What have you done to your car today?

Only had a couple of hours but:

1. Clutch pedal adjuster thingy mod - worthwhile - just makes it a tiny bit less of a stretch and levels the pedals up somehow. I just used M10 bolt with PTFE on - already had plastic thingy on the back of the pedal so no need for 'damping' of tennis/squash ball as some have
2. Removed airbox and temporarily put ProRam (Ramair) cone filter on before next stage of adding carbon scoop. Barely any difference noise-wise surprisingly with just the cone - hoping the cone brings some bark
3. Measured up with the scoop to get the bits - just weighing up whether to remove Helmoltz gubbins - probably will

Note motorsport-level of bodgery to hold cone filter steady - just temporary whilst I order the bits to finish off the airbox. I'll muster up a bracket off the air scoop backing plate when I have the bits.

Had full service done last week - gearbox, diff and engine oil + magnetic sump plug, CDV delete, new clutch/brake floud. No noticeable difference (I was half expecting slightly improved gearshift - not that it's bad) but obviously necessary.
 

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Replaced all the badges (OEM) and reg plates. Makes such a difference. To me, at least!

I’m sure there’s plenty of posts about this but indicator and tailgate badges are stuck on around the edge so wire, packing straps, etc to cut through it and they just lift off. Front bumper badge has 2x weird bolt/threaded washer thingies on the back. Take kidney grills out, unscrew, job done.

Shocks, springs, thermostat, water pump and coolant tank ready to be fitted by someone with more skill and facilities than I.
 

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Bolle said:
Oil change through the dipstick and a fluid extractor I had lying around.

Got close to 6 ltr out of it and level was low, so probably most of it. Think by parking the car at the right angle you might able to get some more out.

But easy way for a quick change on a public parking area in center of Amsterdam.

View attachment 298454.
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Was this easy to do?
 
paddy wright said:
Was this easy to do?
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Very easy, it was a bit of fiddling around the first time, but I think you could change oil in about 15 min if you have done it once or twice.

Main hiccup for me was when you stick the tube down the dipstick and hit the bottom of the oil pan, lift it a few mm otherwise it won't suck any oil out (the opening of the tube will otherwise be straight on the bottom of the pan, effectively blocking it.)
 
Micke said:
Many times it’s the small things that make a big difference (re the badges and plates)
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can't tell ya the difference the reg plate made - they were properly ruined though with the backing bleeding off, etc. And it's a private plate (nothing special) just to elevate it a bit. Best £20 I've spent so far! :)

Badges were circa £100 for all 4 and again, really finish it off as they were also a bit tired. They were OEM (well, the front was from Stratstone but the others... I suspect they were chinesium but in BMW branded bags) but the quality wasn't all that so I'm not sure I'd pay the extra if I did it again.
 
danfrost89 said:
Only had a couple of hours but:

1. Clutch pedal adjuster thingy mod - worthwhile - just makes it a tiny bit less of a stretch and levels the pedals up somehow. I just used M10 bolt with PTFE on - already had plastic thingy on the back of the pedal so no need for 'damping' of tennis/squash ball as some have
2. Removed airbox and temporarily put ProRam (Ramair) cone filter on before next stage of adding carbon scoop. Barely any difference noise-wise surprisingly with just the cone - hoping the cone brings some bark
3. Measured up with the scoop to get the bits - just weighing up whether to remove Helmoltz gubbins - probably will

Note motorsport-level of bodgery to hold cone filter steady - just temporary whilst I order the bits to finish off the airbox. I'll muster up a bracket off the air scoop backing plate when I have the bits.

Had full service done last week - gearbox, diff and engine oil + magnetic sump plug, CDV delete, new clutch/brake floud. No noticeable difference (I was half expecting slightly improved gearshift - not that it's bad) but obviously necessary.
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Best way I found for an intake on the N52 is to use a fully enclosed RamAir cone filter setup. It fits perfectly up to the inlet from the bumper, keeps IAT’s low and increased performance.
 

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Changed lollipops. Easy getting them off, but what a task refitting them...

They certainly looked worn, but I'm not experienced enough to tell if knackered PXL_20260810_092109123.jpgPXL_20260810_092103966.jpg
 
Fitted new lower intake boot to the project Z (need to sort the hunting issue and then get it up for sale!)
 

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CuppaTea said:
Changed lollipops. Easy getting them off, but what a task refitting them...

They certainly looked worn, but I'm not experienced enough to tell if knackered View attachment 298676View attachment 298675
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That is why I usually swap the whole lower arm, buying one with the bushes already fitted. Much easier to do. I also have a pet theory that knackered lollipops will have been putting strain on the ball joints anyway.
 
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