[BenFenner]

Originally Posted by rothwem

I'm not sure if you realize, but your wheel offset is a large contributor to the dirtyness behind your fender wells.

Yep, I'm aware.

Immediately after buying the wheels I ordered some mud flaps. This was 2017-07-07 from Pelican Parts.

It turns out I was a bit too late (maybe by years), and my order never filled. They are apparently NLA, and I've just stopped looking for now.

Originally Posted by K9Leader

Yes, I know they are not "cool" but splashguards really do help keep it clean and keep down the paint chipping/damage. I have them on both front and back of my E91. I couldn't get the OEM as not being made any longer but the set I got off of the auction site fits well and does the job.

Oh, I'm all about some mud flaps. I think they are super cool.
So many of us Coupe owners are trying to get them re-made...

I'll have to look into it again at some point. It is nice to know you're happy with your aftermarket units. That gives me hope.

Originally Posted by nsjames

and mud flaps on wagons are cool.

Exactly.

[BenFenner]

Perform outstanding factory recalls | Album

It was finally time to get the ill-fated Takata airbags replaced.
Apparently they also replaced the HVAC blower motor wiring and PCV valve + heater.

This work was performed at 100,430 miles.

The funny story about this visit to the dealership, was that none of the service techs could drive a manual. We waited ~20 minutes until a young, Hispanic car washer could pull it in.
When we picked up the car, we had to go to the service bay ourselves to drive the car out. :crazy:



Pics:

[K9Leader]

Originally Posted by BenFenner

Oh, I'm all about some mud flaps. I think they are super cool.
So many of us Coupe owners are trying to get them re-made...

I'll have to look into it again at some point. It is nice to know you're happy with your aftermarket units. That gives me hope.

These were the ones I ordered back in April 2018 and price has dropped since then so an even better deal - https://www.ebay.com/itm/for-BMW-3-S...72.m2749.l2649

[nsjames]

I wish I could find some for pre lci.

I may have to gamble and then just cut them up.

[sk1939]

Originally Posted by BenFenner

Perform outstanding factory recalls | Album

It was finally time to get the ill-fated Takata airbags replaced.
Apparently they also replaced the HVAC blower motor wiring and PCV valve + heater.

This work was performed at 100,430 miles.

Did your car have open recalls? Trying to figure out if mine has had all of that done. Supposedly has no open recalls and has been 100% dealer serviced, but no good way to check.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by sk1939

Did your car have open recalls? Trying to figure out if mine has had all of that done. Supposedly has no open recalls and has been 100% dealer serviced, but no good way to check.

call a dealer with a vin number and ask them.

[sk1939]

Originally Posted by nsjames

call a dealer with a vin number and ask them.

All they would tell me (at least the one that serviced it) was no open recalls and no major work performed.

[Tambohamilton]

What more do you need to know?

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by sk1939

All they would tell me (at least the one that serviced it) was no open recalls and no major work performed.

so what's the issue?

[sk1939]

Originally Posted by nsjames

so what's the issue?

Simply because I have no idea if these things were actually fixed. They don’t classify as a major service, and no open recalls don’t mean they actually addressed the recalled parts to my knowledge.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by sk1939

Simply because I have no idea if these things were actually fixed. They don’t classify as a major service, and no open recalls don’t mean they actually addressed the recalled parts to my knowledge.

if the dealer says there are no open recalls for your vin, then that means a BMW dealer performed the recall services.

a major service event is something like removing the engine or transmission.

not recall work.

you worry too much.

[BenFenner]

Originally Posted by sk1939

Did your car have open recalls?

Yes, it had an open recall for the Takata air bags at the least. I guess it also had open recalls for the other two things they took care of.

Originally Posted by sk1939

Trying to figure out if mine has had all of that done. Supposedly has no open recalls and has been 100% dealer serviced, but no good way to check.

As others have said, if you have no open recalls, then your car already had the service done, or did not have the faulty parts to begin with.

[BenFenner]

Replace DME fan | Album

This is part 1 of a 4-part service job. This all stems from codes being thrown by the computer that have piled up over the months.
I'll be replacing the DME fan, then the crankshaft position sensor, then the water pump/thermostat, then an oil change. This is why there are so many parts on the order sheet.

This is one of those jobs that just took forever. It seems the factory workers begin assembling the car with the DME fan at the center, and then work outward from there.
You wouldn't think you'd have to remove so much of the interior, and so much of the engine bay just to get at this damn fan.
I actually had to remove the cowl in the engine bay (and the intake manifold) to get at the crank position sensor (update coming next) anyway, so I saved time there.

After doing this job, I realized it could probably be done just from the interior. I'll try to explain.
After installing the fan, I went to plug it in and realized the plug was completely wrong for my harness. I'm not sure how or why this happened, but I decided to de-pin the new pump wiring and re-use my old pump's plug. Again, I didn't realize this until the fan was installed and I think the engine bay stuff was put back together. So I went about removing the fan by only accessing it from the passenger's foot well. The fan is held onto the white plastic mount by two small torx screws. You can access the bottom screw easily enough, and then with the right combination of crazy tools you can get at the upper screw. I can't imagine doing this not having seen the whole unit outside of the car already, but there you have it. Good luck.

I tested the new and old fan with a battery tender, and the old one was dead, and the new one was good.
After needing to de-pin this plug with a makeshift cylindrical tool made from an electrical butt connector, I'd finally de-pinned my last plug with the wrong tools. I decided to get a giant set of de-pinning tools for me to have in the future. (I also finally ordered some plastic panel removal tools, which will also be very nice to have.)


Parts:
$148.92 | OEM DME/ECU cooling fan | 12907547141


Pics:

[BenFenner]

Replace crankshaft position sensor | Album

This is part 2 of a 4-part service job. This all stems from codes being thrown by the computer that have piled up over the months.
I have already replacing the DME fan. I am now replacing the crankshaft positions sensor, then the water pump/thermostat, then an oil change. This is why there are so many parts on the order sheet.

The only notable thing about this job is that I wish I did it when I replaced the starter a while back. I see now that it makes total sense to replace this as a preventative measure every time you replace a starter. They are in the same area of the block, and all of the same stuff needs to be removed for access. More importantly, if the starter has died, it's likely been 100k miles or so, and the crankshaft position sensor is likely on the way out as well.

Oh, and while I had the intake manifold out this time I gave it a good internal cleaning.

Parts:
$106.30 | OEM crankshaft position sensor | 13627525015
$5.12 | OEM crankshaft position sensor o-ring | 12141748398
$4.46 | OEM crankshaft position sensor torx bolt | 13627530413


Pics:

[BenFenner]

Replace water pump and thermostat | Album

This is part 3 of a 4-part service job. This all stems from codes being thrown by the computer that have piled up over the months.
I have already replacing the DME fan and crankshaft positions sensor. I am now replacing the water pump and thermostat. Lastly I will change the engine oil.
This is why there are so many parts on the order sheet.

The water pump was throwing the code, but I figured I'd do the thermostat while I was in there. I thought it would be inexpensive like any other one I've deal with, but of course BMW has made it super complicated and expensive.

The only notable thing about this job is that it is a total pain in the ass to do, especially on the ground. Access is limited, and you're going to get dirty and covered in slimy coolant. You just have to slog through it and continue to make slow progress.

I ordered a few extra parts that I didn't end up needing. See the parts list below for what is actually required. Even then, the steel bolts (07119905400) could easily be omitted.


Parts:
$289.00 | OEM electric water pump | 11517586925
$111.65 | OEM thermostat | 11537549476
$11.28 | Set of 3 OEM aluminum water pump mounting bolts | 11510392553
$4.91 | Water-pump-to-thermostat mounting bolt (×2) | 07119905400


Pics:

[tlow98]

Nice updates. That ECU fan looks like royal pain.

I've yet to have my intake mani out on this car, but I def have been splashed in the face and had my wallet pumped by the coolant pump, thermo, etc.

Surprised you were able to get the pump+thermo out in one piece! That's a good idea I missed when I did this.

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Nice updates. That ECU fan looks like royal pain.

I've yet to have my intake mani out on this car, but I def have been splashed in the face and had my wallet pumped by the coolant pump, thermo, etc.

Surprised you were able to get the pump+thermo out in one piece! That's a good idea I missed when I did this.

I've been told it's possible on RWD cars.

it's not happening on an XI.
I tried.

[BenFenner]

One of the MANY reasons I insisted on avoiding AWD.

[BenFenner]

Perform oil change | Album

This is the final part of a 4-part service. It looks like this is the second oil change while in our care.

I'm actually very happy to see the previous oil change was completed at 96,391 miles, which means we went 9,122 miles on the previous fill. Anywhere below 15,000 miles is going to make me happy. Close to 10k miles and I'm ecstatic. I don't always get to plan oil changes. Sometimes I just have to do them when I can, or when I think it's been long enough. As I get more organized I can do a better job, but with zero planning I'm very happy with the outcome.

The oil filter was actually purchased a long while back (when I was getting extra body hardware during the exhaust fix).

Parts:
$13.80 | Mann Oil Filter for BMW E91 (N52 engine) | HU816x (compare with BMW OEM 11427953129)
$45.65 | Amsoil 5w40 Classic European Formula Engine Oil, 1 quart (×7) | EFMQT-CA


Pics:

[Tambohamilton]

What date is this at now?

[BenFenner]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

What date is this at now?

Easiest way to tell is to check post #5 where I keep the dated record of maintenance, mods, etc.

The oil change was from 2019-07-06. I am almost caught up!

[Tambohamilton]

Oh yeah...