William's 330Ci ZHP Maintenance and Project Thread

[BMWCurves]

Mustered the courage to swap out the OEM chrome grilles for the BMW Performance grilles (BMW part no - left: 51132158537, right: 51132158538). Followed Bavarian Autosports' video like I did last time I messed things up but seemed to work better this time around (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZdwpPA1fGE). Several of the plastic tabs on the OEM grill were already broken before I started and I snapped two on the way out with very little pressure. Luckily I think if I wanted to swap them back they would still hold in place. The plastic has just gotten very brittle over 10 years' time. The new grills snapped into place easily with no problems. I started by slotting in the top, then working around the outer edge, the bottom, and finally the inner edge. They new ones look good with Oriental Blue. The blue is very dark and it it matches the gloss black well. Overall my worries were not realized. Maybe I'm becoming less of a klutz over time!

Pics:

[Vas]

Looking good.

[ELCID86]

+1 I like it.

[BMWCurves]

Updated previous posts with pics of mirror and a few from the maintenance weekend. Still waiting for the SSK to arrive. Sourcing a PASoft BMW scanner from Tony (Tnhl1989) so I can code a few things.

Another question: Has anyone here charged their AC system? I bought a can of R1234a refrigerant with a gauge and doing it yourself seems relatively easy but I'd love input from anyone that has ever done it themselves.

[Vas]

Bmw ssk?

[BMWCurves]

Bmw ssk?

UUC Evo3. I found an unused one for a good price, along with some other goodies bundled in for free (UUC's version of a modified CDV and a SS clutch line, I think)

[BMWCurves]

The side markers on my car have faded/yellowed. I'm contemplating trying to clean them. Has anyone done it? If not, does anyone have any insight? I imagine it would be similar to cleaning headlight lenses. My alternative is to either just leave them as is or go ahead and purchase replacements:

$50 from ECS: http://www.ecstuning.com/ES251984/
$33 from Khoalty: http://www.khoalty.com/bmw-e46-coupe...e-markers.html

While I'm at it I've thought about swapping out the license plate bulbs for LEDs. Anyone have a brand they suggest?

[Vas]

Cree led bulbs for reverse

[johnrando]

One of the few things I went non OEM with when OEM was available, the Khoalty ones were fine.

Sent from mobile

[BMWCurves]

One of the few things I went non OEM with when OEM was available, the Khoalty ones were fine.

Perfect, thanks for the info. I may just go ahead and replace them rather than futz with trying to clean them up. We'll see, no immediate need yet.

Anyone swapped out their brake lines with stainless steel lines? From what I've found it seems TMS/StopTech are a good brand to go with since they're DOT approved rather than compliant. Any other suggestions? I figure since I still have to change out my brake fluid, will be swapping out the clutch line and doing a CDV delete, I might as well do the brake lines as well.