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