What did you do to your other car(s) today?

[1st 5er]

Pulled 1ST 5ER's fuel pump and loaned it to the neighbor.

[a]

Tightened up the Rat's rear shoes so the E brake will pass inspection. Next is dropping the wye pipe and filling in a few holes. I have the process streamlined. It came with bolts, nice grade 8 ,3/8 bolts I bought a set of old school SBC long brass nuts. I also opend up the holes to 1/2 " . Even so, the last time I dropped it, I trapped a 9/16 box end on the bolt head putting it back in . When the transmission was replaced out on the Berkshire, I asked Aaron to tell John the mechanic to retrieve it for me.

[slammin_e28]

So, I got the 4.6 torn down. Verdict later....

First, my adjustable engine stand:







....and the verdict:



#6 rod bearing, spun. Crank looks great though, no scoring on #6. There is some on #3, so I'll see about having it polished or ground. It's not bad at all. Bearing were all pretty terrible. Bores all look great, can still see cross hatching. I'll prob get the machine shop to pressure test the block if they can....but I've got two blocks....since the 4.6 and 4.0 blocks are the same.

[SPF2006]

Bad misfire condition cropped up on the 318ti, no CEL (yet) but OBD1 stomp test renders code for bad knock sensor. So, predictably, the manifold has to come off to get to it. I was hoping to put off tearing into the car until the full cooling system rebuild job (main components good for now) later on when the weather cools off a bit. Looks like I'll have to do it now though.

[Mike W.]

It was hot yesterday, 108 on my weather station, which is smokin' hot for here or chilly for Chris' town. Anyway, the A/C on the E36 wasn't doing what it usually does, which is anything from cold to run you out of there cold. When I did the disposable radiator a couple of weeks ago I noticed the fan clutch was all oily. Which means it was dead and when I looked yesterday it was barely turning at idle. Soooooo... new fan clutch today and it's cold again!

Then the E39 which has been a problem child with (apparently) the radio sometimes not working and causing on rare occasion a dead battery overnight. Yeah weird, but they can be. So today my new used ebay radio arrives. In a BMW box, with a BMW part number on said box, in a static safe bag. Looks like it came from BMW to me but what do I know. I plug it in, CD starts up in a few seconds, plays fine. I go to do some presets and AM is tuning in 9's, not 10s. I couldn't tune 740, it was something like 743. Next was 752. A quick search and reprogramming and all was fine, but where is someone getting euro radios in BMW packaging? Oh well, as long as it works. OK, still a little curious, but as long as it works.

[Mike W.]

Boy, I didn't do crap for the longest time and now I'm making up for it. Vanos rebuild on the E39, MPG has been off a bit and it's right about when the last one needed it. Hardest part on a double vanos M5x is getting the damn fan shroud on and off. Sanded/clearcoated one of the headlights, pics when I have them both done.

[Adam W in MN]

Finally swapped out the cracked wood trim from my E46 325xiT. Should have done it the first month I had it, talk about an easy project. I didn't remember to take the before picture until I'd pulled off the shift knob.





The E46 usually sits outside so I couldn't resist a picture of an all BMW garage without my wife's Sequoia in there.

[e28Sean]

Finally swapped out the cracked wood trim from my E46 325xiT. ...

I normally like wood trim, but, that takes ten years off the look of the interior.

[Karl Grau]

I normally like wood trim, but, that takes ten years off the look of the interior.

I agree. I don't think it would look as good in a non black interior though.

[djazz]

Bikini top arrived tonight. (for the Tracker) Will post pics if weather cooperates tomorrow. Also, I think I finally got the timing right . 34 mpg on the last tank.

[dhdrums]

Put a blower motor and regulator in the w210 e320 wagon. I was amazed that there was an access panel to get to it and that you didn't have to tear apart the dash. I'm pretty sure it took me less time to do that blower motor than it took to do the e28's.

Topped the coolant off in the e12, used it to move into my dorm, and made it the daily while the 535is is sitting NLA puking fuel from the CSV o-ring. It also needs a valve adjustment (which seems daunting to me) and to figure out what is causing the funky idle (random idle changes between 500-800-1200 rpm) and random deceleration backfire.

[SPF2006]

850 wagon developed a fuel leak, failing vent hose appears to be the culprit. Will drop the tank this weekend and replace the soft fuel lines back there, and time permitting maybe also finally get around to replacing a bunch of cooling system parts that desperately need attention. I continue to be amazed at how bulletproof that Volvo is, at >200K.

[davintosh]

Bad misfire condition cropped up on the 318ti, no CEL (yet) but OBD1 stomp test renders code for bad knock sensor. So, predictably, the manifold has to come off to get to it. I was hoping to put off tearing into the car until the full cooling system rebuild job (main components good for now) later on when the weather cools off a bit. Looks like I'll have to do it now though.

Just replace the cooling system parts that go under the manifold, then do the rest when it's time. You don't want to have to pull that manifold twice.

And while you're in there, replace the oil filter housing gasket too (if it hasn't been done recently.) You'll thank me later.

[1st 5er]

Adjusted the valves.

https://youtu.be/TAYAbRm1GMI

Cranks like a champ now.

[SPF2006]

Bad misfire condition cropped up on the 318ti, no CEL (yet) but OBD1 stomp test renders code for bad knock sensor. So, predictably, the manifold has to come off to get to it. I was hoping to put off tearing into the car until the full cooling system rebuild job (main components good for now) later on when the weather cools off a bit. Looks like I'll have to do it now though.

Just replace the cooling system parts that go under the manifold, then do the rest when it's time. You don't want to have to pull that manifold twice.

And while you're in there, replace the oil filter housing gasket too (if it hasn't been done recently.) You'll thank me later.

100%. Luckily it turned out to be very badly clogged injectors, car was running atrociously. Got those cleared out with the shop's help and problem solved. I will still plan to do the cooling system (PO did the OFHG just prior to sale), this car likely will go to the teenager so new tires and brake lines up front are in the offing.

[geordi]

Finally installed the new Kingborne plug wire set in the 745i. It took 2 months for the pulse generator to arrive from Germany even with a Euro title . Sent it to Kingsborne who finished the wire set. Took care of the misfiring that started after Vintage.

In the second pic, you can see the break in the insulation on the pulse gen (copper it exposed) and the corrosion on the coil end.

Thanks Vance for the assist and lead to Kingsborne.

[a]

I have the hard part done. I oval-ed a 3"" ID-2 1/2' OD adapter to fit the Y pipes collector. Lots of low impact tapping with a light long nosed peening hammer.Lots of fitting and trying. For a round anvil I used a 8 hp small engine muffler on black iron elbow clamped in a vise. It worked pissah. I like the little tappity hammer. I think it maybe is a coppersmiths's tool. German, Swiss or Austrian is my guess. By avocation, I'm a tinker. I have cold worked metal with varying degrees of success my entire life. This is prolly the 4th time I have tinkered with this connection. Previous attempts involved in situ grafting onto the Unkown PO's bodged track pipe. I replaced that with the last Grand Wag's cat . Somewhere along the line, the core shook loose,and I poured it out. But having the remains of a cat on a vehicle that had one is good enough to pass the inspection. It even has brand new O2 sensors courtesy of John, Aaron's great find of a mechanic. The exhaust is my series of sleeve and clamps hung on baling wire. 13 different pieces. this time, I took the Y pipe out and realized that the crumbling POS bodge was welded to a perfect collector of siamesed 1 1/2" down tubes. I practiced with the original 3 x 2/12 from the previous attempt. Still, I wasn't 100% happy with the job. I had spent hours developing the technique. I was afraid that I had made it brittle with all my tapping. And I could could damage the Y pipe with the force of pounding the piece that had a stop in it created by a clamp. A new adapter $6.36 out the door. I knocked out a new piece in a half hour that was a much better fit. I used muffler mud as a joint sealer. I put in a rivet, then I tapped the edge until the next rivet 90' away. Just 4 rivets this time due to the precise fit.
Yesterday, I put the Rat's re-furbished Y pipe back in and the 4 bolts that replace the studs back in. Today, I will continue the job. Replacing the exhaust should be fairly easy..

[Karl Grau]

Programmed the computer so the key fob has the one touch feature that rolls up all the windows, closes the sunroof and locks the car with one press of the button. For some reason it was disabled on U.S. market cars.

[yodman]

My E30 went to a show in Frankenmuth this weekend. It rained. A lot. So much for the cleaning I had done an hour before the show.

Oh well.

The night before, I installed a new TMS chip for my S50 cams, as well as a new coolant sender for the E30 dash gauge.

Turns out its a pain in the balls to do that sender gauge. Never had an M50 apart before, but I can safely say I have now. Makes me more confident when I have to work on the M54 in my X5.




Speaking of my X5, I got it in trade for my 1982 Rabbit Pickup. Needed a winter vehicle. Needs plenty of love, but it's rust free, the heat and AC work, the heated seats work, and the engine and transmission are nearly flawless in operation. It's a 2001 with a ZF auto and an M54. There's a dent in the rear right QP and it was hit in the front and mildly well repaired.

I attempted polishing the headlights, which didn't really work for crap on the one, while the other cleaned up fine. I also changed the massively leaky original VC gasket. It was dripping all over the exhaust manifolds at all times when running. Large crack wider than 2mm. Can't believe it wasn't gushing out. Now it's sealed up, and I hope it just burns off the residual and doesn't leak anymore.

Oh, and I changed the busted up and missing kidneys out for brand new chinese units at $9 a piece. They fit fine for the purposes of this car.

Needs window regulators, and I am in the middle of changing the driver's one now. It's a royal PITA considering the motor I got only seems to spin in one direction. Unless my switch has gone dead, which is possible too.

[slammin_e28]

I bought a 1995 318ti Clubsport.

[SPF2006]

I bought a 1995 318ti Clubsport.

Fun car to throw around, I'm enjoying daily driving ours.

[Mike W.]

I bought a 1995 318ti Clubsport.

Why do I see a M5X engine swap in it's future?

[oldskool]

Threw the water pump belt with the e30 Friday night in heavy rain. I think it was at least 12 years old.
Battery held well and temps didn't climb too uncomfortable levels the rest of the trip home. Score. Installed new belt Monday night, stripped out the adjuster nut and she squeals louder than my first prom date. MikeW was right, I'm a looser.

[slammin_e28]

I bought a 1995 318ti Clubsport.

Why do I see a M5X engine swap in it's future?

Mebbe....I'm going to focus on aesthetics for now since it's running and driving.

Excuse the mess....I'm building a badass deck.








I paid $800.

Runs a drives. Everything works. It just looks like poop.

[davintosh]

Speaking of my X5, I got it in trade for my 1982 Rabbit Pickup. Needed a winter vehicle. Needs plenty of love, but it's rust free, the heat and AC work, the heated seats work, and the engine and transmission are nearly flawless in operation. It's a 2001 with a ZF auto and an M54. There's a dent in the rear right QP and it was hit in the front and mildly well repaired.

In trade for a Rabbit pickup?

Living in MI, you'll want to read up on how the oil separator valve likes to freeze up on the 3.0 M54's. That likely had something to do with your leaking VC gasket.

[a]

Davintosh beat me to it " Speaking of my X5," I got it in trade for my 1982 Rabbit Pickup. An '82 bunny Pickup is appreciating and a pretty neat car. X5 beater, not so much. I very much agree with my big brother's observation. Was ,as he commuted to work in a RWD only pickup, the conditions on I-89 were indicated by the amount of wheels up AWDs in the median .
A posi diff and decent tires. 4 cement blocks fit perfectly between the wheel of the E.28. Plenty of room left for a good shovel . Bring on the snow.

[slammin_e28]

Cleaned it up a bit and took it to C&C on Sat.



Installing new brakes all around and a sway bar mount bracket, as the left front one is torn, tonight.

Got the interior all nice and cleaned up. Seats are now red instead of a faded, grey-ish gross over grime.

Dumb little car is actually pretty fun.

[SPF2006]

Dumb little car is actually pretty fun.

Yes.

Redid the cooling hoses on the 850 work truck, leaky vent and evap hoses on the fuel tank up next.

[slammin_e28]

Blurry pic.....but I fixed the sway bar mount bracket:

Came out piece by piece.



....and done.



Little thing handles awesome now.

Also did pads and rotors, front and rear. Was a nice little 2.5 hours worth of work last night.

Picked up some coilovers for it...figured stiffer suspension would take some stress off the bar....and the shocks are pretty worn, lol.

[davintosh]

Blurry pic.....but I fixed the sway bar mount bracket:

Came out piece by piece.

Little thing handles awesome now.

Also did pads and rotors, front and rear. Was a nice little 2.5 hours worth of work last night.

Picked up some coilovers for it...figured stiffer suspension would take some stress off the bar....and the shocks are pretty worn, lol.

Hey; I did that on my daughter's 318ti a couple years back (probably mentioned it a few pages back in this thread.) They put up a pretty good fight and came out in tiny pieces. I did the removal and had someone who know what he was doing do the welding, so it took a bit longer than yours.

And yeah, those compacts are fun to toss around!