MyE28.com

Discovered the heater blower in the e34 is unhappy. The drone on speed setting 1 does amplify the bass in some songs that come on the radio though, I think it's playing a low D. Speed setting 4 is scary. Combined with the throw bearing whine which worsens by the day and the rattle of the rear shock mounts, I've got quite the orchestra going. That's convenient, as the radio has a habit of cutting out over heavy bumps from time to time, so at least it fills in the blanks. Two more days this car's gotta survive until it gets a makeover while I'm away. COMEEE ONNNNNNN BABY!

Not today, but over the last couple weeks...

Installed a front plate delete on the e30


Went crazy with car audio for the Toyota.
From this:


To this:


$12 and some time and I have a digital tuner and CD player. It's 12 years newer and from a camry, but uses the same brackets and wire colors, just a different plug.

Dropped the e34t off to get it aligned.

I am a nervous wreck. Used to be able to do my own alignments at work, but not anymore.

Finally welded up the broken tab on my drivers seat on my E30.
This is E30 # 2, 1st got taken away by severe hail. So I have 2 sets of seats to make the best of. Both drivers seats had the broken tab. I lost the tab that was on the seat I repaired, so I took the other broken tab from the other seat. My mig welder bottle was low, so I take it to get it refilled on Friday, forgot to check but it was out of date on inspection. Takes a week to get the that done & I'm impatient, so I just used flux core .030 wire & I think it will be OK. Cut the tab to fit the broken frame, clamped it above & below. Made the mistake of welding near the center between the clamps. Almost messed up the threads. Twisted the tab off when trying to clean up the hole with the screw. Then realized it wasn't smart to weld near the hole, but to weld above & below it to keep the threads from warping again. Then once I welded above & below on back side, I welded a bit on the front side.
Beginner welding pics, beware

Changed the oil and filter on my F-250. Tried to diagnose my failed oil pressure "gauge" but it looks like the sender is bad. I say gauge but it's really just an idiot light since the needle will really only read off, good (middle) or fault. I'm debating putting a T at the sender mount point so I can rig a real gauge.

I FINALLY washed the e34 that I picked up in December. It hadn't been driven while the white stuff was flying so there was no need to wash it. And even when I did finally start driving it, the rain kept it rinsed off for me. It needed a good lather and rinse. Now it needs a good cut, buff, and wax and it will really shine! Can't wait to get to that.

New tires are on the wagoon. Also got some Euro bumper trim since my side markers were vacating their assigned positions as I drove down the interstate.

...and yesterday I put in front, heated, leather seats to finish off my leather interior conversion.

Oil and filter for the E36. Lubed or tried to (time will tell) the lower steering column bearing. Discovered a leaking selector shaft seal on the tranny. Grrr, it'll be bad before I pull the tranny for a 2 dollar seal. Then a wash, cleaning some of the inside windows, vacuum and pulling the drivers mat to wash it out. Damn, got carried away, but it sure does look better clean. I know, like that's a surprise, but it gets me every time. I should probably look at it as the ultimate commuter vehicle, compare it to a Toyota or the like and it would seem better than comparing it to a 5 series.

Almost forgot a new battery too. The old volt box seemed to be cranking a little slower in the AM and static voltage overnight was down around 12.3.

Over the weekend, installed a new Haldex controller on the SO's TT quattro (now it's quattro again). I put in a (used) HPA "competition" controller that ramps up engagement of the rear axle faster and pushes up to 50% of the power to the rear vs. 30% for the stock unit. Also changed Haldex fluid and filter. All told, an easy task that took a good 2.5 hours because there is no damn room to work on that car.

Then I flogged it around Mid-Ohio, confirming in the process that Audi doesn't build BMWs.

-tammer

Just bought some Koni Sports for the Fusion. FYI, the suspension is similar to the 2003-2008 Mazda 6. Got some used OEM Sport Package springs also (slightly stiffer and about 1/2 inch lower. Those will go in over the summer. At some point a Steeda 22.5mm rear bar will be purchased.

Just looking to tune out the chronic understeer...

Some love for the wife's E39. Replaced the heater buttons, which wasn't difficult but was a bit tedious with all the little contacts in there that want to move around as you're assembling it. Installed short sheet metal screws to replace the broken plastic rivets holding the back of the seat pockets in place at the top. Fixed the CD changer. Again More like got it working rather than fixed it. Jammed some fuel line in to keep the sunroof from hitting the air deflector on closing. Still need to repair the lift in back feature, but all things in time. Disconnected the seat belt height adjustment cable from the passenger seat, my wife likes the seat all the way back, but isn't tall, and the auto feature (I hate auto pretty much anything) raises the B pillar pick up height as you move the seat back, so it was always hitting her on the neck.

Now if I could just find an affordable paint job and fix the back of the sunroof she'd be perfectly happy with a 238K car, it does run like a top.

Mike W. wrote:Fixed the CD changer. Again More like got it working rather than fixed it.

If you want to "fix" it for good, just replace your changer with a BavSound SoundPlicity unit. I picked up a used SoundPlicity one for $40 and added a Bluetooth module to it. Now whenever my iPhone is in the e53, all I do is hit Play to listen to whatever is cued up. The car didn't have a CD changer when we got it -- it has the in-dash single disk player -- but did have the wiring for it, and the BavSound unit just plugged into the harness in the back. Super slick.

Dave, Is the bluetooth module something proprietary to SoundPlicity? Or just something that plugs into a line-in on the unit for bluetooth streaming audio only?

I have used a DICE unit in my E39 since 2007 and it works great with a ~2005 era iPod. But doing streaming radio off the phone would be nice from time to time (hands-free calling not that important). My DICE was meant to be either trunk mounted or placed inside the cabin, under the armrest. I left it in the trunk rather than snake the cable through the interior. Using bluetooth seems a bit easier than moving the DICE unit inside for aux-in

I've been chasing down an ABS fault on the e32 for a few days now; replaced both rear wheel sensors with a pair sourced from a junkyard e34, and the ABS light is still on. Grrr. The "new" sensors appeared to be much newer and the cables were in much better shape than the old, which have been patched up a bit since I've owned it.

Also, I've been in touch with the Warranty Administrator at ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America about the state of my not-quite-two-year-old rear shocks; the ride is horrible, and they're leaking something terrible. A new pair is on its way, should be here next week! I asked if I needed to send the old ones back, and nope; all they needed was the photos I sent to confirm they are trashed. Those shocks should really last longer than two years, but the bonus points for ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America customer service balance things out. For now.

Tonight my eldest son and I will be putting some time into the Muttstang's convertible top. He's actually said out loud that he wishes he'd never bought it (score one for Dad) but rejected the idea of just unloading the thing in its hail-damaged state. So we're replacing the top, and the hydraulic motor that raises/lowers it. Should be fun since we're both diving into the job blind. Anybody with experience replacing convertible tops available to help?

The FJ80's radiator started steaming and hissing last month. I guess after 200k, it has had enough.
I laid a few sweat socks along the seam in front where it was leaking to buy some time while I shopped for a new car, always adding a little water along the way, fo sho. Shopped the new cars, and then quickly bought another radiator.
Armed and dangerous, I pulled it all apart like a fat man at the buffet table. Everything going waaay too well so I'm happy. Higher than a giraffe's pussy. I get cocky and throw in some Vivaldi, Four Seasons even. Feeling good until I stumbled upon the bolts behind the headlights that the engineer behind the e28 starter brilliant bullshit must have been called in on to supervise. Fucjkin' balsacz.
A few hinged socket extensions and hack saw blade action on some bullshit that was in my way, and the new is in! Stabbed the palms of my hands with flat-bladed screwdrivers so many times that I lost count, plus the music had turned to the winter passages by now. I was done. Lost a bunch of bolts but everything else should go back together perfectly. No Vivaldi tomorrow though. Too real.

Awhile back my father's Jeep Grand Cherokee (and everything else he owned) got stolen while he was visiting us (in his other truck).
It was recovered, but not before the thieves tried to burn it to the ground. The genii shut the doors with the windows up so the lit gas can on the passenger seat promptly extinguished itself. But, not before torching the headliner, sun visor, glovebox/surrounds, seat and door card.
I spent a hour or so with some purple power on the headliner and intact plastic bits, getting rid of most of the smoke damage.
I've got a glovebox, surrounds, and door card coming. Trying to find a seat for cheap. Not going to change out the center console/hvac setup and I can't fix the headliner, but I swapped in a new (used) sun visor, looks way better.
He's in Africa for a month so it'll be a surprise/thanks for all the work he's done on our house the past couple years. I just wish I could do more for him than a couple second hand parts, but he'll have a hard enough time 'accepting' the few things I was able to do.

Replaced the hose clamps on the reservoirs power steering lines in the e34. Thing was pissing out everywhere. Gotta diagnose a mystery water leak now too. It's losing about a liter a week, but there's no sign anywhere of where it's going, no milkshake and no soggy carpet. Got me stumped.

Oh yeah, the failure of the throw bearing was pretty impressive. Had my buddy install the new clutch kit while I was away, and he kindly left me the old pressure plate and bearing to admire. It's a miracle the thing was driving.

Das_Prachtstrasse wrote:Gotta diagnose a mystery water leak now too. It's losing about a liter a week, but there's no sign anywhere of where it's going, no milkshake and no soggy carpet. Got me stumped.

Bob, I had the same mystery on my Honda and after waaay over diagnosing everything, it was the radiator cap. I'm not familiar with e34s but replacing the original cap that had been on the Honda since '98 solved the water loss puzzle. The cap was just old and releasing water/vapor at a lower BAR than factory spec.

Karl Grau wrote:

Das_Prachtstrasse wrote:Gotta diagnose a mystery water leak now too. It's losing about a liter a week, but there's no sign anywhere of where it's going, no milkshake and no soggy carpet. Got me stumped.

Bob, I had the same mystery on my Honda and after waaay over diagnosing everything, it was the radiator cap. I'm not familiar with e34s but replacing the original cap that had been on the Honda since '98 solved the water loss puzzle. The cap was just old and releasing water/vapor at a lower BAR than factory spec.

Interesting. Now that you mention it, I did swap the cap with a spare I had sitting in the toolbox a few months ago after noticing the original one was pretty shagged. As they looked identical and it screwed right on I never bothered to check part numbers or temps however it's highly possible it's from a 525i or 520i or some other shitbox I parted out over the years and may be different. Thanks for the idea, I'm gunna go check it out.

Had a successful trip to the local yard yesterday. '94 525i with deadlocked doors was sitting there untouched, yard operators had smashed a window to climb in and remove the battery but otherwise no one had yet been inside. Promptly pried off the door handle surrounds, undeadlocked the doors from the outside, and was greeted with a lovely surprise:




First time I've ever come across fold down rear seats in an e34 sedan. And in black leather, too. Score!

Anyway, I nabbed the entire update door card set, including the center console and driver kick panel although unfortunately the glovebox must've been replaced in the past by a early unit, so I've gotta find one of them still. Will go back today to grab the rear seats and all the associated bracketry and carpets for Trents 540/6, as he's been scouring the world for fold down rear seats in black leather for years. Gotta grab the headlights for Jon's M5T, too. 'Aint gunna be much left of this car by the end of the day.

Installed the update cards and trims in the daily this morning, and leather fed the the lot while I was at it. It's come up nice. Shame the exterior of the car looks like it sat in the bottom of a lake for 20 years.

Das_Prachtstrasse wrote:Replaced the hose clamps on the reservoirs power steering lines in the e34. Thing was pissing out everywhere. Gotta diagnose a mystery water leak now too. It's losing about a liter a week, but there's no sign anywhere of where it's going, no milkshake and no soggy carpet. Got me stumped.

Oh yeah, the failure of the throw bearing was pretty impressive. Had my buddy install the new clutch kit while I was away, and he kindly left me the old pressure plate and bearing to admire. It's a miracle the thing was driving.

Reminds me of an E24 I used to have. It was wrecked and I was fixing it up, the TO bearing was obviously bad, but I had it ready to get smog, light and brake tests required to reregister it. It passed everything, but no clutch pedal when I picked it up. No real biggie to drive it home that way, but it was Friday and Monday I had to be at DMV to have them check numbers. Having lots of spares including a clutch helped the busy weekend. But yeah, lots of pressure plate fingers in the bottom of the bellhousing and some nicks on the sensors.

1st 5er got new pads all around.

Bought it.

Very noice, Nick!! Da Red Sled! Hard to believe after ordering it in go-fast Red the previous owners left the Style 2s on it. Might I interest you in some Eibach lowering springs?

Justin_FL wrote:Dave, Is the bluetooth module something proprietary to SoundPlicity? Or just something that plugs into a line-in on the unit for bluetooth streaming audio only?

I have used a DICE unit in my E39 since 2007 and it works great with a ~2005 era iPod. But doing streaming radio off the phone would be nice from time to time (hands-free calling not that important). My DICE was meant to be either trunk mounted or placed inside the cabin, under the armrest. I left it in the trunk rather than snake the cable through the interior. Using bluetooth seems a bit easier than moving the DICE unit inside for aux-in

Sorry, Justin; missed that question. It's just an off-the-rack BT receiver that plugs into the iPod connector. ~$15 from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0094G44P ... SY200_QL40

Anybody ever replaced the sway bar mounts on an e36? What a pain in the arse. Both of the mounts on my daughter's 318ti looked like this one (except the right side bracket tore completely away):



So yesterday we tore into the removal job with a grinder, hammer & chisel, and a cheap air hammer that quit working after five minutes. After several hours we had the left side out completely, and about 90% of the right side. To get the rest out we may have to remove the AC compressor. Did I mention this job is a pain in the arse? Well, it's a pain in the arse. The old ones came out in many pieces, but the new ones haven't arrived yet, so... We wait.