What did you do to your E28 today?

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
briansmith
Posts: 508
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: 12020

Bosch SR441X starter

Post by briansmith »

I thought I could see in some online photos that the electrical connections for the solenoid appeared different on the SR441X starter meant for M30B35 use than the M30B34 starter I removed. They were, so to make things easier in case the next owner chooses an original type starter I fabbed up a little pigtail to go from the wiring harness spade connector to the solenoid's terminal 50 (unmarked) stud via a ring terminal. Worked great, so does the new starter. I think I might celebrate, let the dog ride on the back seat while I head to the beer store for supplies...

Let's try links...
Image
Image

looks like I could have bought the starter more cheaply here: http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-sta ... tor-sr441x Anyone who removes the old starter will smile at how quickly and easily these smaller units go in, plus they make a more contemporary sound!
1st 5er
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Post by 1st 5er »

Karl Grau wrote:Took it in for its biannual smog test which it failed miserably. Just for extra fun they dinged the Euro headers as "Tampering" so it failed the visual too.
That sucks.
unt0uchable wrote:... my ratty old bone stock 535is got from some folks. Someone even took pictures of it. :shock:

Good times. I'm lovin my e28. :banana:
I love it when that happens. :alright:
wkohler wrote: Image
Beautiful Chris, car and pics.
1st 5er
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Post by 1st 5er »

New alternator in.,14 @ idle. :wrenchtime:
Shawn D.
Beamter
Beamter
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Post by Shawn D. »

I tightened the gauge panel's power wire on the switched side of the auxiliary fuse box and gave the connections a DeoxIT treatment for good measure.
Karl Grau
Posts: 9717
Joined: Mar 10, 2006 7:34 PM
Location: Sandy Eggo

Post by Karl Grau »

I separated the pieces of the other three BBS wheels.

Image

I had to put a stubborn one back in the oven for a little more heat.

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Chucky's Pro-Tip #368: When removing filthy dirty wheels after their 5-10 minutes at 350°, do NOT use the novelty oven mitts that were given to you as a gift by the girl you were planning on sleeping with later on in the evening.

1st 5er wrote:
Karl Grau wrote:Took it in for its biannual smog test which it failed miserably. Just for extra fun they dinged the Euro headers as "Tampering" so it failed the visual too.
That sucks.
Yeah, I was hoping to get one more PASS out of he aftermarket Cat but I hadn't got my hopes up. :(
Last edited by Karl Grau on Jul 08, 2012 6:20 AM, edited 1 time in total.
wkohler
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Joined: Oct 05, 2006 11:04 PM
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
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Post by wkohler »

My tip is to clean the wheels before you disassemble them. :lol:
bbaxter
Posts: 493
Joined: Feb 17, 2007 10:44 AM
Location: Gloucester, VA.

Post by bbaxter »

Replaced the stuck heater valve in my wife's 524td. It's much nicer in the passenger compartment without that extra heat!
Squire68
Posts: 106
Joined: Apr 07, 2008 11:23 PM
Location: Lompoc CA

Post by Squire68 »

Finished my e2i yesterday.
Cactus
Posts: 4991
Joined: Jun 06, 2010 4:13 AM
Location: Dayton, OH

Post by Cactus »

I fixed my 528e and I fired my 535i up for the first time in 9 months.
wkohler
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Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
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Post by wkohler »

Took it to Maaco for an estimate.
Tim in N FL
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Post by Tim in N FL »

Installed a very nice pre-owned pair of seat switches. Thanks to Yosemite Sam :up:

Unfortunately, that still didn't solve the issue I'm having with the Fore-Aft & Up-Down functions on the P/Side Sport Seat. When I engage the switch, I can hear a solenoid or relay loading up (i.e., a "clink" sound) but there's no movement whatsoever (up/down or fore-aft). Suggestions would be greatly appreciated via PM, please.

:beer:
Tim
nik77356
Posts: 563
Joined: Oct 21, 2011 5:49 PM
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Post by nik77356 »

Replaced the front left wheel bearing this afternoon
jdualan
Posts: 150
Joined: Feb 13, 2011 10:06 PM
Location: So San Francisco CA

Post by jdualan »

replaced fuel filter
replaced diff mount
replaced wiper relay
ldsbeaker
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Joined: Mar 25, 2007 10:14 PM
Location: Slicktop City, AZ
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Post by ldsbeaker »

Image

FINALLY replaced the starter today. After a year of nursing it along, sometimes hitting the "flat spot" and not being able to start it, hesitation after turning the key. Wondering if it's going to start each and every time... Compounded by heat, which there is NONE of, here in yuma.
Also, i didn't do it when i had the intake off for my vacuum brake swap... Boy am i smart sometimes.

Still have to make a pigtail as outlined above. Also replaced positive and negative cables on battery. My positive had been position specific to work. The negative had maybe 5 or 6 wires left. Both pretty corroded.

For the top bolt, i ended up putting the toolbox closed-end 17 on it. Then getting my prybar with nail puller, and putting the shaft of the wrench in the nail puller slot, then hammering gently with THOR to get it loose. Easy. I'm always amazed at how far i can stick my arms under the intake if i'm motivated...
She starts up FIIIIINE.
1st 5er
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Post by 1st 5er »

jacobraftery
Posts: 183
Joined: Feb 22, 2009 4:22 AM
Location: Brisbane Australia

Post by jacobraftery »

Finished rear seat changeover, cloth to leather, installed headrests, changed my parcel shelf and started on my door cards.
Das_Prachtstrasse
Posts: 5616
Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under

Post by Das_Prachtstrasse »

Fitted Hartge steering wheel, and ordered a whole bunch of new cosmetic parts in preparation for the next big step in the build.
OcCoupe
Posts: 3226
Joined: Aug 21, 2010 7:49 PM
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
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Post by OcCoupe »

Replaced my in-line fuel pump. We are getting ready to do a trip to Monterey almost 1,000 miles round trip. I didn't want to take a chance with a fuel pump of unkown age; though it looked brand new when I removed it, so did the fuel lines and the rubber pump housing.

Next stop is new clutch hydraulics!
RonW
Posts: 5321
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Long Island, NY

Post by RonW »

Replaced the clutch over-center helper spring yet again in the 535i. Removed said unit from the 535is and found it was in the midst of self-destruction.
OcCoupe
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Post by OcCoupe »

Replaced the the year old euro washer bottle, it cracked.

Replaced the 2 year old coolant bottle, the threads stripped on the level sensor hole.

Got pissed off.
briansmith
Posts: 508
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: 12020

Post by briansmith »

ldsbeaker wrote:Image

FINALLY replaced the starter today.

For the top bolt, i ended up putting the toolbox closed-end 17 on it. Then getting my prybar with nail puller, and putting the shaft of the wrench in the nail puller slot, then hammering gently with THOR to get it loose. Easy. I'm always amazed at how far i can stick my arms under the intake if i'm motivated...
She starts up FIIIIINE.
I used the toolbox 17 12-pointer as well, with additional piece of 1.5" tubing for leverage. Oh my car, with cruise control and automatic trans. I had to remove the upper intake manifold rear support in order to get in there to pull the top starter bolt. Lots of 1/16 of a turn strokes....

It was such a nice day that we worked on the house a bit inside, then rode bikes over to the county fair to see some animals and watch my wife fling arrows from a bow, and early to beer. Perfect weather day here in N.Y. All we did on the car was add a bit of ATF, isolate a new squeak, and installed some clear white LED bombas in the overhead interior lenses (ducks and covers...)
eurominded2
Posts: 26
Joined: Jan 01, 2011 5:57 PM
Location: Clemmons, NC

Post by eurominded2 »

New thermostat, New lower rad hose.

Replaced compressor, Replaced receiver/ dryer and a few hoses. Had AC charged holding so far. I feel liked Im driving a new car. :alright:
Shifty535
Posts: 32
Joined: Jul 22, 2012 10:25 PM
Location: Arizona

Post by Shifty535 »

The lady and I worked on the E30 today. The E28 waits dormant for my PS pump to arrive. :)

Not 100% related but still, I think relevant!

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Karl Grau
Posts: 9717
Joined: Mar 10, 2006 7:34 PM
Location: Sandy Eggo

Post by Karl Grau »

Last year when I was installing the rear strut brace, I snapped off one of the nipples on the charcoal tank. I jury rigged a fix but today I replaced it along with the hoses to the tank filler neck. I'm probably going to regret using Oetiker clamps though. I also installed the pedal bracket reinforcement and replaced the distributor cap and rotor. I spent about an hour and half trying to replace the hose from the brake reservoir to the clutch master cylinder with no success.

Image

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briansmith
Posts: 508
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: 12020

Post by briansmith »

AFM to filter housing reservoir elbow had become separated due to loose clamp (glad I'm the mechanic to blame) so the oil was dirty. Fixed clamp, changed oil and filter, replaced fan clutch with new Sachs unit.
The old one was certainly not the Sachs, and although I don't know how they performed differently at 170 degrees and 2500rpm regarding slip torque, but at ambient 72 degrees and 5-20rpm they displayed substantially different breakfree and steady-slip torque values. If the photos appear correctly, one will be able to note the different fin pattern among the units and that the Sachs unit was 1mm thicker at the fan mounting position than the unit replaced. I suspect that after a year it can be difficult to determine which unit is the Sachs, so maybe these photos would help someone in the future looking at a used part...

Non-sachs unit, rear:
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Sachs unit, rear:
Image
Non-sachs unit, front:
Image
Sachs unit, front:
Image
Non-sachs unit, side, thickness ~12mm:
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Sachs unit, side, thickness ~13mm:
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More fan noise is evident with the Sachs unit, but since it was 72 F or below after fitment, more cooling is expected at idle in summer traffic but not yet confirmed.

The anti-seize lubricant fitted to both the bolts attaching the fan to the clutch and the clutch to the WP certainly did their job nicely, what a breeze to R&R for some un-anodized machined and threaded aluminum in an area of salt spray blast and many heat cycles.
unt0uchable
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Post by unt0uchable »

It rained fairly hard on Thursday and Friday of last week. I came out to my car only to nearly sit down in a lake of water on my drivers seat. With some quick searching, I found that there are drain holes in the sun roof. I managed to reem one hole out free and clear, but the driver side one I can't seem to get to the bottom of...might try to rig up a short drill bit to get to the bottom of this, literally. Oh yeah, also replaced the intake boot and elbow, along with some clamps and smaller hoses. Got my C pillar trim back on with new grommmets. She's lookin perty good again.
Cory
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Joined: Sep 07, 2006 12:03 PM
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Post by Cory »

2,000 mile OCI oil/filter change.
Gelatinous
Posts: 302
Joined: Oct 24, 2010 11:41 PM
Location: Everett, WA -- previously Victoria BC, Canada

Post by Gelatinous »

Topped up my oil. According to a friend it's starting to puff blue every now and then. I think my valve seals are starting to wear out.

Need to do a cam side valve adjustment soon too.
shagrath
Posts: 14980
Joined: Jun 15, 2009 12:21 PM
Location: pLace

Post by shagrath »

Recently: used tires, new Lemfoerder diff mount, removed the roof rack to enjoy the use of my sunroof.
1st 5er
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Post by 1st 5er »

Backed it up to get the tow dolly out.
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