The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

[stephenkirsh]

My blower motor went when my car was in the shop 2 weeks ago. I had it replaced with a scrap yard unit immediately as I needed heat for an imminent road trip. I found out new X3 units (which are interchangeable) are $100. I paid $80 for the used one and I can return it within 2 weeks. What do? I've seen DIY time estimates go up to 6 hours but my tech took 40 minutes to do it...

6 hours?! Are they accessing the motor from inside the car?

[stephenkirsh]

Here is link for 325Ci (suspension is the same, 325 is selected from my bookmarks, was lazy to change) from TIS and they are only mentioning upper end of coil and alignment to stop of spring pad. I'm also positive that only upper end must be resting on stop of pad and not the lower. So, stephenkirsh's spring is OK.

http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...ber/page_1487/

So I'm back to square one about my rattle?

[alexandre]

6 hours?! Are they accessing the motor from inside the car?

Nope - lots of fiddling around to get it to sit right apparently.

[ELCID86]

^ was going to ask you the other day if you used the x3 blower...

[stephenkirsh]

Your dad's is set wrong as well. BMW has been using this style spring seat for as long as I can think. There is no reason why the end of the spring would not seat in the notch. Those people online who say it's ok are stupid, the spring is supposed to sit in the notch.

edit: 1978/79 E21 struts, notice the notch



early 02 front suspension (my springs are too short, thats why its not seated in top. it's a bitch every time I raise and lower the car to make sure the springs are seated correctly)



non-stock e46, but you can see it's sitting in the notch

Here's what my BMW master tech says. He started working at dealerships when e90 came out and has seen plenty of e46 over time.



Him + the Bentley manual makes me think my springs are fine.

[ELCID86]

Maybe this should be in the edumacate me on suspension thread.

[LivesNearCostco]

To respond to question why shouldn't the lower end of the spring sit in the lower perch pocket?
1) The lower is not a pocket to capture the end of the spring, it's a notch to fit a spring compressor arm in there
2) Look at shape of lower notch and upper notch--very different shapes at least on OEM strut
3) Spring shouldn't turn with steering (whole strut turns on bearing in strut hat). But when you compress the spring the ends may rotate relative to each other, so if you have both top and bottom ends captured in pockets, they won't stay there all the time.

Here's what my BMW master tech says. He started working at dealerships when e90 came out and has seen plenty of e46 over time.

I lost the same plastic push rivet as Rando.

My e-brake makes soft creaking noises if I don't crank it tight enough and get in or out of the car.

My blower fan took about 6 hours to remove and replace the first time, about 4 hours the 2nd time, and if I had to do it again, <3 hours. Just have to remove lots of pieces to get to it, and some of the torx screws holding it in are hard to remove/replace. (The first time I just oiled it, the 2nd time I replaced it).

[johnrando]

I ordered both so I'll let you know which it is.

[danewilson77]

Does air bag deployment in an E46 activate a kill switch to prevent car from being started?

"No flamesuit required"

[ELCID86]

Does air bag deployment in an E46 activate a kill switch to prevent car from being started?

"No flamesuit required"

Justin?


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