Andrew Fanning Report post Posted October 15, 2018 (edited) Hi All, I have spent the last week since picking up my e46 reading through as many posts, tips and diy's and have to say say a big well done to all on here seems like a friendly helpful group of people. So I have always been a VW guy having had a fully built MK2 16v, Mk1 Sportline Cabrio, couple of Corrodos, Passat estate, Mk5 Sportline, porsche 944 lux and most recently mk4 Gti 180bhp. There has been a few Jap bits such as mx5, rx8's wrx and a few different generations of Celica's along the way as well as a w123 merc. I only owned the Mk4 Gti for about 3 months but never really took to it so when offered a swap for an E46 Vert ( always been on the wish list ) I jumped at the chance. The car in question is a 318 m sport, come with power fold mirrors, memory seats, Harman Kardon stereo I know its only a four banger but high running costs here in Ireland anything over 2.0 is out of the question. The 318 is circa 700 euro a year for road tax and just over 800 for 3rd party insurance. 325i are currently in the region of 1300 for tax alone. The car seems to have been well looked after and aside from a few scratches is very clean, it even came with un used first aid kit, tool kit, owners manual and glove-box torch. In the week since getting the car I have: refitted the centre box fitted 15mm spacers on rear ( may space front also but still undecided ) up graded so of the bulbs and the interior lights Painted grills matt black Painted front bumper grill Plans replace front number plate plint - Done fit new standard number plates - Done full clay bar and paint correction - done a quick clay and hand polish and wax waiting for spring and a new DA to give full job full interior valet and leather treatment paint front plus rear bumper ( not bad just fussy ) new gear knob, shift boot fitted mats - Done order cup holder repair wear on drivers seat bolster find some stlying cues to break up the amount of silver turn off turn signal drl ( cant stand the orange glow ) Now I know everyone is saying it needs a height adjustment but due to being a daily and the s**t quality roads in my area she will be staying as is. I do have a few questions I haven't found answers for so any help would be great. Interior heater is blowing and gets warm but I feel it should be blowing stronger ? driver window rattles from somewhere at the top with roof up and down? Given the car has 153,000 miles I am considering a terra clean but have never done this before and concerned I could be opening a whole other can of worms. I did add some stp fuel injector cleaner to the last tank and it has made a difference to fuel economy and pick up Edited January 2 by Andrew Fanning Change of title and few updates Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incredirog Report post Posted October 16, 2018 nice car! your fan power could be the final stage resistor so give that a google and compare symptoms. it’s not that hard a job just fiddly. only way to diagnose the window rattle is to whip the door cards off and see if anything is loose. make sure you can re-seal the vapour barrier if you remove it or you’ll get condensation and water issues. good luck with it, the “to do” list only ever seems to get longer on mine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted October 16, 2018 thanks @incredirog will look into the final stage resistor and see about getting the door card off at the weekend, weather and work really getting in the way of even getting around to the smallest of jobs, this definitely not the best time of year to be starting a new project. I did manage to get half an hour sun leaving work yesterday so chance to get the roof down and a few more pic's ( sorry bout the quality guys really must get my self a decent point and shoot camera. rather than this s**tty phone ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted October 17, 2018 Did Throttle pedal reset last night, have to say I was skeptical but it really made a difference on the drive to work this morning, if you haven't tried it do takes 2 mins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted November 19, 2018 Few little updates Got some standard number plates and a new number plate holder for the front bumper, I know a lot of people remove these but I think it just leaves an unfinished look to the front. Nice to have standard font plates but not happy with the quality so will have to look for something better but will do for the test Next up was the rear lip spoiler again not to everyones taste but Ive loved the look of these since msport's started appearing on the roads. Ordered on ebay ready painted and have to say match is way better than i ever expected and once warmed up a little went on easy. Also had some lint tint film left over from my mk4 so decided id try tinting top half of rear lights, really like the smoked look but have odered some new film as was rush job and not 100% happy with finish. Also got some new tailor fit carpet mats to replace the horrible generic rubber one that came with the car but did get a pic before ( or after fitting ) ****Next up Now ive made a few changes to the car feels more like mine so time to start tiding up some bits im not happy with before any other mods. 1. polish front lights and research some bulbs as with current short evenings lights are useless, much more interested in seeing were I am going than how the lights look turned on...anybody got suggestions?? 2. get her aligned and prob fit some 12 or 15mm spacers on the front 3. book test and pay road tax 4. paint front and rear bumpers 5. replace gear-knob and boot and handbrake boot 6. order kit or find someone to repair driver bolster wear ****** Wish List 1. citroen stubby aerial 2. have my eye on kbs splitter kit ( not sure on front may just get sides and rear and find something else for front ) 3. new wheels ( 18inch csl rep or seen nice alpina rep I fancy ) 4. android head unit 5. wind deflector Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted January 2 Not much changed of late im afraid, time of year i guess, so many bills to pay, short evenings and s**t weather. My cousin did just get a new car lift installed in his man cave so took the chance to the the car up and give it a good once over. - Rad in perfect condition - all bar front anti roll bar bushings in perfect condition, ordered anti roll bar bushing but no rush really as there is only the slightest of play in them but said as everything else suspension seemed perfect ( most seems recently replaced ) it would be a shame not to do them. - tiny oil leak from engine bay but not 100% were from yet so cleaned all down and will have another look over next few days. - other than above i came away smiling from ear to ear as everything seems to be in great order Plans - so apart from sorting the above short term plans are limited, I did order some wheel nut covers ( love the small details and about the only thing on my wish list i could afford at the min :-( ) - order leather repair kit and have a go at sorting the drivers seat bolster - next mod im thinking is the kbs sill kit below but not crazy about the front splitter but cant make up my mind between clubsports or the csl in pic below Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted January 11 So while on a boring day stuck at home i decided to raid the shed and see if I could find any bits for a bit of diy projecting. So with 2 small squares of light tint film I had lying around I tinted the fogs lights, also while stripped down I also painted the fog light surrounds and brake ducts satin black - All in all I think it freshens up the front end a lot. So while I had the satin black in hand I went looking for other black plastic that needed a refresh as I hate going around the car after every wash with trim detailer While I was in the middle of this the post man arrived with my new latch for the toolbox flap and my wheel nut covers so on they went too, think given the black and silver theme im working on I think ill have to order a set of carbon wheel centers. So with no chrome left on the car ( as this progresses you will see a black and silver theme come together ) I was considering changing the finish of the tail pipes to matt black but was unsure how this would looks so I tried a bit of plastic dip I had on the shelf and now love the the look so will have to do a more permanent job of it, only problem is now that I am studying the pics my cut down single exit diffuser looks a little rough soI think a new one with space for duel exit will have to be ordered. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted January 11 And a few more pic's just because, Think these were taking before the above jobs were done Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted January 28 So Yesterday was a typical wet Irish Sunday and feeling a little down with the struggles of life, I loaded up the car with some bits and pieces and took my self off the company workshop for a bit of car therapy. So as i said somewhere up along the line Since getting the car I always felt it was too much silver and need some contrast and I decided to go with a silver and black theme. First up I masked of the rear spoiler and the wing mirrors and got on with changing them to black, still not 100% on this but will give it a week or two to settle and if I am still not happy its is only an afternoons work to change back ( will pass another wet miserable Sunday ) While that dried I got on with changing the badges and wheel centers to black and silver Added some sill extensions ( vote is also out on these ) After A wipe down pull her back out into the rain to see how it all looked in the day light. I know both bumpers have bad scraps on them from previous owner but I am going to wait till the weather pics ups before having them repainted Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted January 28 Stopped off on the way home for a coffee and grabbed a few more pics to do a comparison from when I got her to today The day I got her home. And this is were we are at now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted February 6 Few pic's taken outside my friends cafe. We were all down for our AGM and meeting to start planning out this years show for our club VAGE.ie, while this is a VAG owners club in the last few years we have opened the doors to all classic and modified German brands. The Show will be towards the end of the summer in Co.Cork, Ireland but I will post more details for any Irish members as soon as they are confirmed. Also wanted to give a shout out to my friend Paul and all the team at the Greenway Cafe, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland. If anyone finds themselves holidaying in the area do pop in and say hello, Paul is an out and out petrol head and will be happy to chat. Paul started The Cafe and Charity Rebike to gather unwanted and unloved bikes, recondition them and give back to family's, centers and groups were children might never get another opportunity to have a bicycle of there own. http://rebikeireland.ie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Fanning Report post Posted February 14 So the BAD. Purchased some clubsport splitters from Ebay which were described as new but arrived with scraps from running over kerbs on the underside, not really worth the wait and bother of returning so I am just going to refinish them and move on. The good: so excitement got the better of me so decided to give them a quick test fit with tape in the office carpark and I LOVE them should have been the first thing I ordered. I know there is the dents in the wheel arch and scrapes on the front bumper but am still holding off for better weather to have this done due to road conditions in my area. Was think to finish the front end look: * Silver / lightly smoke Tinted ( show only ;-) plates ) * split lights and paint inner indicator parts But really have to save some penny's for new wheels, while I really like the look of the sport wheels in person the curved spokes make them look really small even for 17". Would love to pick up a set of LM reps and finish in satin black. Also thinking of dying the roof black to tone it in with the rest of the car thoughts???? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
momo Report post Posted February 14 Ummm.. They're not clubsport splitters! They're CSL style splitters.. Admittedly there's not much difference but CS ones are more "boxy", not quite as sharp as they go into the middle of the car and usually wrap all the way around the corner of the bumper back to the wheel well. These are CS splitters for reference: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
