What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[LivesNearCostco]

did I post this? I don't remember... BMW E36 M3:

• New Z3M radiator (old one was 7 years old -- new one from Autohaus AZ)
• Stewart water pump (OEM Bimmer Parts)
• Mechanical Fan delete kit: 80°C thermostat, lower temp electric fan switch, and water wetter (didn't install water wetter)
• Emergency rear fender lip roll at track (local fabrication guy with a hammer)
• Oil pan with pre-welded oil baffle (HARD Motorsports)
• Oil pump shaft/sprocket/gear upgrade kit (Achilles Motorsports)
• Replaced rod bearings "while you're in there" (indie mechanic's recommendation)
• 12mm BimmerWorld spacers on front. Bought them Christmas 2013 for the ZHP, ended up using them on the E36 M3 (ideal for these wheels would have been ~8mm)

[stephenkirsh]

Nice batch of work.

At what point in one's autocross/tracking should you look into an oil pan baffle?

[Imola.ZHP]

To be honest, I'm kind of "used to" the power now, so it feels tame.

This is a very good point, lots of car people just don't understand how I continue (for nearly 9 years) to drive a stock (performance wise) 235hp (when new) almost 12 year old car, AND LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

It's all about perception, this is also why I've never asked (or taken an offer from) any of my friends with 335i's or e46 M3's to drive their cars. Sure I've ridden in them, but driving is different than riding.

Sure, I'd love to have either of those or even an x5 M, but my old ZHP is paid for and still a hoot to drive.

/random thought

----

Thought about washing my car today, didn't.


--Marcus

[az3579]

Sure, I'd love to have either of those or even an x5 M, but my old ZHP is paid for and still a hoot to drive.

This trumps all. Can't friggin' wait to pay mine off... goal is to have it paid off by my b-day in February. Still owe just over 3 grand. Ugh.

[Sockethead]

Out of all the Bimmers Kpro and I have had... X5 4.8is, her 135, f30, etc. My ZHP is still our favorite.
I can't put my finger on one thing that makes it that way... It's the whole package....

[Whammy]

Its why I won't give up mine..willingly.

[slater]

i love mine too. but i might go look at a space gray over saddle brown 2011 328xiT 6MT soon.... missing the wagon space and the fact that it's a much newer car (less headache?) would be welcome at this point in time.

sigh. i dunno.

peter

[NoVAphotog]

This trumps all. Can't friggin' wait to pay mine off... goal is to have it paid off by my b-day in February. Still owe just over 3 grand. Ugh.

Very happy when I did this, definitely a great thing that will be an awesome bday present, BP!

Out of all the Bimmers Kpro and I have had... X5 4.8is, her 135, f30, etc. My ZHP is still our favorite.
I can't put my finger on one thing that makes it that way... It's the whole package....

We all have discussed this before, but each time I drive a newer/new car (BMW, Infiniti, any of them) I'm always underwhelmed by the driving feel and overwhelmed by the amount of fancy, unnecessary and/or distracting features.

[LivesNearCostco]

I honestly don't know. If you have an oil pressure gauge--ideally with a low pressure alarm or warning light--you can see if your oil pressure is dropping. I do hear it's most likely in hard, sustained left handers on track or when trail braking hard and turning left at the same time, as the oil sloshes forward and to the right of the pan. There are all sorts of stories and guidelines on the interwebz, including...

• Every E36 and E46 needs one at the track
• Only good drivers on R-comps or slicks need them, and only when turning left a lot
• You can just overfill by a quart and that's good enough
• The baffle is not good enough if you drive hard, you need the S54 oil system swap or a dry sump system
• Get a sensitive oil pressure gauge and figure out if you need one or not
• AutoX is unlikely to require one because you rarely have fast left-handed sweepers
• A day of hard braking into left-hand turns will destroy your bearings without a baffle

I will say I saw a photo of the stock E46 (non-M) pan baffle and saw the stock baffle in my E36 M3 pan, and the stock E36 M3 baffle looks pretty substantial, surprisingly similar to the aftermarket one I bought. While the stock E46 non-M baffle looks tiny and ineffectual.

Nice batch of work. At what point in one's autocross/tracking should you look into an oil pan baffle?

[az3579]

i love mine too. but i might go look at a space gray over saddle brown 2011 328xiT 6MT soon.... missing the wagon space and the fact that it's a much newer car (less headache?) would be welcome at this point in time.

sigh. i dunno.

peter

The drive doesn't compare, Peter. Trust me, you'll probably end up regretting it.


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