TRYING TO FIX EVERYTHING WRONG ON MY ABANDONED BMW E46 M3
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Description
FOR DISCOUNTED GENUINE BMW PARTS | BMW SYNTER LEICESTER
Promos
Try Car Vertical with 10% off here carvertical.com I bought an E46 BMW M3 which was abandoned at the side of a racetrack for a really good price. With the laguna seca blue being a desirable colour i could see this BMW being a great buy. But ive since discovered that its suffered from nearly every single common problem an e46 bmw gets, and ive been working through them all. Rod, bearing, cracks in the boot floor, steering wheel play etc etc i tackle it all.. But one last thing held me up on getting the BMW back on the road!
Email: parts.bmw.leicester @sytner.co.uk Tel : 0116 2827711 (USE CODE MAT15)
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Notes
The video documents an ambitious restoration and fault-finding journey on an abandoned E46 BMW M3, aiming for an OEM-plus revival. The creator begins by reflecting on the car’s condition after being left at a racetrack, highlighting the wide range of issues discovered as they drive and inspect the car. Early clues include a loose steering wheel, a nonfunctional handbrake, and a noticeable glunking sound when the clutch is released, suggesting driveline problems. The video then dives into a systematic teardown to locate the source of the noise, starting with the exhaust, heat shielding, and the prop shaft, to access both the center bearing and the joint. The narrator emphasizes the learning curve and the willingness to tackle unfamiliar tasks, like replacing a prop shaft bearing and exploring the possibility of a higher ratio differential for improved off-boost torque. As work progresses, the plan shifts to swapping in a refurbished differential, inspecting the diff bush, and aligning the drive train components to eliminate drivetrain knock and gear-wobble issues. The interior improvements continue with a refurbished armrest, upgraded gear linkage bushing, and a cleaner center console, while maintaining momentum to finish the handbrake, steering coupler, and steering wheel play fixes. The creator showcases a methodical approach to problem solving, using spare parts from BMW and third-party sellers to complete the fix sequence, and discusses the challenges of a stubborn handbrake cable and the need for further investigation overnight. The video closes with a candid admission of the remaining issues, a plan for a Sunday update, and encouragement for viewers to subscribe for the latest progress, emphasizing perseverance and the excitement of bringing a late 90s era M3 back to life.
Topics · car restoration · auto repair · bmw · classic cars · vehicle maintenance · engineering diy
Questions answered
- What was the first major driveline issue identified during the initial inspection?
- The first major issue identified was a significant glunking sound when releasing the clutch, suggesting a problem in the diff or prop shaft area.
- Why was the prop shaft bearing considered a likely culprit, and what was the proposed fix?
- The bearing on the prop shaft showed excessive play, indicating wear. The fix involved replacing the center bearing by splitting the shaft and pressing a new bearing into place before reassembling.
- What ultimately prompted the plan to install a refurbished differential, and what trade-offs were discussed?
- A noisy or binding condition in the original differential prompted the decision to install a refurbished, higher ratio differential to improve low-end torque, with the trade-off of higher RPM at highway speeds.