ECS News

Wanting to go for a ride but you don’t want to pack the bikes inside? Hitch em up! Perfect for the bike enthusiast or recreational rider, the 1.25" SplitRail can accommodate 2 bikes, while the 2" model can handle 2, 3, or 4 bikes. Each strut is engineered with 4" of side-to-side adjustment, which makes fitting anything from kids to adult bikes simple and easy, and no tools are required to install/remove the rack from vehicle. Easily accessible release handle allows the SplitRail to be positioned into stow, use, and tilt positions.

Guesswork is expensive. It leads to costly repair errors that compromise vehicle safety. Talented pro-sumer or repair professional, you need accurate vehicle data and specifications. That's why ECS is happy to announce our entire inventory of Bentley manuals, a reliable, respected source of repair data for your MINI. These quality books are carefully edited and illustrated. A worthwhile investment.

ECS Tuning is now supplying the excellent ECS Tuning Mechanic's Gloves for our dedicated following of DIY enthusiasts. Featuring a tailored elastic cuff and textured latex palms and finger tips, these work gloves are also breathable and comfortable with their knit top. Choose from Medium, Large, and Extra Large sizes. The Schwaben Folding Ground Pad is made from comfortable high density foam that will keep you off the hard garage floor. The heavy-duty covering resists oils and other fluids keeping it usable for weekends to come. Say NO to laying on cardboard forever!

The Schwaben 6 & 6.5L Fluid Extractor/Filler Systems make changing oil, ATF, or any type of fluid easy and mess free. These easy to use tools are undoubtedly the best Extractor/Fillers available on the market today. Easily change to pump in or out with the flip of a lever, and use the extendable foot step for stability while pumping. All of the included adapters mount on the tank for convenient storage. Both pumps are manually operated, requiring zero electricity or air pressure to operate, and also feature a pressure/vacuum gauge for easy monitoring to prevent overpumping.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, ramp extensions, wheel stands, & wheel chocks - now available from ECS tuning. 30" to 67" Low Profile Car Ramps are specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, eliminating the risk of body damage & sliding ramps. Schwaben Wheel Stands feature a cradled wheel support for superior stability compared to jack stands, supporting up to 3000 lbs. And when lifting your vehicle or placing it on an incline, Wheel Chocks are a wise investment.

If adventure is what you seek, don't let anything slow you down. There's never been a better time than now to load up and take all of your gear along with roof racks and necessities from Yakima and rockymounts. Wherever you go and whatever you take, these racks will hold it. Bikes, skis, snowboards, or surfboards, no problem. Cargo carriers, cage baskets, canoes, and kayaks, there are rack accessories, straps, and locks to hold them down. With many different designs, colors, and options, you'll find exactly what you need with the style that you are looking for. Roof Rack Necess

There's no better feeling as a driving enthusiast than having the perfect supplies ready at hand in the event of an emergency or unexpected circumstance. ECS supplies all of the most complete and useful Emergency Roadside Assistance Kits for your BMW E46 3 Series, giving you an assortment of excellent safety and preparedness tools to get you back motoring as quickly as possible. The portable and attractive Roadside Tool Kit from European BMW includes wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers and gloves, while the BMW First Aid Kit contains all of the most critical first aid appointments.

Check out some of our new releases from last month for BMW.

There are tools that any serious technician will regard as essential to their work - tools that make so many projects faster and simpler that access to a quality set is critical. Schwaben Specialty Tools recognized the need for better designed, more fully-featured puller tool kits; this variety of tool is so frequently used across such a wide variety of projects, mechanics deserve the best engineered product possible. Schwaben Pry Bar and Twin-Arm Puller Kits are highly adjustable, exceptionally durable sets of some of the most versatile tools in any home or professional garage.

Automotive electrical work demands patience, knowledge, & above all else, the correct tools. European car owners oftentimes find themselves using ineffective, dangerous, & cumbersome methods when attending to electrical issues - Schwaben Tools has developed all the right solutions for these common problems. Offering 2 or 4 amp charging, LED setting indicators, and a reverse polarity warning, the Automatic Battery Charger is a highlight of this Schwaben release. The 12 Ft 6-Gauge Booster Cables are also offered, while the Coiled Cord Circuit Tester is ideal 6 to 24 volt systems.

Lowering your vehicle provides several proven advantages in handling performance. Many enthusiasts, however, ignore the issue of disadvantageous suspension geometry changes resulting from a lower ride height. Chief among these harmful effects are unwanted changes in camber angle. In order to maintain a consistent, performance-enhancing tire contact patch, the ability to control the camber angle is critical. ECS Adjustable Rear Control Arms allow for over 8 degrees of adjustment. Street & track enthusiasts will appreciate this needed measure of adjustability.

Produced and bottled exclusively in North Bay, California, Torque sells just one product: the best racing brake fluid on the market! Torque R700 Brake Fluid is the highest density brake fluid on the planet, protecting your braking system components from heat and corrosion with a boiling point of an incredible 683 degrees Fahrenheit! Also, take advantage of the best brake bleeding and filling system available! The Schwaben Level 3 Racing Brake Fluid Flush Kit includes the European Pressure Bleeder & Catch Bottles, a Schwaben Bleeder Wrench, and 1 liter of RT700 fluid.

No more pinched fingers or dropped tools - the one-hand operation Schwaben Euro Locking Pliers can be unlocked with your lower finger while maintaining grip. Included are 7" Straight Jaw Locking Pliers, 7" Curved Jaw Locking Pliers, and 6" Needle Nose Locking Pliers. Remove exhaust pipe hangers in seconds with the specially designed Schwaben Tool. Ear-Type Clamp Pliers are also available. Remove and install clamps found on CV joints, hoses, and some fuel filters. Use with a torque wrench for stainless steel clamps and extended functionality.

Take it to the streets with FK. Streetline X Coilovers eliminate guesswork by combining full height adjustment at all four corners with matching adjustable dampers. The Streetline X has been engineered to allow the fine tuning of your settings for various driving conditions, giving you excellent flexibility. The large adjustment range improves vehicle appearance and handling while maintaining ride comfort suitable for the daily driver. FK Streetline X Coilovers for your BMW E46 has been made to meet the tough new DIN quality standards, and come with a one-year warranty.

Why use wheel studs instead of wheel bolts? When removing and installing wheels that utilize the factory wheel bolts the process can be frustrating, holding the wheel up with your legs, lining up the holes, and threading the bolts all at the same time. Wheel studs also allow the use of varying length wheel spacers - a highly convenient feature for those that anticipate using different spacer size setups in the future. Conical seat lug nuts are available for a maximum of 10mm, 20mm, or 30mm wheel spacer use.

A better secured drivetrain supports power modifications, average every day stresses on your vehicle's chassis, and allows for a more immediate feeling of connectedness between the driver and the road. The factory rubber BMW mounts have a propensity to degrade over time, causing over-revving, mis-shifts, and even chassis damage. ECS has developed a 70A or 80A polyurethane density Transmission Mount Sets for the BMW E46 - soft enough for comfortable daily driving, but durable enough to increase drivetrain solidarity and responsiveness.

The engine in the E46 323/328 is known for only one weakness - the cooling system. The ultimate assurance that you wont be left on the side of the road with an over heated engine is to refresh all the major components at the first sign of any failure. In many cases, M52 engines last the life of the vehicle - meaning by this time there will be more wear and tear on cooling system components than predicted by BMW. ECS offers Cooling System Refresh Kits with varying levels of components for this very reason - Three levels of ECS-assembled kits are available.

Achieving that show-room shine for your paint and interior surfaces requires patience and care - thorough cleaning and detailing can elevate a car to the next level. Three innovative car protection solutions from ECS give you the peace of mind that your body and interior are safe from accidental scratching, scuffing, weathering, and debris. The ECS Mechanics Seat Protector Cover is made of full-bound, padded vinyl and resists most acids, grease, dirt and grime. Keep your fender cover in place and protect your finish with the convenient and stylish ECS Magnetic Fender Covers.

There are several critical automotive projects that require pulling fluid lines – these jobs oftentimes end in an unnecessary mess from using inadequate tools and procedures. The tool experts at Schwaben have developed the highly convenient Fluid Stopper Kit for this reason, allowing you to properly clamp any fluid hoses and avoid messes or fluid losses. Additionally, the clamps offer a temporary seal, meaning you will not compromise any lines for later use. Address all common hard lines, including fuel lines, brake lines, and banjo connections.

The easy to use Schwaben Bleeding Products allow you to bleed and flush your fluid systems with the convenience and accuracy of a professional. The line of fully-loaded pressure bleeders are undoubtedly the best-performing products of their kind available on the market today. Schwaben also offers a catch bottle that holds a full 1 Liter of fluid and features easy to read oil level marks for accurate draining.

Spacers for your racer. ECS Tuning lets you tweak your stance - or swagger down the road with a 20mm monster offset. Engineered and tested in-house to fit your BMW perfectly. Choose from our huge inventory of hub centric spacers in thicknesses sure to match your car, your wheels, and your shopping budget. All ECS BMW spacers are aluminum, and are black anodized for corrosion protection. Kits come with correct-length black lug bolts for a complete package.

Schwaben Specialty Tools announces new innovative solutions to the most common dilemmas faced by European car owners. For those hard to reach hose clamps with 7mm hex nuts, the Schwaben Hose Clamp Flex Driver features an overall length of 10-1/2" and a flex shaft length of 6" for exceptional convenience. The ergonomic handle features a non-slip grip for when your hands are oily or wet. The 46 Piece 1/4" Drive Set contains all the most popular tools needed to address the most common installation and repair projects for European cars.

Features of convenience and ease of use define this latest Schwaben Specialty Tools release. The Schwaben Telescoping Round/Rectangular Mirror offers an 9-1/2" to 29" extendable handle with a stainless steel shaft, plus a 2-1/4" mirror head mounted on a dual swivel for a full 360 degree rotation. The Schwaben Telescoping Magnet is rated to pick up 3.5 lbs. Its stainless steel shaft is 7" collapsed and 26" extended, while its powerful magnet is encased in a aluminum sleeve to help prevent side of magnet from sticking.

The BMW E46 3 Series has proven itself to be a true-blooded BMW, with handling dynamics that are close to perfect. One area of this particular model's suspension that can use bolstering is at the sway bar. ECS tested 27mm front and 21mm rear sway bars for this precise reason. Reduce body roll in turns, stiffen suspension, and add a much needed dimension of handling predictability with the ECS units - designed to fit and function in perfect harmony with your BMW.

Megan Racing Coilovers are the ideal upgrade for BMW E46 3 Series owners looking for a fully-featured, highly adjustable coilover setup that will take them from aggressive street driving to the track. Offering 32 levels of damper force adjustment, Megan Racing’s coilovers have separate adjustments for both spring perch height and shock length, allowing you to fine tune your suspension according to differing driving conditions. The included camber plates give you much-needed control over camber angle in order to dial in the perfect stance and ideal handling dynamics.

Ideal for the Euro enthusiast enjoying an aggressive lowered ride height, the all-new Schwaben Low Profile 2 Ton Aluminum Floor Jack allows you to sneak under the ground-hugging rockers on your car. Constructed from lightweight aluminum, this exceptionally durable floor jack features a long and low profile curve for extended reach under the car. The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have designed this jack with a max lift height of 20" and a low height of just 3.25". Dual pump pistons raise the saddle to its maximum height in only 5 pump strokes with minimum effort.

Looking to improve your vehicle's handling characteristics without spending massive amounts of money? If so, this new ECS Carbon Fiber Strut Bar is perfect for you. A strut bar is designed to reduce strut tower flex by tying two parallel strut towers together. This transmits the load of each strut tower during cornering, resulting in reduced chassis flex. The show-quality autoclave process carbon center bar is actual carbon fiber and mounts to your BMW with lightweight CNC machined aluminum tower plates. Once in place, it will seem like you have a whole new race BMW.

Hawk high-performance braking solutions have served European car owners diligently with their exceptionally effective and economical brake pad kits. The latest addition to their growing catalog of superior braking setups, Sector 27 Drilled and Slotted Brake Rotors and Performance Ceramic Brake Pads bring are ideal for daily-driven vehicles that are in need of a high level of performance that stock pads and rotors cannot provide. Slotting and drilling significantly lowers brake rotor temperatures, while the proven Hawk Performance Ceramic Pads exhibit low noise and dust.

Avoid finding yourself without a key trim fastener - stock up for good with the Vaico BMW/MINI Fastener Assortment Kit. Designed with the DIY enthusiast or body shop in mind, this assortment comes stocked with clips for fender liners, interior trim, and body moldings, all in a convenient storage case. An extremely convenient kit for the discriminating MINI owner, you can now achieve a factory-perfect look instead of leaving crucial interior elements out of sorts.

ECS engineers have created a performance clutch kit designed with the enthusiast in mind, meaning you get all the benefits of a single mass flywheel without the drawbacks. The stock dual mass flywheel is designed using the weight to smooth out the clutch engagement which means in most cases going to a single mass they develop a chatter and hard shifting. ECS has found a way to keep that smooth feeling and gain the enhancements in response, the quality any daily driver would want. Kits have been designed with Hardened 4140 chromoly steel for an excellent feel and wear resistance.