What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[Whammy]

Changed the oil and the spark plugs over the weekend. Engine is smooth!! Played doctor and took an oil sample. Going to send it off to Blackstone Labs for an analysis. Differential and transmission fluids still need to be changed but I may wait until I actually hit 180,000mi which should be right around the wedding.

[daytona90t]

Finished my auto transmission service this weekend. Three weeks ago I did the initial drain and refill with Redline D4, got about 3.5 quarts of fresh fluid in. Saturday I drained the fluid, dropped the pan, and replaced the filter, gasket, pan bolts, drain and fill plug with OEM parts. This time I got about 6.5 quarts back in using the level the car and 2 step fill cold/fill warm method. Pan and valve body were fairly clean for 107,000 miles. It was changed out 70,000 by the previous owner at a small Indy shop, but I cannot verify if the pan was dropped and the filter was changed as they were both OEM. I drove it home 80 miles from my parents and it shifts really smooth both up and down and in drive and sport modes.

I have been doing some research and cannot find much information about drain interval with the Redline D4. I am thinking it should be good for 30,000 - 50,000 driving style depending? Anyone else running D4 and have any recommendations as to drain intervals?

Now onto the X3 for transmission and differential fluid services next weekend. It's fun having two BMWs at or just over 100,000 miles.

[Sockethead]

Yep! 30k - 50k is the normal interval for auto. I change all of mine @ 30k

[zhpnsnv]

Finally finished a paint correction. Got it to about 80-85% which isn't terrible for 150k miles. If anyone is looking for polishes that work amazingly then grab sonax perfect finish. Absolutely amazing. Used it to follow m105 and it was head and shoulders better than m205. Enough cut to do more correction and just a ridiculously fine finisher.



Also installed my new plate:


And Amazon gloss grilles fit perfectly:


One more:



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[stephenkirsh]

Thank you. I need to get some dressings put on the engine bay



One of the strut mount studs managed to break itself loose at some point, so it was free spinning in the strut mount, and couldn't be taken out with hand tools. They guys at the shop managed to get it out and later tightened after install, using an impact wrench.

Sounds like it's time replace the strut mounts. They're a wear item.

[JPMo]

Finally finished a paint correction. Got it to about 80-85% which isn't terrible for 150k miles. If anyone is looking for polishes that work amazingly then grab sonax perfect finish. Absolutely amazing. Used it to follow m105 and it was head and shoulders better than m205. Enough cut to do more correction and just a ridiculously fine finisher


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Very nice work. Did you hit your rear diffuser with perfect finish as well? Mine is really oxidized but it never occurred to me that I could maybe polish it until literally just now looking at your pics

[zhpnsnv]

Very nice work. Did you hit your rear diffuser with perfect finish as well? Mine is really oxidized but it never occurred to me that I could maybe polish it until literally just now looking at your pics

Actually that's a great thought. I've never thought to polish it. I dress mine with Adam's VRT. https://www.amazon.com/Adams-Polishe.../dp/B001QVG7MC

I would be scared to polish it since I really don't know what the finish is made out of. The Adam's VRP will last a decent amount of time before I will need to reapply. But now you've got me thinking about some light polishing!

Should have added that VRP goes on the trim and the tires as well.

Also, the process was this:
- wheels/tires with sonax and chemical guys APC for the tires/wheel wells
- wash with chemical guys soap (can't remember flavor)
- decontaminate with mckees iron remover
- clay
- wash again
- dry
- remove kidney grilles, license plates, and front side indicators
- tape off trim/black areas
- m105 with a few pads -- tried orange, yellow, and microfiber. All of this is on my Flex 3401 VRG.
- Settled on m105 with orange pads
- then m205 with black pads and white pads for worse areas
- then I discovered the magic of Sonax Perfect Finish, and the process went like this:
- 2 passes of m105 with orange
- 2 passes of sonax with white
- once polishing was done, I topped it with Sonax liquid wax, then some menzerna endless shine
- took some Q-tips and removed all of the excess dust/wax/polish in all the cracks and crevices
- cleaned the glass
- installed all the crap I took off
- done!

[zhpnsnv]

Here are some random process before and after shots:

Before:



Afters:






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[danewilson77]

Good work. I'm going to pick up some of the Sonax and give it a go.

Sent from my S8+

[Johnmadd]

Looks amazing Marc!