Hey people, me again :)

Just got myself a BMW 320d Coupe Msport, not really sure why, was looking at golfs and A3's, had an idea of getting one of these then bought one 4 days later, not much thought or research into it at all.

So picked this one up, it's a fairly straight example, perhaps a bit neglected in its life but I intend on making it nice & mechanically sound, and a few subtle mods.

So from what I have worked out there's a massive spec variance and no real consistency with BMWs due to everything being an option. But some basics:

Msport coupe, 2.0tdi, 150hp, silver grey.

18" MV2 alloys

Black leather seats

Black head lining

6 speed manual

Cruise control etc

109k

Really solid car, if not a bit bland because its pretty well refined, the suspension is pretty firm but not dramatic, engine pulls well, totally different to my golf diesel, that was dead pokey at low revs, whereas you need to wind this one up a bit, however I'm still getting used to the 6 speed box etc, starting to like it more and more now.

So I went and picked it up, drove it home with intentions of doing a few service bits. However, opened the bonnet when I got home to be greeted with water leaking - not cool! Hole in the rad it turned out to be, but was ok when I went to check it out, rang the guy up straight away, who's sent me back the money for the cost of the rad. Wasn't happy to be honest, stone or something perhaps, but these things happen.

So literally got home, found leak and took rad out...

Flushed the system through, banged the new one in..

Got that done, then carried on with my actual intentions, which was removing the problematic swirl flaps. These engines basically have a variable length inlet tract, which is controlled via flaps. Which like to fall off and get sucked into your engine, ruining pistons/heads/valves, oh and turbo's on their way out.

So took the inlet manifold off and removed them and fitted some blanks, I had only drove it home so I wouldn't really notice the difference, although its supposed to be minimal.

Blanks fitted..

Whilst it was in pieces, I decided to give it a service, even though its got FSH, I like to know where I'm at.

So replaced:

Oil filter

Air filter

Micro filter

Fuel filter

Oil (obviously)

And the oil seperator, as these can cause turbo issues.

All changed for genuine BMW parts, a small fortune it seems!

Ran a lot smoother after doing that lot, happy days & piece of mind.

All done service wise..

I then set about starting to clean it up, it looks like its been kept clean, maybe by the local hand car wash drowning it in TFR, flat paint, full of contamination, and felt like sand paper. Things like the black trims around windows had all horrible staining on them etc, not good.

Washed it properly to strip it all back..

In short, the wheels need refurbing, look tidy but paints flaking behind the spokes. Gave them a good clean though, literally 3 rounds with various products, and some fall out remover, came up ok for now.

The fall out remover is clear, and turns purple with metal contamination, like bits stuck in the paint.. Looks cool though..

Then went over the car with fall out remover, tar & glue remover and clayed it all, took AGES. Brought it up a lot lot nicer though,

Half the bonnet clayed..

Bonnet clayed, wing not..

In the sun, it was very swirly, like it had been washed with a scouring pad or something, the colour hid it well, but nowhere near happy, so used the boot lid as a test panel, machine polished/corrected, sealed and waxed..

MUCH better.

After the day of clay etc, chilling with polo.

Tried a rotary and DA on the boot lid (as well as debadging it) to decide how to approach the rest of the car and to see how hard the paint is etc. then set about measuring the whole cars paint depth, and then the whole car was machined/sealed/waxed, looks the tits compared to how it was, dead happy.

Bit of polishing (credit to my neighbour for his skills and attention to detail)

Done exterior..

Bonnet reflection, stone chipped quite bad up front actually, must be from tailgating on motorways etc..

Washed/clayed (before polishing)

After polishing, much clearer, a LOT less marks, much deeper shine and smooth!

Interior not yet touched, need to recolour the drivers seat bolster also, got a decent supplier for some stuff to do so, but it's quite nice, basic and bland as BMWs are but it's nice.

So that's where I'm up to currently, however.

Have some bits on order, and today bought some new wiper blades, discs and pads. Rear pads recently replaced for OEM items, but fronts could do with being changed and discs are a little worn, nowhere near too worn but I like to know where I'm at and I'm probably just being really anal. Also bought a thermostat as I think it's slightly stuck open, hindering MPG so shall see on that one.

Good quality obviously..

So the wheels will be being refurbished, unsure on colour, maybe just a standish silver colour I think?

Also got one odd tyre to the rest, so will buy one to make a full set of the same.

Already ordered new centres, and the Msport badges for them , will get some new bolts too, makes it look tidier.

Slightly tired looking badges on the car too, so ordered some carbon type ones, still blue and white, just a subtle thing to change.

Don't have xenon headlights so no halos, so ordered some new sidelight bulbs as these ones look a bit yellow and dated now.

Other plans:

Fit an auxiliary/iPod lead

Upgrade speakers, bit disappointed with these to be honest.

Get an armrest centre console and arm rest obviously.

Also may space the rear wheels 10-15mm, but need to check clearance. May also lower it a touch, maybe 20mm front and 10-15mm rear, will do some maths and see what kind of springs I want and see what's available.

May look at a remap in future too, will see how the economy is going, and how much extra insurance will cost too.

Being pretty anal with this, changing things I probably don't need to, but I'm used to making cars as good as they can be at work, it's hard to switch off, and I just like to know where it's all at etc.

All in all a pretty nice car, will do brakes this weekend and hopefully send wheels to be done over the next couple of weeks.

Nick.

Something else to fit tomorrow -

Front lower arm bush - common to fail on these.

It's a hydrabush, which contains fluid, they're prone to the rubber eventually splitting, resulting in fluid loss and a large loss of bush rate.

One side of the car was done for the last MOT, but the side that's now gone has failed like a thousand miles later I think - thought this is the idea of replacing things in pairs haha.

It's still got the OE one on, from factory, 110k on it is a good effort indeed. Basically felt it go, car became unstable at higher speeds, steering feel was lost and front end generally feels soggy, coupled with a knock at low speed if you jab the brakes it's probably good to change it really :p

Kind of glad it's failed now, was only a matter of time :)

Right then, had a plan of action today, and executed that.

Firstly set about doing the lower arm bush, as unlike everything else it needed doing.

Dropped the metal engine under tray off - which has a nice little flap in it for getting to the sump plug - how thoughtful. Then dropped down the back end of the arm.

This video explains the excessive movement & thud you get under jabbing the brakes..

http://s963.photobucket.com/user/harrisrac...1bdeb5.mp4.html

Forgot to bring a puller home and couldnt find my big grips or a G clamp to replicate a puller, so took a bit of effort to get it off.

Old and new bushes..

Popped the new one on, and bolted it back up..

Result, a lot less compliance, resulting in no knocks/bangs, wondering at speed & improved steering and steering feel. happy days & a piece of piss to change.

Next I set about changing the brakes, although I forgot to take pics.

Took front discs & pads off, pads still had a good 5mm on them, and discs only had a small lip, nowhere near wear limits, but hey ho.

Cleaned all the sliders up, greased appropirately with genuine BMW brake pad grease and banged them on. - will probably paint the calipers black at some point.

Cleaned the inside of the wheels whilst they were off, as they were totally black with dirt. Only a quick clean but a lot better..

This is why they need a refurb..

Also painted the bell of the brake discs with VHT black to keep them looking tidier instead of them corroding.

Did the rear brakes too, and adjusted the handbrake as it wasnt very effective before, inside of the discs were mainly rust and shit, might explain it. Looks like it could use some shoes soon, but they're literally just for the handbrake.

Changed the fuel filter too, as I got bored last weekend when servicing it, again very easy to do, the more jobs I do it seems BMW really think about people having to work on them.

I then set about changing the thermostat, easiest way was to give myself a bit of room, so removed the engine covers and took the rad fan out the way to gain visibilty and space..

Had to move the EGR/EGR cooler out the way, but got it off pretty easily..

Did the whole, reassemble most of it, and came to refit a bolt and realised I couldnt get to it, so had to take half of it apart again to get to it..great short term memory me.

New & old stat...both 88 degrees.

Fan cowling thingy has vacuum actuated 'blinds' on it, to aid the rad warming up faster/improving air flow through the rad when its hot, becoming a pretty standard thing these days tbh.

Had a devliery or two throughout the day...

New badges came, not changing wheel centres yet, but did front and rear badges.

Front (slight damage

Some grime..

Comparison..

Fitted..

Same on the arse end, as they're carbon, they're light weight - lighter at the rear = easier skids???

Also, LED sidelights came, look loads better, yellowish ones looked shit.

For a 9 year old car I think its aged quite well, dont look too out of place on the road still.

Quick interior shot too - speakers seem to have gotten a bit better the more they're used - weird!

Gave it a wash, then was gone 9pm, had had enough, so got food..

Now I feel fat and ashamed, however the drive there proved the stat has done the trick, gets higher temp now and stay there, i am intreagued for the drive to work in the morning for effects on MPGzzz.

Ciao x

Edited 25 May, 201313 yr by harris.racing

Nice work!

Big improvement.

What new sidelights did you choose? - i changed mine, but these, despite having a number of sMD? led's all over, only seem to create a dot of light rather than any of the reflector picking it up.

to be honest i just blindly bought some off ebay in my lunch break, they have about 5 or 6 SMDs on them, look a bit shit looking at them through the front of the light. They disperse light a bit, but i know what youre saying, thats the issue with LEDs, they dont ommit much light, they're just bright..and I'm a poet and didnt knowit.

ill get you a link if you want & some more piccys?

little things make big differences, cant wait to have the wheels done with new centres, M badges, and new bolts. ]

was going to say something else but forgot now. Jelly of yours being a 330d tho, hiya torque

Good progress mate really like it, as for the badge it will either be glass or texalium as carbon is an element it will only ever come in the black/grey shade it is, texalium is used if you want a coloured carbon look with the weave etc as its still pre pregnated and manufactured in the same sort of way.

Random fact for you as I'm bored

Edited 25 May, 201313 yr by matt-c

Yeah - its some kind of weave anyway as apposed to a printed vinyl, looks better than BMWs interior 'carbon effect' anyway :)

Done more today, probably going to look like iv not done much in pics as its a bit hard to tell, as with the paintwork tbh.

Today was interior clean time.

What was done:

Seats out

Headlining and a/b/c posts steam cleaned

Door cards/dash/centre console steam cleaned

Any leather trim steam cleaned

Leather seats steam cleaned

Seatbelts hoovered + steam cleaned

Carpets, including boot hoovered & cleaned with extraction machine

Leather treated and moisturised, (aircon dries leather - bad)

Carpets fabric guarded

Trim dressed with poor boys interior stuff

Glass cleaned + dealer sticker removed.

Some pics..before...

This kind of thing annoys me..

Sorted though..

During and after..

Mats cleaned

Passenger seat ready to go back in

Carpets

Boot clean enough, just did carpet

Rear seat back in

Clean door card

All back together..

Like I say lots isn't noticeable, but it's a lot fresher in the flesh, just like shit in vents, around the edge of switches etc.

Few marks here and there but 9 years old, carpets are good as have always had mats so that's a winner.

Also got a cutting of leather to send off as a sample to have a colour match made up for drivers seat bolster repair.

Seatbelts etc being hoovered and steamed makes them a bit more supple and nicer too.

Also ordered LED interior bulbs and an armrest and appropriate centre console.

Need to get an aux lead adaptor, and some number plates.

Nick

Edited 27 May, 201313 yr by harris.racing

Also, reference to LED sidelights...

They look like this

And like this on

So yeah, as you said it sticks in one area of light really, look ok from a distance though.

Not sure on wheel colour, it's a good opportunity for change, but I'm not sure if just a nice silver is ideal, have thought about a dark/gunmetal grey, but not sure with colour of car.

Will paint calipers black too when I sort wheels.

Love it nick,

Nothing better than making a car feel new again :)...

Have to take me for a spin sometime man :)

Cheers dude.

Just came home to a fuck load of LEDs :)

And stuff ready for wheels, considering buying a new set of tyres but looking at around £600 for a set..

Can't fit LEDs ATM though as I don't have the car, boo.

Using other things instead..

Anyone recommend tyres? Apparently Kuhmo's are supposed to work well, was considering Hankooks too, but I dunno really. Seem about £150 each for branded things like Michilin, Pirelli etc

Siiiick!!

Think you should just stick with silver on the wheels tbh

Or orange

Anyone recommend tyres? Apparently Kuhmo's are supposed to work well, was considering Hankooks too, but I dunno really. Seem about £150 each for branded things like Michilin, Pirelli etc

I use Kumho KU39's on mine. I rather like them..

Arm rest came today, had to change the whole centre console too, pretty easy really.

Started fitting LEDs, could only do:

Vanity mirrors

Footwells

Glovebox

Boot

Number plate

As the sidelight type bulbs were too large to fit into the housings, seller sending replacements FOC tomorrow :)

Number plate lights stay on half bright for around a minute. Whilst the canbus is still awake basically haha.

Worst pics ever, look a lot more modern tho :)

Anyone recommend tyres? Apparently Kuhmo's are supposed to work well, was considering Hankooks too, but I dunno really. Seem about £150 each for branded things like Michilin, Pirelli etc

I use Kumho KU39's on mine. I rather like them..

I'll take a look :)

You got 225/40 & 255/35?? (18's)

LOl at the vanity mirror picture XD

Anyone recommend tyres? Apparently Kuhmo's are supposed to work well, was considering Hankooks too, but I dunno really. Seem about £150 each for branded things like Michilin, Pirelli etc

I use Kumho KU39's on mine. I rather like them..

I'll take a look :)

You got 225/40 & 255/35?? (18's)

yep certainly do..

Pretty cheap man. How's the ride & road noise? Wet grip?

Pretty cheap man. How's the ride & road noise? Wet grip?

Yeah they are compared to Michelin's. I've ran Kumho's on all my BM's and always found them good.

Ride and Road noise have changed from the Michelin's that were on the car from when I purchased it. Wet grip is good too.

What is it currently running?

Erm something like

Aickqciskqgiskqofurhrnem

Received correct LEDs today, all sorted now.

Also received a cheque off previous owner for a radiator, happy days.

Beginning to really like this now, jumped in it yesterday after driving around 400 miles in the polo and was heaven, and the engine is growing on me a lot now iv figured the box out too, so chilling on the motorway, absolute cruiser.

One bad thing is the fact everyone else on the road seems to be a dick towards you just because youre in a BMW, stupid repuation!

So bloody nice man! Really a joy to look at

Been in this myself and can say drives superb !!

So refined but Still gives you a sense of driving ..

Was so nice to get in after beeing kicked in the by the polo all day lol ..

Feels alot more planted than the 320d i drove which had a remap.

Me again.

Nothing too exciting, sorted interior LEDs now, look a lot brighter and more modern than yellowish older type of bulb.

Unfortunately due to the interior lights having clear lenses, the LEDs don't look so nice when they're not illuminated, but still I prefer them.

Front centre light before

After (in daylight so doesn't look great lol)

Rear courtesy and map light..

Again after..

General..

The courtesy lights still fade out as they should too which is nice.

Gave it a wash in the week, seems to attract a lot of flies.

At work... Can't decide on a wheel colour :(

Also got some new plates..

Mmm clean..

And fitted, much fresher..

Currently on the look out for some crystal clear LED side repeaters.

Nick

Right was bored last night so had a slight shopping spree.

Ordered:

Some new side repeaters - OEM, which are clear LED anyway, just won't have a yellowish fainted tinge to them

An iPod/iPhone lead for the head unit after identifying what pins I can probe into :p

Rainbow IQ line OEM fit front door speaker upgrade

Currently researching into a rear speaker upgrade, I'd like to keep the standard head unit and not use any amps so just finding things suitable.

Also need to make a decision on tyres, whether to just buy a set of new ones, around £450-£600, or just buy another single "Accelera" I think they are to match the rest.

They're not too bad for budget tyres to be honest, but the road noise annoys me more than anything, trouble is I'll be buying winter tyres later in the year too so just a bit of an awkward decision.

Once I have decided on tyres I'll strip the current ones off and organise getting the wheels refurbished, then build them up new valves/msport stickers, centre caps etc :)

Nothing exciting, but saying that it's a BMW so isn't really exciting anyway but yeah!