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

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

Discovered I ordered the incorrect part to fix the fan speed issue on the e34. Should really have just pulled the carpet back and checked prior to ordering, but I decided to trust ETK+VIN like an idiot once again. Turns out it is the sword variety.

Anyone with a late model e34 that needs a fan speed resistor?

[Karl Grau]

Ouch.... Zinger.

Mike I had a biotch of a time getting my pa soft working and recognizing the cable. But it was so worth it to turn off the damn DRL's and reprogram the cooling temperature gauge.

Me too. In fact it was so bad, I had to not only break the 'Guy Code' and read the instructions, I had to Google EXTRA instructions.

[davintosh]

While driving the 735i to lunch today, the ABS and a couple of other dash lights came on; my first thought was the alternator I put in a short time ago had taken a dump and was no longer charging. When I started turning off electrical stuff in the car to save battery power, I noticed the temp gauge had crept a bit past the 12 o'clock mark too. Crap; no charging and no cooling could mean only one thing. I'm on a four-lane divided throughway with limited access & egress, so I started looking for an exit point. Shortly after I look in my rear view mirror and see a cloud of steam trailing behind me -- uh-oh -- and the temp gauge has reached the Red Zone. I was about a block from an exit with plenty of momentum, so I switched off the engine and rolled into a parking lot. Popped the hood and sure enough, the alternator/water pump belt was hanging loosely from the fan blades, with a nasty looking break in it.

Again my first thought was the alternator, thinking that it had maybe stopped dead and the belt burned through, but both the alternator and the water pump & fan spun freely. Called my son, and he came to pick me up. I thought about just going to get the new belt then going back to swap it out right away, but then remembered it's the innermost of the three belts, and on that car it's easiest to get at the PS pump and A/C compressor from the bottom, and I didn't much feel like doing that right then on a wet parking lot (did I mention it was raining?) So I went & picked up a new belt then went back to work.

After dinner I loaded up the floor jack and some tools, and my son & I headed over to get it sorted out. But when I went to fit the new belt to the pulleys I discovered that the bozo at the parts store had sold me the wrong belt. Grrrr. So we drove back across town, got the correct belt, then back across town & got it buttoned up in about 10 minutes.

That alternator is still suspect though; I heard a funny engine-speed whine coming from under the hood on the way back home, so I gots a funny feeling I may have another under-the-hood excursion in my future. I sure love redoing the same job I already did a matter of weeks ago.

[MicahO]

Ouch.... Zinger.

Mike I had a biotch of a time getting my pa soft working and recognizing the cable. But it was so worth it to turn off the damn DRL's and reprogram the cooling temperature gauge.

Me too. In fact it was so bad, I had to not only break the 'Guy Code' and read the instructions, I had to Google EXTRA instructions.

Hmmm - with all of this recent experience, maybe it's time to finally do this and access the systems on the e46.....

[unt0uchable]

These came in the mail last Saturday....



Though, after reading this thread here, I'm afraid to admit that they are going on a Saab 9-7x Aero (Essentially a Chevy Trailblazer SS). Hopefully they will help make that thing feel less like a 5000# pig around corners and over our god awful roads in Michigan. These combined with a new intermediate steering shaft and I just may have solved the infamous steering knock that's going on. If not, I don't know where to go with it next, to the bar maybe?

[T_C_D]

My son and I worked on the S6 today. Funny how it hasn't been driven in 6 weeks. Work on the winter beater during the summer and the e28 during the winter. I bought a same color A6 parts car for rust free parts. We swapped three doors, trunk lid, front bumper cover (temp while I repair the original), fixed a loose starter wire, adjusted the hood locking mechanism. It still needs work but it's a nicer winter beater now.

[wkohler]

I drove my '75 E12 today.

[cddallara]

Put some taillights in it...


And threw a cover on (e39 touring) that a friend gave me.

[Jon in Richmond]

Did the CCV system on my e46. Damn near killed me. I think I just realized that I need to make more money so I can pay someone to do this stuff now. Had enough spare money though to have someone rebuild the front end components on my 99 Suburban though, Ball joints and all steering components.

I just really have a problem paying for someone to do a job I know I can do myself. The biggest problem I have is paying someone for six hours when it only takes four to complete. Oh well, such is life.

[w0014170]

Got around to installing the euro headlights in the 400e. Better light pattern now

[slammin_e28]

Put a clutch master in dad's e30.

E30s suck.

SRS light keeps popping in to say "Hi!!" on the Disco. Yay me.

[Stevo12]

Installed an R-package lip on the Miata. Also re-installed the belly pan for the first time in 2 years - it will make the car run cooler, they said. It also makes oil changes a bitch, I say. E28 gets some new tie rods and an alignment this week

[davintosh]

Did the CCV system on my e46. Damn near killed me.

Oh but that hurts to hear; I have parts for that job waiting for me at home... What kind of trouble did it give you?

I did that same job on the e53 last fall/winter and didn't think it was too bad (but had help from my son with the magic fingers to get the bits lined up under the intake manifold.) The only problem getting started on it is finding a free weekend.

I think I just realized that I need to make more money so I can pay someone to do this stuff now. Had enough spare money though to have someone rebuild the front end components on my 99 Suburban though, Ball joints and all steering components.

I just really have a problem paying for someone to do a job I know I can do myself. The biggest problem I have is paying someone for six hours when it only takes four to complete. Oh well, such is life.

I hear you there.

[Mike W.]

Funny, I've had the CCV out a couple of times on the E39 and I didn't think it was too bad to get to. But I hear lots of stories about how bad it is. On the other hand, I hate taking the E39 fan shroud off and putting it back on. And most don't seem to have a problem with it. I bring this all up since it's all M5X related and they're all pretty close.

[Chimi-Changa]

Tundra front Brakes this weekend... Wow what a difference. Nice four piston calipers are now actually stopping the truck, and no more caliper drag. Went with Centric stuff and seems ok so far....350$ in parts for the whole shebang.

[slammin_e28]

Funny, I've had the CCV out a couple of times on the E39 and I didn't think it was too bad to get to. But I hear lots of stories about how bad it is. On the other hand, I hate taking the E39 fan shroud off and putting it back on. And most don't seem to have a problem with it. I bring this all up since it's all M5X related and they're all pretty close.

E46 it SUCKS.

Helps to get OE pipes and not the shit URO stuff. Bends weren't correct on the URO stuff....I should have know better but figured a pipe was a pipe.

[davintosh]

Funny, I've had the CCV out a couple of times on the E39 and I didn't think it was too bad to get to. But I hear lots of stories about how bad it is. On the other hand, I hate taking the E39 fan shroud off and putting it back on. And most don't seem to have a problem with it. I bring this all up since it's all M5X related and they're all pretty close.

E46 it SUCKS.

Helps to get OE pipes and not the shit URO stuff. Bends weren't correct on the URO stuff....I should have know better but figured a pipe was a pipe.

Ruh-roh; I made the same assumption.

[Jon in Richmond]

Funny, I've had the CCV out a couple of times on the E39 and I didn't think it was too bad to get to. But I hear lots of stories about how bad it is. On the other hand, I hate taking the E39 fan shroud off and putting it back on. And most don't seem to have a problem with it. I bring this all up since it's all M5X related and they're all pretty close.

E46 it SUCKS.

Helps to get OE pipes and not the shit URO stuff. Bends weren't correct on the URO stuff....I should have know better but figured a pipe was a pipe.

Ruh-roh; I made the same assumption.

I got the BMW stuff. If the URO is worse, I'd still be cursing that biatch right now. There's a few good write ups with pics on the net. It's doable, Lol, I got'r done.

[slammin_e28]

I didn't know about removing that firewall bit between the brake booster and intake mani.

Pls do. It makes it so much easier. I rear about it AFTER I was done.....

[davintosh]

I kinda went by the Bavauto videos when doing the X5; definitely need to review before diving into that beast; Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

[ldsbeaker]

Went to La Jolla Independent for the early e28 body differential mount strengthening kit and some key blanks for the 1600. I haven't had a trunk key since I've owned the car, nor a second set of keys.
( I brought the car over the mountain for DD while I'm attending a school here in SoCal. )
Asked Carl for a place that might cut the keys.. Dup A Key 3 miles away, and they are open for another 45 minutes. (Close at 6) Go there, explain situation and they make short work of it. They had a trunk blank in stock but it doesn't have a roundel on it... Got the code off the tail/lock panel. Duplicated door/ignition key. Duplicated gas cap key from a random blank in stock (never a BMW key). $64 and an hour of my time, TWO complete sets of keys! Woot!

Also replaced my bodged together driver's side regulator that FINALLY gave up for good. Okay, i screwed up the assembly of the regulator after "fixing" the pot metal bolt/pin. It's an '02 thing.

[Jon in Richmond]

I kinda went by the Bavauto videos when doing the X5; definitely need to review before diving into that beast; Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

That's a good video that I had not seen and would have helped me with the MF top hose to the OS that you are supposed to rotate into position. I couldn't find a way to rotate it and practiced out of the car and found that if your just pushed hard, it would snap into place just like the rest of them. A couple of observations: 1) Why didn't the guy just take the DISA valve out of the way, 2 bolts. You should take it out to check it and clean it. 2) Take the ICV out and clean it up real good. Mine was very dirty and sticking and after cleaning made a huge difference when I started the car back up. 3) Get the O ring for the dipstick tube and pull the tube out of the car to clean it out really good. Why blow all that gunk down into the pan?

[slammin_e28]

I washed the trail off the Discovery.

Going to go off roading this weekend, so had to make room for more dirt.

[oldskool]

OK, . . . so the LandBruiser exhibited classic battery failure syptoms and I ran all the numbers. Yep, she's dying a slow death. Not bad for a 10 year old AutoZone reject. My question, er, statement is this . . . will MikeW acknowledge this as successful wrench turn, or do I have to actually put in the new battery with full video display while wearing a thong? I'm open to either.

[Mike W.]

OK, . . . so the LandBruiser exhibited classic battery failure syptoms and I ran all the numbers. Yep, she's dying a slow death. Not bad for a 10 year old AutoZone reject. My question, er, statement is this . . . will MikeW acknowledge this as successful wrench turn, or do I have to actually put in the new battery with full video display while wearing a thong? I'm open to either.

No video required and please no thong, but did you actually R and R the battery yourself? My wife can tell if the car is cranking slowly...