| May |
19: Fluidyne radiator returned; Replaced Radiator |
| 11: Fluidyne radiator arrives |
| 04: Windshield leak; Radiator Leak |
| April |
19: MiniDSPs arrive and are bench tested |
| March |
23: M3 Mirror Upgrade
parts arrive; More stereo design decisions and parts |
| 03: Wiper Blade Update; Pirelli Update; Routine
Oil Service |
| February |
16: Another SRS Fault Light; Washer Fluid
Reformulated; Wiper Refills Changed |
| January |
30: A/M Switch Replacement; Financial Realities
for Dealer Technicians |
| 19: Stainless wash bucket;
Silicone Paste Lubricant; Headlight switch bulb replacement |
| December |
22: Thermostat housing leak and replacement; A step forward |
| 04: Pirelli Review; Oil Service and Analysis |
| November |
17: Winter wheels installed |
| 10: Two weeks of hell; Set of Pirelli Winter Carving Edge arrive |
| October |
27: Refinished Style 30 wheels arrive; More winter tire research; Toybox update |
| 14: Wurth special purpose greases;
Winter wheel prep; More parts and plans |
| September |
29: Yet more audio equipment research; Winter tire options |
| 14: More trim parts; More audio equipment research |
| August |
25: Another OBC bulb replacement; A peek inside the OBC |
| 18: New seat foam base, Pioneer DEH-80PRS, rear window seals arrive; Overengineering |
| 02: Oil Service; Suspension
performance report; Seat parts research |
| July |
25: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Alignment and Project Summary |
| 21: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 17: Complete |
| 15: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 16: Assembly (misc repairs, lock housing) |
| 08: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 15: Assembly (swaybar, xbrace) |
| 06: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 14: Assembly (bleed brakes, torque axle nuts) |
| 05: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 13: Assembly (steering column, rack, tierods) |
| 04: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 12: Steering column removed, refurbished |
| 02: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 11; Assembly (Sensor jbox, brakes) |
| June |
30: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 10; Assembly (Brake shields, wheel bearings) |
| 24: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 9; Assembly (Struts, kingpins, control arms) |
| 23: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 8; Black powdercoating, subframe reinstalled |
| 17: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 7; Silver powdercoating, refurb steering shaft |
| 10: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 6; Disassembly (brake calipers) |
| 09: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 5; Disassembly (engine mounts) |
| 02: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 4; Disassembly (tierods, steering rack) |
| May |
29: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 3; Disassembly (struts, bearings) |
| 28: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 2; Disassembly (brakes) |
| 27: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Day 1; X-Brace Nutsert Installation |
| 18: Waste oil containers; Ordered tools and nutserts for X-Brace Installation |
| April |
27: More parts for the front suspension overhaul |
| 06: Cam position sensor replaced; Reader tool donation |
| 03: CEL and cam position sensor fault |
| March |
18: Summer wheels with PS2s return to service |
| 17: Early Spring Service Part 2 (project complete) |
| 16: More front suspension and steering
column overhaul parts arrive |
| 11: Early Spring Service Part
1; Ordered more front end parts and a special tool |
| February |
17: Oil dipstick o-rings;
More front end overhaul parts; Stereo upgrade update |
| December |
23: Feedback from Ground Control
on my camber plate research; Year end summary |
| 07: Stereo volume control problem;
Audio system upgrade research |
| November |
19: Fixed steering noise by
installing new bearing |
| 12: New Roundel; Parts arrive
to repair steering noise; Gummi Pflege experiment |
| October |
30: Back to winter tires; Oil
Service; Steering wheel noise develops |
| 21: Fabricated custom rear window
sunshade; Toybox update |
| 01: Interior Overhaul - Wrap
Up; Gahh fabric swatches arrive |
| September |
25: Interior Overhaul - Day
8; Installed new headliner; Installed new FSU and tested iPod adapter |
| 17: Interior Overhaul - Day
7; Installed new sunroof cassette and tested normal function |
| 16: Interior Overhaul - Day
6; Removed old sunroof cassette |
| 15: Interior Overhaul - Day
5; Repaired another side panel, installed new parcel shelf |
| 11: Interior Overhaul - Day
4; More parts arrive; Repaired side panel |
| 05: Interior Overhaul - Day
3; Cut new parcel shelf; Repaired brake light assembly |
| 04: Interior Overhaul - Day
2; New sunroof and window seals; Tail lamp assembly failure |
| 03: Interior Overhaul - Day
1; Removed headliner; State Inspection Passed |
| August |
31: Intermittent HVAC blower
operation; The Flip Side of Anger |
| 27: Interior Overhaul - More
parts arrive; Secondary air pump disassembly; Construction update |
| 20: Interior Overhaul - First
Parts Arrive; USA Spec PA12-BMW iPod adapter |
| 05: Headliner continues to disintegrate |
| July |
16: Front Suspension Overhaul
- Control Arms and Camber Plate Research, First Parts Arrive |
| June |
26: Driver's Door Overhaul -
Complete |
| 25: Door handle assembled; Construction
Here and There; Longacre Racing tire gauge |
| 19: Hydraulic tensioner installed |
| 11: Hydraulic tensioner conversion
parts received |
| May |
30: Driver's Door Overhaul -
Day Two |
| 29: Driver's Door Overhaul -
Day One |
| 28: Mechanical tensioner noise;
1M in person; Oil service |
| 25: Fourth windshield replacement;
Interior repair quotes; Additional driver's door parts |
| 14: Cracked windshield; New
driver's side door panel arrives |
| April |
17: Replaced secondary air pump
and check valve; Miscellaneous Factoids |
| 10: Installed new summer wheels;
Replaced failed driver's door window motor |
| March |
25: Picked up new summer wheels
and tires; Secondary Air Injection pump acting up |
| 12: Purchase of summer wheels
and tires; Lift shopping |
| February |
26: Reader donation: magnetic
drain plugs |
| 19: Seatbelt Stop Repair; Oil
Service |
| January |
22: Another bad driver's window
motor; New microfilter |
| December |
18: HVAC controller fixed |
| 12: HVAC controller gremlins
return |
| 05: Fog light bulb replacement;
Instrument cluster replacement research |
| November |
18: Milestone: 200000 miles |
| October |
31: Return to snow tires; MPG
Trend |
| 23: Snow tire remounted; Check
Engine light; The Typical BMW Buyer |
| 14: Oil Analysis Results; Email
Trend |
| 09: Oil Service; New Style 30
wheel; Gauge cluster malfunction; Plans |
| August |
29: Front Brake Job |
| July |
26: Accessory Overhaul Complete |
| 25: Accessory Overhaul Day One |
| 23: Remaining parts for accessory
overhaul arrive |
| 21: Battery Failure |
| 17: Sagging Headliner |
| 09: Oil Service and Analysis;
Front Suspension Overhaul Plans |
| 07: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Alignment |
| June |
28: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Complete |
| 26: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Assembly Day Three |
| 25: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Assembly Day Two |
| 24: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Assembly Day One |
| 20: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Miscellaneous preassembly tasks |
| 18: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Parts return from powder coating |
| 13: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Body harness repair and parts preparation for painting |
| 11: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Parts returned |
| 09: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Parts sent out for disassembly |
| 06: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Disassembly Day Two |
| 05: Rear Suspension Overhaul
- Disassembly Day One; Axle Remanufacturing Options |
| May |
27: Failed trailing arm bushing
leads to suspension overhaul |
| 07: More parts and prep for
accessory overhaul |
| April |
17: First parts upcoming engine
accessory work arrive |
| 04: Back to summer tires; Update
on oil leak; Technician's comments on lead wear |
| March |
15: Oil analysis identifies
lead wear trend |
| 07: Oil Service |
| January |
24: Replaced normal and high
speed aux fan relays |
| 16: High speed aux fan relay
failure |
| 09: Windshield washer system
repair and overhaul |
| December |
31: Windshield washer system
leak; end of year numbers and notes |
| November |
01: Back to winter tires; 2nd
DIY brake fluid flush |
| October |
14: How not to fix a flat tire |
| 11: Oil service and analysis;
engine air filter; microfilter |
| September |
19: State inspection; New winter
tires |
| July |
04: New crankcase vent, idle
control valve, intake manifold air temperature sensor |
| June |
28: Oil Service; Upcoming Work |
| 25: Flat left rear tire; HVAC
blower motor installation |
| May |
23: New wiper assemblies; A/M
Switch LED Conversion Experiment; More blower motor research |
| April |
18: New summer tires (Pilot
Sport A/S Plus); Second DIY differential fluid change; Rear drivetrain
noise |
| March |
21: Oil Service; Suspension
Work Research |
| 17: CEL for fuel tank leak (benign) |
| February |
07: Thermostat and housing;
Coolant Flush |
| January |
24: Tire repair |
| 08: Catalytic Converter Replacement;
New exhaust mounts |
| December |
23: Yet another CEL for Catalytic
Converter Efficiency. What else? |
| 14: Oil Service; Parts for Blower
Motor fix |
| November |
02: Back to Winter Rubber; HVAC
blower motor noise |
| October |
19: First DIY driver's door
window motor and regulator |
| 11: Consequences of worn rear
tires; Microfilter |
| September |
07: Swaybar Update; Surprise
Brake Job |
| 01: Oil analysis; Trip to Hazmat;
Rear swaybar service (bushings and endlinks) |
| August |
30: first DIY coolant flush |
| 23: Fuel System Treatment; Oil
Service; DIY Inspection; Record keeping note |
| June |
07: Aux fan connectors replaced |
| May |
31: Aux fan revisited |
| 24: Fuel system cleaner; Fuel
filter inspection; Oil analysis; coolant flush research |
| 17: Oil Service, Fuel Filter |
| 04: Aux cooling fan replacement |
| April |
27: Trim restoration experiment;
Aux cooling fan failure |
| 20: Valve train noise; OBC clock
bulb replacement |
| 05: Return to summer rubber;
First DIY Brake Fluid Flush |
| February |
02: Oil service and analysis;
Dunlop Winter Sport M3 Review; Ten Years |
| December |
08: New winter tires for 16" wheels |
| November |
22: Microfilter |
| 18: Fog light replacement |
| October |
27: Oil Service and Analysis;
Engine Air Filter; Cold start update; Tools |
| September |
20: State inspection results;
Cold start issue persists |
| 13: Windshield, take three;
Delayed cold start |
| 07: Hood hydraulic lift cylinders;
Battery |
| August |
16: BMW special wheel bearing
tool; M steering wheel conversion; New door/ignition key |
| July |
20: Oil analysis results; Faint
front wheel noises; Steering wheel noise |
| 14: Oil Service; Carpet cleaning |
| May |
27: Center vent replacement |
| April |
29: Passenger door pull trim
replacement |
| 26: Fuel Leak |
| 12: Oil analysis results |
| 07: Spring cleaning; Oil service |
| March |
11: New valve cover gaskets,
spark plugs, and coil boots |
| February |
25: Rear speaker upgrade |
| 17: Oxygen sensor update; Power
steering update |
| 03: Power steering phantom part;
Replaced Pre-cat O2 Sensors |
| January |
31: Emissions woes; Oxygen sensor
research |
| 22: Replaced tensioner |
| 21: Failed main belt tensioner
pulley; More tools |
| 13: Car returns from body shop;
GT1 Analyzer; First DIY microfilter replacement |
| 05: Body shop work to fix sideswipe
damage; Check engine light |
| December |
30: Front sway bar bushings;
Power steering hoses; Year in Review |
| 28: Oil Service; Front sway
bar links; Back to the body shop; CSL wheels reinstalled |
| 20: CSL valve stem followup |
| 18: CSL valve stem issue; Parts
order |
| 10: CSL wheels and tires mounted |
| 05: Tire research and analysis |
| November |
23: DIY inspection; Glovebox
flashlight; Microfilter; Tire status |
| 12: First DIY brake replacement |
| 11: Check engine light for Low
Catalytic Converter efficiency |
| October |
08: Differential fluid replaced |
| 03: Wiper blades, Frozen differential
drain plugs; Wheel chocks & update to tools article |
| September |
27: Wheel bearing fixed |
| 21: Left rear wheel bearing
failure; Brake parts arrived |
| 10: Differential Fluid flush
prep |
| 09: First DIY oil service; More
tools and equipment |
| August |
26: CSL rims arrive; Flat fixed;
Tire decisions |
| 14: Flat tire |
| 08: Aux fan relay replacement |
| July |
28: More auxiliary fan fun |
| 25: Aux cooling fan troubleshooting;
Toys for the birthday boy |
| 09: Power steering flush; Stone
guards and other parts; Prep for A/C fix |
| June |
20: Cooling system wrap-up;
Local dealer is sold |
| 16: Coolant expansion bottle
explodes |
| 12: New front woofers (kick
panel drivers); A/C Compressor Sanity Check |
| May |
25: New midrange and tweeter
drivers |
| 24: Oil Service, Brake fluid
flush, Fuel filter, Cooling system overhaul, belts |
| 20: New detailing techniques |
| 19: Restoration research & options;
Bentley manual purchase |
| April |
29: DIY Fuel Pump and Sender |
| 13: My baby returns from the
body shop |
| March |
14: Another deer hit, another
trip to the body shop |
| February |
18: Transmission replacement
under warranty; E46 Purchase |
| January |
30: Transmission diagnostics; Interior overhaul
parts research |
| 06: Oil Service; E90 Mini Review |
| December |
04: September state inspection
results, summary of the last six months |
| July |
19: Oil Service, Microfilter,
Engine air filter change |
| June |
21: Air conditioning troubleshooting;
condenser replacement; Technician Q&A |
| May |
10: Front control arm bushings |
| 05: New Tires, Defective clear
coat on rim; Transmission status |
| April |
12: More transmission troubleshooting;
Oil Service; Brakes/Tires status |
| February |
10: New transmission installed |
| January |
27: Win shield washer fluid
update; Oil Service; Transmission Troubles |
| December |
24: Body shop work update; Windshield
washer fluid and wipers |
| November |
19: Body shop work to fix damage
from deer hit; Comments about shop |
| October |
16: Deer hit! |
| September |
08: Steering rack installed;
alignment results. |
| August |
26: Diagnosis: new steering
rack required; New floor mats and wheel centers |
| 04: Oil Service, Transmission
and diff flush research; Big Brother at BMW |
| June |
05: Oil service; Rattling catalytic
converter heat shield fix. |
| April |
12: Brake light switch replacement. |
| March |
11: Work in lieu of Inspection
I, rear shocks, exhaust mounts |
| 02: Ordered shocks and other
stuff; Notes on O2 Sensors and catalytic converters |
| February |
14: Replaced leather armrest,
six years of ownership. |
| January |
22: Replaced gauge cluster and
headlamp switch backlighting. |
| December |
17: New front brakes, flushed
brake fluid, mid-cycle oil service; replaced thermostat. |
| 02: Four new Michelin Pilot
Sport A/S tires installed. |
| November |
25: Replaced the second windshield
with a third |
| 20: Tire time again - settled
on four Michelin Pilot Sport A/S |
| 07: Posted an article covering
my second windshield replacement |
| October |
Will need brakes soon; Another rock in the windshield! |
| September |
29: A motor vehicle inspection
gotcha that might affect some E36's |
| 01: Oil Service, Front pads
needed earlier than expected |
| August |
30: Side molding replacement |
| 11: Insurance claim comes through |
| 01: Left side fog lamp light
assembly; left and right side moldings |
| July |
Off-cycle oil service, belt replacement |
| April |
Replacement of climate control head, A/M Switch |
| March |
Loose ignition harness results in another flatbed, Inspection
II |
| January |
Routine service: Brake lamp replacement and synthetic oil
service. |
| November |
Second unexpected maintenance; failure to start and misfires
- new idle control valve and six new platinum plugs. |
| October |
First unexpected maintenance - air injection pump and check
valve |
| September |
Tire replacement, oil change, wiper blades (finally!) |
| July |
Struts and alignment, including a pic of the actual alignment
results |
| June |
Lots of maintenance in support of my decision to keep the
machine |
| May |
Decision to trade put off; A few routine maintenance items |
| December |
Thanksgiving day brought at least one thing I wasn't thankful
for...a leak in my coolant system. |
| October |
Windshield replacement, off cycle oil service. |
| May |
So it's now a garage queen...you wanna make something out
of it? |
| October |
Second Inspection I, GTI purchase to offload BMW usage,
realization about maintenance on a BMW. |
| July |
No more warranty, belt replacement, fixing a pesky creak,
off-cycle oil change. |
| June |
First Inspection II, tire and brake status. |
| December |
Off-cycle oil changes, tire replacement, A/M light change,
air vent change. |
| March |
First Inspection I, driver's seat leather replacement (warranty),
tire and brake status. |
| October |
First oil service, steering wheel shimmy. |
