Preparing my car for its first winter.. what to buy?

[GreenFrog]

I have an idea of things I need to buy and do to my car before winter, I just wanted to see if I could get some fine-tuning by you guys in terms of whether I'm getting the right stuff:

1. Engine oil - I want to get a lighter weight so that it's thinner/less viscous during the cold temperatures. What weight should I get? What brand? It's about time I change my oil anyway so I want to get one good for the cold winters in Massachusetts.

2. Windshield wipers - I noticed that the passenger side wiper sticks out of the car, as if it's too long. At first I thought it was because I bent it somehow while lifting it, but someone commented that the wipers on these cars are too long, stock. I hear the Bosch Icons are nice.. all I really want are some silent ones. My current ones, which are stock, squeak when they're in use and they aren't very good. What are some good quiet brands/materials? What lengths do I need?

3. De-icing materials - Thinking about some de-icing spray; a plastic chisel to shave ice off; a brush to remove soft snow. Am I missing anything else?

4. Winter mats - I was thinking of just keeping my cloth mats on, but I'm already noticing the cloth discolor white from the water and dirt from the ground.. and it hasn't even snowed yet, hence, no salt! Are winter rubber mats worth it?

And finally, will I be able to find all the above goods at a local autozone?

Thanks in advance!

Edit/Unrelated to above: I went in to the dealership yesterday to test drive an m3 coupe with the competition package... omg I fell in love. I can't stop thinking about it and the V8 under full throttle.. I felt like a little bitch in my ZHP when I drove off away from the dealership lol.

[danewilson77]

1. Engine oil - I want to get a lighter weight so that it's thinner/less viscous during the cold temperatures. What weight should I get? What brand? It's about time I change my oil anyway so I want to get one good for the cold winters in Massachusetts.

Mobil I 0W-40

2. Windshield wipers - I noticed that the passenger side wiper sticks out of the car, as if it's too long. At first I thought it was because I bent it somehow while lifting it, but someone commented that the wipers on these cars are too long, stock. I hear the Bosch Icons are nice.. all I really want are some silent ones. My current ones, which are stock, squeak when they're in use and they aren't very good. What are some good quiet brands/materials? What lengths do I need?

Bosch ICON's 19(driver), 22(passenger)

3. De-icing materials - Thinking about some de-icing spray; a plastic chisel to shave ice off; a brush to remove soft snow. Am I missing anything else?

Nope - Lock de-icer?

4. Winter mats - I was thinking of just keeping my cloth mats on, but I'm already noticing the cloth discolor white from the water and dirt from the ground.. and it hasn't even snowed yet, hence, no salt! Are winter rubber mats worth it?

Get the BMW All Weather Mats - About $90 from the dealer.

[GreenFrog]

Wow.. I've been on forums for a while now (not just this one) and it's really difficult to post a thread and get all your questions answered concisely and fully by the first post.

Thank you for that.

I can tell you would be a great businessman (and drug lord, lol).

If anyone else has other opinions, I am open to them as well!

[aurelius]

Rubber door & window seal preserver/conditioner. Great product with super convenient built-in applicator. Amazon referral link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=%22einszett+914806+%27Gummi+Pflege+Stift% 27+Rubber+Care+Stick+-+3.4+fl.+oz%22&x=15&y=17

[UdubBadger]

I have an idea of things I need to buy and do to my car before winter, I just wanted to see if I could get some fine-tuning by you guys in terms of whether I'm getting the right stuff:

1. Engine oil - I want to get a lighter weight so that it's thinner/less viscous during the cold temperatures. What weight should I get? What brand? It's about time I change my oil anyway so I want to get one good for the cold winters in Massachusetts.

2. Windshield wipers - I noticed that the passenger side wiper sticks out of the car, as if it's too long. At first I thought it was because I bent it somehow while lifting it, but someone commented that the wipers on these cars are too long, stock. I hear the Bosch Icons are nice.. all I really want are some silent ones. My current ones, which are stock, squeak when they're in use and they aren't very good. What are some good quiet brands/materials? What lengths do I need?

3. De-icing materials - Thinking about some de-icing spray; a plastic chisel to shave ice off; a brush to remove soft snow. Am I missing anything else?

4. Winter mats - I was thinking of just keeping my cloth mats on, but I'm already noticing the cloth discolor white from the water and dirt from the ground.. and it hasn't even snowed yet, hence, no salt! Are winter rubber mats worth it?

And finally, will I be able to find all the above goods at a local autozone?

Thanks in advance!

Edit/Unrelated to above: I went in to the dealership yesterday to test drive an m3 coupe with the competition package... omg I fell in love. I can't stop thinking about it and the V8 under full throttle.. I felt like a little bitch in my ZHP when I drove off away from the dealership lol.

Wipers I like the Bosch ones but I don't think they make um for the E46.
EDIT: apparently DW is on it... nice Dane.

Winter mats you gotta go Weather tech LINERS. They help save your carpet from the slush you get into the car.
http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvp.aspx?VehId=1372&Year=2004

[midlandtech]

I usually treat my door seals with a petroleum based product usually amour all or do wd40 on a rag and wipe it down... Keeps water from freezing my door shut should it get in during a driving rain otherwise sounds like you got some good ideas from the others


~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nike001]

Winter mats you gotta go Weather tech LINERS. They help save your carpet from the slush you get into the car.
http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvp.aspx?VehId=1372&Year=2004

Woah, those are nice. Bookmarked for christmas! lol

I usually treat my door seals with a petroleum based product usually amour all or do wd40 on a rag and wipe it down... Keeps water from freezing my door shut should it get in during a driving rain otherwise sounds like you got some good ideas from the others


~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good idea! I've had this happen too many times. A few years ago, my door froze shut on my e39 and I broke the door handle clean off from trying to open it. I had to have my passenger open my door for me.. or open the drivers side rear door and reach up to open my door from the inside. What a pain.

[GreenFrog]

I'm at autozone right now looking at the Bosch icons. do I need to get 22a and 19b? What are the letters for. they even have oe as a mark too

[aurelius]

I usually treat my door seals with a petroleum based product usually amour all or do wd40 on a rag and wipe it down...


Petroleum-based stuff on plastic & rubber = no bueno.

http://www.1z-usa.com/car_plastic_and_tire_care.html

[az3579]

Dane,
Are you sure of your wiper blade sizes? The sizes the store tells me is 23 (driver) and 20 (passenger). I bought Rain-X Latitudes, and since the store doesn't carry 23 on the shelf, I bought a 24. It was a perfect fit.

[danewilson77]

24 is way too long.

EDIT: I think the stock sizes are 20/23....but most of us aren't buying "stock" wiper, and I think the connection points aren't always going to be the same.

Here is where the 19 ends up on mine.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/IMAG0842-3.jpg
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Another inch wouldn't have worked for me.

[GreenFrog]

Yeah, I've been seeing conflicting reports on what wiper blade lengths to get..

[az3579]

Well, taking aftermarket brands into consideration...


Yeah, I've been seeing conflicting reports on what wiper blade lengths to get..

I can tell you for a fact that Rain-X Latitude blades with 24/20 size fit perfectly. :)



Never had Bosch Icons; I've always been a Rain-X Latitude guy. As a result, I couldn't tell you why there are differences. :dunno

[danewilson77]

Maybe could have gone 23 driver, but I think for these, 19/22 is the sweet spot. You would'nt want them rubbing on the windshield gasket.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/IMAG0942.jpg

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[GreenFrog]

So it's 22 driver and 19 passenger? Your first response in this thread said 19 driver / 22 passenger.

Also, do I get A for the driver's side and B for the passenger's? The guy at Autozone said that the A/B/OE markings did not matter.

[danewilson77]

So it's 22 driver and 19 passenger? Your first response in this thread said 19 driver / 22 passenger.

Also, do I get A for the driver's side and B for the passenger's? The guy at Autozone said that the A/B/OE markings did not matter.

Yes....I had that backwards apparently. I know...2 wipers that worked for me....one was 19, one was 22. Drivers side is the longer of the two.

Plus....I had done a bunch of research on it and it seemed those sizes were the safest bet.

I do think however if you buy a BMW specific blade, 20/24 may be what's recommended.

http://www.xopc.co.uk/bmw_wiperblades_bmw.htm

Glad I didn't get the recommended size.

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[danewilson77]

In practice 19 and 22 work well.

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[kayger12]

22 and 20 here.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[danewilson77]

22 and 20 here.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

Yeah, 20's would have also worked. Is yours all the way to the edge on passenger side?

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[kayger12]

I'm assuming the blade is 20" by measurement. Tip to tip of the blade. Or do they measure by the wiper arm frame?

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-11-06_07-26-24_36.jpg

They're the Boschs from ECS (not the Icons). http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/ES10332/

[danewilson77]

Yup...those are sitting just like mine.

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[cakM3]

So it's 22 driver and 19 passenger? Your first response in this thread said 19 driver / 22 passenger.

Also, do I get A for the driver's side and B for the passenger's? The guy at Autozone said that the A/B/OE markings did not matter.

I got a set of Bosh Icons and was told the A was for the driver's side and B was the passenger's side. Not sure why Bosh did it this way...