Here she is being hooked up the BMW factory GT1 tester so that as part of her service we can check her history and current vitals. [ View Pictures ]
Here she is communicating with the GT1; is shows us that she has had a few glitches in her past with several associated with a dead battery. Everything presented was from days gone past as such the information was cleared however there is some information is not able to be erased as such it will remain viewable; a part of who she is aka her history as the years and miles roll by. [ View Pictures ]
During her service we run real time test on many of the systems including the MAFs, O2 sensors, throttle actuator.
Now that she is up to proper operating temperature the GT1 will allow the numerous scheduled test to commence.
Here is just one of the real time test being carried out; in this case we are watching the operation of her O2 sensors and comparing the data to that which is considered normal. In this case the O2 sensors are all within OEM specification and yet because of her miles and the manner in which she is exercised we are going to install a fresh set of them.
Here is what the inside of her plenum looks like; the only thing OEM within is that which you cannot see; the liquid charge cooler, the velocity stacks with integrated secondary injectors, the secondary fuel rails, all of the associated wiring and plumbing came as the result of Shadowman's brain trust and tedious work. Even the plenum cover is a custom carbon fiber piece designed with an OEM look and structurally able to properly seal the plenum when under boost. [ View Pictures ]
Here we have removed her left front wheel and inner fender liner to access the custom air filter and the MAFs as attached to the custom intake system. We are going to clean the air filter and then apply a fresh coat of K&N oil and then because we are within this area we are also going to install a fresh pair of MAFs. During the real time testing of the MAFs they were within acceptable specifications however as with the O2 sensors; because of her miles and the manner in which she is exercised installing a fresh pair was deemed a great idea. [ View Pictures ]
Here we are installing a fresh set of spark plugs; the spark plugs removed have been firing away for the past 7 years and plus 25K miles so in our opinion; it was time to replace them. During the replacement of the spark plugs we complete a close inspection of the spark plugs removed; in this case all appeared to be operating as designed with no visual concerns presented. We also inspect the 8 individual coils as well as all of the associated wiring. Then once everything is reassembled we also removed the bronze by-pass valve filter and cleaned it so as to insure that the valve within is able to operate without delays caused by a restriction this insuring rapid building of boost as well as rapid releasing of pressure within the plenum during deceleration. [ View Pictures ]
We have removed her oil filter and drained her oil during which time we also completed a thorough chassis inspection; no issues were found so now we will methodically install her new MAFs as associated with the custom intake system after which we can put her inner fender liner and wheel back on and then set her on the ground. Then we will install a new OEM oil filter and a fresh load of OEM 10/60 Castrol oil making her ready to be exercised again. She is slated to leave Area-51 in a few days for a spirited exercise routine to the "Concours d'elegance" in Monterey after which she will once again look to collect a few more road kills on her many mile journey back to Canada.
Now we are going to complete the oil and filter service and then methodically complete the assembly as associated with this project.
Here we are installing a new OEM oil filter, a fresh load of OEM 10/60 Castrol, and Swepco 502 oil additive. The Swepco 502 oil additive is recommended by BMW as it does a wonderful job of keeping the extremely small oil passages within the Vanos clean and the Vanos operating properly. [ View Pictures ]
Here the custom intake as associated with the custom supercharger system has been reassembled with the new OEM MAFs and the cleaned and oiled air filter. [ View Pictures ]
Here we are verifying that the proper torque is applied to the wheels. [ View Pictures ]
Here she is outside for the first time after having her service and maintenance issues tended to. [ View Pictures ]
Here she is tucked in the clean room portion of the facility as she awaits a road test after which she will reunited with her family and then they will begin their journey to Monterey. [ View Pictures ]
Now that we have completed the road test and inspected her once last time she is finally ready to be reunited with her family and begin playing/exercising again. During the two methodical road tests it was sensory overload as the attention she garners because of her looks and the sounds that she creates it beyond words; she is truly "One of One".
Her she is ready and very anxious to resume her journey now being even more fit than the day that she arrived at Area-51; a short and yet a most enjoyable visit. [ View Pictures ]

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