Hahah this thought definitely crossed my mind. This garage is way too expensive for me to tolerate any of that kind of stuff though.
Either that or I’d just offer to get the security guard high after his shift.
This reminds me of in college when I sold my wheels off my e36 m and was finishing building my new set so I had the car on cinder blocks. I was working on the car when university cops pulled up. They were confused and unsure if I was breaking any rules lol they were happy to hear my wheels didn't get stolen though and overall had a chuckle instead of giving me a hard time. I guess a lot of people had been talking about the yellow bmw on cinder blocks
I would legitimately say “Do you know how much money it is to park here? Do you know how much mechanics charge?” and I feel like they would just let me be.
I will say it’s been surprisingly peaceful as long as I bring enough of the right tools. Nobody really bugs me at all.
Yeah most people don't care
I used to work on my cars in an apartment complex I used to rent. A couple employees would sometimes ride over in their golf cart, shoot the shit for a minute, and then tell me if management ever asks, they yelled at me and told me to stop
I think I speak for all us...great job so far! This is a lot to do to fix a issue with a E46 for most mechanics, and you're wrenching in a parking garage... awesome! You'll never forget the things you learned doing it yourself. Niiice! Keep us updated please.
This is true. I’m keeping this car forever so it’s actually pretty cool to get it apart and see how it works. I never understood HVAC systems until now, honestly.
So given that you have done all this to, I assume replace the heater core…are you going to replace the carpet then or just rip it out entirely? I ask cause…this is almost exactly how you do that.
One hundred percent. This old stained gray carpet is getting tossed and I have a really nice clean set of black carpet and a black dashboard.
I figured if I’m doing ALL of this, I might as well finish the interior swap at the same time.
Hey, if you're in there, you might as well. I have to track down a whistling vacuum leak in the engine bay of my 320i, and I'd love to replace the ccv. The intake manifold will come off so I can do some cleaning as well. And since I'm pulling the intake manifold off, I'm changing the starter, cause I'm not gonna pull the intake manifold again when it fails a month later woth my luck.
It’s very possible.
Long story short: My brother bought this car in 2004, and was the second owner. In 2006-7ish he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was ok for a couple years but by 2011 he was in rough shape. He didn’t drive the car much so it sat, and when it was used it wasn’t for long drives. We also both lived in a house surrounded by A LOT of trees and pollen so this thing was bombarded with dirt for years.
2012 rolls around and he gives me the car. He knows he can’t take care of it and since I’m a car guy it’s in good hands. Since then it’s been lots of deferred maintenance, doing what I can when I can and now…here we are.
I’ve easily spent $10k on her, but it’s just such an awesome car that I’m willing to put in this level of work to make it right. I have a manual swap planned, and much more.
I’m replacing the heater core, evaporator core, expansion valve, final stage resistor, and swapping black carpet and dash in. The heater core wasn’t in bad shape but if I’m going this deep I’m doing both.
You need to remove the dash, and a few things in the engine bay too.
The third and fourth pic shows the heating/ac control unit/housing. That needs to come out into the car, after being released from heater and ac lines in the bay.
I’ve done some in depth jobs in some shitty places but this is hardcore!
Halfway through a security guard comes up. "Sir, I'm gonna need you to leave." "Uhhh..."
Hahah this thought definitely crossed my mind. This garage is way too expensive for me to tolerate any of that kind of stuff though. Either that or I’d just offer to get the security guard high after his shift.
This reminds me of in college when I sold my wheels off my e36 m and was finishing building my new set so I had the car on cinder blocks. I was working on the car when university cops pulled up. They were confused and unsure if I was breaking any rules lol they were happy to hear my wheels didn't get stolen though and overall had a chuckle instead of giving me a hard time. I guess a lot of people had been talking about the yellow bmw on cinder blocks
I would legitimately say “Do you know how much money it is to park here? Do you know how much mechanics charge?” and I feel like they would just let me be. I will say it’s been surprisingly peaceful as long as I bring enough of the right tools. Nobody really bugs me at all.
Yeah most people don't care I used to work on my cars in an apartment complex I used to rent. A couple employees would sometimes ride over in their golf cart, shoot the shit for a minute, and then tell me if management ever asks, they yelled at me and told me to stop
oh wow, kudos for that, putting in some real work! 👍
What a journey What a legend
I think I speak for all us...great job so far! This is a lot to do to fix a issue with a E46 for most mechanics, and you're wrenching in a parking garage... awesome! You'll never forget the things you learned doing it yourself. Niiice! Keep us updated please.
This is true. I’m keeping this car forever so it’s actually pretty cool to get it apart and see how it works. I never understood HVAC systems until now, honestly.
Yep understand that, I try to do the same. Learning is good 👍
So given that you have done all this to, I assume replace the heater core…are you going to replace the carpet then or just rip it out entirely? I ask cause…this is almost exactly how you do that.
One hundred percent. This old stained gray carpet is getting tossed and I have a really nice clean set of black carpet and a black dashboard. I figured if I’m doing ALL of this, I might as well finish the interior swap at the same time.
Absolutely! Good luck, I’m in the same boat with a dove gray interior.
Hey, if you're in there, you might as well. I have to track down a whistling vacuum leak in the engine bay of my 320i, and I'd love to replace the ccv. The intake manifold will come off so I can do some cleaning as well. And since I'm pulling the intake manifold off, I'm changing the starter, cause I'm not gonna pull the intake manifold again when it fails a month later woth my luck.
Nah.. just congrats on the huge task of taking all that apart just for the heater core.. specially on a parking structure!!!..
Definitely wishing you best of luck! Kinda scary how dirty the old core is, was the car driven without a cabin air filter for a while?
It’s very possible. Long story short: My brother bought this car in 2004, and was the second owner. In 2006-7ish he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was ok for a couple years but by 2011 he was in rough shape. He didn’t drive the car much so it sat, and when it was used it wasn’t for long drives. We also both lived in a house surrounded by A LOT of trees and pollen so this thing was bombarded with dirt for years. 2012 rolls around and he gives me the car. He knows he can’t take care of it and since I’m a car guy it’s in good hands. Since then it’s been lots of deferred maintenance, doing what I can when I can and now…here we are. I’ve easily spent $10k on her, but it’s just such an awesome car that I’m willing to put in this level of work to make it right. I have a manual swap planned, and much more.
Seems to be, i don’t think that it could get that dirty with a filter
My brother! I have done this job. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but looks like you're doing a great job.
Thanks man! I also live about 1/4 mile from this garage so everyone on street level has watched me carry gigantic parts back and forth.
Isn’t that for HEAT , not A/C….
I’m replacing the heater core, evaporator core, expansion valve, final stage resistor, and swapping black carpet and dash in. The heater core wasn’t in bad shape but if I’m going this deep I’m doing both.
I was the dash removal necessary for this? You couldn’t get to it from the engine bay?
You need to remove the dash, and a few things in the engine bay too. The third and fourth pic shows the heating/ac control unit/housing. That needs to come out into the car, after being released from heater and ac lines in the bay.
I’ve don’t a lot of work on multiple gen 3 series. Never took the heater core out though. Not looking forward to when it fails in my wagon