MatthewMay1's SUPERCHARGED Build Thread

More parts for the Tacoma on the way

 

Big box of gaskets arrived today, starting to get a sizable pile of parts in the shop!

 

More parts!

 

I did the fun car mod a few weeks ago... 2001 BMW Z3 3.0i 5-speed with 58,xxx miles. One level below the Z3M and with that comes fewer maintenance gotchas, still plenty of power to have a fun drive to work, and a more attractive rear end design (to me).





Details include:
Aftermarket halo & HID headlights
European dash swap
Upgraded radiator and water pump (cooling system is one of the main issues with these models)
Sport seats
New rear window
XM radio with hands-free phone and USB/Aux inputs that is remote mounted behind the glovebox and integrates with the stock radio (I have no clue how to operate that yet).
Fancier OEM BMW wheels



Things I did today:

Replaced burnt out light bulbs for HVAC panel
Repaired A/C temperature control knob to prevent it from binding up

Hardwire kit with remote mute button for my radar detector




Strut tower brace. I hear this helps a lot with the handling, especially since the car has no roof. Report to come soon.



I'm going to try to keep this car mostly stock because I want it to be as reliable as possible. I'm getting ready to do the 60,000 mile service and have discovered some funky things. According to my service manual, BMW states that the transmission and diff fluids are "lifetime" and do not require scheduled changes. That goes against most of what I know as a self-proclaimed professional gearhead. I'll probably change it all anyway, on account of the fluid being nearly 20 years old. After reading on the Bimmer forums about different engine oil, transmission oil, and gear oil, I am now sufficiently confused and will most likely just run by the dealer and get all OEM BMW fluids to use. I figure I can't go wrong with that. It'll probably be expensive but it's not like I'm changing all these fluids every year.

Since this car is so close to the service interval, I am going to take care of it before I start the supercharger instal on the Tacoma. I figure I'll get this in tip top shape so I can down the Tacoma for a while.

Adjusted list of to-do's from my service manual include:

• Inspect brake pads (3mm minimum)
  • Hopefully I can find a replacement that works as good as OME but doesn't make as much dust.
• Adjust parking brake
• Oil and filter change
  • 6.9qt BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil
• Check steering components for play
• Change engine coolant (every 4 years)
  • 11qt 50/50 BMW antifreeze and distilled water
• Lubricate accelerator linkage
• Change brake fluid
  • SAE Dot 4 low viscosity
• Top off washer fluid
• Check transmission fluid level (possibly change)
  • 1.37qt BMW 83-22-9-408-942 (MTF-LT-1)
• Check diff fluid level (possibly change)
  • 1.8qt BMW SAF-XJ with limited slip
• Check CVs for tears
• Check rear subframe supports (These tend to break on the M cars due to the higher power)
• Check power steering fluid level
• Check front control arm bushings for wear
• Check tire pressure including spare
• Lubricate door hinges and latches
  • Locks - oil with graphite
  • Hinges & latches - SAE 30 or SAE 40 engine oil
• Lubricate hood release cables
• Treat interior leather
• Inspect drive belt condition and tension
• Replace fuel filter
• Inspect wheel bearings
• Tighten A/C compressor mounting bolts

 

Oh! And I forgot to mention, I have classic plates coming for the 4Runner. Classic was the same price as regular so I said what the heck

 

I'm jealous. I miss having a street toy.

 

Thanks for the compliment! My leafs were flat with no load, but I had them on 2" lift shackles so that made things worse. I can't remember the year model Chevy I pulled the leafs from, but it was a 1500 2wd. If you find a 4wd model in a junkyard, I believe they will have one extra leaf for you to experiment with. There is a huge year range that has the same width leafs as our trucks, I just can't remember what that range is. All you'd really have to do is measure the width of your leafs and then go measure some at a junkyard and pull the ones that are the same width and drilled in the center for the center pin. I cut one Chevy leaf down and installed it between my lower leaf and the overload leaf, just like you would install an AAL. It carries additional weight better, but my axle wrap has come back over the past months and I'm starting to think I'll just get a Dakar pack in the future, do a rear shock relocation, and box the rear of the frame.

 

Some guys on here built their own leaf packs and really like them. For me, I’m just going to buy a pack when I get around to it.

Thank you, I’ll try to get to the S/C after I get the German mistress up to speed for daily driving

 

Wishing I hadn't looked inside the intake manifold on the Z...It's coated with oil! Now I've got a slew of parts I'm going to replace on it. Some out of necessity, some preventatively. Guess I'll be getting familiar with that engine soon.

 

One reason why I haven’t touched my Supra. I can handle everything else besides engine right now. Basically kicking the can down the road......

 

It runs good right now and doesn't smoke. That's why I was surprised to see what I found. I can't bring myself to continue driving it like it is though, so it's gotta get fixed up before I can DD it to work on the Tacoma

 

Did the 02 sensor clear your P1135 I saw in another thread? You go in through the shifter?

 

Yes, it did. I did not, I just did it from below. I can't remember which sensor I replaced though...I'd have to go look

 

ah I thought you replaced the upstream not the downstream. The downstream plugs in under the seat and the upstream plugs in on top of the transmission at least so im told.

 

That's correct. When I was taking the transmission out I remember having to disconnect it

 

It was pretty easy, so I must have replaced the downstream

 

Tore apart the fun car today. Doing a slew of of those “might as well do this while I’m in there” types of items.

 

Supposedly when this car was built, the hood was the largest single molded piece of metal fitted to any production car yet. Doesn’t surprise me. This hood is freakin huge!



I replaced the two hard plastic coolant lines that run underneath the intake manifold. They are known failure points in the coolant system and I’m glad I replaced them because one was brittle enough to break off in the engine. (That was fun to extract). Now I’m pressure testing the system and all seems to be holding well. I’m going to let it sit for a couple hours to be sure.

 

I just finished my engine refresh today on the Bimmer. Under the hood I did:

CCV kit and associated hoses from Bimmerbum
Vacuum lines
DISA rebuild from German Auto Solutions
VANOS rebuild from German Auto Solutions
VANOS oil line (mine had developed a leak and was the main driver of this whole project)
Valve cover gasket & gromets
Intake manifold gasket
The two hard heater lines under the manifold
Coolant line from top of expansion tank to top of radiator
Spark plugs
Oil & filter change

Outside the hood:
Brake pads all around

In the coming days:
Coolant flush
Brake Fluid Flush
Diff oil
Fuel Filter

I was very relieved when it cranked right up with no alarming sounds!

 

Yesterday:
Coolant flush

Today:
Brake fluid flush
Diff oil
Transmission fluid
Fuel filter

Took the car for a test drive tonight and it drives like a dream! Fresh transmission fluid shifts like butter. The trans is quieter and smoother now. I love it!