Zen and the Art of E36 Maintenance

[Bimma360]

How does it differ from Nubuck or Alcantara?
yeah I guess it won’t hold up good to sweaty hands.

oh, ditch thise fleabay special pedal covers haha.

Brett nailed, it’s just suede. Fleabay special huh, not genuine Hartge?

[MParallel]

It’s real suede, the backside of leather. They just make sure it all looks nice and use that. You can flip your shift boot inside out for a similar experience, lol.

Yeah that's what I thought ha.

[MParallel]

Brett nailed, it’s just suede. Fleabay special huh, not genuine Hartge?

Maybe, maybe not. I have seen so many of these identical sets with any custom logo. Hartge, Schitzer, ///M.

Unless you car has all sorts of Hartge parts...but hey, your car and if you like them.

[BLCKSTRM]

Maybe, maybe not. I have seen so many of these identical sets with any custom logo. Hartge, Schitzer, ///M.

Unless you car has all sorts of Hartge parts...but hey, your car and if you like them.

I've done several things to my car that are probably unpopular around here (angel eyes at the top of that list). Haha - I love them and I don't care what you guys think.

And it's not like I'm ever selling it, so I couldn't care less if it impacts resale.

You have them - if you like them, install them. No one you'll ever meet in real life will even know who Hartge is, much less whether these are fakes or not.

[Bimma360]

I've done several things to my car that are probably unpopular around here (angel eyes at the top of that list). Haha - I love them and I don't care what you guys think.

And it's not like I'm ever selling it, so I couldn't care less if it impacts resale.

You have them - if you like them, install them. No one you'll ever meet in real life will even know who Hartge is, much less whether these are fakes or not.

I hear ya. I think it’s pretty funny though. I spend what one must assume is several $K for material and set of Recaros from halfway around the world, yet I don’t get the benefit of the doubt a $150 set of pedals is real.

For what it’s worth they are real, or at least they are supposed to be. Hartge is now defunct and it’s pretty rare to see their accessories in cars anyways. I think they are cool, just by themselves. The Hartge pedal design isn’t even the one with many identical sets with any custom logo haha, that’s the ACS design.

[bimmertav]

Your seats turned out amazing! Fantastic work! Your choice of Recaro's is impeccable as well.

[Bimma360]

Your seats turned out amazing! Fantastic work! Your choice of Recaro's is impeccable as well.

Thank you. I wanted to use the same ones BMW did in their early cars.

[J!m]

I'm getting a soft "clunk" when reversing from a stop (i.e. parked) and I presume it's the sway bar end links? Anyway, I'm compiling a list, as the LCAs are getting changed (for aluminum this time) due to torn boots, and whatever else I should change to be done "while I'm in there" so, let's see your lists!!!

[BLCKSTRM]

I'm getting a soft "clunk" when reversing from a stop (i.e. parked) and I presume it's the sway bar end links? Anyway, I'm compiling a list, as the LCAs are getting changed (for aluminum this time) due to torn boots, and whatever else I should change to be done "while I'm in there" so, let's see your lists!!!

There are a lot of things that could be causing a clunk when reversing. Bad giubo, CV or U-joint failing, diff bushings, a number of suspension things. Now, if your homework leads you to think that it's the end links, then of course.

There's not a lot of "while you're in there" with the FCAs - they bolt to the sub frame and the king pin / wheel bearing assembly. I mean, you can do other stuff while you're under the car if you want, but unless you need to replace your struts or the front wheel bearing stuff there's not much economy to be had...

[OmairK]

I tried Alcantara on my steering wheel. I wear gloves when I drive for the most part. 3 years later, it looks like shit. Never again.

[BLCKSTRM]

I tried Alcantara on my steering wheel. I wear gloves when I drive for the most part. 3 years later, it looks like shit. Never again.

I clean mine with a damp rag every couple months, maybe once a year when I'm driving it less, just whenever it starts to get shiny. I just lightly scrub it. Keeps it looking brand new. I'm... 7 or 8 years in? And I don't wear gloves, but I also generally make sure my hands are clean. But this is my dd - I've probably put 80k miles on it.

[Bimma360]

After lots of tweaking I got the driver seat test fitted. I am using the factory bmw sliders modified to work with Recaro e30 brackets. I’ll dive deeper on the brackets in another post.



The upper shoulder bolster is justtttt touching the b-pillar.



The seat reclining knob is also pretty close to the b-pillar. Using it while sitting in the seat is a bit difficult, but not impossible.



Clears installed. The outside needs love, but I’ll get there.

[Bimma360]

Things are moving slowly, in part bc I have “while you’re in there” syndrome. But… while I am in there might as well fix the US spec’s worst flaw.