Project BMW E30 318iS - HVAC is for the Weak September 09 2013

The air conditioning failed on our E30 318iS, so instead of repairing it, we decided to delete it and shed a few pounds in the process. HVAC was created for the weak. In its place, we mounted an aluminum panel. This panel will close out the hole left in the dash from the removal of the HVAC panel and provide easy mounting for switches and gauges. 

12 Reasons Why Manual Transmissions Rock September 07 2013

The manual transmission is an endangered species, but there are so many great things to love about them. Here is our list of reasons why we love manual transmissions.

Red Eye Garage Tip #3 September 05 2013

Have you even taken your car apart and then forgotten how a certain part is supposed to go back in? On more complicated jobs, I like to use a camera to take photos as I am taking things apart I can always refer back to the photos as necessary. As a bonus, you can have a killer scrap book in no time.

Project E36 M3 - Squealing Brakes September 03 2013

I had been running Axxis Ultimate brake pads and ran into some problems with some massive brake squealing. From 30 to 0 mph, the brakes would squeal like a teenage girl at a Bieber concert. I tried cleaning the brakes with brake cleaner, but that only stopped the squealing for about 30 miles before the squealing came back. Willing to try almost anything at this point, I saw a bottle of Disc Brake Quiet at the local automotive supply store and decided to give it a try.

Red Eye Garage Tip #2 September 02 2013

If you've ever gone up against a stubborn fastener that has been secured with thread locking compound, you probably have the experience of having to go to urbandictionary.com to find some new curse words after exhausting all the common ones. To get thread locking compound to release, Loctite prescribes heating their threadlocker to 250 degrees C (482 degrees F) and disassembling the parts while still hot. You could use a torch or a lighter, but any open flame has the risk of starting a fire, especially if there is grease or oil in the area. You can also ruin finishes, damage wiring, and melt plastic.

I prefer to use a heat gun, because the heat is more controlled. A basic heat gun can be had for about $10-$30 and should get an area nice and hot in under a minute. If you want to be really fancy, you can get a non-contact infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature as you go. Keep in mind that while the heat from a heat gun is more controlled than an open flame, it can still get pretty darn hot. We recommend wearing heat resistant gloves and keeping a fire extinguisher on hand. I also like to keep something cold on hand to apply immediately to the skin if I get burned. I keep cold beer on hand for safety reasons.

Nine Habits on the Street for Better Lap Times September 01 2013

Even if you spend every weekend at the track, odds are that you spend more time driving on the streets than you do on the track. So when you are driving on the streets, it only makes sense to build habits that will help you at the track. Here is a list of habits to build on the road so that you can be faster at the track.

Project E36 M3 - Dunlop Direzza ZII's August 31 2013

Our E36 M3 got a flat tire, and the tire ended up getting shredded by the time I could pull over. I looked over my options at TireRack.com and ended up choosing the Dunlop Direzza ZII because of the high levels of grip in the dry and wet. Since the car doesn't rack up a whole lot of miles each year, the tires usually expire from vulcanization before they expire from wear, so wear wasn't a large concern. 

I had the tires shipped to Texas Track Works in Fort Worth Texas, and made the drive across town to check out their shop. I was greeted by a fleet of fellow E36's.

Introducing Kayla - BMW E36 M3 Project Car August 29 2013

"Let's go test drive some cars," my dad said one weekend. I already had a car at the time - a 1989 Honda Prelude 2.0 SI that I loved, but persistent "reminders" from my mom about my Prelude not having airbags or anti-lock brakes must have worn my dad down. Test driving cars is always fun, so we set out on an adventure to look at some cars. Being a Honda fanboy at the time, I was excited about later model Honda Preludes, Acura Integras and the Acura RSX. As I test drove them one by one, I found that they were nice, but they were only incrementally better than the Prelude I had grown to love. A few weekends later, my Dad and I went out to expand our search. I drove a BMW 325, but again, I wasn't blown away by the performance.

A few weeks after that, my Dad saw an M3 in Dakar yellow in the classifieds from a private seller and thought we should at least test drive one. I took it for a drive with my dad and the first thing I remember was laughing at the ridiculous amount of torque and the acceleration. It just squatted on its rear tires and launched forward. The suspension was firm and planted. There was an intangible sense of quality and solidness. Everything about it was amazing, and it was way out of my league.

That car ended up being bought from under us, but now there was no going back. We had experienced what an M3 could do and what it could feel like. We shopped around looking for a good example of an M3 and finally sealed the deal on a 1998 BMW M3 in Estoril blue with dove grey interior. It was gifted to me by my Dad. It was never something I had asked for, and I was always keenly aware of the grave injustice in being so privileged to own such an incredible machine.

I named her Kayla. It was bittersweet at first, selling the Prelude and watching the new owner drive off. But I was soon lost in euphoric surges of torque and the sonorous song of the BMW 3.2 liter inline 6. Even today, I smile every time I drive her. Even after sampling newer cars, the M3 is still one of the best driver's cars in existence. The handling is so neutral and the car lets you steer it with the throttle pedal so easily. The stock brakes are powerful and good enough for track duty. The throttle response is instantaneous, and the car talks to you through the steering wheel. I can't think of one thing that she doesn't do well.

We've gone autocrossing and we've been to high performance track days. We've gone through a stack of brake pads, several sets of tires and countless filters. Overall, she doesn't ask for much and yet she just gives and gives. 

I try to give back as much as I can. Some of the more significant upgrades I've given her include intake, catback exhaust, ECU reprogramming, chassis brace, head work, lightweight wheels, and upgraded brake components. As she starts to show signs of age, I am having to start to replace and upgrade more components. The plan is to keep her on the road for as long as I can. If I can one day gift this car to my future hypothetical offspring, then the story will have come full circle. Stay tuned as we take you through all the maintenance and modification that she receives.

Home and Gardening Tips With Red Eye Garage #1 August 27 2013

So I had some tires laying around the house that were far too hard, but I wasn't ready to let them go to waste. I love the look of these Yokos so I thought I'd make a simple DIY hamper! Here's what you'll need:

Maxine the 318 - Rust Treatment July 22 2013

Maxine's battery had issues holding charge, and the culprit was a battery that had started to leak battery acid. After removing the battery and the battery tray, it didn't look good. There had obviously been a long history of leaky batteries. This could not stand. To battle this rust, I employed POR15.

Red Eye Garage Tip #1 May 10 2013

Ever finish a job on your car, only to look over and see a couple of fasteners that you left out? You can avoid this amateurism by buying or making a box with compartments and labeling the compartments as you go. A fishing tackle box and a dry erase marker is what I use. I fill the box up from left to right, and label the compartments on the see-through lid. When it is time to put the fasteners back in, I just work backwards in sequential order. This minimizes the chance of forgetting a step or leaving out fasteners.

Organization makes everything go smoother, and the more complicated the job, the more important organization becomes. I used to be intimidated by the bigger jobs like removing a head, but as I became more organized and methodical, I realized that it wasn’t any harder than changing the oil or replacing the spark plugs. The steps weren’t any more difficult – there were just more of them that you had to keep straight. If you get in the habit of staying organized, it will help give you the confidence you need to conquer bigger and more complex jobs. Plus, you won’t have the situation where you’re cleaning up after a night of wrenching in the garage and look over to see some fasteners that you left out.

Cars and Coffee Dallas - April 2013 May 10 2013

Cars and Coffee Dallas is hosted by Classic BMW of Plano and takes place on the first Saturday of every month. Automotive enthusiasts start rolling in with their cars at sunrise, and everyone roams the parking lot to check out each other’s cars. The parking lot starts to thin out by 9:00 am when people start to clear out. April marked the first month of the year where the weather was nice, and the turnout was strong.

Introducing Maxine - 1991 BMW 318iS Project Car May 02 2013

“Runs like a champion,” said the Craigslist ad.

I had been looking for a second car for months. I was looking for a beater that I could drive for times when my 1998 BMW M3 would be down for maintenance and modification. I wanted something to soak up the 30 minutes of daily highway commuting. I wanted something cheap to run on the street and on the track. I wanted something fun to drive. I wanted something easy to wrench on.

I had been looking for a BMW E30 chassis 318iS for four months at the time. I was only able to find 1 in the entire US, and this one just so happened to be within a 3 hour drive. So I made the trip from Dallas down to Austin to check it out. Like a scene out of a organized crime movie, we met at night in a movie theatre parking lot. The owner was a Russian man with a shaved head and a stocky build. He spoke with a moderate Russian accent. “Runs like a champion” he said again in person, as if he was trying to reinforce the slogan from his Craigslist ad. There the car was in its faded red paint. There was a fender that was dented up, and the Carfax showed that the car had been in a fender bender about a decade ago.