Rob_K wrote:[about the 6-speed transmission for the M70]They simply don't exist unless you're willing to pay brand new dealer prices.
I didn't even know that was an option. Truth be told my E32, although condition worthy of collecting, is actually a work truck and probably will need to stay an auto. Nothing can replace my M5 in the hobby car slot so unless I win the lotto an MT in the E32 is a pipe dream for me.
I work in a very similar manner- alone- and I like your approach. And despite the fact that people pay me a whole lot of money to tell visual stories- film, video, photo, etc. I never document my work either unless its a factual shot needed for re=assembly.
Have you considered lightening the car? If I were going to go this route I'd get rid of the power seats for one and I'd consider dumping the SLS due to complexity and weight but I never discovered a suitable solution as a replacement at the time.
My E32 is the best DD car I've ever owned. These things are amazing.
My goal with every project like this is to make it seem as if it was built at the factory. I go to great pains to modify existing wire harnesses, bracketry, etc. in such a way that it's not immediately obvious that it's even been modified. I like to keep everything functional. I generally end up restoring the cars as I modify them. I don't have particularly high expectations that the car is suddenly going to be a rocket, but I expect it will be more engaging. I know I'll be better able to keep the revs where I want them and use more of the motor's range. Of course, going against everything I've noted above, I've also contemplated how cool a twin or quad turbo M70 would be. The reality, however, is that it's not the best motor for radical modifications. Once you touch the block you're going to be into really big bucks for sleaving, etc. I'm blessed to have lots of cars at my disposal. Some would argue that I more or less have a car for every purpose. When I want to go tearing up the roads, I hop into my blown Mustang. The 750 has always been my "spirited cruiser". :-)
Rob_K wrote:I more or less have a car for every purpose.
You and I seem to be cut from the same cloth but my anti-hoarding minimalist attitude prevents me from having more than four cars for the family. My all around dream car is the '88 ///M5, the E32 is my favorite cruiser/DD/work truck and my E90 is my DD/beater when I don't want to get 13 mpg and need to haul the kid. I'm lucky enough to own what I feel is the highest and best in the two key categories- sporty and cruiser.
Rob_K wrote:My goal with every project like this is to make it seem as if it was built at the factory.
Rob_K wrote:[about the 6-speed transmission for the M70]They simply don't exist unless you're willing to pay brand new dealer prices.
I didn't even know that was an option. Truth be told my E32, although condition worthy of collecting, is actually a work truck and probably will need to stay an auto. Nothing can replace my M5 in the hobby car slot so unless I win the lotto an MT in the E32 is a pipe dream for me.
I work in a very similar manner- alone- and I like your approach. And despite the fact that people pay me a whole lot of money to tell visual stories- film, video, photo, etc. I never document my work either unless its a factual shot needed for re=assembly.
Have you considered lightening the car? If I were going to go this route I'd get rid of the power seats for one and I'd consider dumping the SLS due to complexity and weight but I never discovered a suitable solution as a replacement at the time.
My E32 is the best DD car I've ever owned. These things are amazing.
My goal with every project like this is to make it seem as if it was built at the factory. I go to great pains to modify existing wire harnesses, bracketry, etc. in such a way that it's not immediately obvious that it's even been modified. I like to keep everything functional. I generally end up restoring the cars as I modify them. I don't have particularly high expectations that the car is suddenly going to be a rocket, but I expect it will be more engaging. I know I'll be better able to keep the revs where I want them and use more of the motor's range. Of course, going against everything I've noted above, I've also contemplated how cool a twin or quad turbo M70 would be. The reality, however, is that it's not the best motor for radical modifications. Once you touch the block you're going to be into really big bucks for sleaving, etc. I'm blessed to have lots of cars at my disposal. Some would argue that I more or less have a car for every purpose. When I want to go tearing up the roads, I hop into my blown Mustang. The 750 has always been my "spirited cruiser". :-)
One more thing- have you tried the Wokke chip for the M70 yet? I drove another forum member's E31 6-Speed with the Wokke chip and that does make a difference. And yes, with the 6-speed I like the additional control of the power band. Despite the massive amount of torque I wish for a gear between 2-3 on the AT.
Rob_K wrote:I more or less have a car for every purpose.
You and I seem to be cut from the same cloth but my anti-hoarding minimalist attitude prevents me from having more than four cars for the family. My all around dream car is the '88 ///M5, the E32 is my favorite cruiser/DD/work truck and my E90 is my DD/beater when I don't want to get 13 mpg and need to haul the kid. I'm lucky enough to own what I feel is the highest and best in the two key categories- sporty and cruiser.
Rob_K wrote:My goal with every project like this is to make it seem as if it was built at the factory.
Again, I agree 100%.
I'm still nurturing the "anti-hoarding minimalist attitude". My problem is that while I was shrewd enough to jump whenever an opportunity presented itself, I have been a bit slower than prudent to finish one project before moving to another. I currently have 14 (15?) cars and trucks. Many of them are projects, and I've been accumulating parts for all of them simultaneously. I'm busting at the seams with parts and I'm not freeing up as much time as I'd like to make progress on ANY of them. I've finally resigned myself to this fact and am selectively thinning the herd and accumulation of spares so I can focus on the ones I hold nearest and dearest.
Rob_K wrote:[about the 6-speed transmission for the M70]They simply don't exist unless you're willing to pay brand new dealer prices.
I didn't even know that was an option. Truth be told my E32, although condition worthy of collecting, is actually a work truck and probably will need to stay an auto. Nothing can replace my M5 in the hobby car slot so unless I win the lotto an MT in the E32 is a pipe dream for me.
I work in a very similar manner- alone- and I like your approach. And despite the fact that people pay me a whole lot of money to tell visual stories- film, video, photo, etc. I never document my work either unless its a factual shot needed for re=assembly.
Have you considered lightening the car? If I were going to go this route I'd get rid of the power seats for one and I'd consider dumping the SLS due to complexity and weight but I never discovered a suitable solution as a replacement at the time.
My E32 is the best DD car I've ever owned. These things are amazing.
It's on the list! I've heard nothing but good things about them. No personal experience yet, but I appreciate the feedback.
My goal with every project like this is to make it seem as if it was built at the factory. I go to great pains to modify existing wire harnesses, bracketry, etc. in such a way that it's not immediately obvious that it's even been modified. I like to keep everything functional. I generally end up restoring the cars as I modify them. I don't have particularly high expectations that the car is suddenly going to be a rocket, but I expect it will be more engaging. I know I'll be better able to keep the revs where I want them and use more of the motor's range. Of course, going against everything I've noted above, I've also contemplated how cool a twin or quad turbo M70 would be. The reality, however, is that it's not the best motor for radical modifications. Once you touch the block you're going to be into really big bucks for sleaving, etc. I'm blessed to have lots of cars at my disposal. Some would argue that I more or less have a car for every purpose. When I want to go tearing up the roads, I hop into my blown Mustang. The 750 has always been my "spirited cruiser". :-)
One more thing- have you tried the Wokke chip for the M70 yet? I drove another forum member's E31 6-Speed with the Wokke chip and that does make a difference. And yes, with the 6-speed I like the additional control of the power band. Despite the massive amount of torque I wish for a gear between 2-3 on the AT.
MikeW swears I can't turn a wrench, so I set out today to prove him wrong. I know more than you think, I think.
I got an early start around 4-ish and proceeded to drain all 8 qts of Mobil 1 from the Landcruiser, with an intent to also find out why my e30 fog light won't light.
The choice of music was some Doors cassette I've had since 1990, and in between songs I kept hearing a dog panting loudly. I set my beer down an walked all around the garage. We don't have a dog, but I wanted to check just to ease my mind, as I do hear things sometimes now and then since I'm pushing 40. Still chuckling about my panting dog hallucinations, I screw that little thingy back in under the oil pan because I vividly remember a roommate not doing so one afternoon and smoking the 304 in his jeep. Shawn, you are still a dumbass.
I'm still hearing a panting dog in between songs, but now it's some crazy ass EDM CD I found in a Jetta at the pick-n-pull. That's to be expected with all that noise. I do another lap around the garage, break out the new oil to refill, and try to calm my nerves. I've poured oil all over my engine before just because someone slammed a door. (Insert MikeW giggling, and cek recoiled in absolute horror, here. . .)
All 8 quarts of Mobil1 go back in smoothly enough, but as I turned I lost my shit when I stumbled over a golden retriever. That fog light on the e30 is going to have to get sorted out at the dealer.
Replaced battery in mom's e39.
Previous Interstate only lasted 8-1/2 years!
She called AAA; idiot didn't know where the battery was...
He tried jumping it from underhood terminals.
Battery was too far gone. All good now!
Rob_K wrote:Today I replaced the plugs and coils in my wife's E61 535xiT. It's still missing. Walnut blasting up next.
Do you have codes on it?
This. My X5 had a pronounced miss at one point, and one of the codes -- P1347 -- pointed to a misfire in one of the cylinders which caused the thing to shut down cylinder 3. Once I cleared the code, it started firing again and the problem didn't come back. Still not sure what caused the code to pop up in the first place, but was happy to have it running smoothly again.
Rob_K wrote:Today I replaced the plugs and coils in my wife's E61 535xiT. It's still missing. Walnut blasting up next.
Do you have codes on it?
Cylinder 4 misfire. It's had a miss for a while under load, but not really that bad, it was just there. Recently it started throwing the code for cylinder 4 and shutting it down. A restart would clear it. I took a quick look at the plugs and coils to check condition (car is just under 108k). Plugs were worn and coils were original based on their build dates. I reasoned that it wouldn't be a waste to prophylacticly replace them all. I figured I might get lucky with my code. While I was in there I actually found that one of the ground point screws was very loose. I tightened that as well. It actually runs and idles MUCH better, but it will still throw cylinder 4 if I push it under load between about 2,500 and 3,500 revs.
I haven't checked the revision of the injectors yet which would be the next logical step for a specific cylinder failure. But since I know the car has never had the valves cleaned, I want to do that before I move on to anything else. The car belonged to a friend before I picked it up for my wife last December so I know it's full service history.
Sunday 11/23:
Did an oil service to the E39; cleaned up the residue form the leaking oil pan gasket (yuck).
Plugged in the code reader to figure out why the "Service Engine Soon" light is staying on: P0155 and P0141, O2 Sensors. Yay. These would go out right as I need to Smog the car this month. Another Yay.
Said goodbye to the 08 135i vert. Said hi to a Glacier white 2015 Audi Q5 3.0T with blackout trim.
Wifey is happy. I'm stoked the only one available with towing package had the shadowline treatment. It makes it stand out more and also has cooler wheels. I'll post pics when its not dark out.
I'm totally at a loss on how she choose a white car...she's always hated them and coined the term "Maytag White" on my 1990 Montero...thus Maytag's name. Women.
The 135 treated us well. We got it used as a trade in for my C63 AMG (!). Got a great deal on it and put about 25k on it in 3 years. Only one expensive service...about $500 to fix the top after one of my son's friends tried to get in Hutch style. At 55k I was starting to get nervous about the plastic cooling system so was happy to have Julie decide she was done with a vert for now. It got shitty mileage (especially when I drove it) and had a tiny tank...we felt like we stopped at every gas station we passed. But loads of fun and damn good looking.
Julie's never really liked BMWs and so she was always a little "meh" about it. She loves Audis tho, so I bet we have the Q5 for a while.
I put the winter boots on the e32 two weekends ago -- Style 2s with Blizzaks -- and noticed there was a bit more road noise than normal since then. Monday night it was rumbling pretty good on my drive home, noticeably louder than it had been even earlier in the day, and it got me to wondering if it was maybe a bad tire or a bearing going south. Then I remembered a tidbit from C. R. Krieger's Excellent e24 Adventure and pulled out the torque wrench & checked the lug bolts when I got home. Every stinkin' one of the bastaads was loose, and on the left rear wheel all but one were loose enough I could turn them with a finger.
That's really weird because I know without a doubt I went around to all four wheels with the torque wrench the night I mounted them. It was beastly cold out that evening though, and the wheels had been out in the weather for a couple of days when we had snow, so I wonder if there was some ice on them or... ??? I definitely will be checking torque on them again in a couple of days.
The weather yesterday was pretty nice, so I took the opportunity to wash the e32. Big mistake. Pretty sure that was the cause of this:
Dave that reminds me of a couple years ago I picked up a S10 Blazer cheap to flip. First guy that called said if I would bring it to him he would take it and pay cash. I had driven it the day before and it had no shakes at all. I thought I was gonna crash it delivering it.......pulled over and found out all the lugs were loose. I think someone tried to steal the wheels the previous night.
I haven't done the job yet, but will be replacing the driver's door window regulator in the wife's E46 again...
At least I got the window up the final 1.5" so it can wait a few days.
The sunroof stopped making the grinding noise and my lifter tick seems to have subsided. It's been ticking for over a year. I wonder if I need to pull th head and see if the valve is still there.
wkohler wrote:The sunroof stopped making the grinding noise and my lifter tick seems to have subsided. It's been ticking for over a year. I wonder if I need to pull th head and see if the valve is still there.
Ignoring it really does make it go away!
Good luck, hopefully it's not 'the calm before the storm'.
