New addition to the fleet

[John in VA]

Those trunk straps are cheap. The cargo net is more useful.
Remember when BMW was blowing out the Style 42s for ~$135 ~3 years ago? Wish I knew an E39 was in my future at that time. Refinishing or buying a refinished one is ~$375 around here.

[Karl Grau]

Remember when BMW was blowing out the Style 42s for ~$135 ~3 years ago? Wish I knew an E39 was in my future at that time.

You and me both.

So the very first thing I looked up in my new $1,000.00 two volume, hard bound Bentley was incorrect. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come.

Changed the oil/filter yesterday and noticed I have new upper and lower control arms.


The e28 cover fits better than I expected.

[vinceg101]

Remember when BMW was blowing out the Style 42s for ~$135 ~3 years ago? Wish I knew an E39 was in my future at that time.

You and me both.

And to think, I was instrumental in buying the last two Beverly Hills BMW had. Only I did it for someone else and they ended up across the country somewhere as part of some horse-trade for parts.

So the very first thing I looked up in my new $1,000.00 two volume, hard bound Bentley was incorrect. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come.

Sadly yes.

Changed the oil/filter yesterday and noticed I have new upper and lower control arms.

Congrats!

The e28 cover fits better than I expected.

Same here; that was a pleasant surprise when I found that out.

[Kyle in NO]

And to think, I was instrumental in buying the last two Beverly Hills BMW had. Only I did it for someone else and they ended up across the country somewhere as part of some horse-trade for parts.

I still owe you for that one Vince. What actually happened with that was only 4 of the 17x9 Style 42s were left at dealers in the US. I purchased 3 of them, but Beverly Hills BMW's parts department was truly full of douche bags, and refused to ship me the wheel. With your help, I was able to make the last two staggered sets of new Style 42s ever! It made two people very happy, this I know. I still owe ya one!

Btw, if anyone is interested in one of the near-new staggered sets, PM me.

[Karl Grau]

I found this in the owners manual case.

[Karl Grau]

Moar parts!



Does anyone know what this is?

[geordi]

Yep… I think my trailer will fit.

Nice find! Will your new addition be the official transportation for the St Paddy's Day?

[OcCoupe]

I think the grass looks nice. Much better than the dead bodies.

Geordi, you suck...

[Karl Grau]

Will your new addition be the official transportation for the St Paddy's Day?

Not the 'official' of course but it might be there.

More parts today. It's just not the same as the Parts Pimp, there are never any bonus items in the box.

Windshield lockstrip (gasket?), air filter and fuel door actuator.

[Karl Grau]

I changed the air filter and gave the leather a little love.

Finished painting the gray first aid kit as close as I could to Sandbeige and then went to the hobby store for some green paint for the cross.




Test fit until bracket gets here.




Replaced the rotten windshield trim.




It’s a LOT easier than an e28 lockstrip.



Replaced the fuel door lock actuator. I was a little nervous about this after reading some threads on an e39 board but it was EASY.



I’m sorry but most of those guys seem like idiots. Just electrical tape a stupid piece of string to the Bowden cable so you don’t have to spend 2 hours trying to fish it back through.

[Karl Grau]

The missing little socket that I have no idea what it’s for came today so AFAIK, my tool kit is complete.




The cup holder came too but I don’t think I’m going to use it. Too scary.



I talked with Vince a lot and also did my own research for music and Bluetooth hands free phone solutions and settled on a GROM Audio unit with a Bluetooth dongle. I picked up a used one on Ebay for less than half of the new cost.

I didn’t really want to tear the interior apart to run the microphone cable from the trunk to the stock microphone location in the overhead panel so I decided to check into using the OEM cable that was already prewired at the factory.

I pulled off the panel and there was only one unused plug that I could see. I hooked up the tone generator and sure enough,






I won’t have to run new wire. I’m going get some plugs from a junkyard car to make adapter pigtails so I can always return everything to stock form.




Some more info about the GROM unit in an e46.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=470996

[oldskool]

No nitrile gloves? Inconceivable.

[Karl Grau]

No nitrile gloves? Inconceivable.

Only for "wet work".

Not much for today's installment, just new struts for the trunk lid. Sometimes it's the little things that really make the car though.

[Karl Grau]

Today a new gas cap and a mount for the Ipod and GROM unit that will go behind the trunk trim panel in some existing holes where the CD changer would normally mount.


Changed the size a few times.



I used rivets. Why? No one knows.




Test fitting.




Test fitting the Ipod holder. I couldn't do any test fitting with the GROM because the asshole Ebay seller sent it 'signature required'
It's not as pretty as I would like but I guess I will be the only one to see it.

[oldskool]

Metal plate stock with rounded edges? Seems odd, that's all.

[Karl Grau]

Metal plate stock with rounded edges? Seems odd, that's all.

It's special order but you can get it.

I didn't think it was possible to make a flimsier, shittier cup holder than the e39 front seat version but Au contraire, mon frère. I bought the rear version and it's, well, not what I would consider even usable.




I had to stand in line at the Post Office for like 10 hours but I got the goddamn GROM unit. I'll install it tomorrow.

[davintosh]

Wait... You're sticking the iPod in the trunk, semi-permanently mounted? I guess that'll work -- and keep it safe from thieving fingers -- but won't it be a hassle grabbing it when you want to redo your playlist? I'm guessing the Grom allows the dashboard controls to control the iPod then? Edit: Nevermind; I just clicked your link to the Grom in e46 thread; slick.

The BavSound doodad in my e46 also uses the controls on the dash, but has about 150 feet* of cable on the iPod connector. The intention was to string it from the corner of the trunk to the console or glovebox, but the Bluetooth adapter negates the need for all that. I tucked the adapter up under the parcel shelf so only about 6 feet of the cable was needed, and the rest is coiled up & tucked away all neat & tidy-like. I really like Bluetooth.

* slight exaggeration

BTW, where did the clips for the flashlight come from?

[Karl Grau]

Wait... You're sticking the iPod in the trunk, semi-permanently mounted? I guess that'll work -- and keep it safe from thieving fingers -- but won't it be a hassle grabbing it when you want to redo your playlist?

I changed the configuration a little to make it easier to remove the thumb drive. I probably don’t even need the Ipod because if I’m understanding the instructions, I can have 594 songs on the USB. Six folders that the head unit recognizes as CDs with each ‘CD’ having 99 tracks.
When switching between USB – Ipod - Bluetooth, the nice BMW lady says “♪ Bluetooth ♪” or “♪ Ipod ♪”
I haven’t tested out the Bluetooth phone yet because apparently 5 days isn’t enough time to send a tiny microphone from the Bay Area to San Diego.

http://youtu.be/ssj2l3OEFb8

[vinceg101]

Awesome Sauce.

[John SCB]

Congratulations! I've been off the board lately and just discovered this post. Looks like a nice find. The black wheel centers look good. Welcome to the 21st century.

Edit: My search for a super low mileage 2003 E39 continues. No hurry. It would have to be the same setup as yours and Vince's. Black on black would sell me on the spot.

[Karl Grau]

Congratulations! I've been off the board lately and just discovered this post. Looks like a nice find. The black wheel centers look good. Welcome to the 21st century.

Thanks, it's great to be here . I personally don't think the black centers look too good on this color car but at any rate, they're temporary. The tires that were on the Style 42s were pretty much gone so before I get new rubber, I'm going to refinish the barrels, the centers seem fine. I'm going to use the same guy that did the BBS RS wheels a while ago. He's cheap and quick.

Only one Style 42 had any significant curb rash so I spent a little time on it today.

[Karl Grau]

I meant to say this in my first post (where have my manners gone?), but I owe a big thanks to Mike (OcCoupe) and Vince (vinceg101) for their help in my purchase . To Mike, for running about a million CarFax reports for me and to Vince, for answering about a million questions going back to April of 2013.

The last of the stuff I bought with my tax refund should be here Thursday or Friday and the Ipod cable for the GROM Audio box came today. As I mentioned previously, I don't really see the need for the Ipod with the USB drive though.
I'm still screwing around the Bluetooth/phone stuff. I may have to break the Guy Code and read the instructions.

I need to put this car on hold for a couple of weeks because apparently I'm having a big party at my house soon.





Prepping the lug bolts for a new coat of paint as part of the Style 42 refinishing, and I also ordered new center caps.

[Karl Grau]

I must be a glutton for punishment




At least there are a lot less bolts than the RS wheels



Ugh, flashback to the RS inner barrels



The LA’s Totally Awesome degreaser is, well… Awesome. I think I’ll stock up before California outlaws it.



As I mentioned, the centers look good. I’m just going to give them a good cleaning




I turned the dishwasher up to 11

[Karl Grau]

Looks like the last of my tax refund got delivered today.





The replacement for the missing rubber band came along with the trunk net.



The Euro trim panel with storage cubby.




Storage thing that replaced ashtray.




The rest is side moldings and stuff related to the M-tech bumper that Chris talked me into.



I swear, cleaning these has been harder than the RS wheels. And BTW, anyone that thinks using the dishwasher to clean wheel centers is a good idea is an idiot.

[Karl Grau]

Nothing exciting today, just lots of elbow grease expended cleaning 14 years of brake dust and various grime off the other 3 wheels.