jukeredlin-m3

[jukeredlin-m3]

The Ride Home

I actually flew out with my niece from Charlotte, landed in CA, and were picked up in the car by the owner. Terrifically nice gentleman. I drive the car back to his place, allowing me to test the car out, as well as providing me a ride.

The car seems to have a shimmy in the steering. The paint damage on the roof was pretty significant. It needed new tires (more than I realized...) but the motor purred and the infamous SMG shifted hard and promptly. As far as the biggest issues, she didn't have any engine knock, and the transmission didn't mind short shifting or engine braking. Everything else is maintenance in waiting.

I gave the man his check and we headed home after a couple pit stops... it was supposed to take three days. It took six.

The tires were beyond just needing replaced, they were actively dangerous, and if I'd know that they were going to be so much an issue, I may have argued harder on price. The car ran perfectly, aside from the shimmy caused by seven year old, dry rotted, nearly bald tires. I planned to new ones on once I was on the correct side of the country, but physics forced my hands. The third day after a particularly hard bridge transition, I was riding passenger but felt the vibrations... at first I thought it was a slow flat and shrugged but quickly changed my mind and directed my niece to take the next exit. See pic one.

We found a shop in Little Rock that had a tire that would fit. But only just. With a new tire I set off late, hoping to retake some of the drive time. It rode a lot straighter with the new tire taking the work off the old, and I was hoping I'd make it home the next day. I didn't.

The next day we set out and were working out way out of the Tennessee mountains and into the North Carolina High Country. Lots of twists and curves in beautifully painted Appalachian valleys. In the little valleys, it's not unusual to see a gas station pressed into the side of the mountain, following the bend of a turn. As we passed on of these... the vibration came back.

Right rear this time. See pic 4.

Just. Great. This time we were far enough in the back country that we weren't finding a tire for my European Super Car, and were resigned to stay another night on the road, two hours from the destination. The next day a local shop found us two used tires that, again, would fit, but just barely. Being they were cheap and matched, I had them both put on to avoid another old tire failure.

These old tired took my niece home, me to my home and made it half a vacation... before doing the exact same thing. See last pic.

See I had new tires at this point but due to another entire posts worth of sillyness, I only had the fronts on. But I'll leave that hear for now. When I reread this, I'll be able to recall how the night ended riding home next to a murderer. So that's something to look forward to.

[jukeredlin-m3]

History Post

Theres are a few reasons I bought my M3. I was tired of driving the car I had. I didn't hate it. I just didn't love it, and it was unsatisfying to drive. After losing my dream car, I really wanted something that was just... Nice to drive.

I also used to have a 325xi. Well. My grandparents did. They were nice enough to sell it to me when I was moving far away. My wife at the time drove it, and we took good care of it. But as the marriage slowly died, she needed a car. I had just bought my dream car, so she got the BMW. I always felt bad about losing that car.

So when the opportunity to purchase a new car finally arrived I browsed for an e46. I wanted a 330xi, a slight upgrade from the 325, and I found one with amazingly low miles, a single owner, and not too far away, and a decent price. I brought it home, and i really did like the car, but I really didn't like the color after a few days. There's just a lot of tan in a tan 3 series. So sold that one for a slight loss while shopping around.

And I found one. A E46 M3. Carbon Black. Coupe. Cheap. Close by. Good pics.

With a clutch. Damn.

Look I will happily admit that a true manual can be more fun, but fun is stipulated.

One, you have to only drive it for fun. Traffic two stepping is never fun, it's hard on all parties involved, and it's the main reason commuter cars have slush boxes for transmissions. This was my daily, so... no.

Two, it's fun when you're good at it. I ride a motorcycle. I learned to drive cars with a clutch. I can do it. But to get good at it just to primarily ride the clutch in traffic. Not a useful skill.

Three and last, the alternative wasn't an automatic. If the E46 had a stick shift or a steptronic, I'd have just gotten the manual. But the SMG maintains that user interface and control, its user friendly and it's fun. I bump through gears just as effectively as 99% of people with this car.

So I kept looking. And I landed on one in San Bernadino, CA. The other side of the country! I'd have to be insane to fly across the country, buy a dubiously reliable, high mileage s54 with no mechanical history really given, with significant cosmetic problems an minimal ab

I bought it.

[jukeredlin-m3]

Nothing major. But, I opted to do a headlight restoration for the time being, instead of new lenses. I used the Meguiars HD kit, which I've used several times before and always with great results. No difference today, lights came out as good as can be expected. I am happy the lenses can be removed and replaced. Helps avoid paint sceatched around the lights and makes it much easier to work on.

I also took the sanding pads to the side emblems, and made a marked improvement. The discoloration and grime came out and the sealant left them noticeably more crisp and clear.

Other small thing... replaced a missing clip on the air box, a push clip on the fan shroud. I also reattached the velcro pads to the front mats and reinstalled the floor velcro pegs, and thay helps tremendously with the mat riding up the pedal.

Some leather conditioner and a good vacuum later and it feels like shes starting to sparkle again. Next will be a full exterior attack, compound, polish, iron decon, clay, and ceramics... except the roof.

[jukeredlin-m3]

Center Support Bearing replaced! Took about six hours, but had a lot of fun, a little help, and a hint of luck.

Got the car up, got the exhaust off, got the heat shield off, and then started on the drive shaft. That took the longest of any step in the process. The front came apart from the flex disc (guibo) without any drama and the center was easy, two bolts. But the rear... I just hadn't seen the connection before and depending on which how-to I checked, it had a variety of options.

Got lucky and one YouTuber pointed out specifically the kind of connection I had and how to separate it from the diff. After that, separating the driveshaft and replacement was easy. I dont know if the CSB is directional. I believe it is. But mine was so destroyed that it literally fell off before I could take note, so I reinstalled as best I could tell made sense, marking the splines with silver sharpie to keep the shafts aligned and balanced.

I did get very lucky with some help. I don't exactly know how I managed to get the exhaust down besides pushing on the muffler and twisting it a bit. Lucky a man names Harry showed up. In purple RHD AWD 4WS Nissan Skyline R32. I meant to take a picture, but I was kind of frazzled. Original paint, it was gorgeous.

Harry replaced all the fluid in his car and was kind enough to stay help me get my exhaust back in. I was so fatigued from guesswork that I don't think without his help I could've done it.

Once it was back together I took it on a drive to my parents. Two weeks later, not a peep from the CSB or drive shaft.

One shop quoted me $888 dollars. The other quoted me ~$2400 to replace the entire driveshaft. Parts and stall rental all in, I spent about $250 dollars, and I'm more familiar with the car. Well worth the time investment.

[jukeredlin-m3]

Well before I even get history up, I'm at a repair shop. Again.

Hit a pot hole doing about 15mph... and I'm 99% sure it destroyed the wheel bearing. Here at European Road and Track, waiting for a professional diagnosis. SCDOT will reimburse you... if you can provide quotes and proof. Have a dashcam, getting quotes. Hopefully this resolves itself with only my time invested...

Update: Well... at least I know a bearing from a joint. Driveshaft bearing needs replaced. Driveable, though. People at this place are incredibly polite. Happy I came.

[jukeredlin-m3]

Imma make a blog thing. I wanna keep track of my car. Will chuckle when I find this singular post without updates in 4-6 years after selling the car without any real progress.