The M10 sensation: Euro 518i

[Crazy_Canuck]

The fan/alternator belt that was on the car I assumed was too long because the adjuster was all the way out. Turns out the belt was just worn a shit ton and seemed significantly too long so I'll buy a 10x888 belt as that was on the car. An 875 and 880 are impossible to fit.

Yup, I've had that fight with the belt being too short.

[tig]

The fan/alternator belt that was on the car I assumed was too long because the adjuster was all the way out. Turns out the belt was just worn a shit ton and seemed significantly too long so I'll buy a 10x888 belt as that was on the car. An 875 and 880 are impossible to fit.

Yup, I've had that fight with the belt being too short.

I now have a very nice collection of brand new, odd sized belts that will never fit any car because I feel bad returning things to Blunt because he's awesome and I'm an idiot.

[Collin380]

Justin, nice to see you making progress!

[Burnze]

Great progress! Subscribed!

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

This thing is so great.

[Justin_FL]

Haha, thanks for the nice words guys. Disappointed about not making progress the past two weeks-- the fan belt and adjuster situation is not resolved, plus the weather has been utter crap lately. Since my garage does not have A/C and the lighting isn't the best, I sort of need to have the doors open to see and to get airflow. It has been like non-stop rain the past week and probably again this coming week, so the sideways rain precludes me from opening up the doors. Always seems like the weather is worse on the weekends but fine during the work week

[kzolee]

And I discovered the alternator adjuster bar and nut teeth are chewed the fuck up. Lovely:

Tooth Fairy was here.

[Justin_FL]

Something happened. A cool front decided to swing on down to Florida. It was in the 60s this morning so I decided to take advantage of the less than 85-90°F temps and work in the garage. The car was just parked in the garage while I've been focusing on exercise and other things around the house this summer. Also bought two new, full carbon fiber bicycles and have been riding the wheels off those. I'm surrounded by protected lands so plenty of nice stuff to see within a few minutes ride from the house



Anyway, it's finally time to replace the rear shocks this morning. Removal was a piece of cake, all nuts broke loose easily and the struts popped right out of the trailing arm with a tap of my hand. Much easier to roll around in the trunk when I weigh 70lbs less. Advantage goes to US-spec bumper cars as those provide a nice step to climb into the trunk. I spent more time sweeping out the garage, organizing tools, setting up the jack and jack stands, etc. Now I'll change into my short sleeve shirt and go back to work after posting this update



Time to climb in!

13mm gear wrench in action:


A tap of the hand and free at last:


Nice and clean:


Missed a spot:


No rust here:


Time to break these down, clean the springs and reinstall with new mounts and shocks!


Someone didn't like the game of hide and seek when I was in the trunk:

[Kyle in NO]

Nice progress on both the auto and health fronts!

[tig]

Nice work.

I think this car is neat.

[Justin_FL]

Put everything back together before closing up the garage and going for a bike ride.

The spread (couldn't proceed with ugly springs):


Assembled with repainted springs:


Back home:

[Justin_FL]

Nice progress on both the auto and health fronts!

Thanks! Good thing I was thinking ahead and never torqued down the front control arms. The ride height might be slightly different now.

Nice work.

I think this car is neat.

It's so ugly it's cool! Eventually it will be on the road! I'm actually thinking this car will be ready for The Vintage 2019. Next major project is replacing the slipping clutch. Still have yet to replace the alternator adjuster mechanism. Then figuring out the damn fan belt situation. Those are the two hold ups. And most certainly other things are needed but I can't generate a priority list until putting a few miles on it.

[SeattleGuy]

So weird, but I think that thing is just sexy.

'Cos it is. And it is in a way that a 4dr E30 could only dream about.

[Justin_FL]

Ordered some other belts and the alternator adjustment bar and toothed nut. Maybe this week I'll get around to making the car usable if the belts fit!

[T_C_D]

6+ years and counting.

[Justin_FL]

6+ years and counting.

Yay, got a cool front so I fitted the alternator bracket/adjuster and fan+power steering belts. Didn't mess with the new 13x825 A/C one yet. Popped in a battery, she fired right up and went for a couple spins around the block. Maybe I'll get to the clutch job next.

[Nebraska_e28]

What does it feel like driving an m10 e28 vs a m20?

[Mike W.]

I did see this some time ago, but a delayed comment.

2560lbs!!! That's lighter than US spec E21. So a 5 series, with an M10, with a better power to weight ratio than an E21. That's just not fair.