[Onizukachan]

Coded the TCU to Bluetooth aktiv and mobile handset aktiv. It works.
Also comfort open to aktiv. And dwa to on with light confirmation.
Now I can tell which car I am unlocking, lol.

 

[Onizukachan]

Well it was time to get serious in the war on grime.
As in Scrubbing Bubbles and a toothbrush serious.

Brought my rear seat bottom upstairs to the apartment and got to work. As the grime was Liquified and lifted out, I used a microfiber towel to wipe it off.
Don't recommend it for regular cleaning, of course, but if you have seats where every pebble crease and wrinkle is filled with yellowish black grime (sweat? Old product residue? Dirt? All three?), it works.
I then sprayed the leather with griots leather cleaner and conditioner (works and I like the smell, it's like walking into Wilsons leather goods in a bottle, lol) let it soak in, sprayed again and let it soak in, then misted it a third time and buffed it dry with a clean microfiber towel.

End result:
It looks clean as new (finally).

Not much done mechanically so far, waiting on paycheck Friday. Did a little more coding, enabled fogs with highbeams, turned off progressive unlock, and the lock at __kph feature.
Started researching some parts I know I need:

1: how to change FSR via solidjake YouTube video. The FSR needs doing first since reliable a/c is a must here, especially for my dd/ kid hauler. We are already in the mid 80's F since last week.

2: The washer reservoir is specific to intensive clean vehicles, not many (any?) in the desert junkyards.

3: left mirror has bad memory module, so I possibly need a good used one, my painted cap is transferable so any color= junkyard possible

4: the antenna amplifier seems to be failed and is specific to tourings. (No surprise as it was right next to the nav drive Mr Tint Guy ruined for some previous PO with his tint spray runoff.)

Update on other resolved? issues:
The fuel gauge started working again (for now) a couple days after a bottle of techron additive and a partial fill from chevron. We'll see.

More adventures await, so till next time...

 

[Spannerhead]

Beautiful! I'm going to have to try the Scrubbing Bubbles treatment on my seats' leather. I was going to use Leatherique products but you've got me reconsidering...

 

[Onizukachan]

It was my moms idea.
I googled and others have done it so I tried it.
Worked for me.

Still have a seatback and both front seats to do. I'll see how it goes, but the hardest part is finding enough clean microfibers to get all the grime off.

 

[Mflara20]

Great work!
If you need some used parts pm me.

 

[Onizukachan]

Comparison, bottom two sections done. Top not done.

 

[Onizukachan]

Got all the seats cleaned, finally. Or at least round one and two are done.
I'll continue to clean and condition them weekly for a while till I'm satisfied they are as good as they will be, like I did with GF's e83. Hers are awesome feeling now.



Decided to look and see if the airbag recall had been done. Big no. Going to an event at BMW Saturday, and I will mention it and see when the ETA is for at least passenger side to be replaced.

 

[Onizukachan]

Just adding these for the record.

 

[Onizukachan]

Second page of vin decoder results

 

[Onizukachan]

Well I did my first mod tonight.

Had everything typed out and lost it so here goes.

Installed aux in with BT adapter. (tired of FM radio)

I did not have to remove the bordmonitor, climate controls/ ashtray, or actual console, just the shifter surround and AC vents as well as the console inserts.
The plug for the aux is wrapped in the bundle of wires to the left of the bordmonitor and can be accessed by removing the front trim, passenger side first then the nav section, then the center AC vents pull out.
Once connected drop down the right side of the board monitor and the thing will come out right by the shifter opening. Push thru from shifter area to the actual console area by pushing it right under the hazard switch.

Tools required:
nylon trim removal tools (Harbor freight $8)
Phillips screwdriver
Drill and bits for the headphone jack hole
Brain

Parts used:
OEM Aux in for nav ($32 shipped from BMW San Fran via Amazon)
Bluetooth audio receiver ($22 in store Best Buy)

This is just a temp/proof of concept/ shakedown install, once I get a euro tray the BT, aux, and USB charging cable will be installed *under* the console, but I needed access until I'm convince it is reliable. Tested wired connection vs this BT connected and no difference I could hear between them... at least not while using Apple Music for streaming (INXS FTW!)
Could have been done in under an hour, but I sat around listening to music for a while, trying iPad vs iPhone, etc. It is reversible, where I drilled the holes is covered by the rubber insert if I take them back out, but I just set the insert on top to hide the addition from spying eyes.

 

[Onizukachan]

Watched solid jakes video, but I actually used this guide.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=713544
Wasn't a bad job getting it out, did it during my lunch brake, but trying to get the FSR to go in straight enough to where it would sit inside the flange instead of atop it or crooked took many many attempts. Like 20 minutes worth of attempts until I got it right.
Now to put the car back together so I can leave work, lol!


Edit: I'm an idiot. I put the old one back in by accident so now I get to do it again.

 

[Onizukachan]

Somehow I got an FSR that looks right, but isn't. I'll post the part number later but it won't seat. I can put the old one in in a few seconds, a wiggle, but the new Behr one is just wrong somehow, it's off a fraction of a millimeter or something.
Either the bottom will seat or the top but not both. Will try a different supplier, for now I put the old one back. New one partially installed did solve most of the problems, still a bit of grumble from either the cabin air sense fan or the blower itself.

 

[Onizukachan]

Crummy pic quality, sorry.
I hope this helps someone in the future, you CAN stack both types of aux input.

I now have two aux inputs.
The standard BMW one up front (3.5mm Jack/ installed to headunit) with my little BT receiver for music.
And I now have a second one in the back on the cdchanger connectors for a planned a/v input.
I just plugged two devices in, and my helper was able to press mode to switch between fm, one source and the other source.

I have a replacement mk4 drive arriving tomorrow so I can see what's going on on the radio itself, guessing it's going to come up as changer?
Eventually, I plan on adding a 12v converted AppleTV 3, hdmi to composite adapter, and a video switcher so I can do iPhone/iPad mirroring to the nav screen. This trunk mounted blitz aux in is in the perfect location to take the audio from the hdmi to composite adapter, and I don't have to run a bunch of wires all around the car.
I use Plex, so I have a 4tb drive of movies, tv shows, music, and music videos available anywhere I can get mobile data (unlimited plan) or wifi. Plus, let's be honest, Apple maps, my speedometer app, Gas Guru, etc are way beyond what I expect to find on the factory nav.

I've read that the existing smartphone mirroring modules use miracast, and that no longer works on iOS 9.
AppleTV 3 supposedly can do ad hoc AirPlay (mirroring) with out the need for a wifi network/router.
(Though those are cheap enough and small enough these days to add easily)

 

[Geo31]

Holy crap, was that in English? I recognize some of the words, but didn't understand anything.

Cudos! WAY over my head.

 

[Onizukachan]

Lol! It was, actually.

Here's my other project of the day.
About 1/2 done, going to do the free 'electrical tape' version instead of the "$300 please!" version for now.

It's very slowly coming along.

 

[Onizukachan]

I saw a silver pre-facelift touring with sport suspension this am, felt like an out of body experience. Plus, a white touring this afternoon. Freaky.

Here is what we accomplished today:

Installed used replacement Nav drive (still need discs though, didn't come with one in it)

Played around with screen, sound settings, made some calls, etc. Can't do anything with Nav till I get a disc, the one in my old drive was junk.
Video:


Straightened out the inboard exhaust tip. I'm guessing someone backed into a stoppie at some point. (No pics)

Finally:
Gas gauge went right to the top immediately when I filled up. Maybe I can stop buying chevron after this tank, get shell or other good brand that is cheaper, lol.

So Nothing major, days off are mostly occupied with my boys, but what I did do was productive.

 

[Onizukachan]

Well the new drive's Nav OS has never ever been updated.
Still has 2003 software v21... I might be in a catch 22 here, as you are supposed to have a Nav disc in before you update, but all modern discs are dual layer, and it won't read dual layer till updated.

 

[Geo31]

eBay?

Ad in the classifieds?

 

[Onizukachan]

I'm checking eBay now for older discs, and going to burn a firmware update to cd and see if I can at least get it up to date for newer DVDs.
I think you are the only one to read this anymore Geo, lol.
Maybe it will help someone in the future though?

 

[thurston512]

I'm lurking on this thread for now. I've got an 04' 6 speed smg with 46K on the clock and I want to have bluetooth for music and phone but I want it to be fully factory not aftermarket. You obviously know your stuff, so thanks for the killer write ups and info!