant factor, but only in a good way. The whole car makes a stock M3 feel like an effete limp wristed barbie chariot. It really is that good, pick a gear, (any gear from the 6 available!) and you have major boost on tap, revs (ala stock M3) are good but torque is what we really want. The LS gives it in spades, and yet still revs like a crazed spinning top too. This car is like having yer cake and eating it...I could woffle endlessly about it, but I'm picking two words only....F*cking Sweet!!
I am currently in negotiation with Mrs L, we both have spare kidneys, if I can convince her to sell her spare one too, maybe I can get Craig to build me one “just like Blair's”
I would have offered my soul to the Devil but apparently I lost that several years ago in a tequila fuelled dice game in Germany....
Out the door faster than Usain Bolt, sliding into the drivers seat it feels just like my old E46 Coupe, until you turn the key and get the unmistakable crobba,crob thunder rumble of a big bore V8. There are many superlatives I could use to describe the almost OEM like ride comfort (really well chosen dampers and springs, firm, and precise but never jarring),lovely steering feel, superbly judged brakes etc, etc...but the engine is the dominant factor, but only in a good way. The whole car makes a stock M3 feel like an effete limp wristed barbie chariot. It really is that good, pick a gear, (any gear from the 6 available!) and you have major boost on tap, revs (ala stock M3) are good but torque is what we really want. The LS gives it in spades, and yet still revs like a crazed spinning top too. This car is like having yer cake and eating it...I could woffle endlessly about it, but I'm picking two words only....F*cking Sweet!!
I am currently in negotiation with Mrs L, we both have spare kidneys, if I can convince her to sell her spare one too, maybe I can get Craig to build me one “just like Blair's”
I would have offered my soul to the Devil but apparently I lost that several years ago in a tequila fuelled dice game in Germany....
05-16-2012, 01:48 AM
#50
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A micro update by my standards!
The strut brace & new air intake were a bit to shiny/blingy for me so I had them powdercoated black to make them less in your face.
Apart from that most of the interior is back in after I removed everything searching for a few rattles & clunks just 2 are eluding me at the moment but I will silence them!
And then I think the car is finished!! Duno what I'm going to do with myself.... Oh that is apart from the audio install....
The strut brace & new air intake were a bit to shiny/blingy for me so I had them powdercoated black to make them less in your face.
Apart from that most of the interior is back in after I removed everything searching for a few rattles & clunks just 2 are eluding me at the moment but I will silence them!
And then I think the car is finished!! Duno what I'm going to do with myself.... Oh that is apart from the audio install....
05-23-2012, 05:48 PM
#51
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One of the few original BMW parts failed
After falling over at the cost of BMW exhaust hanger I put on my best sad face until Craig took pity on me & made me a bespoke one so why he did his thing I went next door to driftworks & got one of their blue mounts
Cheers Craig the reason I (Craig) spotted it was broken was while trying to track down one of the last few noises, I'd heard and read about about M3's suffering diff noise and requiring oil with a Friction Modifier in but I kinda dismissed it as rubbish, how wrong could I have been all noises now gone
I've started fitting the audio system nothing flash but hopefully it'll sound better than the awful standard stuff.....
Amps mounted so they can be adjusted through the cubby box
Playing hide and seek
Modified the standard BMW fuse holder & added a 40amp fuse
After falling over at the cost of BMW exhaust hanger I put on my best sad face until Craig took pity on me & made me a bespoke one so why he did his thing I went next door to driftworks & got one of their blue mounts
Cheers Craig
the reason I (Craig) spotted it was broken was while trying to track down one of the last few noises, I'd heard and read about about M3's suffering diff noise and requiring oil with a Friction Modifier in but I kinda dismissed it as rubbish, how wrong could I have been all noises now gone I've started fitting the audio system nothing flash but hopefully it'll sound better than the awful standard stuff.....
Amps mounted so they can be adjusted through the cubby box
Playing hide and seek
Modified the standard BMW fuse holder & added a 40amp fuse
06-02-2012, 09:17 AM
#52
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Had a bit of an incident.... All my own doing.
Lost quite a bit oil with a leaking crank seal and messing with oil pressure sensors but I overlooked topping it up or even checking it, what an idiot!!!! I wasn't sure if I should make it public or not but if my stupidity makes someone else check their oil then that can only be a good thing?
I pulled the sump off to check the damage shells one of which had spun damaging the crank, the damage is pretty minor considering how low on oil it was.
Engine out and Craig stripped it. He also managed to source a crank & shells for me overnight!!!
And back in
Lost quite a bit oil with a leaking crank seal and messing with oil pressure sensors but I overlooked topping it up or even checking it, what an idiot!!!! I wasn't sure if I should make it public or not but if my stupidity makes someone else check their oil then that can only be a good thing?
I pulled the sump off to check the damage shells one of which had spun damaging the crank, the damage is pretty minor considering how low on oil it was.
Engine out and Craig stripped it. He also managed to source a crank & shells for me overnight!!!
And back in
07-03-2012, 07:46 PM
#54
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Nice build, very clean work Would you post more details on how you dealt with the can-bus? Did you just relocate all of the original engine sensors to the LS, and reconnect them? Is the crank signal the major hurdle? Any details on the custom trigger wheel? Mounting etc? It seems to me that I just need to fool the BMW ECM into thinking the original engine is still in the car running and the LS wiring will be isolated and stand alone? Is it really that simple? I've done quite a few LS swaps and it's pretty simple but this is new to me. I am getting ready to do a 2000 323i. It is an auto and I'm going with a 6 speed. Does that further complicate things? Other than the obvious pedal and hydraulics. Thanks.
07-05-2012, 12:39 PM
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I actually would love know how hard the hurdle was for the can-bus wiring... That's the only thing stopping me from getting another E46 because at this point it looks like e36 is the easier way to go...
07-31-2012, 07:21 AM
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Signed up here purely because I saw this car last night on the roads; shot past me down the A41 into Solihull (I was in an E46 M3) and turned off down Lode Ln in a somewhat exuberant manner..
So, bikealarmblair, if you still own the car - how did you talk your way out of that one?
So, bikealarmblair, if you still own the car - how did you talk your way out of that one?
07-31-2012, 04:29 PM
#58
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Signed up here purely because I saw this car last night on the roads; shot past me down the A41 into Solihull (I was in an E46 M3) and turned off down Lode Ln in a somewhat exuberant manner..
So, bikealarmblair, if you still own the car - how did you talk your way out of that one?
So, bikealarmblair, if you still own the car - how did you talk your way out of that one?
for some reason the policeman didn't seem to appreciate my sideways antics...... 
07-31-2012, 04:34 PM
#60
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Nice build, very clean work Would you post more details on how you dealt with the can-bus? Did you just relocate all of the original engine sensors to the LS, and reconnect them? Is the crank signal the major hurdle? Any details on the custom trigger wheel? Mounting etc? It seems to me that I just need to fool the BMW ECM into thinking the original engine is still in the car running and the LS wiring will be isolated and stand alone? Is it really that simple? I've done quite a few LS swaps and it's pretty simple but this is new to me. I am getting ready to do a 2000 323i. It is an auto and I'm going with a 6 speed. Does that further complicate things? Other than the obvious pedal and hydraulics. Thanks.
Don't make a big deal out of the can bus we can get around it easily.
Leave the BMW's DME in the car on the engine side of the loom you connect the temp sender to the new engine and have a 60-2 trigger wheel made and connect the crank sensor to it, the rest of the swap is per any 'normal' car.