[rlmesq]

I upgraded my dash cam... and found out I'd forgotten about something really clever I did when I installed the old one!

I was dreading routing the new hardwire kit from the fuse box in the trunk to the windshield, but while pulling out the cable I'd routed above the windshield, I found I ran an 18 gauge 3-core wire from the trunk to the right-hand side of the dashboard. All I had to do was pop open the side panel, clip off the old wires and attach the new ones. (I used heat-shrink solder connectors.)

That was sure a lot easier than starting from scratch at the trunk. I only had to run the cable up the A pillar and under the headliner.

[rlesko]

Replaced rear ball joints and rubber bushings. Bit the bullet and spent money on the BMW tools for the job, which simplified it greatly.

Now, car is waiting for alignment appointment. Its comical how bad the alignment was after replacing those two components. Car was tracking so horribly I got a chassis stabilization error.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by djacinto

Said goodbye to her today. 7 years and my first bmw, my f32 is gone to a new home.

Really missing that car, it’s a bitter sweet moment but it was for the best! Wanted it to go to someone who will enjoy it and use it as it should be.

Loved the years of posting here! I’ll still be around, just in the g12 and e82 forums

I just listed a TON of my stock components if anyone is needing some basic stuff

Some parts inlcude:
Base heated seats
Base heated steering wheel
Base door sills
Pre lci tail lights with led bulbs
Chrome grills
8.25 in screen
Oem N26 down pipe
Diverter valve
Wheel locks

Facebook profile here

[WagonHo]

Clay bar today. Begin spring polishing tomorrow, hopefully coated before the weekend is out.

[Chrisch]

Nothing special, got new tyres today

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 in 235/40 & 255/35-18 on my Styling 640M

[_ObiJon]

Long story short, some unfortunate events caused some major blemishing of the front calipers and had to do a touch up. Took 6 hours on Saturday prepping, sanding, repainting and reclearing them. Back to looking fresh!

[Chrisch]

looked today for clearance with full compressed damper that nothig rubs and that there is enough space (3-5mm). Otherwise no TÜV in germany

and i need to wash the car (again)

[WagonHo]

- finished the paint polishing and coating
- lightly polished the windshield
- sealant on all the windows
- new wiper blades
- topped off wiper fluid
- replaced the cabin air filter
- cleaned and oiled the engine air filter

Hello, spring!

[sbst]

Originally Posted by WagonHo

- finished the paint polishing and coating
- lightly polished the windshield
- sealant on all the windows
- new wiper blades
- topped off wiper fluid
- replaced the cabin air filter
- cleaned and oiled the engine air filter

Hello, spring!

what sealant do you use, assuming for window trims? i need a good one….

[WagonHo]

For the glass itself I use Griot's Glass Sealant all 'round. For the trims, I used to use a mix of Wolfgang Trim Sealant for the metal and plastic and 303 Protectant on the rubber. I liked the Wolfgang, but I'm finding 303 does it all, so no need for two products; this time was all 303 and I'm really happy with how it brings the sun-beaten black trim back.

Originally Posted by sbst

what sealant do you use, assuming for window trims? i need a good one….

[thatgarrett]

Since I’m replacing the armrest on my driver’s side door, I decided I would tackle the gummy soft-touch door handle pull at the same time, since it has to be removed to swap the armrest part. Well, the OEM is $100 for one that will do the same problem, Kies looks nice but I’d like $150 for all 4, various eBay and Amazon sellers have either replacement pieces or covers for $15-30 each- but I decided to roll the dice and try ordering from AliExpress, after seeing so much talk about it on the forum.

I paid $1.06 total and they shipped it in under a week to my front door from China- no idea how they would make any money off that price but the quality is excellent- great casting/molding, no seam marks, plastic feels very high quality, and the back support structure looks more OEM/Kies level quality than the cheaper Amazon/Ebay ones. They just didn’t include the 4 screws, but I will grab some from the dealer- wish I had known that when I placed the order for those same kinds of screws for the replacement armrest.

Anyway, wild what $1.06 can get you

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by thatgarrett

Since I’m replacing the armrest on my driver’s side door, I decided I would tackle the gummy soft-touch door handle pull at the same time, since it has to be removed to swap the armrest part. Well, the OEM is $100 for one that will do the same problem, Kies looks nice but I’d like $150 for all 4, various eBay and Amazon sellers have either replacement pieces or covers for $15-30 each- but I decided to roll the dice and try ordering from AliExpress, after seeing so much talk about it on the forum.

I paid $1.06 total and they shipped it in under a week to my front door from China- no idea how they would make any money off that price but the quality is excellent- great casting/molding, no seam marks, plastic feels very high quality, and the back support structure looks more OEM/Kies level quality than the cheaper Amazon/Ebay ones. They just didn’t include the 4 screws, but I will grab some from the dealer- wish I had known that when I placed the order for those same kinds of screws for the replacement armrest.

Anyway, wild what $1.06 can get you

Link please! My driver door handle is shot and the other 3 are fine

[thatgarrett]

Originally Posted by Jvac

Link please! My driver door handle is shot and the other 3 are fine

I’m about to order one for my passenger door now after seeing this one!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...yAdapt=glo2usa

Unfortunately the price has increased by almost 200%… to $1.99, 😂 still a crazy deal

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by thatgarrett

I’m about to order one for my passenger door now after seeing this one!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...yAdapt=glo2usa

Unfortunately the price has increased by almost 200%… to $1.99, 😂 still a crazy deal

Ripoff! It's unreal some of the prices over there including shipping across the world.

[wishbone]

Originally Posted by Jvac

Ripoff! It's unreal some of the prices over there including shipping across the world.

Originally Posted by thatgarrett

I’m about to order one for my passenger door now after seeing this one!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...yAdapt=glo2usa

Unfortunately the price has increased by almost 200%… to $1.99, 😂 still a crazy deal

Unreal pricing... considering Kies ones are $100+

Let me know when you get some... i might just buy 4 for spares...

[noli]

washed that badboy and now got a hood full of swirls 😅

[rexcm]

Painted my whiskers black the other day and popped them on today. Was rolling around without any whiskers for a while now but I never really liked the look. Seemed like something was missing.

Also got some brace covers for behind the kidney grills. Went with yellow because I plan to paint my calipers yellow so wanted to be consistent with an accent color.

Put on some cheapo tire valve covers I got on Ali for a dollar or so. I had three green and one black covers and none of them were the same. Bothered me every time I washed my wheels.

Fixed the shroud for the MAF sensor wires. Was broken and missing when I got the car and it’s always bothered me. So I picked up some random plastic sheathing also on Ali and turns out it was the exact same stuff that was there before(7.5mm). Was able to get a really clean install, couldn’t have hoped for better. Only time will tell if it will hold up to engine bay temps though.

[zapb42]

No biggie, but gradually catching up on overdue maintenance items, major one this time was flush the brake system. That went well other than a plugged bleeder.

Still had coolant and oil everywhere so washed/degreased the engine bay, feels good that it's looking decent now. Cleaned/oiled air filter.

Two weeks after replacing the leaking turbo coolant return hose (finally got around to that after dealing with that since the Fall) still no dripping or puddles. I was fully prepared to see other leaks even though at this point almost the whole cooling system has been replaced, so I'm pleasantly surprised (crossing fingers). Very glad to have that sorted out.

On to diffs, transfer case, transmission, suspension in the coming months hopefully.

[toxik]

was putting in these raw aluminum downstar washers today, dropped a bolt and washer down the engine bay. somehow was able to still retrieve them without taking the belly pan shield off, got super lucky

sucks that aluminum hardware can’t be retrieved by magnet anymore

[thatgarrett]

Replaced my ripped sensatec armrest with a leather one I got off a cheap door panel- feels and looks much better than having that nasty rip there

[wishbone]

Originally Posted by thatgarrett

Replaced my ripped sensatec armrest with a leather one I got off a cheap door panel- feels and looks much better than having that nasty rip there

did you just drill them out and glue or plasti-weld them back on? Curious on approach

[thatgarrett]

Originally Posted by wishbone

did you just drill them out and glue or plasti-weld them back on? Curious on approach

I detailed it in a separate thread, but it’s pretty much the exact same process as replacing the door pulls that get sticky- you take the door panel out, take off the door pulls (4 of those plastic rivets) and then you take the same kind plastic rivets out that hold the armrest on (9 of those). BMW makes specific screws to reattach those pieces for repair, same ones used for door pull repairs, so I used 13 screw total to attach everything back together and replaced the door pull at the same time since it had to be taken off anyway. I forgot to take a picture of what it looked like with the screws in, but they hold it very tight, thread in perfectly (well, create threads in the plastic holes that are there but bottom out at the perfect depth). Very easy to pop the tops of those rivets off with a drill as is detailed elsewhere. Honestly, I think the armrest feels more solid after being screwed on, and I also think there is less creaking and rattling over bumps, so they hold it very well

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=32745959