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      01-30-2014, 02:21 PM   #45
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Yesterday I converted my fan setup from the stock aux/clutched fan to a Z4M inspired SPAL electronic puller fan setup (16" medium depth). Because fan capability is reduced, I retained the stock fan shroud to make the most of my SPAL fan. Side note, fans are only really used when sitting in traffic or for the AC compressor, so cooling capacity at speed should not be changed by the project.

I'm using the factory aux fan controller to control the SPAL speed. Because it's now the only fan (instead of an aux fan), I'm changing the ecu fan control values to that of the Z4M (which also only has an electronic puller fan).

Project goals, from most important to least:
longer water pump service life (as no fan/clutch wearing the bearing)
no more fan/fan clutch replacements
decreased weight
remaining weight moved inboard
decreased parasitic loss on the engine

Some pics...

Front bumper and ducting removed so I could pull the factory aux fan:



Factory aux fan controller, which I added a plug to to connect to the SPAL fan:



SPAL fan mounted on the factory shroud. I wanted it easy to remove and to not damage the radiator. This way it removed with the shroud, and just adds one plug. I reused the hardware from my trunk decontenting project (added loctite and the silver bits aren't visible once installed:





And installed. These two black bolts are all you can see once it's in, and they get further hidden by the air duct that goes on top:



From the other side:







Saw my dealer taking this down and snagged it.




A friend of mine just made this video from my bachelor party. Pretty awesome, IMO!

CNF GoKart 082413 - YouTube
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      01-31-2014, 12:43 PM   #46
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Even though I knew about much of the stuff you have done to the car (there was also much I didn't really know), reading through this makes it even more impressive. And some of the photos are just awesome.
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      02-05-2014, 08:31 PM   #47
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Took some pics of the beater this afternoon

Icy trees kind of make a cool backdrop, so...











































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      02-14-2014, 12:45 AM   #48
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Great project and work Obioban!!!!!!!!
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      02-22-2014, 04:28 AM   #49
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Goodbye hyper black RAC RG63's



Hello anthracite RAC RG63's



(Traded last night)
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      02-23-2014, 07:09 PM   #50
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More info on the SPAL fan...how did you wire it in?

For the lightweight stereo...I've got a car audio setup with 5 speakers. Maybe stick with a set of front comps with a neo magnet on the mid (Alpine, MBQ and JL make some) and 5 channel class D amp. Then get a decent single din and remove the OEM wiring harness. That will save you another 10-15 lbs total easily. The OEM stereo harness is pretty damned heavy for just wires.
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      02-24-2014, 06:49 AM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigjae1976 View Post
More info on the SPAL fan...how did you wire it in?

For the lightweight stereo...I've got a car audio setup with 5 speakers. Maybe stick with a set of front comps with a neo magnet on the mid (Alpine, MBQ and JL make some) and 5 channel class D amp. Then get a decent single din and remove the OEM wiring harness. That will save you another 10-15 lbs total easily. The OEM stereo harness is pretty damned heavy for just wires.
I would, but I hate aftermarket head units and love the OE nav. Plus, I have everything going through it-- on board diagnostic displays, nav, iPhone, iPod, triple bling turn signals, vehicle journaling/logging, light control, etc. Plus, every aftermarket single din head unit looks like ass in the e46. Nav is the only option on the car that I consider mandatory. Never seen an amp lighter than the one I'm running.

I wired the spal to the factory aux fan controller (deleted the aux and clutched fan when I installed the SPAL), and had Evolve change the aux fan controller to the Z4M fan controller temp values (the Z4M has an S54 but only has an electronic puller fan, which is my current setup with the SPAL).
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      02-27-2014, 09:28 AM   #52
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Two small updates:

A) I have a bimmerworld/C&R oil cooler on its way to me. Exciting!

B) I'm working on devising a steering feel upgrade for the M3. My plan of attack is two fold...
1) replace the steering guibo with the joint from the e28 M5
2) replaced the 60mm centered FCABs from the e46 with 66mm eccentric FCABs from the Z4M (much like 96-99 e36 M3 will often retrofit the eccentric FCABs form the 95 M3.

Guibo portion should be easy, goes from (part 2)



to (part 11)



or, from



to




For context, the Z4M shaft, bushing free (this is what really sold me on doing this and not regretting it)...





FCABs are a little more interesting. The e46 M3 housing is 60mm, so the bushing isn't plug and play. The e46 non M has a 66mm bearing hole, but it doesn't have the third hold for our thrust plate (which I don't want to give up). It appears (I need to verify) that the outer diameter of the e46 non M FCAB lollipop is the same diameter as ours. If that's the case, I'm going to throw a set of e46 M3 FCAB lollipops on the lathe and mill 3mm of radius. Presto, 66mm e46 M3 fitment FCAB lollipops

Z4M stock lollipop with eccentric bushing:



e46 M3 lollipop with centerer bushing:



e46 non M FCAB bracket (thinner walls, so... hopefully okay for us to be that thickness):

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      03-10-2014, 09:29 AM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Obioban View Post
Two small updates:

A) I have a bimmerworld/C&R oil cooler on its way to me. Exciting!

B) I'm working on devising a steering feel upgrade for the M3. My plan of attack is two fold...
1) replace the steering guibo with the joint from the e28 M5
2) replaced the 60mm centered FCABs from the e46 with 66mm eccentric FCABs from the Z4M (much like 96-99 e36 M3 will often retrofit the eccentric FCABs form the 95 M3.

Guibo portion should be easy, goes from (part 2)



to (part 11)



or, from



to




For context, the Z4M shaft, bushing free (this is what really sold me on doing this and not regretting it)...





FCABs are a little more interesting. The e46 M3 housing is 60mm, so the bushing isn't plug and play. The e46 non M has a 66mm bearing hole, but it doesn't have the third hold for our thrust plate (which I don't want to give up). It appears (I need to verify) that the outer diameter of the e46 non M FCAB lollipop is the same diameter as ours. If that's the case, I'm going to throw a set of e46 M3 FCAB lollipops on the lathe and mill 3mm of radius. Presto, 66mm e46 M3 fitment FCAB lollipops

Z4M stock lollipop with eccentric bushing:



e46 M3 lollipop with centerer bushing:



e46 non M FCAB bracket (thinner walls, so... hopefully okay for us to be that thickness):


I have a set of stock old FCAB if you need; PM me
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      03-10-2014, 03:17 PM   #54
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incredible thread tbh..... really enjoyed slowly reading this tonight.
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      03-12-2014, 08:31 PM   #55
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Thanks for the DIY Clutch Stop! My foot hurts less in traffic now!
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      03-12-2014, 10:15 PM   #56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beedub View Post
incredible thread tbh..... really enjoyed slowly reading this tonight.
100% You take DIY to whole new dimension.
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      03-13-2014, 05:23 AM   #57
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Thanks guys.

Should have an exciting update, soon.
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      03-13-2014, 07:00 PM   #58
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Wow - amazing story! Saw your wedding pic in roundel.
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      03-28-2014, 05:45 AM   #59
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Not directly related, but since this is an e9X forum, probably makes sense to post anyway...









Picked this up yesterday morning, going to be the wife's new DD.

Rear wheel drive
NA
Manual
Hydraulic power steering
No DI
no iDrive

The last of the purchasable BMW's, imo, as all of the above were minimum requirements for me.

Currently it is a 328i, but soon it'll be a Supersprint header/evolve tune 330i, which will put it at (a reliable, NA) ~300 crank HP.

After this summer these wheels will become winter wheels, and we'll get something light/strong for the summer with real tires.

Needs M3/1M subframe bushing asap, and have to figure out what I'm going with suspension on it. Likely it'll be stock sport springs with Koni yellows or Bilsteins.

Roof rack will also be removed.

But, first order of business will be swapping all the fluids!

May dye the vinyl parts of the interior black for a two tone effect, undecided on that...

50,000 miles on the clock, currently. This should be a fun and reliable car for a long time, given how it's optioned.

I really love the non iDrive radio/sirius/bluetooth/ipod interface. Looks old school, but with new school functionality.
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Last edited by Obioban; 03-28-2014 at 04:33 PM..
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      03-28-2014, 03:33 PM   #60
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love the wagon....keep us posted!
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      03-29-2014, 02:23 PM   #61
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Quote:
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love the wagon....keep us posted!
Ordered konis, eibachs, m3 subframe bushings, roof rack delete kit, oem iPod interface, and every fluid in the car. It begins!
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      03-29-2014, 03:24 PM   #62
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One of the best E46 M3s out there.
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      03-30-2014, 04:27 AM   #63
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I your M3!!! Very very nice

Red BMW´s are a blast
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      04-05-2014, 08:08 AM   #64
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Happy new wheel day! Every car got wheels they've never run before.

e46 got a set of anthracite RG-63's that I traded my hyperblack RG-63's for over the winter. Much better match for IR, imo!



e91 got a set of 17" BBS SR's. They look AWESOME now (way better than in this pic), but are going to look even better next week when we take it off the non sport suspension:



e39 got a set of 18" BBS RG-Rs in silver. Never seen silver RG-Rs before, the color goes quite nicely with Le Mans blue, I think!



... all cars need washes. It's been winter, what can I say :clueless:

Could have also used a non phone camera and non rainy day, but.. reh. arrot:
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      05-21-2014, 10:24 AM   #65
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Over the winter I traded RG63's with another member for anthracite. I'm so very pleased with how it goes with the IR-- very much more what I imagined when I ordered the hyper black than I ended up getting!

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      05-21-2014, 01:04 PM   #66
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Wow I haven't been on here in years. Glad to see you are still modding and posting. I'll be up in PA next Friday to pick up my new to me M3.
Back in a BMW again.

Anyway keep up the good work man!

The wheels look good on all of them!
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