Well every time I make this trip the M535 comes back a little more battered each time. Some it if minor, but this year she was more the bug than the windshield.
Pardon the last pun, but it was apropos considering this happened right after I rolled the Big 200:
Despite my best efforts with Phyver Blue Tape Bra and Optional Window Trim Kit, it didn’t stop the rock (or ICBM) that hit the upper windshield. I wasn’t totally beside myself since I had already took a beer can to the window years back (right after the new window was installed, of course) which left a bit of a mark. Also, I am planning on an interior restoration which involves a new Headliner, so the glass needed to come out anyway and I have a replacement in storage. Still a bummer.
Second and larger issue is continued loss of coolant under pressure. This started happening back when I left Bishop, CA on Thursday; that long initial steep grade climb in the oppressive heat proved to be challenging. I constantly had to keep adding coolant to whole 2,100 miles; not a lot, only 4-8 oz. each time, but it added up. The journey over the Grapevine proved to almost too much and the temps climbed over half.
For the record, this problem popped up after I lost the lower water pump hose back in 2017 on this same trip wherein the engine temps spiked as I lost the entire contents of the cooling system (you can read about in my 2017 thread). The low coolant sensor light kept coming on all the way back from Portland wherein I kept having to top it off. It wasn’t until I got home and did a full engine block drain, flush, fill and full bleed did the system return to normal. It has been operating in normal parameters since then up until last Thursday (which has been about 1,500 miles and numerous trips between LA and San Diego).
We are running a full battery of tests (Pressure test, Compression test, Leak-down, Exhaust Gas, etc.) this weekend. I already pulled the plugs and nothing was found out of the ordinary there. This is an on-going investigation.
Third issue/s are the newly installed transmission and something in the driveshaft. The newly transplanted G265/6 that is incredibly smooth may be experiencing the onset of a failing Input Shaft Bearing (you know the NLA one). Also there is a low speed/rpm vibration rattle coming from the Guibo, so it may be going also. Getting it up in the air Sunday to look at everything.
Anyway, other than the above three issues, the car ran like a champ for the whole 2,100 miles up and back. It was fantastic in the twisties thanks to the suspension setup. As mentioned the new transmission is smooth and tight and hooked up the Z3 2.3 shifter was a dream to drive (much better than the old AutoSolutions and Blanton G265/6). Even the AC with its’ leaking condenser worked excellent in the heat; I re-charged and thermally wrapped all my lines before I left which made a huge difference.
Now I just have to get all the bugs out of the radiators…
And hope to be 20 lbs lighter...yeeeeccch... 
