Proyecto Coupe de Lanister

[Lanister]

All right--here's my project thread, where I shall document my adventures with my Wunder-Auto.

To start, here's a photo the day I picked up and drove her home down highway 1--along the Pacific Coast. It was a very good day.



Basics

- 2005 330Ci - Sparkling Graphite Metallic (produced on 11/10/2004)
- VIN: PL16086
- Production plant location: Regensburg, Germany
- Auto
- California vehicle
- Clean title
- Gray Leather + Alcantara wheel and boots
- ZHP package (with TPMS, Xenons, and BMW assist options)

Modifications:

- Dinan CAI (box type)
- OEM Aux input
- DICE iPod integration
- Tinted windows (50f/35r)
- De-badged
- Color-matched front bumper reflectors
- Black OEM BMW kidney grills
- M3 floor mats
- Front plate delete

Maintenance history:

- Front Control Arm bushings replaced @ 63k
- Valve Cover Gasket @ 68.7k (2/3/11)
- Both front window regulators replaced @ 68.7k (2/3/11)
- Cooling system overhaul (thermostat, water pump, hoses, expansion tank, transmission thermostat) @ 73k
- New belts @ 73k
- New rear tires @ 73k
- New OEM battery @ 73k
- New starter @ 87k
- Alignment @ 87k
- New front tires @ 88k
- Religious oil changes every 10k

Original (to me) Issues: - all fixed

- Came with only one key that doesn't quite work
- Failed driver leather seat backrest corner stitching
- Dried up and cracked rear side window rubber trim
- Dried up and cracked windshield lower rubber cover
- Dried up glue on A/B/C pillars
- Cracked dead pedal panel
- Mildly smelly A/C

Change Log:

- 08/13/13 - @88.7k - Initial purchase
- 08/20/13 - @88.8k - Repaired the driver seat backrest failed stitching - Documented in this DYI
- 08/21/13 - @88.9k - Installed BMW stainless steel, matte black, plain rear licence plate cover Pic
- 08/21/13 - @88.9k - Got 2 new keys - One regular ($160) and one valet ($74 <- got robbed on this one).
- 08/29/13 - @89.5k - Cleaned the AC system with Klima Kleen product - no more smell!
- 08/30/13 - @89.7k - Installed Bimmian smart phone mount
- 09/02/13 - @89.8k - Replaced original spark plugs with 6 x NGK BKR6EQUP
- 09/07/13 - @90.0k - Replaced cracked dead pedal panel with an OEM M3 version - Before - After
- 09/07/13 - @90.0k - Replaced the dried up and cracked lower windshield cover - Before -After
- 09/14/13 - @90.1k - Replaced the yellowed-out side blinkers Difference pic - Final result pic
- 09/22/13 - @90.2k - Steering wheel swap from Alcantara to Leather - Pic
- 10/05/13 - @90.5k - Quarter panel weather trim replaced - Before Pic - After Pic
- 10/05/13 - @90.5k - Finisher Side Frame weather trim replaced - (followed this DYI) - Before Pic - After Pic
- 10/08/13 - @90.6k - Installed the short Eurotray (I like the coin organizer!), all-weather boot mat, and the first aid kit compartment (more storage space!!!!).
- 10/08/13 - @90.6k - Got my OBDII suite (INPA, DIS, SSS, NCSexpert) - well worth the $40
- 10/12/13 - @90.7k - Re-installed A, B, and C pillars. A is brand new due to the airbag strip fitment. B and C were re-upholstered. So nice.
- 10/13/13 - @90.7k - Replaced the old alcantara fabric shift and handbrake boots with leather alternative with (tri-color) M stitching.
- 10/16/13 - @90.9k - Upgraded the Light Control Module (LCM) with a new one running software version 4.0 - One-Touch Triple Blink + Euro Hazard lights.
- 11/23/13 - @92.2k - Replaced the Oil Filter Housing Gasket (OFHG)
- 11/24/13 - @92.2k - Replaced the Oil Separator Valve and plumbing (aka CVV)
- 11/24/13 - @92.2k - Replaced dipstick o-ring seal, idle control valve (ICV) rubber grommet, throttle body gasket.
- 11/24/13 - @92.2k - New upper and lower intake boots.
- 11/27/13 - @92.2k - Installed the trap door on the reinforcement plate's oil drain opening.
- 11/30/13 - @92.3k - Replaced the steering coupler with BMW OEM
- 11/30/13 - @92.3k - Changed oil to Mobil 1 5w30 + OEM filter/housing gasket/drain plug washer
- 12/03/13 - @92.3k - Replaced the Guibo (Flexdisk) and self-locking bolt nuts (x6) with OEM
- 12/05/13 - @92.3k - Changed the auto transmission fluid with Redline D4 ATF, along with new filter, sump gasket, and drain/filler plugs.
- 12/06/13 - @92.3k - Changed the rear differential fluid with Redline 75W90.
- 12/06/13 - @92.3k - Installed ECS 10mm spacers on the rear - lovin' the new stance!
- 12/08/13 - @92.5k - Professional headlight restoration complete
- 12/08/13 - @92.7k - Installed ///M strut tower brace
- 12/15/13 - @92.7k - Installed smoke Lamin-x headlight protectors
- 12/19/13 - @92.7k - Removed the old sand-blasted fog lights and installed Khoalty clear ///M fogs with yellow Lamin-x protection and 3500k yellow halogen bulbs
- 12/20/13 - @92.7k - Installed ///M transmission mounts
- 12/20/13 - @92.7k - Driveshaft re-manufacture with a new u-joint, new csb, and new cv-joint
- 01/05/14 - @93.0k - Mechanical fan delete
- 01/05/14 - @93.0k - Front bumper mesh pained with flat black
- 01/07/14 - @93.1k - Replaced old yellowing interior light bulbs with a Ziza LED kit
- 01/11/14 - @93.1k - Replaced rear license plate lights with Khoalty LED bulbs with heat sinks
- 01/19/14 - @93.3k - New AKG street performance Front Control Arm Bushings (FCABs)
- 02/14/14 - @93.9k - New battery, Duralast 94R-DLG - production date (2/14) - 3 year full warranty + 2 year prorated warranty
- 03/08/14 - @94.1k - Installed the German Auto Solutions (G.A.S) coolant expansion tank cap. (1.2 bar rating)
- 08/23/14 - @97.9k - Replaced the cabin air filter with MANN charcoal activated type
- 09/28/14 - @98.1k - Upgraded the OEM business stereo to an AVIN Avant-2 OEM-form-factor Android-based double din deck - more info here
- 12/13/14 - @100.1k - Replaced front end links with brand new OEM
- 12/21/14 - @100.3k - Changed oil to Mobil 1 5w30 + OEM filter/housing gasket/drain plug washer. Inspected the motor underneath--no leaks!

- More on the way

[derbo]

Looking good so far.

You have DICE and AUX? How does that work? I thought they bought go into the same radio input?

[Lanister]

Looking good so far.

You have DICE and AUX? How does that work? I thought they bought go into the same radio input?

The DICE unit (along with cable) are in the trunk and the Aux is where the heated seat button would be. Frankly, I am not keen on the DICE unit. Its location is not the best and I'm not an Apple user so it's sitting there doing nothing. I might just pull it out and sell it.

I am working on a pretty neat Android hook-up solution tough. Nothing fancy but just quite optimal and functional.

[PirateZHP]

In for Android solution...

Giya, beautiful car. I look forward to seeing the progress!

[trancenation]

Dice uses the CD changer input and oem aux uses the spare port on the radio harness.

[Lanister]

Updated the change log with things done to date.

Got a few things lined up, just waiting for shipments to arrive:

- BMW Performance strut brace install
- Rear window side trim replacement
- A-pillar replacement (go away loose socks!)
- Euro tray
- First aid kit compartment
- All-weather rubber boot mat
- BMW OBD USB Diagnostic Cable & Software (INPA EDIABAS DIS V57 SSS V32)

[az3579]

Awesome thread title!
This one's a young pup! I like the style in which you posted your improvements.

[JupiterBMW]

Very nicely done man. Very nice... Keep it up!


iPhone 5S. Tapatalk Pro.BOOM

[derbo]

Sounds like a good start Giya!

Personally I loved the DICE radio unit version but I removed it after I got a iphone5. Now it's just sitting around..


Where did you source a BMW Perf Bar?

[Lanister]

I'm sure that the DICE unit is nice. But being an Android user, it's not being used.

As for the performance strut bar, I got it from Bill. (illirep)

Sent from outer space...