The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

My miata is a manual. I go into neutral to save gas and reduce wear on the throw out bushing.

I've done tests and over my 50 miles per day commute, I get 2-3mpg better. But I don't have an urban commute like most people.

Also, Miata clutches last forever, but the throw out bearing doesn't. Either way, it's a clutch job.

ditto here

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Originally Posted by cornercarver

Ditto.

I heel & toe fairly often but only when it has a purpose, and to maintain the skill. If you're just in traffic or coming to a stoplight there's no point. It's easier and cheaper to replace pads and rotors than to fix a transmission.

I don't double-clutch. Modern synchros have made this extra step obsolete. It just puts 2x the amount of wear on the clutch pedal/assembly.

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I can put anti-seize on the bushings with metal sleeves (rear diff, rear arms), right?

I obviously know not to on the ones with exposed rubber.

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Originally Posted by 704sw

I can put anti-seize on the bushings with metal sleeves (rear diff, rear arms), right?

I obviously know not to on the ones with exposed rubber.

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Yup, I did...


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Fair points to all, nothing beats heal-toe on an open road.

Next question, bit more random. Just applied for a job as a delivery driver for a pizza place in my town starting December. I’m worried to say the least. One, worried about fitting pizzas and keeping them stable in the ZHP with the unadjustable coilovers I’ve got. Two, I don’t want my car to reek of pizza, it still has that factory “crayon” smell(pointed out to me by a friend and now I can’t stop thinking about it).
I’m hoping that I’ll be getting my college truck towards the end of December beginning of January, but that means a couple weeks of delivering in the ZHP. PLUS putting the magnet sign on the roof.
Opinions? I feel like not a lot of people have delivered pizza in their babies, so it’s a tough sale.


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You better man up and drive that ZHP! And deliver those pizzas!! Lol our cars are 15 Years old I know they’re are babies and stuff but I drive my car 365 days out the year winter or snow in nyc streets.. I work at a Bodega and sometimes pack my trunk with boxes and boxes of beers! Lol a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do! But in all seriousness maybe you can get a net or like a stand for the pizza in the back of your trunk?? And hey it’s just a couple of days it shouldn’t be too bad. Luckily your getting a truck.


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If you are worried about the smell. Drive with the windows down ;-) or use the trunk. Or just don’t worry about it.

Apologies in advance for what might be a few questions today.

Are these exhaust gaskets direction specific?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2924332975.jpg

I think they are, but when I pulled off the stock exhaust I could tell which way they went. Can't remember which way right now though.

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

Tried (and failed) to find definitive P/N for this cap.

I think it's part of the pipe (i.e. Included with pipe p/n).

Sent from my S8+

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Originally Posted by Hermes

Cap comes with the pipe. Just go to an auto parts store and get a low side ac cap

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Thanks guys :cheers

I believe my part # may have been correct, but I stopped by the parts store and just got the cap there.

I'm guessing somebody had the refill done and the caps weren't put back on.

I got my valve cover off. That thing was seriously stuck on there and the VCG is very hard and brittle. In the process of getting the valve cover off, the brittle VCG snapped in some places. My question is...there are definitely pieces of rubber on the inner spark plug gasket area that chipped off and I think I have found most of them, but there might still be some lurking down somewhere. Just how bad is that? I'm worried they'll get churned up and slip down between a valve spring or worse.

Also, what do you guys do to clean the mating surface of the block? Brake cleaner?

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

I got my valve cover off. That thing was stuck on there and the gasket is very hard and brittle. My question is...there are definitely pieces of rubber on the inner spark plug gasket area that chipped off and I think I have found most of them, but there might still be some lurking down somehwere. Just how bad is that? I'm worried they'll get churned up and slip down between a valve spring or worse.

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I say an air compressor and a air hose with a fitting will help in this case, considering the spark plugs are still on to make sure none of the pieces find there way into another one of the cylinders. Otherwise use an old rag to block off the other cylinders while you gently blow the air around.

GL bud


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Originally Posted by ZHP_Brandon

I say an air compressor and a air hose with a fitting will help in this case, considering the spark plugs are still on to make sure none of the pieces find there way into another one of the cylinders. Otherwise use an old rag to block off the other cylinders while you gently blow the air around.

GL bud


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I should rephrase. The portion of the VCG that surrounds the spark plug areas are what broke into bits, and if there are some still remaining, they're down below like by the cams (see below). I guess my largest concern is a piece blocking an oil return somewhere or something like that.

https://i.imgur.com/ebrc2BL.jpg

Also, is it not common to replace the VANOS housing intake and exhaust gaskets? There's no mention of replacing them in Beisan's guide.

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

Also, is it not common to replace the VANOS housing intake and exhaust gaskets? There's no mention of replacing them in Beisan's guide.

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He doesn’t include the Vanos gasket (any more?) but he does recommend doing it. There is another seller that includes it and it comes with Dr. V’s kit iirc.

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

He doesn’t include the Vanos gasket (any more?) but he does recommend doing it. There is another seller that includes it and it comes with Dr. V’s kit iirc.

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Too late now. I'm surprised Beisan doesn't recommend it more specifically. I just missed it on my initial read through of the Beisan guide so I never ordered it with the VANOS seals.

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

Too late now. I'm surprised Beisan doesn't recommend it more specifically. I just missed it on my initial read through of the Beisan guide so I never ordered it with the VANOS seals.

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So you’re done replacing the vanos seals?


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Originally Posted by san

So you’re done replacing the vanos seals?


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Yup. Finished a little while ago. Now I need to run the car. Fingers crossed.

I know this has been covered more than once, but I’m seeing conflicting answers all over the place: what functions do/don’t work with the M3 cluster in our cars? I think a couple people here are running them...

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

Too late now. I'm surprised Beisan doesn't recommend it more specifically. I just missed it on my initial read through of the Beisan guide so I never ordered it with the VANOS seals.

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I️ agree. Or just include it at least as an option—it’s like a <$20 part, right?

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Originally Posted by 704sw

I know this has been covered more than once, but I’m seeing conflicting answers all over the place: what functions do/don’t work with the M3 cluster in our cars? I think a couple people here are running them...

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I think if you get it from terra everything is functional including the warm up lights...


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Originally Posted by san

I think if you get it from terra everything is functional including the warm up lights...


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The one I'm still hoping for (but know no one will do) is getting the shift lights. Terra said it required a whole new algorithm to work for our cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSG_RZH5nc

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Originally Posted by san

I think if you get it from terra everything is functional including the warm up lights...


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That would be TerraPhantm on here, yes?

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Originally Posted by 704sw

That would be TerraPhantm on here, yes?

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Yes sir


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my beef with the M3 cluster is that the rev lights that stay illuminated (around 8K) are so dang bright. i get annoyed enough by the brightness of the blue high beam indicator, those rev counter lights being on all the time would drive me crazy. my eyes are stupidly light sensitive.

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Originally Posted by 704sw

I know this has been covered more than once, but I’m seeing conflicting answers all over the place: what functions do/don’t work with the M3 cluster in our cars? I think a couple people here are running them...

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When I had the m3 cluster in my car with jus the M54.. everything worked except warm up lights. oil temp worked, cruise worked, DSC worked after recalibrating the steering angle sensor in INPA

you just gotta find one that has the same mileage as yours or lower. its very easy to adjust mileage UP usnig PASoft but if the mileage of the M3 cluster is higher than yours... then you will need to have someone solder to the PINs of the EEPROm chip and reflash it to revirginize it so that it can adopt the milage from your LCM

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

The one I'm still hoping for (but know no one will do) is getting the shift lights. Terra said it required a whole new algorithm to work for our cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSG_RZH5nc

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now that I have the S54 i was able to get the shift lights working since the MSS54HP DME supports that. it was just using hex code to change the code and reflashing.

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Originally Posted by 704sw

That would be TerraPhantm on here, yes?

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good luck, he hasnt been active much anywhere I have seen let alone taking on any new electronic retrofits of any type.

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Originally Posted by slater

my beef with the M3 cluster is that the rev lights that stay illuminated (around 8K) are so dang bright. i get annoyed enough by the brightness of the blue high beam indicator, those rev counter lights being on all the time would drive me crazy. my eyes are stupidly light sensitive.

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I believe the older M3 clusters had issues with that. but the newer 24H cluster I have auto dims day or night using the little tiny sensor in the LCM on my face plate. i can literally cover it with my thumb and the cluster gets dim and i let it go and it gets bright when the sunlight hits it.

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Originally Posted by nextelbuddy

I believe the older M3 clusters had issues with that. but the newer 24H cluster I have auto dims day or night using the little tiny sensor in the LCM on my face plate. i can literally cover it with my thumb and the cluster gets dim and i let it go and it gets bright when the sunlight hits it.

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Interesting the gauge cluster light dimming not linked to the automatic headlights for its dimming feature.

Terra is in Med school and I’m sure has his nose in the books. Try a PM. I️ have a cluster from him and do like it. Sometimes I️ forget everyone doesn’t have one in their ZHP.

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

Terra is in Med school and I’m sure has his nose in the books. Try a PM. I️ have a cluster from him and do like it. Sometimes I️ forget everyone doesn’t have one in their ZHP.

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I really liked it when I drove your car. I'm just holding out for that (hopeless) shift light coding.

Thanks for the input on the pizza, guys, I’ll probably head over to Ace Hardware this week and Jerry rig a net into my trunk bed


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Originally Posted by Prestovie

Thanks for the input on the pizza, guys, I’ll probably head over to Ace Hardware this week and Jerry rig a net into my trunk bed


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Why not use the BMW net? (I️ think I️ got mine from eBay. It had one broken hook which I️ drilled a whole thru and zip-tied to the built in anchor).

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

Why not use the BMW net? (I️ think I️ got mine from eBay. It had one broken hook which I️ drilled a whole thru and zip-tied to the built in anchor).

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Oh lol forgot they made that, I’ll look into it, thanks


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

Terra is in Med school and I’m sure has his nose in the books. Try a PM. I️ have a cluster from him and do like it. Sometimes I️ forget everyone doesn’t have one in their ZHP.

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You fancy...


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Originally Posted by Prestovie

Thanks for the input on the pizza, guys, I’ll probably head over to Ace Hardware this week and Jerry rig a net into my trunk bed


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Flip the carpet trunk liner over to the rubber side. Pizza won't move on the rubber.

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Originally Posted by ZHPizza

Flip the carpet trunk liner over to the rubber side. Pizza won't move on the rubber.

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this is your favorite mod! :)

too bad you can't do it on the Touring. ;)

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Originally Posted by slater

this is your favorite mod! :)

too bad you can't do it on the Touring. ;)

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AHA! Finally a mark against the touring!











^{I still desperately want one}

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

AHA! Finally a mark against the touring!











^{I still desperately want one}

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hahaha.

i did take the mat from my sedan, flip it over, and put it in the Touring. ;)

Anybody have a guess what pads these are?

They've held up grate for track use, so much so that one of my instructors who runs track pads on his m3 wanted to know what they are.

No numbers or identification of any kind in it :(

Attachment 31353

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Originally Posted by slater

this is your favorite mod! :)

too bad you can't do it on the Touring. ;)

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Dang right! I still remember the look on your face when I showed you that trick back in January.

Biggest day of my life...the day that I taught Peter something new about the e46.....my wedding day was a close second...

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Originally Posted by slater

hahaha.

i did take the mat from my sedan, flip it over, and put it in the Touring. ;)

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Ah I'll have to try that when I get my wagon back. It's been at the transmission shop since August. Poor guy has pulled the tranny 3 times now chasing a tiny leak.

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Originally Posted by ZHPizza

Dang right! I still remember the look on your face when I showed you that trick back in January.

Biggest day of my life...the day that I taught Peter something new about the e46.....my wedding day was a close second...

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ha!!!

i still have lots to learn. :)

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Originally Posted by ZHPizza

Ah I'll have to try that when I get my wagon back. It's been at the transmission shop since August. Poor guy has pulled the tranny 3 times now chasing a tiny leak.

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since august? what the heck? where is it tiny-leaking from?