101 Projects for Your BMW 3-Series...

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

Many of you have emailed me off-line and asked me what the status of the book is. Well, a lot of things have slowed me down over the past year (sold my house, had a baby, etc.), but I am forging ahead with finishing it. It's about 80% complete, and I hope to have it 100% written by the end of July. Then it goes to layout, and then to the printers in HongKong, and then it has to come back here on a boat, etc. So, I'm hoping to have it published and available for the holiday season, but it looks more like a month or two after that.

I'm working especially hard to make sure that the book contains info for the beginner *and* the expert. Here's my finalized list of projects:

1 Jacking Up
2 Oil Change
3 Air Filter / Pollen Filter Replacement
4 Fuel Filter Replacement
5 Replacing Belts
6 Washing Your Car
7 Time to Rebuild?
8 Replacing Spark Plugs
9 Replacing the Valve Cover Gasket
10 Machine Shop 101
11 Camshaft Removal
12 Intake Manifold Removal
13 Vanos Installation / Setting Cam Timing
14 Cam Sensor Replacement
15 Crankshaft Sensor Replacement
16 Tensioner Update / Installation
17 Head Gasket Replacement
18 Vanos Oil Line & Solenoid Replacement
19 Oil pan gasket replacement
20 Ignition TuneUp (plugs, cap, rotor, wires)
21 Valve Adjustment
22 SuperCharger Install
23 TEC-3
24 Rod Bearings / Oil Pump Nut
25 Motor Mounts
26 Cold Air Intake / MAS upgrade
27 O2 Sensor Replacement
28 Reading Fuel Injection Fault Codes
29 Monitoring OBD-II Systems
30 Replacing Fuel Injectors
31 Fuel Pump Replacement
32 Installing a Performance Chip
33 Coolant Replacement
34 Radiator & Hose Replacement
35 Water Pump & Thermostat Replacement
36 Replacing your Automatic Transmission Fluid
37 Replacing Automatic Transmission Lines
38 Replacing Transmission Mounts
39 Replacing the Driveshaft Flex Disc / Guibo
40 Center Driveshaft Bearing Replacement
41 Replacing Shift Bushings
42 Installing a Short Shift Kit
43 Transmission Removal
44 Clutch Replacement
45 Replacing the Clutch Slave Cylinder
46 Differential / Manual Tranny Fluid Change
47 CV Joints / Boots / Axle
48 Muffler Replacement
49 Exhaust Manifold Replacement
50 Bleeding BMW Brakes
51 Replacing Brake Pads
52 Rebuilding Brake Calipers
53 Parking Brake Adjustment
54 Big Brake Kit Upgrade
55 Parking Brake Shoe Replacement
56 Brake Line Replacement
57 Brake Rotor Replacement
58 Alignment
59 Front suspension Overhaul
60 Replacing Front Shocks & Springs
61 Replacing Rear Shocks & Springs
62 Rear Shock Mounts
63 Performance Suspen / Lowering
64 Camber Bar
65 Steering Wheel - Aftermarket
66 Lower M3 Support Bar
67 Door Panels / Window Switches
68 Shift Knob
69 Hood Shocks
70 Window Regulator
71 Replacing Lenses / Blubs Clear corners
72 Headliner
73 Rear Spoiler/Wing
74 Convertible Top Adjustment / Repair
75 Convertible Rear Window Replacement
76 M3 Mirrors
77 Replacing Emblems
78 Sunroof Repair
79 Billet Caps / Bling Pedals / Logo Caps
80 Aluminum Floor pedals / Wood Dash / Chrome Grille insert
81 Sport Seat Upgrade / Repl
82 Solving Electrical Problems
83 Resetting the Airbag Warning Lamp
84 Starter Replacement
85 Starter Troubleshoot
86 Brake Switch Replacement
87 DME Swap / Repair
88 Radio Head Unit Installation
89 Alternator Repl
90 Odometer Repair / Gauge lamps
91 Colored Gauge Faces / chrome rings
92 Angel Eyes Installation
93 Alarm System Install / Upgrade
94 HID Headlamp Kit Upgrade
95 Ellipsoid Headlamp Upgrade
96 CD Changer
97 A/C Maintenance & Upgrade
98 Stubborn Bolt Removal
99 Using Car Bras
100 Wheels & Tires
101 Dyno Testing

-Wayne

[Seeker]

Sounds like a nice reference.

Any idea the estimated cost of the book when published?

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

Jacket price will be $34.95. The book will be available at almost all bookstores, but if you purchase it from www.101projects.com, for that price, you will get the BONUS CD-ROM containing thousands of additional photos not published in the book.

-Wayne

[Seeker]

Do you have plans to have a auto/manual swap conversion in it too?

That would be most helpful indeed. I know it can be pieced together from the thread in here, but having it in a bood w/pics would be even better.

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

Nope, that project didn't make it into the text for a few reasons:

- Not too many people attempting it in the grand scheme of things (compared to the other projects listed)

- I really don't recommend the swap from a time/effort perspective. There is a lot of cost involved with purchasing the parts, and a tremendous amount of time involved with the actual swap. I usually recommend that people trade their entire car for a manual if they want to switch. The time and effort involved is huge, and the hit to resale value doesn't help either...

-Wayne

[BabyM]

This is going to be great!

Our number of available discussion topics is going to take a hit...i predict many threads ending with a post like thos "Read the book"!

[Mars]

Good luck finishing up.

Are you going to add a section for securing the oil pump nut?

EDIT: Didn't read whole list "24 Rod Bearings / Oil Pump Nut"

[WildStorm]

Lol, I just replied about this in the bently manual thread. Im looking foward to the book. Congrats on you dedication, it sounds like an involved process.

[Sarwat]

Man, I got excited when I saw the title. I thought it was going to say "Its here, order your copy today"

[YFZ]

Sweet i'll be ordering one when they're out

[theruss1an1]

Sweet i'll be ordering one when they're out

Ditto

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

This is going to be great!

Our number of available discussion topics is going to take a hit...i predict many threads ending with a post like thos "Read the book"!

Thanks guys - funny, that happens quite a bit in the Porsche forums we have.

I'm writing the book with the background assumption that you have an in depth manual like the Bentley book. I don't have enough room in the book to put in all of the torque specs and other minute details that you would find in a factory workshop manual. However, I may (probably) will publish all of that additional info on the www.101projects.com website.

Bottomline is, I am aware that most people who work on their cars already have the Bentley manual - this book will have very, very little overlap with that manual (much the same way that the Porsche 911 book doesn't overlap with the Porsche Bentley book).

Heading out to the garage right now to work on the cabriolet! (convertible).

-Wayne

[95bmwpwer]

wow first time i have heard about this new book coming out! i cant wait! Good job wayne!

David

[Dnz]

So it comes with diagrams/pictures or not? Like ETK grade stuff?

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

So it comes with diagrams/pictures or not? Like ETK grade stuff?

It will be very similar to the current (best selling) Porsche book. Here's some sample pages from the Porsche book:

http://www.101projects.com/Porsche-101/samples.htm

-Wayne

[Dnz]

Its in COLOUR?

That would be totally awesome. If its as well written and detailed as you say it is, i dont see why everyone on bfc wouldnt get one.

[CrazedBMW]

Can I pre-order now?

[CrazedBMW]

Do you have plans to have a auto/manual swap conversion in it too?

That would be most helpful indeed. I know it can be pieced together from the thread in here, but having it in a bood w/pics would be even better.

zionsvilleautosport already made a complete writeup that has GREAT pictures (1024x768). I used this manual when coverting my car. I would highly reccomend it.

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s...gory_Code=6SPC

[Dnz]

Put a sexier e36 on the cover! Have a bfc contest for it or something. You know you want to.

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

zionsvilleautosport already made a complete writeup that has GREAT pictures (1024x768). I used this manual when coverting my car. I would highly reccomend it.

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s...gory_Code=6SPC

I spoke with them over a year ago about including some of their content in the book. I figured it would be a good promo for them. They were less than polite to say the least.

-Wayne

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

Put a sexier e36 on the cover! Have a bfc contest for it or something. You know you want to.

The cover will have an E30 M3 and an E36 M3 together. That cover on the site is just a dummy, temporary cover...

-Wayne

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

Its in COLOUR?

That would be totally awesome. If its as well written and detailed as you say it is, i dont see why everyone on bfc wouldnt get one.

256 pages in full color!

-Wayne

[Dnz]

Pics of cover or ban.

[WildStorm]

Preorder or ban!

If we could preorder it, it would be a best seller before it even hit the shelves! I know everyone here wants one.

[Robstah]

You need to have window trim replacement for both 2dr and 4dr e36s.