[axe127]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Here's an interior pic that shows the shift knob. I got it from leatherz.com, and they still offer it without the //M - still $30 extra though!

Chestnut Brown leather by kevinr1916, on Flickr

A little sleeker than the Volvos.... by kevinr1916, on Flickr

And parked in front of the Berlin Wall!

DSCN0490 by kevinr1916, on Flickr

Today she has the BMW Performance Exhaust (and intake), and body color front reflectors. Still looking good approaching 44K miles.

Looks great! I'd love to do Euro-delivery on a car some day.

I just might have to pick up one of those Leatherz ZHP knobs. It looks so much better, and it sounds like it really improves shift-feel, too.

My BMW PE muffler should be arriving today, so that'll go on soon. Can't wait!

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by axe127

Looks great! I'd love to do Euro-delivery on a car some day.

I just might have to pick up one of those Leatherz ZHP knobs. It looks so much better, and it sounds like it really improves shift-feel, too.

My BMW PE muffler should be arriving today, so that'll go on soon. Can't wait!

You will LOVE the PE. People on here b!tch about the price, but you get what you pay for. Dead easy to install too, because it fits properly. Though measure five times and cut once!

Much less value in the intake, but I didn't want to mess around with a car under warranty (did both the week it arrived from Europe). Today I would probably do the Euro intake setup. Though the PI does look nice and improves the sound that much more. Neither make the car faster, but they make it SOUND a lot faster and ultimately that is waaay better. I've had the "330i" intake manifold setup sitting on a shelf for a couple of years waiting for a "round tuit" as well. I plan to be buried in this car.

The only downside to Euro Delivery is that it is just as addictive and expensive as a heroin habit. I've done it twice, and really want to do it again next summer for my 50th birthday. But thankfully BMW has nothing I want to buy, and Porsche prices the Cayman just a tad to high for my cheap Yankee roots (and I have nowhere fun to drive it in FL anyway). So I am in cahoots with a Dutch friend of mine who happens to be a mechanic with his own shop to buy something classic and drive it around for a couple weeks, then ship it home. Tons of Dutch classic car dealers, and they all speak excellent English. I figure a $30K budget will get me something pretty cool.

[axe127]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

You will LOVE the PE. People on here b!tch about the price, but you get what you pay for. Dead easy to install too, because it fits properly. Though measure five times and cut once!

Much less value in the intake, but I didn't want to mess around with a car under warranty (did both the week it arrived from Europe). Today I would probably do the Euro intake setup. Though the PI does look nice and improves the sound that much more. Neither make the car faster, but they make it SOUND a lot faster and ultimately that is waaay better. I've had the "330i" intake manifold setup sitting on a shelf for a couple of years waiting for a "round tuit" as well. I plan to be buried in this car.

The only downside to Euro Delivery is that it is just as addictive and expensive as a heroin habit. I've done it twice, and really want to do it again next summer for my 50th birthday. But thankfully BMW has nothing I want to buy, and Porsche prices the Cayman just a tad to high for my cheap Yankee roots (and I have nowhere fun to drive it in FL anyway). So I am in cahoots with a Dutch friend of mine who happens to be a mechanic with his own shop to buy something classic and drive it around for a couple weeks, then ship it home. Tons of Dutch classic car dealers, and they all speak excellent English. I figure a $30K budget will get me something pretty cool.

The Euro intake and 3SIM are on the roadmap, but still a little ways down the road for me. M

There's tons to be had for $30k! Several old Alfas in that range, Ur-Quattros, maybe some 912s. Sounds fun!

[axe127]

I got the PE muffler installed yesterday (muffler only, no midpipes). It definitely improved the sound, but it's not quite the difference I was hoping for. There's more of a growl and a bit more volume, but I'd still like it to be louder. At some point I might get rid of the resonator to hopefully get closer to the full PE sound. I'll try to get a video up this weekend.

I also developed a significant misfire in cylinder 3 On Sunday. It's been misfiring a bit under load at low RPMs for the last couple of weeks, so I ordered new Delphi coils and NGK plugs. There was no indication of either being replaced previously, so I figured it was time to get them all done. I got around to doing that this evening. Misfire gone!

As suspected, the original plugs and coils were still in place. There was a little bit of oil in #4, but it cleaned up pretty easily. Glad I did the VCG before it got worse. Here's the new vs. old plug comparison. It was definitely time for replacement.

Old


New


The #3 plug also has a nice crack in the insulator. I'm guessing that it, and the coil, saw a bit too much heat a few too many times.

[vdk]

Tasmin Green FTW. Always get compliments at gas stations and meets




Edit: wow that uploading site is ass. Destroyed the quality

[axe127]

Originally Posted by vdk

Tasmin Green FTW. Always get compliments at gas stations and meets




Edit: wow that uploading site is ass. Destroyed the quality

Looking good! Nice wheel choice.

I've been using imgur for uploading and it seems fine.

[axe127]

I installed a ZHP shift knob yesterday. It makes a much bigger difference in shift feel than I had expected. It's awesome. Plus, it looks way better than the stock knob.

[vdk]

Shift knob looks good,
ive been debating getting one. I guess if it does make the shifting better its worth it

[axe127]

Originally Posted by vdk

Shift knob looks good,
ive been debating getting one. I guess if it does make the shifting better its worth it

Definitely. I had $72 in ECS store credit that was expiring, so I figured it was worth it for $15 out of pocket.

[axe127]

I've had a little bit of pulsing at idle that I've been trying to figure out. Nothing major at all, but it's still something that I'd prefer to take care of. I cleaned the MAF sensor last weekend and saw a little improvement, but not much of a difference.

Today I cleaned and swapped the VANOS solenoids and the idle improved quite a bit. There's still a mild pulsing, but it's much less prominent than before, so maybe it's normal. The tachometer doesn't bounce at all, it's just a barely audible pulsing. Anyone know if this is normal for the N52? I've never actually driven or ridden in another one, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

I had the shop who did the coilover install correct the rear springs this week. I'd already thrown away all the old stuff, so I had to get a new set of lower spring pads. $30 for the pair from the dealer. That, plus the $25 Uber to the shop, and their install error cost me $55. Definitely should have DIY'd! On the plus side, the ride height is now sorted. The rear sits about 3/4" lower than before, to the point that I think I actually need to bring it up 1/2". Is that even allowed?

As promised, here's a very quick (and choppy - my phone is very limited on space so I had to be conservative with clip length!) comparison of the exhaust after installing the PE muffler. Again, it's just the muffler. I still have the stock midpipes and resonator installed. It's not as loud as I had hoped, so I might get rid of the stock resonator at some point. Kinda wish I'd just waited to buy a full system used as I've seen a couple pop up recently for the same/less than I paid for just the muffler. Definitely jumped the gun on it... Still an improvement though.

[Jake_Petersen_E91]

Sweet wagon man!! Can't wait to see what's next!

[axe127]

Originally Posted by Jake_Petersen_E91

Sweet wagon man!! Can't wait to see what's next!

Thanks man, likewise! I see you just did the 3SIM - that's probably the next big thing on my list, but that'll likely be a few months away.

[eljay]

That PE exhaust sound!

[Drifter2090]

Love the colour combo! I would try and source out some saddle brown sport front seats and a sport/m steering wheel, it would update the interior a ton!

[krhodes1]

Idle on mine is steady as a rock, so I think you still might have something going on if yours is not. Exhaust sounds good, full thing is definitely a little louder. To really make it sound like Wagner get the Performance Intake to go with it - the price is stupid, but oh dear Dog does it add to the drama. It may not GO any faster, but it sure sounds a lot faster with both. Did that when my car was a week off the boat from Germany.

Should anyone have a hankering for a pristine stock exhaust system with 2600 Autobahn and Scandinavian highway miles on it, it's hanging from the rafters in my garage.

[ECSTuning]

Love me a wagon! The exhaust is sounding good!

As for the idle issues, I've seen a host of cars have a hair of it as you described (no visible on the tach but you can hear/feel it) have tons of parts tossed at them and the issue never get resolved. Honestly, I hate to say it but... wait until you get a code (scan with a BMW specific scan tool as you might have one already that isn't tossing a CEL) then deal with what the car is telling you is wrong.

-James

[mecheng77]

I would reset the ecu as you have made a lot of changes to the car.

How do you know if the plugs were original? Was
The monitor reset even though they were not changed?

[axe127]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Idle on mine is steady as a rock, so I think you still might have something going on if yours is not. Exhaust sounds good, full thing is definitely a little louder. To really make it sound like Wagner get the Performance Intake to go with it - the price is stupid, but oh dear Dog does it add to the drama. It may not GO any faster, but it sure sounds a lot faster with both. Did that when my car was a week off the boat from Germany.

Should anyone have a hankering for a pristine stock exhaust system with 2600 Autobahn and Scandinavian highway miles on it, it's hanging from the rafters in my garage.

Thanks, that's good to know. It's much more prominent in hot weather (101 degrees this afternoon), so I know something's up. I'll be hunting for vacuum leaks next.

The PI is on the list! Unfortunately, the list grows longer every day!

[axe127]

Originally Posted by Drifter2090

Love the colour combo! I would try and source out some saddle brown sport front seats and a sport/m steering wheel, it would update the interior a ton!

Thanks! I'm currently looking for some sport seats. Hopefully I find a set in decent condition soon.

[axe127]

Originally Posted by ECSTuning

Love me a wagon! The exhaust is sounding good!

As for the idle issues, I've seen a host of cars have a hair of it as you described (no visible on the tach but you can hear/feel it) have tons of parts tossed at them and the issue never get resolved. Honestly, I hate to say it but... wait until you get a code (scan with a BMW specific scan tool as you might have one already that isn't tossing a CEL) then deal with what the car is telling you is wrong.

-James

Thanks, James! I appreciate the advice, as well. I've been trying to cross off the "free" fixes (cleaning MAF sensor, swapping VANOS solenoids, etc) before dumping any more into it. But as you suggest, waiting for a code probably makes the most sense, since it's not a serious problem.

That'll allow me to allocate some more funds to send your way for fun things instead

[axe127]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I would reset the ecu as you have made a lot of changes to the car.

How do you know if the plugs were original? Was
The monitor reset even though they were not changed?

Interesting thought - thanks for the suggestion. What's your thinking behind that?

I don't know for sure that the plugs were original, but they were BMW labeled and I had no record of the previous owners changing them. I'll have to check the monitor to see what the interval is at. Good thought!

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by axe127

Interesting thought - thanks for the suggestion. What's your thinking behind that?

I don't know for sure that the plugs were original, but they were BMW labeled and I had no record of the previous owners changing them. I'll have to check the monitor to see what the interval is at. Good thought!

The fuel maps get programmed, yes they can adapt but I would start
Fresh by unplugging the battery for some time