maintenance before modding

sprshggy07 · 06-17-2014, 09:46 AM

I have an 07 335i that I bought last April and haven't had to do anything besides brake pads and an oil change. It has 84k right now and I want to buy some bolt ons and a tune in the future. I'm planning on doing a walnut blast, spark plugs, accessory belt with tensioner etc first. I'll probably buy a couple of coils to have on hand as well. Is there anything else I should do or check out before a tune? This is the wife's DD so reliability is a priority.

Cloud9blue · 06-17-2014, 10:18 AM

Water pump too for that mileage. Also check all the vacuum lines. Double check on the OFHG and valve cover gasket as well.

V8bait · 06-17-2014, 10:47 AM

^^ yep. Might want to look into the dme mosfet diy as well just to be familiar with the symptoms since you have an 07. None of this stuff is explicitly related to having mods other than you feel lack of maintenence much sooner with higher power levels.

Jklad · 06-17-2014, 11:12 AM

^^

At 84k you can also replace fluids - diff and trans

Cloud9blue · 06-17-2014, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jklad

^^

At 84k you can also replace fluids - diff and trans

Yep!
Don't forget the power steering fluid too, you will be surprised how dirty it can get for a closed system.

Ph3n0m · 06-17-2014, 12:11 PM

As mentioned above. Depends on what degree you're planning on going tho, I'd say. If just a tune at first (I'd suggest this - it's a huge bump) then the norm.

Basically be sure you're up to date on stock n54 maintenance/issues at your mileage, then consider plugs and coils. I got my tune at 52k with the knowledge of plugs/coils being a possibility but have not had issues yet. I also have a cobalt if needed.

FWIW I know the walnut thing is awesome and makes youe valves look great but it's the nature of the N54 beast to gum them up. I'd bet within 5k miles everyone's valves look the same as or pretty close to as gummy as they were prior to walnut blasting. My $0.02 - please chime in if you have data/pics showing otherwise. Most of us blast and don't consider blasting again for 40-50k miles...

Ingeniator · 06-17-2014, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ph3n0m

As mentioned above. Depends on what degree you're planning on going tho, I'd say. If just a tune at first (I'd suggest this - it's a huge bump) then the norm.

Basically be sure you're up to date on stock n54 maintenance/issues at your mileage, then consider plugs and coils. I got my tune at 52k with the knowledge of plugs/coils being a possibility but have not had issues yet. I also have a cobalt if needed.

FWIW I know the walnut thing is awesome and makes youe valves look great but it's the nature of the N54 beast to gum them up. I'd bet within 5k miles everyone's valves look the same as or pretty close to as gummy as they were prior to walnut blasting. My $0.02 - please chime in if you have data/pics showing otherwise. Most of us blast and don't consider blasting again for 40-50k miles...

Here is your proof

Bavarian Black · 06-17-2014, 12:24 PM

Apart from what was mentioned above, Oil cooler is prob a costly but wise investment. You will need the oil cooler and housing retrofit kit specific to your front bumper (M Kit, Srandard etc) for the correct fit.

BB

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 06-17-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ph3n0m

As mentioned above. Depends on what degree you're planning on going tho, I'd say. If just a tune at first (I'd suggest this - it's a huge bump) then the norm.

Basically be sure you're up to date on stock n54 maintenance/issues at your mileage, then consider plugs and coils. I got my tune at 52k with the knowledge of plugs/coils being a possibility but have not had issues yet. I also have a cobalt if needed.

FWIW I know the walnut thing is awesome and makes youe valves look great but it's the nature of the N54 beast to gum them up. I'd bet within 5k miles everyone's valves look the same as or pretty close to as gummy as they were prior to walnut blasting. My $0.02 - please chime in if you have data/pics showing otherwise. Most of us blast and don't consider blasting again for 40-50k miles...

There is a plethora of information showing the difference of walnut blasting, not only power increases but easier start ups, smoother idle, increased throttle response, just to name a few. On that extreme cases it reduced chronic misfires.

It seems by about 35K miles a walnut blasting is due.

5K would be severely premature and purely speculation.

Sandman614 · 06-17-2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian Black

Apart from what was mentioned above, Oil cooler is prob a costly but wise investment. You will need the oil cooler and housing retrofit kit specific to your front bumper (M Kit, Srandard etc) for the correct fit.

BB

Probably not necessary on the wife's daily driver. Unless OP is married to Danica Patrick.

sprshggy07 · 06-17-2014, 01:29 PM

Thanks for all of the input so far guys. Luckily the car already has an oil cooler, so I don't have to worry about that. I'm going to start ordering stuff this week and I would like to get a lot of the stuff all at once to save on shipping. I want to mod the car but I want everything else taken care of first. This isn't my first turbo car, so I know how quickly things can go south when maintenance isn't kept up.

sprshggy07 · 06-17-2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandman614

Probably not necessary on the wife's daily driver. Unless OP is married to Danica Patrick.

She is pretty easy on the car for the most part. I try to make up for it whenever I can though.

Ph3n0m · 06-17-2014, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingeniator

Here is your proof

GREAT info here. Thanks for this!

sprshggy07 · 06-18-2014, 01:13 PM

Hey guys, I've got another quick question. Is it a good Idea to clean the VANOS solenoids while I'm "in there"? I haven't had any codes or anything, but the gaskets are pretty cheap. I've actually never had a CEL on the car yet (knock on wood), and I'd like to keep it that way.

06-17-2014, 09:46 AM	#1
sprshggy07 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: e90 335i, 1.8t beetle, e30 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Indiana iTrader: (0)	maintenance before modding I have an 07 335i that I bought last April and haven't had to do anything besides brake pads and an oil change. It has 84k right now and I want to buy some bolt ons and a tune in the future. I'm planning on doing a walnut blast, spark plugs, accessory belt with tensioner etc first. I'll probably buy a couple of coils to have on hand as well. Is there anything else I should do or check out before a tune? This is the wife's DD so reliability is a priority.
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06-17-2014, 10:18 AM	#2
Cloud9blue Brigadier General 717 Rep 3,251 Posts Drives: around the potholes Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NY/NJ/MA iTrader: (13)	Water pump too for that mileage. Also check all the vacuum lines. Double check on the OFHG and valve cover gasket as well.
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06-17-2014, 10:47 AM	#3
V8bait Lieutenant 406 Rep 574 Posts Drives: e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Houston iTrader: (1)	^^ yep. Might want to look into the dme mosfet diy as well just to be familiar with the symptoms since you have an 07. None of this stuff is explicitly related to having mods other than you feel lack of maintenence much sooner with higher power levels.
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06-17-2014, 11:12 AM	#4
Jklad Lieutenant Colonel 422 Rep 1,643 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Palatine, IL iTrader: (0)	^^ At 84k you can also replace fluids - diff and trans __________________ 2007 E92 335i MT
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06-17-2014, 12:11 PM	#6
Ph3n0m Pheens 5 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	As mentioned above. Depends on what degree you're planning on going tho, I'd say. If just a tune at first (I'd suggest this - it's a huge bump) then the norm. Basically be sure you're up to date on stock n54 maintenance/issues at your mileage, then consider plugs and coils. I got my tune at 52k with the knowledge of plugs/coils being a possibility but have not had issues yet. I also have a cobalt if needed. FWIW I know the walnut thing is awesome and makes youe valves look great but it's the nature of the N54 beast to gum them up. I'd bet within 5k miles everyone's valves look the same as or pretty close to as gummy as they were prior to walnut blasting. My $0.02 - please chime in if you have data/pics showing otherwise. Most of us blast and don't consider blasting again for 40-50k miles... __________________ '07 E90 Manual w/juice in my box
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06-17-2014, 12:24 PM	#8
Bavarian Black Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 297 Posts Drives: 08 335i MS Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: LB iTrader: (0)	Apart from what was mentioned above, Oil cooler is prob a costly but wise investment. You will need the oil cooler and housing retrofit kit specific to your front bumper (M Kit, Srandard etc) for the correct fit. BB
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06-17-2014, 01:29 PM	#11
sprshggy07 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: e90 335i, 1.8t beetle, e30 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Indiana iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all of the input so far guys. Luckily the car already has an oil cooler, so I don't have to worry about that. I'm going to start ordering stuff this week and I would like to get a lot of the stuff all at once to save on shipping. I want to mod the car but I want everything else taken care of first. This isn't my first turbo car, so I know how quickly things can go south when maintenance isn't kept up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-18-2014, 01:13 PM	#14
sprshggy07 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: e90 335i, 1.8t beetle, e30 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Indiana iTrader: (0)	Hey guys, I've got another quick question. Is it a good Idea to clean the VANOS solenoids while I'm "in there"? I haven't had any codes or anything, but the gaskets are pretty cheap. I've actually never had a CEL on the car yet (knock on wood), and I'd like to keep it that way.
	Appreciate 0 Quote