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BMW 3-Series 2005 and earlier

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#21811 of 30038 Brave1heart, Kominsky, SnyderW & Everybody else... by shipo Feb 05, 2003 (1:21 am)
Brave & Kominsky,   Hmmm, Boston this Spring… Mind if I crash the party in my Dodge Caravan?   SnyderW,   As I have a fair amount of experience with a 1999 328i, I can offer you some advice regarding your post. First, the “Rocker Arms” are probably “Control Arms”, which, based upon my understanding, BMW has decided to replace (free of charge) for all 1999 E46 models. Mine were replaced during my 30K service appointment.   The brakes, however, are a different matter. I have had entirely too many mechanics (not just BMW mechanics mind you) tell me that “You need brakes”, only to discover that there were an easy 10K miles left on the pads. Given that A) your car has a sensor connected to a light on the dash that will illuminate when your pads are getting low, and B) like most other manufacturers these days, BMW recommends that you do a complete Pad and Rotor replacement when performing a brake job, I recommend that you just keep driving the car until the light comes on.   All of that said, when the light does come on, you have three options:    1) Let your dealership replace the brakes for $465    2) Find a local mechanic who will most likely do them for between $325 and $375    3) Do the work yourself for about $225   I chose option 3 for my 328i, I bought the parts from Steve at www.ulitmategarage.com (Factory Pads, Rotors and new Sensor) for $225 (per axle) and I was able to perform the work myself with minimal tools (you will need a torque wrench though) in about 30-45 minutes per wheel. I did this work about a year ago, and I posted a step by step how-to, which I should be able to find if you think you might like to go this route.   Everybody,   Thanks for all of your good wishes and vibes, I know that they are going to help me “Get back in the saddle” quicker.   Best Regards, Shipo
#21812 of 30038 Shipo... Brake Job by gobucs Feb 05, 2003 (6:00 am)
I would like to see your post on the brake job, if you can find it. Also, if you have pictures that would be great also. Thanks
#21813 of 30038 shipo by leenelsonmd Feb 05, 2003 (7:12 am)
Sorry to hear about the fall. I guess it shows that we are somewhat fragile -- you always figure something like that only happens to other people--It hits close to home when it is a fellow 3 pedal pusher that loves bimmers. I would have trouble coping with the recovery as well as losing the car temporarily.   My wife has a 2000 Maxima and ever since I got my new wheels I have been pressuring her to think about a 540 wagon. I just can't stand the mushy/floating sensations her car evokes.   Best of luck to you. Glad to hear from you again.
#21814 of 30038 Step by step brake job... by shipo Feb 05, 2003 (7:38 am)
For those of you who are facing a pending brake job, and might be inclined to save yourself a few hundred dollars by doing it yourself, here is an edited compilation of several posts that I made in March of 2002, along with a snippet of a post from our friend Div2.   Parts: (purchased from Steve at http://www.ultimategarage.com (keep in mind that these are March 2002 prices))   Rotors -- $46 x 2 = $92 Single Axle Pad Set: $46 Brake Sensor: $12 Total: $150   Tools:   Torque wrench 17mm socket (wheel studs) 16mm socket or 16mm box wrench (caliper bolts) A set of metric allen keys (I never checked to see which size)-(Rotor retaining bolt) A big old honking flat bladed screw driver A 14” stack of old news papers or a bent up old wire hanger (to hold up the caliper) Goop Hand cleaner (or equivalent)   Procedure:   1) Loosen the five wheel bolts on a single wheel a half turn each (making sure to use the “Star” pattern) 2) Jack up the car and remove the wheel (make sure to chock the wheels at the other end of the car). 3) Work the flat blade of the screw driver between the inside brake pad and the rotor and gradually pry the two apart. Keep working the pad back until the piston is fully compressed. 4) Loosen the two 16mm caliper bolts behind the caliper bracket, and remove the bottom bolt. 5) Stack 14" of newspapers (preferable bound with twine or some such) to the rear of the wheel well, or position the wire hanger from the spring so that you can hang the caliper without damaging the brake line. 6) Remove the top caliper bolt, and rest the caliper on the stack of papers or hang it from the wire. 7) Remove the single rotor retaining bolt with an Allen key and slide the rotor off the hub. 8) Remove the spring clip between the caliper bracket and the caliper. 9) Remove the brake pads from the caliper and slide the caliper bracket off of the caliper (these are floating calipers so the bracket should slide smoothly off to the rear). 10) Wash the new rotor in a good concentration of dish soap, rinse and mount the new rotor and secure with the retaining bolt, tighten with the Allen key. 11) Slide the bracket back on the caliper. 12) Insert the new brake pads in the caliper. 13) Re-attach the spring clip between the caliper and the caliper bracket. 14) Slide the caliper over the new rotor, and thread the top caliper bolt. 15) Remove the stack of papers, insert the bottom bolt and tighten both bolts to about 100 ft/lbs. 16) (Left front only) Snap the sensor in place on the inside brake pad ("bump" toward rotor), and connect the sensor to the "Box" in the wheel well thus replacing the old one. 17) Mount the wheel, and screw in the wheel bolts finger tight. 18) Lower the car to the ground and tighten the wheel bolts to 72 ft/lbs in a "Star" pattern. 19) Repeat for the other wheel.   It really is that easy.   Assuming that this brake job was triggered by the amber brake warning light on the dash, you follow this procedure to "reset" the brake pad wear indicator: Turn the ignition key to position 1 (ignition on) but not to the start position. Leave it in that position for at least 60 seconds. This clears the memory for this item and the light should not light again.   I hope this helps. Given that the new “Search” facility is very different, (both better and worse) I will keep this post on file and can E-Mail it to anybody who needs it.   Best Regards, Shipo
#21815 of 30038 LeeNelsonMD by shipo Feb 05, 2003 (7:50 am)
Hey ya Doc!   I hear you on the "Close to Home" thing; it makes you think, doesn't it?   Regarding coping, I am fairly good at keeping myself up, that said; last night I got a little blue, worrying if I would ever be 100% again. I only have 15 days until my current cast is taken off and HOPEFULLY a walking cast being installed in its place. Gee, if I’m REALLY lucky, they might even use one of those new fangled removable jobs so I can start therapy shortly thereafter (assuming that I don’t find myself back in Taipei again, which is a real possibility). I guess only after therapy starts will we have a good indication of how bad the soft tissue damage is, and how long before I can start pushing three pedals again. I will keep y’all posted.   Best Regards, Shipo
#21816 of 30038 Fragile (lovely poignant song by Sting) by vkwheels Feb 05, 2003 (9:40 am)
I bought a helmet for skiing, after I noticed how many boarders and expert skiers were wearing them. But it took a nasty fall to change my mind.   I'm impressed that Pierce's car suffered little damage in a rear-ender, while he (neck/shoulders/back?) did. Driving helmets next? nah...   Hang in there, your foot will heal.
#21817 of 30038 1Pierce by shipo Feb 05, 2003 (10:18 am)
In my absence it seems that I may have missed something. Are "on the mend" as well?   Best Regards, Shipo
#21818 of 30038 Fragile (lovely poignant song by Sting) by vkwheels Feb 05, 2003 (10:24 am)
I bought a helmet for skiing, after I noticed how many boarders and expert skiers were wearing them. But it took a nasty fall to change my mind.   I'm impressed that Pierce's car suffered little damage in a rear-ender, while he (neck/shoulders/back?) did. Driving helmets next? nah...   Hang in there, your foot will heal.
#21819 of 30038 bent rims from NYC pothole by roc50mg Feb 05, 2003 (11:14 pm)
I ran over a huge pothole on the BQE in NYC and now both my rims on the left side are noticeably bent. There's also a slight bulge on the tire sidewalls. I'm going to call my dealer in the morning to see what I need to do, but for now I just want to know if it's safe to drive.   My car is a 2001 330 XI w/sport pkg and style 79 rims. Does anyone know how much it'll cost to replace? My car has 16,500 miles on it. Do you suggest replacing just the two rims on the left side or all four rims? What about tires? Should they all be replaced along w/rims? HELP!!!
#21820 of 30038 SMG and ride in 745 by topspin627 Feb 06, 2003 (4:47 am)
A friend of mine recently picked up a 745, a car I've lusted for as soon as I saw it. (I have a 330i that I love.) I was thinking that just maybe that would be my next car. Until I went for a ride in it. Now granted, I was only a passenger but for me it was too limo-like. Very smooth and quiet, like an S class. As soon as I got back in my 3er I was so happy to hear that roar of the engine and feel the "edge" of the 3. I guess I'm more of a sports car kind of guy than I thought. On another subject, does anyone out there have real world experience with SMG? I need an auto because of the amount of city style driving I do but was thinking this may be a good alternative on my next 3 as it will be soon be available. I wonder do people really use it in the "manual" mode or just keep it in one of the programs. And if in the program, is it too "lurhcy" causing one to pine for an auto that does the job smoother?

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