[apexit4]

Finally got around to cleaning up my pitted and faded headlights. Bought a Sylvania headlight polish kit but in the end decided to do it differently based on some research I had done. Progressively worked my way from 400 to 600 to 800 grit. Oddly 800 took the longest to get the sanding just right. And thats where I decided to change things up. Ive heard great things about 2k clear coat and decided to use it instead of the protective coating in the Sylvania kit. Those coatings only seem to last (supposedly) a couple of years or so and I wanted a more permanent solution.

Overall, Im very pleased with the result. There is some orange peel that I have to buff out but I need to do more research and work up the courage to start sanding the results of 6 hours of my time. Seems 2000 grit and compound/polish should do the trick but......yeah, I'm a little worried since its my first time with this.

Edit: Anyone have a cheap orbital buffer they can recommend? Thinking of getting one of the cheaper 7" buffers from Harbor Freight. Kicking myself for not thinking of picking one up this weekend with their 20% off coupon!

[jwalther]

Originally Posted by E93Dude

How much HP boost does that get you?….

Dunno. . .it was this or supercharge

[Snail]

I bought a set of style 290 wheels from a 2012 Z4 with 40k miles on them to replace my heavily damaged and dented style 157 wheels. Swapped the rear wheels to get a good idea of how it would look and I’m starting to like them.


Also, my battery is dead and having never replaced a BMW battery does any one have recommendations regarding battery registration? I hear it can be done via smartphone app. I do have a K+DCAN cable but unfortunately no access to INPA.

[tcphoto]

I have purchased my last three batteries at Autozone for about $200 each and registered them on Carly for BMW. The app is about $50 plus the battery module for $40. The Wi-Fi module was $75 for a used unit but I used a $15 module for years until they killed the connection.

[E93Dude]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

I have purchased my last three batteries at Autozone for about $200 each and registered them on Carly for BMW. The app is about $50 plus the battery module for $40. The Wi-Fi module was $75 for a used unit but I used a $15 module for years until they killed the connection.

Not to go too far off topic, but I've Never been a fan of iCarly. App was expensive for what it did, but at least it never forced me to use its proprietary dongle. The main reason I don't use it any more is that it would not function without an active internet connection. Why does iCarly need to know my IP address and location in order to tell me what codes my car is throwing or if I need to register a battery? I don't care about its connected services anyway. Privacy overreach. I absolutely HATE business models that are predicated on knowing where I am or what's going on on my phone at any particular time.

SO, I got the much more capable Protool.

[tcphoto]

I can see how you came to that conclusion, I bought the app and cheap Amazon Wi-Fi module and added the battery option later. By the time they disabled the cheap module I was in too deep to change course.

[Snail]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

I have purchased my last three batteries at Autozone for about $200 each and registered them on Carly for BMW. The app is about $50 plus the battery module for $40. The Wi-Fi module was $75 for a used unit but I used a $15 module for years until they killed the connection.

Oh man, I read Autozone as Amazon. Kinda confused me lol. Thanks for the advice I'll look into it.

[bman142]

Today I replaced my Fuel Pressure Regulator. Started to smell gas outside rear left side, and I noticed the tank was wet underneath. Fairly common issue I guess. This was very helpful DIY - https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1004917

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by jwalther

Cheap mod.

It's officially a club!

Thanks @JDNY516

[John 070]

I don't drive my car daily, and I drove it to work yesterday. Doesn't matter that it's going to be 16. Car is a blast to drive today, as it was brand new! and I have my mismatched tow hook cover too lol

Even though the paint is nice on the primed cover I bought, it doesn't truly match...what you gonna do? I didn't read it all but the paperwork that came with the paint said it's likely to happen etc. Reminds me of body work, but then again the tow hook cover is so small it's not as if too many would notice

[John 070]

Originally Posted by E93Dude

Not to go too far off topic, but I've Never been a fan of iCarly. App was expensive for what it did, but at least it never forced me to use its proprietary dongle. The main reason I don't use it any more is that it would not function without an active internet connection. Why does iCarly need to know my IP address and location in order to tell me what codes my car is throwing or if I need to register a battery? I don't care about its connected services anyway. Privacy overreach. I absolutely HATE business models that are predicated on knowing where I am or what's going on on my phone at any particular time.

SO, I got the much more capable Protool.

wasn't there actually a question on whether anything really happened when a battery were registered or coded, either it was this app or Foxwell or something...that's a potential issue when we rely upon a front end, not sure what's going on behind the scenes...

[codeterrorist]

Switched from runflats on the X1... holy driving-over-clouds!
The difference is night and day.

Will be doing the same for my 3 series, this one will have an even more noticeable impact (pun intended).

And got the 3 series back from the shop after noticing oil drips a few days ago. Haven't seen oil leaks on it since I picked it up brand new in 2011. So this VCG was on it's way out long time ago. I only have 57,000 kilometers on it.

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by apexit4

Finally got around to cleaning up my pitted and faded headlights. Bought a Sylvania headlight polish kit but in the end decided to do it differently based on some research I had done. Progressively worked my way from 400 to 600 to 800 grit. Oddly 800 took the longest to get the sanding just right. And thats where I decided to change things up. Ive heard great things about 2k clear coat and decided to use it instead of the protective coating in the Sylvania kit. Those coatings only seem to last (supposedly) a couple of years or so and I wanted a more permanent solution.

Overall, Im very pleased with the result. There is some orange peel that I have to buff out but I need to do more research and work up the courage to start sanding the results of 6 hours of my time. Seems 2000 grit and compound/polish should do the trick but......yeah, I'm a little worried since its my first time with this.

Edit: Anyone have a cheap orbital buffer they can recommend? Thinking of getting one of the cheaper 7" buffers from Harbor Freight. Kicking myself for not thinking of picking one up this weekend with their 20% off coupon!

Looks great! And good decision going with 2K clear coat. That will last a long time.

You can remove the orange peel with 2K grit sand paper, as long as you have 3 coats of clear on there. You will basically be sanding off 1 coat to remove the orange peel.
The HF 7” buffer is great. I have it and have the 5” Random orbital buffer.
BUT, I don’t like using them on headlights, unless the bumper is removed because the wheel is too big to fit into the small areas.
I use a small 3” buffing pad attached to a drill.
I bought a kit similar to this one.
Holikme 20Piece Drill Brush Attachments Set, Scrub Pads & Sponge, Buffing Pads, Power Scrubber Brush with Extend Long Attachment, Car Polishing Pad Kit https://a.co/d/budZISd

Use some meguiars buffing compound and you can follow with meguiars polish.

[Badwolf1970]

Wheel strip and powder coat

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by Badwolf1970

Wheel strip and powder coat

Ouff looking nice with that color combo.

[Badwolf1970]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Ouff looking nice with that color combo.

Thank you, didn't want black as I didn't want to lose the wheels.

[Want_1]

Had my coolant expansion tank leaking for a few weeks now, and finally got around to replacing it.

Next up power steering tank and fluid, spark plugs and coil packs.

[fazm]

Originally Posted by Badwolf1970

Wheel strip and powder coat

Looks awesome! Wheels/car combo is perfect

The curves of the light and the fender make it look like you have some kind of side snorkel vent lol

[Cpet]

Picked it up from the shop. Had my 60k service done - full transmission service, front & rear diff fluid, transfer case fluid, and brake fluid. Car drove great beforehand, but it’s even better now. Shifts are barely noticeable!

[F13.KENN]

Arrived at tail of the dragon for mvading the dragon.

Bucketless stage 3 lpfp isnt a fan of the twisties, as expected. Also ever since i single turbod the car, the oil level has been reading VERY weird. Have no exact clue how much oil is in the car so uh just kinda sending it right now…

[2one3E90]

The car actually was accurate. I had only 6 miles left on the tank. And when I pulled to the gas station. It was right. 16 gallons right?

[Hoody007]

Whelp, I’m feeling like an idiot. Performed an emergency downshift to get away from an erratically driving Mustang, and got an SES light and slight misfire, both which went away about 2-3 min later. Car has been feeling a bit sluggish lately, but I attributed that to the switch to Summer gas.

Scanned codes, it's a cylinder 4 misfire. Given I’ve got a new Index 12 in there, the plugs have maybe 15K on them, and the nature of the fault, I’m inclined to think its ignition coils instead. Feeling like an idiot because these were the same symptoms which led me to replace my cylinder 3 Index 7 injector.

Lesson learned. Eldors on order. Disappointing really, as the coils have maybe 80K on them. The same model injectors lasted ~ 155K in my old 330Ci (same Delphi parts).

In a way I’m glad I replaced the 7, though, as I bought the 12 before prices got super outrageous...