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Finally decided to tackle this repair. Saw it back in 2019, but at the time I decided not to touch it and recharge. Now the txv needs replacing, plus the filter mesh is packed with the wingcell compressor foam.
 


 


 

 

It wasn't that bad with some borrowed tools. The txv was offset by the new coupling, and reshaping the intake side loop was a bit of a hassle without a proper bender.
 


 


 

 

It was probably the last nice day of the year today, so I took my car for one last drive and  then parked it for the winter.

Changed my alternator (for the fifth time since 2007…car hates alternators), lost a belt in traffic with nowhere to pull off, and boiled all of my coolant.

Steamed into a gas station, bought some fluid, husband showed up with a few wrenches (which I should have had with me on the post-install test drive) and I was off and running again.

 

Let the sun shine in☀
 

Been salvaging my old alpina spoiler. Was originally damaged in 2017 on the way to the vintage - god rest the souls of the two groundhogs i murdered. It ended up cracking slightly at the 1/4 bend to the front but it wasn't too unsightly. Over the subsequent years, driveways, road debris, parking wheel stops had all taken their toll to the point that i considered either tossing it and bolting up an m5 spoiler or getting a new one. But... I was motivated just enough late last week to break out the resin, reinforcing screen and bondo to give it a go. Glad I did. Looking forward to seeing the refreshed front end and how the 2k rattle can paint does. 

If the paint is as good a factory match as reviews say it is, I will also repair the alpina spoiler on the 3.0cs - also cracked on the way to that same vintage 9 years ago.
 


 

Second round of bondo before re-prime and paint.

 


 


 

Pretty good paint match 

Just bought a 1985 535i a week or so ago. I'm trying to keep it looking original but add some modern amenities, namely Bluetooth music streaming.

I bought an "FM modulator" - had no idea these existed before. It sits between the antenna and the radio, and when powered takes RCA audio input and outputs it on an FM frequency to the radio. There's lots of generic ones available for cheap, like this one: https://ebay.io/m/fH8nEG

Then I got a 12V powered hardwired bluetooth receiver. Also cheap and generic, like this one: https://a.co/d/09THroRa

I wired the red wires from the FM modulator and the Bluetooth receiver together and then spliced the white/violet 12V accessory power wire running to the radio. Did the same with black but spliced the brown wire for a ground.

It works decent for ~$30. The volume output of the bluetooth receiver is horrible so I'm gonna install a line driver between it and the FM modulator.

Lastly, grabbed a fog light switch (part 61311368893) since it fits perfectly in the blank switch spot next to the right of the radio. Pretty common choice I think when people add a switch to control the power antenna. The FM modulator only passes through antenna signal when off, so a convenient way to turn it on and off is necessary.