[GnomeChild]

Really wish they made an illuminated knob for M-Sport shifters.......... I am almost considering buying 2 new knobs (M-Sport and Illuminated ZHP) and fusing them together. That's how badly I want an illuminated M-Sport Shifter lol

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Serf27

I think I see what you mean.
Adjust the brightness from the cluster.
If it’s still bright, you can install a voltage regulator on the + wire for the shifter and bring the voltage down.
You can also have it always on if you use the original red wire you were tapped into and using a voltage regulator will bring down the brightness.

That sounds like entirely too much work!!!

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

Really wish they made an illuminated knob for M-Sport shifters.......... I am almost considering buying 2 new knobs (M-Sport and Illuminated ZHP) and fusing them together. That's how badly I want an illuminated M-Sport Shifter lol

Hmmmm... you've got me thinking now!

[GnomeChild]

Ended up being a pretty productive day. I didn't end up doing much (myself) to the e90, but I did do some damage on a junkyard e90/e91. Last week I gutted a yard e91 for some CA wiring for a rear CA handle retrofit (also pulled some puddle light wiring for rear puddle light retrofit as well)



This week I went back to finish the job since I would need pins for my wiring. The door connector I was working on was luckily still in the car so I just chopped it body side at the FRM module.



Sloppy job really, but I'm glad I had to go back because....





the e90 that was sitting right next to the e91 at the yard had a heated steering wheel!
I gutted the harness and swooped up the lower wheel trim, button included. I have different final plans for the wheel (Heated F10 wheel with Cruise Control delete) so this one might go up for sale since I ultimately might not need it. I really only needed it to gut the wiring harness but the column trim/button was too "rare" for me to pass up



I also came away with some extra goodies including a second puddle light for my rear puddle light retrofit. If anyone wants an LCI headlight switch or a white connector for the budget Euro Foglight retrofit let me know!



After I was finished up at the yard, took the car into my local Les Schwab because they always do good work for me. Needed one of my TPMS sensors replaced because I'm chasing down an intermittent TPMS Inactive Malfunction and I think a dying TPMS is causing it. Oddly enough when the guy scanned my sensors he said they all scanned fine which was weird because maybe 2-3 weeks prior when I went in and asked them to scan my sensors, they said my driver's front TPMS was toast. I opted to switch it with a used TPMS I bought off eBay anyway since the stem was pretty damaged (pictured above) so hopefully my TPMS malfunction doesn't come back. I would have gone new on the TPMS but I am planning on new wheels soon so this is just to hold me over until then. When one TPMS starts to go bad, the rest are soon to follow....

Curiously they didn't charge me for exchanging my TPMS (and they did so against policy: they don't install 3rd party hardware even if it's OEM. They just made an exception for me since I've been in there so often).



They did however charge me for "TPMS Relearn" but I thought BMWs were pretty good with automatically detecting and integrating new sensors without programming/flashing?
I can't imagine they did anything besides the TPMS reset through iDrive. Did they do anything with external programming tools or did I just get fleeced for $25? Lol



Finished off the day by heading to Chevron for a fill-up. Haven't filled up since maybe 2 months ago since the e90 is the weekend car but damn, gas got expensive again
At least it wasn't as bad as me hitting $100+ a tank at one point. That was rough


Damn.... I should make a build thread lol

[GnomeChild]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Hmmmm... you've got me thinking now!

Let me know if you actually do it. If it's possible I may do it myself

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

Let me know if you actually do it. If it's possible I may do it myself

$15 Chinese knock-off is inbound!

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

That sounds like entirely too much work!!!

Your other option is to live with it as is!

[Serf27]

Swapped the fake carbon mirror covers for new ones. Old ones about 2 years before the clear flaked.
Added dielectric grease to coils
Filled up with e85. I forgot how fast the n54 is on e85.

I have the heated steering wheel kit, just missing the heated sport wheel.

[nsjames]

swapped the rear washer pump for one that didn't have a hole in it.

only took me two tries to get all the grommets sealed up in the washer bottle. Better than the last time I fixed a leak.
finally gong free in my car. Haven't had a non leaky washer bottle in 6 months because I just hate that thing.

[GnomeChild]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

$15 Chinese knock-off is inbound!

Tag me brotha!

[GnomeChild]

Originally Posted by Serf27

I have the heated steering wheel kit, just missing the heated sport wheel

I'm considering buying a heated wheel and rewrapping it in M-Sport perforations. It won't be my final wheel but may be a good holdover to make sure my heated wheel retrofit works correctly before throwing the F10 wheel/emulator in the mix. Might even swap out the "CD" button with a red M Drive button and flash to IK 1M N54 so I have M Drive and my M3 cluster lights up the green M Drive button...
So many mods so little money....

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

I'm considering buying a heated wheel and rewrapping it in M-Sport perforations. It won't be my final wheel but may be a good holdover to make sure my heated wheel retrofit works correctly before throwing the F10 wheel/emulator in the mix

That’s what I’m waiting for.
Waiting for a cheap heated sport wheel to pop up then re wrap it.
I have an m4 wheel but instructions to retrofit it are unclear.

[GnomeChild]

Originally Posted by Serf27

That’s what I’m waiting for.
Waiting for a cheap heated sport wheel to pop up then re wrap it.
I have an m4 wheel but instructions to retrofit it are unclear.

You can't use a F3x/F8x wheel because the electric steering spline is smaller than the standard physical connection rack. You can only use the F10 wheel since those still had a mechanical steering rack and the splines are the same as the e9x ones. You'll have to compete with F10 Pre-LCI guys; the wheels alone are $700-1000 based on condition/options because of the demand.

As far as wiring goes, in order to get the F10 controls to work, you'll need an emulator. F10 emits CAN2 signals and does not get read by the e9x CAN1 system, so you'll need a box to convert the signals. The only one I've found has to be imported from Europe and is offered by BCR. It's pricey but seems like the only option. e90post is communist and censors the link but you can google it "BMW F Series Steering Wheel Adapter E Series". They are currently out of stock, no clue if/when they will ever restock. They also have the wiring instructions on the product page. I'd would give you direct links but it just gets censored.

Total cost for a functional F10 wheel retrofit is nearly $1500; close to $2000 if you want to retrofit the heated function as well and "do it right"
Sourcing used parts will save you quite a good amount but good luck sourcing used non-cruise control setup components/stalk module/clockspring, they don't exist



EDIT


A little taste of the wiring instructions; for the full pdf you'll have to google it yourself

[fazm]

I started my valv cover/gasket/plugs/coils/milvs job today. I got through the disassembly in about 4 hours. I sent serf a whole bunch of pics and commentary.

I started the first MILV but somehow slipped the spring off the rocker and had a really great "Oh No." moment. Serf and I started working the problem (he had some suggestions) and I decided to just order the valve spring tool ($80) on amazon and email marty for input.

Marty confirmed I just use the tool to remove the spring, seat the rocker, then re-install the spring. At this point, I'd say just get the dang cool (or borrow mine) if you're doing MILVs.

The tool arrives Monday and I'll get started on the replacement/reassembly. I bet I'll be able to do this job faster next time (may it never be!). It's a fairly big DIY all-in. Thankfully, it is incredibly well documented. The FCP Euro, Auto Repair Guys, Craig Beamer, and Zeiten all had GREAT videos for each part of the job. I'll do an effort post with pics and lessons learned once the car starts back up.

In the meantime, I rented a model 3 on turo. Wonder what that will be like.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

I'm considering buying a heated wheel and rewrapping it in M-Sport perforations. It won't be my final wheel but may be a good holdover to make sure my heated wheel retrofit works correctly before throwing the F10 wheel/emulator in the mix. Might even swap out the "CD" button with a red M Drive button and flash to IK 1M N54 so I have M Drive and my M3 cluster lights up the green M Drive button...
So many mods so little money....

haha, yeah, same boat, so many mods so little money.

I bought a complete e90 donor , fully loaded to swap all the options in my E91.

starting to get all the diy thread on my excel sheet.

[StradaRedlands]

Picked some parts. LKQ had a car come in with sport wheel and an unexploded airbag, so grabbed that along with some misc parts. I have the wheel and all interior trim in aluminum so if I ever come across the right car can swap out!

I went in looking to grab a oil cooler assembly off of an E60, and still might do that someday, but everything is so trashed I am reluctant to go that route. I'm thinking the housing and cooler are pretty solid pieces, so if I get them used, the rest of the kit isn't too bad. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-11428683206kt

[GnomeChild]

That's a fine pickup, simply for the airbag alone
I got my airbag replaced under recall warranty but bastards at the dealer didn't let me keep the old bag

What do the diamond and star button do on the wheel controls? CD/Recirculation?

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

That's a fine pickup, simply for the airbag alone
I got my airbag replaced under recall warranty but bastards at the dealer didn't let me keep the old bag

What do the diamond and star button do on the wheel controls? CD/Recirculation?

Yep, I'm pretty happy with the haul. I ran the VIN, and no recall on the bag, so good to go! I don't know about the diamond, but star is recirc.

I'll hold onto it for a while, but may eventually release to the wild!

[GnomeChild]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I'll hold onto it for a while, but may eventually release to the wild!

Is it heated as well? You can easily tell as there should be a blue plug/connector underneath the airbag

I may be... interested... if it is

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

Is it heated as well?

I may be... interested... if it is

No such luck... I've never actually seen one IRL.

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by fazm

I started my valv cover/gasket/plugs/coils/milvs job today. I got through the disassembly in about 4 hours. I sent serf a whole bunch of pics and commentary.

I started the first MILV but somehow slipped the spring off the rocker and had a really great "Oh No." moment. Serf and I started working the problem (he had some suggestions) and I decided to just order the valve spring tool ($80) on amazon and email marty for input.

Marty confirmed I just use the tool to remove the spring, seat the rocker, then re-install the spring. At this point, I'd say just get the dang cool (or borrow mine) if you're doing MILVs.

The tool arrives Monday and I'll get started on the replacement/reassembly. I bet I'll be able to do this job faster next time (may it never be!). It's a fairly big DIY all-in. Thankfully, it is incredibly well documented. The FCP Euro, Auto Repair Guys, Craig Beamer, and Zeiten all had GREAT videos for each part of the job. I'll do an effort post with pics and lessons learned once the car starts back up.

In the meantime, I rented a model 3 on turo. Wonder what that will be like.

I’m sure they’ll be worth the headache!

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

You can't use a F3x/F8x wheel because the electric steering spline is smaller than the standard physical connection rack. You can only use the F10 wheel since those still had a mechanical steering rack and the splines are the same as the e9x ones. You'll have to compete with F10 Pre-LCI guys; the wheels alone are $700-1000 based on condition/options because of the demand.

As far as wiring goes, in order to get the F10 controls to work, you'll need an emulator. F10 emits CAN2 signals and does not get read by the e9x CAN1 system, so you'll need a box to convert the signals. The only one I've found has to be imported from Europe and is offered by BCR. It's pricey but seems like the only option. e90post is communist and censors the link but you can google it "BMW F Series Steering Wheel Adapter E Series". They are currently out of stock, no clue if/when they will ever restock. They also have the wiring instructions on the product page. I'd would give you direct links but it just gets censored.

Total cost for a functional F10 wheel retrofit is nearly $1500; close to $2000 if you want to retrofit the heated function as well and "do it right"
Sourcing used parts will save you quite a good amount but good luck sourcing used non-cruise control setup components/stalk module/clockspring, they don't exist



EDIT


A little taste of the wiring instructions; for the full pdf you'll have to google it yourself

A shame. This wheel is almost new and HOT!

Side note, the E7X heating element for the heated wheel is removable.
I may get one of those wheels since they’re more common and remove the heating element and put it on my E90 wheel or am f chassis wheel.

[RealJ22]

Test fit these 20” alpinas. Not sold on them. Have to do some spacers and tire adjustments.