peter's Touring project

[slater]

Well done, peter. In for pics. LOL @ imperialists.

haha. i'll try to get some pics soon.

Congrats Peter! I know people hate on the E83 but I love it. It drives very well, and the LCI models I think have aged nicely. I always wanted the 6MT, but the only one I could find when I bought mine was red and about 1500 miles away.
The N52B30 is definitely a fun little powerplant, even if the car is 4000 lbs.

Check the front sunroof drains (they are right behind the front wheels on either side). They will be clogged, and (edit: removed extra word) you'll need to do it at least once a year. Otherwise you get the lovely experience of wet floorboards from dripping down the A-pillars

At least you don't have to worry about that garbage GM automatic tranny. Has the transfer case already been addressed?

thanks spenser!

as for the transfer case... do you mean fluid? if so, yes, done recently.

i think two of the subtle benefits to the E83 are that it was built in austria by magna steyr, and it has a lot of E46 roots. it definitely has proven to be a reliable vehicle since it's introduction in 2004.

yes, the 6MT is hard to find - especially with the M Sport package. this one kind of fell in my lap. i didn't want black, but hey, everything else was right (including the price). i even made a friend out of the previous owner! so it all worked out nicely. and yes, the N52B30 is pretty nice - it has good top end, and definitely enough power - i'm pleased with how quick it is. there is a lot of slop in the drivetrain though, which i will hopefully eliminate with fresh mounts. and a CDV delete will help clutch engagement.

thanks for the tip on the sunroof drains! i will check those soon. are they in behind the wheel well liner?

[704sw]

I can't find a good undercarriage picture, but if I remember correctly they're basically below the A-pillar. You can reach it and pull the plug out without lifting the car once you know where to feel for it. This is what it looks like clean:

(I'm having a hell of a time uploading this pic, so I apologize for the screenshot of an already crappy picture)

Mine looked like this when clogged:


It just picks up all the road crap from the front tires, I think? I never had a problem with the rear drains, so I can't help you on that one.

I think the transfer case problem is more than fluid, I think it's the case itself that goes bad. The MT could be immune from it, I'm not too sure. Ours was replaced (somewhat preemptively thanks to an amazing service advisor) the last week before the extended warranty's expiration.

[slater]

I can't find a good undercarriage picture, but if I remember correctly they're basically below the A-pillar. You can reach it and pull the plug out without lifting the car once you know where to feel for it. This is what it looks like clean:

Mine looked like this when clogged:

It just picks up all the road crap from the front tires, I think? I never had a problem with the rear drains, so I can't help you on that one.

I think the transfer case problem is more than fluid, I think it's the case itself that goes bad. The MT could be immune from it, I'm not too sure. Ours was replaced (somewhat preemptively thanks to an amazing service advisor) the last week before the extended warranty's expiration.

thanks man, those pics help a ton!!

i'll do some checking on the transfer case... i seem to remember reading that the issue was failure due to lack of fluid changes?

[Sockethead]

I know on the e53 transfer case, there is a bronze gear in there that fails/ strips. It's a non serviceable part but some people just reverse the gear to get a good bite on the opposite side
Not sure if it's the same on the X3 of that generation

[i_b_bass]

Congrats on the purchase.

I had a 128i with the N52B30 (only 230 hp in the 128i, no 3IM and slightly more restrictive headers) and it was a fantastic motor, strong, smooth, and plenty of power at the top end.

[warrenbrown]

"the mirrors don't work (heat or power functions - gotta figure that one out), but everything else is good."

Check the fuses, I just picked up a 2004 325CI sport package, manual for my daughter. Not sure about the heat function. Mine mirrors worked when I looked at the car. A few days later nothing. The fuse wire was intact but where it attached to the terminals it was all black. New fuse, the mirrors operate.

Warren

[slater]

"the mirrors don't work (heat or power functions - gotta figure that one out), but everything else is good."

Check the fuses, I just picked up a 2004 325CI sport package, manual for my daughter. Not sure about the heat function. Mine mirrors worked when I looked at the car. A few days later nothing. The fuse wire was intact but where it attached to the terminals it was all black. New fuse, the mirrors operate.

Warren

thanks... have not gotten there yet (just finishing work for the day... started at 6AM!). will check tomorrow, as we're planning on taking it on a 5-day weekend trip starting thursday. would be nice to have the mirrors working that easily.

[san]

Recall time for your new whip
http://www.bmwblog.com/2017/10/13/bm...rbag-problems/


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[704sw]

Recall time for your new whip
http://www.bmwblog.com/2017/10/13/bm...rbag-problems/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It doesn't actually say "3.0si" which I'm assuming is just an oversight? I guess I'll keep an eye on the mailbox for our recall letter too.

[az3579]

It doesn't actually say "3.0si" which I'm assuming is just an oversight? I guess I'll keep an eye on the mailbox for our recall letter too.

'si' is just a trim package, kind of like "SE" overseas. Kind of like ZHP - no recalls affect us specifically; we just get rounded up into 330i's.