The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

[John in VA]

I have a similar issue on the wife's X3. I mentioned this to my Indy, and he stated the vapor barrier was the suspect. He didn't fix it, since he quoted $300 for parts and labor. Apparently it's an easy DIY. There's a chance all that is needed is some glue.

Frequently the bottom of the vapor barriers become (or are left) unattached to the door when the window regulator is replaced. This allows the water that enters the door at the window to make its way across the door sill & onto the carpet. Get a roll of butyl caulk strip & use it to reattach the foam barrier to the metal door around the perimeter. Warming the door & caulk makes for better adhesion.

Vapor barrier is # 12:


Pic from ECSTuning:

[ELCID86]

^and use butyl tape.

[Prestovie]

Alright well good news is I managed to fix it just now! Had a friend in the car so I told him to try to push the glass back into place while I clicked the button, and after about 5 minutes of robot noises and gunshots it finally went back into place. Obviously not a permanent fix but now I don't constantly have it open, and I figured that if it's already broken I'm paying for a new one anyway, so I can break it a little more.


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[Sockethead]

Yea mine is starting to malfunction too. I haven't opened it since last summer

[sillieidiot]

lol mines was working perfectly fine, and i still took it out. it took forever to sell though.

[Sockethead]

I think about doing that myself. I rarely use it... well, I don't use it at all now...

[Dual]

Is the Bilstein B8 (corrected from earlier B6) a good call for rear shock replacement? Alternatives? Any other 'while you're in there' components beyond the shock mounts (assuming no subframe work)? I think I recall someone mentioning this job as about as simple a DIY that could be undertaken, so I'm giving it some thought.

I understand this has been discussed a lot in the past: I just can't seem to master searching in this forum.

[nextelbuddy]

question on LED tail lights for sedans.

i really want LED tails and it looks like the most common popular ones online are the clear up top and red on bottom however it looks like the red clear red is the proper one to get??

is it safe to assume that regardless of which one you get, brake force may not work or the final stage 3 brake force may not work if enabled in the LCM?


trying to find some good comparison pictures of both styles to see which one wins me over because i really cant decide between the 2 styles.

[az3579]

Don't forget the third option:

OE rear RCR tail lights with LED bulbs in them. This is what I have and IMO it looks better than any aftermarket setup out there.

[nextelbuddy]

Don't forget the third option:

OE rear RCR tail lights with LED bulbs in them. This is what I have and IMO it looks better than any aftermarket setup out there.

that option sounds brighter and probably more dependable but you dont see the grid of LEDs which is the aesthetic part of what I am also looking for.