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

[geordi]

Changed my F250's right front tire on side of Interstate 35 this morning on the way to OKC. Yoko Geolander H/T S belts separated. The jack is soooo small for all that diesel's weight. Watched the truck rock when two semis speed by side by side. Spare had only 25lbs in it, but managed to limp 10 miles for some air.

Had to buy two new tires. Spare had slow leak. What a day.

Next time I buy a used vehicle, I'll remember to pull the spare and check it for integrity.

[davintosh]

My wife drove the X5 an hour or so to spend the day with our daughter, and on the way home she rolled up the back windows and heard a loud POP from the left rear window. It didn't make it to the top, then started to creep down. Within a few miles it was all the way open; she had a hard time staying warm the rest of the way.

When she got home my son & I pulled the door panel & got the window up where it should be & used a Vise-Grip to keep it up until I can get a new regulator.

[1st 5er]

Sorry to hear about that, but this?

.. she had a hard time staying warm the rest of the way.

100°+ here the past couple of days.

[wkohler]

Changed my F250's right front tire on side of Interstate 35 this morning on the way to OKC. Yoko Geolander H/T S belts separated. The jack is soooo small for all that diesel's weight. Watched the truck rock when two semis speed by side by side. Spare had only 25lbs in it, but managed to limp 10 miles for some air.

Had to buy two new tires. Spare had slow leak. What a day.

Next time I buy a used vehicle, I'll remember to pull the spare and check it for integrity.

I will tell you what, one of our work E-350s ran those tires. Not sure how many miles we got out of them but we were driving to Colorado Springs for a job. Around Las Vegas, NM, I started noticing a vibration that was new. Of course, these vans are giant pieces of shit and have some vibration somewhere all the time. We fill up in Raton, NM and getting back on 25, this damn thing was undrivable. Really bad. So, fortunately one more exit before Colorado, so we get off and pull into the Conoco. I look around and start checking stuff and I was going to have a look at the steering stuff on the left front. I put my hand on top the tire and "WTF?!" Belts shifted. We have ten stages in this thing and no way to get to the jack and the rod to lower the spare, which his mechanic neglected to check on the "trip check." We didn't feel like unloading stages at 2am in a gas station parking lot with no light, so we called AAA. Guy had to come from Trinidad,
CO. The clerk at the Conoco told us the wrong exit number so the guy couldn't find us. He tried our exit before giving up thank God. Got the tire changed and put the 0 mile spare Geolandar on. Replaced the other with some "cheap" Sears tire for a spare. On the way back home, the "new" spare separated. Finally took my advice and had it warrantied for $0 in Phoenix. Leave on the next trip and we lost the other two - both tires (moved from rear to front) coming into Flagstaff. Warrantied.

Been fine so far though

[geordi]

Replaced the other with some "cheap" Sears tire for a spare. On the way back home, the "new" spare separated. Finally took my advice and had it warrantied for $0 in Phoenix. Leave on the next trip and we lost the other two - both tires (moved from rear to front) coming into Flagstaff. Warrantied.

Been fine so far though

The two replacement tires were the same make Yokos. The other 3 had a lot of tread left on them. Moved one to the spare and the two new Geolanders to the front. On the drive home, the front end vibrated badly above 70 mph. So I'm thinking, "ok, do I have a problem some where in the front end." Get home and notice one of the front wheels has FIVE lead weights in a row for balancing. Those weights cover about a 110 degree arc on the wheel! The wheel alone spun true at the shop so now I'm believing this new Yoko tire is a piece of crap.

I'll take the truck tomorrow and put it on the rack at my friend's shop. Give the front end a thorough inspection. My gut tells me my truck is fine and the tire is defective.

btw... I'm only familiar with belts separating, not the term shifting. After looking at the photo of my tire again, is that what a shifted belt looks like?

[oldskool]

Promptly upon realizing that the bottom bolt on the Landbruiser's starter was not going to budge and was starting to strip, I went and rented an SUV. I then called the shop to come get my miserable failure. I am fail. I am still entertaining the thought of throwing all tools, jackstands and penetrating oils in the trashcan. My man-card is crimped. Ego bruised. I don't deserve to own an automobile when the only tool that I can successfully operate is a tire pressure gauge.

[1st 5er]

Started this project.

[AlpinaE24]

Started stripping all the nasty old red paint off my E34 M5 calipers

[1st 5er]

Started this project.

Driver's side finished...




And then the passenger side...



Now to figure a temporary fix for the park/turn lights.

[Mike W.]

Started this project.

Driver's side finished...


Now to figure a temporary fix for the park/turn lights.

I like, I like! I'm not so big on euro bumpers like most here, but I really like getting rid of those huge protrusions. How did you do it?

[1st 5er]

... but I really like getting rid of those huge protrusions. How did you do it?

10 and 8 mm sockets and wrenches,
along with a set of fixed fenders of course.

[ldsbeaker]

Saw and heard the engine run for ANOTHER project. (2-3 years out)

Got a box from Blunt with stuff for the iX. Intake boot, aux fan resistor, blower resistor, cluster bulbs, and OBC light. Lotsa fiddly little jobs. Just waiting on the coolant hoses, then I can do a full cooling system refresh, timing belt, filters, belts, plugs, and oil. Upgrading to an aluminum radiator, woot!
Then AC.

[Mike W.]

... but I really like getting rid of those huge protrusions. How did you do it?

10 and 8 mm sockets and wrenches,
along with a set of fixed fenders of course.

No, I meant did you weld over, braze over, find some euro fenders or what?

[wkohler]

Looks nice. Not every day you can get an upgrade same color as your car.

[1st 5er]

... but I really like getting rid of those huge protrusions. How did you do it?

10 and 8 mm sockets and wrenches,
along with a set of fixed fenders of course.

No, I meant did you weld over, braze over, find some euro fenders or what?

They are US fenders.
From the inside it appears a piece of metal was welded in and then God only, well the person who did it too, knows.

[1st 5er]

1st 5er got a bath too.

Last night finished this up.
The E28 side marker light / turn signal fix is only temporary.
PAVEL, any word from your homies?

[Mike W.]

Arrrrrgg. The wife called today on her way to the grandsons little league baseball game. Said it just quit on the freeway and she had to scramble to get over to the shoulder, which she did. No CEL, just died. 50 miles away. She wants me to come down and do my magic, but I'm fearing the wand may be empty on this one. It started just a touch slowly the other night I noticed, I don't drive it all the time but often enough I know how long to hold the key to start] And it didn't. But started the second time so I'm thinking fuel pump. And in a thoroughly unscientific test, both supply and return in the engine compartment felt the same. After it came home on the end of a flatbed and I got to the pump, no thanks to the bloody Bentley which says sedan only, the pump was in fact dead. Autohaus wants three bills for one and we're leaving on vacation later this week, not in this car, so time is of the essence. Pick and Pull had one, in a wagon none the less, might be the only reason it was there, someone had tried, but wasn't able to get the back seat out. But there it was, still holding pressure which suggested it was good. And now it's in my car which is purring nicely.

Now I also found, in a pinch, or a cheapskate kludge, an E28 main pump could be adapted. I was close. Now that I have a spare housing it might be even closer if there is a next time. They should work in tank, shouldn't they?

[ldsbeaker]

325iX
Installed new OBC light bar, and new bulbs in the cluster, now BOTH sides are lit at night (not just tach and water temp).

Also, investigating a noise I've had for a few... ummm MONTHS. Confirmed my suspicion.

[djazz]

Spent yesterday trying to stay dry. Saturday's high was 101 and Sunday the high temp was 82 so not complaining about the wet weather. It was just a bit cramped in the garage.

As usual, it took longer figuring out what we were doing than actually doing it. Ignore the pixie.

[davintosh]

Spent yesterday trying to stay dry. Saturday's high was 101 and Sunday the high temp was 82 so not complaining about the wet weather. It was just a bit cramped in the garage.

As usual, it took longer figuring out what we were doing than actually doing it. Ignore the pixie.

Ahhhh... The front of that engine looks frighteningly familiar. Transplant time, eh?

And that garage isn't so cramped; mine is about as wide as that, but much shorter. I'm trying to figure out logistics for an engine swap on the e28, and it's just not working in my garage.

As for my fleet, I had the opportunity to become familiar with e36 door cards; Saturday, the driver's side card nearly fell off completely on my daughter's 318ti. It's the biggest Mickey Mouse arrangement I've seen; ten plastic standoffs glued to the door panel. The adhesive on eight of the ten broke loose that day, so I used some Gorilla Glue to stick them back on. We'll see how long it holds.

[djazz]

I'm spoiled, I know, but I'm used to working out here:


2012-01-27_10-07-11_992 by djazzbmw, on Flickr

It's the biggest Mickey Mouse arrangement I've seen

Couldn't agree more. The glue will hold but I don't think the card will. Good luck anyway.

[ldsbeaker]

iX -

Started the cooling system flush. Emptied out coolant through the radiator drain, it was orange. Niiice. Only spilled four drops. Accomplished that by putting the shop vac right next to the drain. Filled up with water, ran it long enough to get to full temp, let it cool down, then drained it. Same deal with shop vac. Then filled system with vinegar and ran to full temp again. Waiting for it to cool down and then i'll drain it and fill with water one more time to see how clear it comes out.
If it's clear enough, I'll start removing old stuff.
Got an e36 fitment mishimoto aluminum radiator that is supposed to fit perfect. I pulled it out of the box and it looks like a dead ringer. It is BEAUTIFUL. New coolant hoses, water pump... Lots more.

Waiting for the engine to cool was a great time to clean the engine bay some. Looks tons better.

[unt0uchable]

iX -

Started the cooling system flush. Emptied out coolant through the radiator drain, it was orange. Niiice. Only spilled four drops. Accomplished that by putting the shop vac right next to the drain. Filled up with water, ran it long enough to get to full temp, let it cool down, then drained it. Same deal with shop vac. Then filled system with vinegar and ran to full temp again. Waiting for it to cool down and then i'll drain it and fill with water one more time to see how clear it comes out.
If it's clear enough, I'll start removing old stuff.
Got an e36 fitment mishimoto aluminum radiator that is supposed to fit perfect. I pulled it out of the box and it looks like a dead ringer. It is BEAUTIFUL. New coolant hoses, water pump... Lots more.

Waiting for the engine to cool was a great time to clean the engine bay some. Looks tons better.

I like your process. I might steal it.

[1st 5er]

Wifey's Beast got new rear pads.

[a]

My sit down lawn mower's steering was getting worse . The tie rod was bent. I took it off and straightened it in the vise . I had lined up the wheels to straight. The tie rod dropped right into the knuckles. The Inty handles much better.

[davintosh]

Hit a milestone with the e32...



Ordering new tires to celebrate.*

* celebrating that and a couple other things.

[Duke]

Installed new windshield washer jets on our 2008 Acadia. The original jets became so brittle that the hose broke off one and they shattered when being removed.

Nice materials.

Ordered new OEM jets for $9 each. Install was literally a snap.

[w0014170]

Buffed with polish then wax the 01 E430 Sport. Treated the leather, cleaned the carpet, door panels and polished the wood. All day sucker

[cddallara]

Got the amp, RCA adapter kit for the upcoming audio.

Paid for the sub box and crossover (custom built box for e34 touring, custom xover for BMWs).

Sent my Becker in to get reprogrammed for US airwaves.

Ordered xcarlink iPod adapter for Becker.

Ordered the right temp hid's to get rid of my green ones.

Received oem smoked hella smileys to try out.

Other than that, just enjoying driving it.

[a]

It wasn't so much what I did to the van . Rather, what happened to it. I was in stop and go traffic, in the rain. Traffic stopped, the girl behind me didn't. Slid a Subie right into the bumper, pushing me into the white Chevy . Drivable, ,no injuries to any people . Information was exchanged in the rain , A State cop stopped traffic and we pulled off the median onto the right shoulder. Then he took off , it was that kind of day. So I spent the day doing paper work, culminating with dropping the van off at a local shop and renting a car. I dont know how much anything costs. The van is a GE lease. I called them , gave them my sketchy information. and they gave me a choice of several body shops . I picked the one in Weymouth.. Then comes the rental. I was set up for an E 150. I'm a paper pusher . I dont need a van to carry 3 manila folders . Haz Fiat 500? Haz. Only flaw noticed is choppy ride and a huge blind spot due to the humugous A pillar. Gonna be a breeze to park .