Drove it like I stole it

 

Finally got around to swapping both outer lower ball joints

 

How long did that take you?

 

Lots of good work. At least now it's protected from the coming bad weather. Liking that stripe. Needed to see it on the whole car.

 

Finally got my R53 back up and running. Went to the back burner when I bought the Countryman.

Still needs a head gasket swap, tstat, water pump, and possibly a freshly machined head but for now it runs just good enough.

 

Thanks buddy!! It only took 3 weeks for me to get it done

 

Nice and tight, when I did all mine, made the front end feel new again/.

 

Agreed! And I only did the LCA bushings and the outer ball joints. And I can tell a difference. Car rides so much better.

 

I just replaced all four on mine, since the engine is out and I'm waiting for parts. Cant wait to see how different it is.

My remaining engine parts are supposed to ship today! (pistons, bearings, gasket, seals, etc) Hope to be back up and going in a week or so.

Nik

 

Just parted with a few $$$ to get the FRM replaced on my R56. Good news is now everything works as it should.

 

What is an FRM?

 

Footwell control module. It regulates power out to various things like the blinkers, hazards, power windows, headlight switch, etc.

 

Besides the obvious of having your power back, you are going to like having a tight front suspension again. Are you doing anything with shocks/springs? Or just little stuff as you run across them? I would imagine most of the cash going into the motor to get moving again?

Cant wait to see everything come back together.

 

Im running M7 coilovers, and they are still in great shape. But since I have everything out, I am trying to get as much of the little things done as I can afford. I replaced a torn inner boot on the passenger axle, replaced all (or most of) the protective shielding on the wiring harness, new coolant hoses. Its the little stuff that adds up.

 

How are the m7's holding up. Do you have pics ? Remember when those first came out.

 

Holding up great. Pics of them? or the ride height?

 

Thats great, pic in general, your car have so many more miles then my 260k 2005 MCC, its like a test car for endurance parts.

 

Oh cool. Agreed. Its the little things that become a PITA.

 

- Front tow hook
- Installed Boot Stipes
- Plasti Dipped Boot Hatch Lip, Wings and R53 Badge
- Replaced droney pos ebay cat back exhaust with stock.

Next up Nvidia or Milltek catback - hopefully in May.

 

Finished installing the new hard brake lines to the rear brakes - bled the system and all seems good - no leaks and a hard pedal. Going to see if I can engage ABS a few times and bleed the system again, as I had the whole thing open for quite some time.

Might need to readjust the e-brake a bit and fix my rattling exhaust (super-DIY one-ball mod with just a regular 90 degree elbow - if you get it set just the right way in the hangers it doesn't rattle), but I'm happy to be motoring again after 10 days without!

 

Sounds good so far! Well done!

Any pics?

 

I'm afraid not - I can post pics of my old rusted lines... one of them disintegrated as I was pulling it out - the most rust was, strangely, where the lines pass up above/next to the gas tank. But that's not where the line failed - it failed after the long run under the passenger compartment - in the corner as it turns up vertical. I'm just happy to have a car again the week before Holy Week (church musician), so I wasn't thinking about pics.

 

I put Mini the garage, probably for the next two-three weeks, as I have a pile of parts that need to be installed:
* StopTech BBK
* Sneed4Speed brake cooling
* Miltek headers
* Alta rear control arms
* Sneed4Speed oil cooler
* Alta short shifter
* m7 M-Wing

plus a bunch of smaller mods, i.e. gauges, CF gas cap, fire extinguisher, cowl scoops.

Safe to say I won't be motoring any time soon.... ?de02?de02?de02

 

Great list, looks like some major conversion. Post up some pics.

 

Sorry, did not see this!

Outer ball joints were probably an hour tops. That includes lifting the car and setting it back down.

Lower control arm bushings probably took me about 4 hours... but now that I have completed that task and are more comfortable with it, maybe 3 or under.