M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: Ramblin MAn on August 30, 2009, 11:21:33 PM
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I made a lot of headway today. Didn't break anything. Gas tank is back in. Fuel pump and sender in. New fuel filter. Drive shaft in and propperly adjusted. Shields back on. Broken exhaust mainifold to center pipe studs drilled out and replaced with stainless hardware. Old rotten muffler cut off and replaced. Lower oil pan removerd and checked for loose bolts(there were two laying there). Oil/filter changed. Intake manifold gaskets replaced. Throttle heater deleted. Plugs changed. K&N filter cleaned and recharged.
Add in a trip to the hardware store, the gas station, the parts store, taco bell and having to do an oil change to the girlfreinds truck before she went back home to Canton and I can say I have had a full day.
Tomorrow I need to take some heat shrink tubing with me, sodder the fuel pump connector leads, hook up my crank case-to-throttle tubing, put some gas in it and see what happens.
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Wow, you did all that in a day? I think it took me around 4 months to get all that stuff done. Nice work. Any pictures?
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Well, I was in re-assembly mode. I had everything off last weekend. I was waiting for funds and this last weekend to get my rack time so I spent the week doing other things like cleaning and detailing. I pitty the fool that doesn't have a rack to put their cars on.
I really used to be proud of the workshop/garage I had created for myself. But when you have a friend with a real professional shop with a lift, lots of room and all the tools you need it just doesn't measure up. Now I just go there and work on cars.
I took one picture of the two bolts in the oil pan just for posterity.
I will take more pictures once I'm done. I have several of it sitting lonely in the field, sniff sniff.
What amazes me (and I'm guilty of this too) is how people will just let something sit and rot. What also amazes me is how some things like this car refuse to go quietly. It was a real find. A diamond in the rough.
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So, filled the tank with premium yesterday, fired it up and after several minutes of ROUGH running, clacking lifters and stinky exhaust she lined out and ran nice and smooth. Have an idle speed issue that I need to track down but for a car that has not ran for a couple years it sounds great. Got in today, turned the key and she fired right up. Awesome!
Spent today washing her, rubbing down the oxidised paint and waxing her. Put the back seats back in. She's looking fine.
So here's the tally so far.
Car $700
title work $85
Cost of the tow $60
Assorted gaskets and BMW antifreeze $128
Oil and filter and ATF for PS pump $19
Miscelaneous cleaning supplies $30
Spark plugs $16
Muffler $25
Fuel filter $25
Stainless hardware and cobalt drill bits bits for exhaust $30
Used right rear window and trim $35
Used fuel pump and associated other items thrown in $50
Grand total so far $1203
I'm pretty happy about that. All that's left is take the rotors and have them turned, get my brother in law to make me some spacers so I can get my epsilons on there and get a front spoiler. Oh and I still need right rear armrest card/panel
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I finally posted some pictures here http://www.m42club.com/forums/album.php?albumid=83
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My rear seat panel is on the way. The idle issue is solved and it really runs good. I checked the codes again to see if there was anything new and there was. 1444. No faults everything ok.
I have my foil lined bubble wrap to make my new hood insulation and some Goof Off to take the old glue off. The old foam came of easy with a plastic putty knife. I have enough to do 5 hoods.
My power antenna motor's drive belt had broken so I picked up a roll of the mil spec duct tape sold under the brand name of "gorilla tape" and cut a piece to act as a reinforcement looks like it will hold until I can get a replacement.
Still need that front lip.
Almost done.
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Added a couple bad pictures. You can see the buble wrap insullation is in and I have changed to my MSW basket weaves. I didn't realize it but my Epsilons are a staggered set. Two 7x15s and two 6x15s. They were thrown in on another deal and I never really paid attention. The fronts just won't clear the caliper carriers and I decided against the cost and hassle of spacers when my MSW's go with the monochrome color scheme better. I have modified the center caps from my stock e21 wheels to fit.
Got rid of that peeling EU sticker. Do you guys in other countries put American flags on your cars?
Decided to junk the power antenna for a new Hirschmann. It's on it's way.
Going to get the inserts for the center of the valence today.
Battery cover and door seals coming from forum members.
I tried to put the mud flaps from my e21 on the rear but they just don't work. They fit the body line perfect, it's just the mounting. I could make a bracket, but since I have a complete set in good condition I may try to sell them on ebay instead and get e30 rears.
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Ok guys/gals(?) talk me out of a Mark D chip. I have not even driven my car yet. But like the car for 700, the Mark D chip for under 200 is one of those deal's I'm having trouble passing up.
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Thats a clean car for 700 + tune ups.
I had a cheap ebay chip for a little bit and it was fun, So I cant really talk you out of a chip thats tuned better for the car.
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It's clean now. When I got it, it had 2-3 years of oxidation and and algae from the nearby pond eating away at the paint. There were mud dobber nests behind every panel and in the cavities under the rear windows, under and in the dash, in the heater vents, in the engine compartment, under the car, every where. I'm talking clumps of mud ranging in size from the size of your fist, down to half a sharpie marker. And the glue those things make is like epoxy. I would say that the nests would have easily over filled a gallon paint container. Pretty nasty.
I meant to take pictures of it before I started cleaning but when I finally got it I just started cleaning. It's had it rough. There are 17 records on carfax about it. I didn't feel like paying 30 bucks to find out my new girlfriend used to be a hooker. That's all in her past.
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I added pictures of how I found the car sitting in the field when I went to go look at it. And as with everything in my life there is a story that goes along with it. So here it is.
I'm looking through craigs list trying to sell some stuff when I come across the ad for this car. They want 800 but will take 700 "this week". So I reply to see if they still have it. They do. The reason they do is they don't have a clean title. The people trying to sell the car have bought it from a friend who can't get it running. He bought it from a police auction a few miles from me. This was two-three years ago and the car has just been sitting since. It's been moved a few times and they have started it a few times by running gas straight into the vacuum line that goes to the underside of the TB but other than that it's just sat there.
The guy who bought it from him paid 700 for it and tried with no luck to get it running. and when he went to see about the title, he was told he would have to pay property tax twice, once to complete the transfer to the first guy and then again to transfer it to him. That was just not an option.
So I come out to take a look. I can't get too close because of all of the mud dobbers the car is infested with. It's a mess, but it's all superficial. The upholstry is amazingly in tact. The ryobi sawzal that's been tossed in the front passenger seat has not cut it. I jump on the ground and give it a quick scan and see no signs of rot. The trunk, while a mess, is solid.
The passenger side back window is gone and and there is 4 inches of water in the back floor. (5 minutes, a garbage bag and some tape, but oh well).
It's solid, complete except for the window, and I've bought worse and paid more. I tell them I want it. But we need to deal with the title issue. I ask to make some calls the following day to see what we can do about the title. For 700 bucks I'm not worried about losing money. I could part it and make it all back. So I make several calls. My buddy who runs the towing business warns me about it probably being a salvage title. That scares me, but I perservere. I call the Indianna license beauro, I call the Ohio license beauro, I call the police department that had the auction. It's not loooking good. So I call the guy who originally bought the car who is really cool about everything. I say I will pay to have the title work done and when it comes back You sing it over to me, I give the other people the 700 and we all part happy.
Well that's exactly how it works out. I take him up and we do the title work and in Indianna you have the option to send the title somewhere else so we had it sent straight to me in Cincinnati. So a week later I show up with a CLEAN title, 700, the roll back and a smile and we all parted on great terms. I'm even going back out to take everyone for a cruise so they can see what they gave up on.
I actually felt kind of bad because they were soo close yet soo far. These cars need people that will love them the way they should be. Right now that just wasn't them. Anyway, we all got what we wanted.
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Added pictures of some of the mud dobber nests. These were just a small example of what I found.
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Well I finally went and drove the car today. Went to the BMV to get the title work into my name done and some plates. The car ran great. I did have a coolant leak of my own making when I got back and ended up re-plumbing the bypass pipe to head line. I tried just using the hose that was there and it didn't like being twisted around. All better now. I put new rotors, pads and sensors on over the weekend. The front spoiler is on it's way along with new roundels. Rear mud flaps were on back order.
I'm almost done.
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Put on the rear mudflaps, new spoiler clips, and test fitted the spoiler and sure enough the front valence needs to be pulled down and forward a bit. Waiting for some rack time later this week to do that and mount the left brake duct with outside air temp sensor. No wonder it always reads -30C.
I'm kind of old school (read old) and love the way mud flaps look. These are by far the nicest rubber mud flaps I have ever seen. All the body lines are molded in and they went right on.
The new roundels are on and I put new roundels on the hub caps.
So yesterday as I'mstanding at the back of the car looking over the mud flaps some movement catches my eye inside the car at the back window. A freaking mud dobber!!! I was sure the nest on the speaker was the last one but apparently I was wrong.
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Well, I'm pretty much done. I added more pictures here. http://www.m42club.com/forums/album.php?albumid=93
But it won't be anything very new. Just a mostly stock e30 318is.
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My car really runs GREAT!. I just thought I'd say that.
I finally put my foot into it the other day (just to verify that there were no issues I wasn't aware of, of course) and at about 5K it just shot up. Really pulled hard up to redline. I didn't try to push it past as I'm not interested is beating it, but I am really happy with the performance and for lack of a better term, the quality of the power/engine. The motor is so very quiet and it just runs great. As it started to really pull, you could hear the exhaust sort of "tune up" turn into a musical instrument. I really got lucky with this one.
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Like the rest of you (bastards) I just can't leave well enough alone. I'll be replacing the control arms with lemfoerder replacements (overkill) along with m3 bushings (I"m a lemming) and heavy duty swaybar end links. Arms and links courtesy of monty23spk, our forum parts guy. (everyone tell him condradulations on his upcoming nuptual)
These forums are real love hate relationships. I love all of the great info and help, but lots of times I find I have a problem I would have never ever known about and then feel obligated to follow members' leads and fix it. Like the M3 bushings. My car is perfectly stable at high speeds. But noooooo, if I'm putting new arms on, then I MUST put on the M3 bushings. It's a sickness
And QUIT SAYING "IN 10 YEARS YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID"! I have to sell this car as soon as I can. Everyone says why don't you keep it and drive it? Like I WANT to sell it. An e30 was my first BMW and started a long love affair with them. I always wanted a 91 318is. Even though I have several e21s, the e30 318is was THE bmw to have. So selling it is the last thing I want to do.
Speaking of sicknesses, I bought a 79 e21 callaway turbo last week. Sadly, the manifolds and turbo were gone, but for 600 bucks I got a relatively solid e21 with a decent running m10 with header, non ac pattern wood console with boost and temp guage, recaro interior with very decent seats. (Passenger is perfect) LSD, lowerd, Billsteins, skirts(which have got to go). Can't remember who made the steering wheel and shift knob but they were spendy sport replacements. Windows are tinted. The car was loved by someone for a long time. Oh ya, it's henna red, the color of my first e21, Helga, who succomed to cancer, but whose engine lives on in my 82 320is. I bought the Callaway as a parts car, but I may just put a little work into it and flip it at a profit. And, this week, there is an 83 that looks almost new that I am going to look at on Sunday. I may get that and turn it into my daily driver and give my SAAB a rest. I go to pick up the hood and grill/lights etc to repair the deer strike damage tomorrow.
If I get the 83 I will have 5 e21's.
Someone please make me stop.
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And just to document it here's the current list.
1978 e21
1979 e21 callaway
1982 e21 320is
1982 e21 m42 powered autocross boner machine
1984 pontiac Fiero that I completely redid. Everything is new except for paint.gonna wrap it instead.
1985 SAAB 900 turbo
1991 318is
92 mustang vert
Gave my 84 318i to my brother. Gave a 91 cavalier wagon to the kid across the street. Gave my 86 ranger to the kid up the street. Gave a 91 CRX to a freind of the kid across the street. The ranger and crx weren't pretty but they ran. I was just bored. My brother needed a car. and when I say gave, I mean here's the keys, see you later. You break it, you fix it.
I just want to mention I have not given more than 1000 dollars for any of these cars. I average 650 -700 then basically just do the maintenance that has been ignored for the last 10-15 years. So, if I get that next e21 I will have to talk the guy down because he's asking 1300 for it.
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Took care of some anoyances today. But first, when I got in my car there was another mud dobber in there.
Anyway, the headliner had pulled loose at the door opening and, the door weatherstrips on both sides had srunk. So I used contact cement on the roof and gled the head liner back in place so it's nice and taut.
While I had the the weather strips out I went ahead and put in the premium sound front speakers and tweeter pods. Wow, what a difference. Anyone that doesn't have the premium sound fronts and tweeters, get them. They sound awesome.
Replaced the strips with a set I got from a forum member. Much better.
It doesn't sound like much, but these interior projects take a lot of time and I stress over every little detail. They take a lot of time BECAUSE I stress over every little detail. But the results were worth it.
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your name, this sub-section, this thread, your posts = priceless
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Well you will love this then. I'm running an errand today. One of those "I got just enough time to do 4 important things at lunch time except eat if I bust ass" kind of errands. Give daughter a ride to doctor appointment, pick up parts from dealership, go to western union and wire GF some money for her prescriptions, and can't remember the other thing.
On the way to the first destination, I'm thinking as soon as I get the control arms on I can drive over a bump without all of the loosness and feel comfortable that everything is done. As soon as I finished that thought, the motor dies. Going up a winding road. I back down into a driveway and call my buddy with the tow truck. Fuel pump is locked up tight.
Always always always use a new screen when replacing a fuel pump even if it's a used pump. Especially if its a used pump.
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Could you post some pics with the Callaway, please? :)
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Sure, but it will probably be this weekend before I can get there during the daylight hours. It's dark in the lot, and my freind with the shop has one of HIS cars in there. Like how am I supposed to work on my cars with his stuff in my way? :p Don't expect to see anything too out of the ordinary. If you have ever seen a 320is, that's what this is pretty much. And while it was loved once , it wasn't lately. Like I said, I mostly bought it as a parts car.
I need to get it up on the lift and address the fuel running out everywhere from somewhere up on top of the tank. I had it running and it sounds like it has a clogged injector. Hopefully that's all it is. Didn't smoke at all an the meter seemed to be dead on. I want to get it inside and do a compression check and a valve adjustemnt, oil change and tune up. This baby has points...for now. I can do all of that outside, but I need good weather and I think we are about to run out of that.
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I took a bunch and they all turned out like ass. I'll take more tomorrow. I have it inside now.
With the e30 having fuel pump downtime, I had time to look at the Callawy and have some good news. I said it sounded like it had a dirty injector because it sounded like it was missing. Well today I was preparing for a valve adjustment and compression check. When I went to pull the #4 plug, the wire wasn't even on the plug. It had been jammed in the hole and was in between the plug and the well.
Main point is that it ran pretty darn good on three cylinders. I can't wait to get it hitting on all 4. Should have it road worthy tomorrow night.
Those skirts have to come off though.
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I know this is off topic, but since I'm waiting for parts for the e30, I did a little work on the Callaway. I guess I should stop calling it that since like I said above, the turbo and manifolds are gone. Just the dash plate and the turbo decal on the trunk.
Anyway, it has some major fuel line rot. When I had it running, gas was draining all over the ground. I dropped the tanks and everything up top looked good. What I found was the lines at the external pump were completely shot. So all of that is on order.
Gave it a valve adjustment and checked the compression. Dry numbers are 150, 145, 150, 160. Found the inner right tie rod was ready to come apart. Ordered that too along with some shifter linkage pieces. To make this relate to the 318is, I was looking for some other parts to add to my m3 bushing order to get free shipping from Bav Auto. You know, the place where everything is made of gold? Come on! Guys like us are doing the world a service keeping these cars on the road. Cut us some slack on the prices. monty23spk could have probably gotten me a better deal but he won't have time.
The really great thing was that I was pleasantly surprised at how solid the car was in the important places. There is plenty of rust, but the rot is minimal. Floor pans are all intact. Shock towers are good. I think I may make this my driver for the winter until someone buys it. I had bought it as a parts car because it looked like the rust was a lot worse than it is. As a parts car it's a gold mine. Ebay prices for the parts would be at least 1500 so for 600 I got a deal. And, once I take care of these issues it should be a pretty cool car to drive.
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And by the way, I take criticism well when it's meant constructively. If you guys ever see me post a picture and wonder what in the world was he thinking, please post up.
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Man what a week. Just got through installing the new control arms, sway bar end links and M3 control arm bushings. And enjoyable chore. I've said it before, I pitty the fool that doesn't have access to a lift. I put the new fuel pump in last night.
So I replaced the bad tie rod and all the fuel lines in the Callaway and got it running. It's running rich but I didn't have my fuel distributor tool with me. That thing is a real BEAST. My first BMW was an 81 320i (1.8L) and the motor still runs great but it doesn't have any where near the balls this thing does. I can lay posi rubber the ength of the car. It's freakin AWESOME! But jeezus it has a bunch wrong with it. And, it has so much right with it. I put my Epsilons on it and isn't it funny how a nice set of wheels really makes a car? I think this coming week me, her and the D.A. sander are going to spend some quality time together.
Spent most of the week cleaning my freind's shop. I hate working in dirt and that place was so cluttered it was impossible to keep clean. There is enough room for two more cars in there now.
I'm breat. I'm taking tomorrow off.
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Well that was a total waste of time. New Lemfoerder comtrol arms, M3 bushings, Meyle heavy duty sway bar end links, All installed with my typical anal stressing over every detail and today a test drive confirmed that my problem was still there. A friend of mine had suggested that my problems was a blown strut but I was sure it was ball joints. To top it off when I had the car up on the rack the inside of the right strut housing was covered in a sticky oily goo that I knew was shock oil, but I conned myself into thinking it was penetrant that had been sloppily applied when I had my allignment done. So now it looks like struts and shocks.
Man this sucks
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Look on bright side, you are half way to have having an all new suspension. Glad the parts made it. I would recommend Bilstein for DD. I can get a good price on them whether sport or HD.
Also when you do the springs, autozone rents the spring compressor for free. Also replace the upper strut mount while in there.
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Finally got around to finishing my suspension refresh. The only thing that was not replaced was the rear control arm bushings. Every other wear part was replaced. I kept the stock springs. Bilstien HDs all the way around, new HD shock mounts all the way around, new sway bar bushings and end links all the way around, new tie rod ends. Of course, new lemforder front control arms and m3 bushings. Loving it. It really tracks now.
The right front shock was completely blown, so any little bump was pretty scary.
Before I did my struts I had to mount my buddy's spring compressor to the wall. This thing freaking rocks. You set the whole strut assembly in it, make a few adjustments and then just crank a wheel and compress the spring. It's old school but man it works like a charm. Really made the job easy.
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Very cool update.
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Well, the final touch has been applied. I found a 2 piece spoliler fairly local. Had to take the trunk lid it was mounted to and a front facia with foglights and brake ducts, but all of that was 200 bucks plus gas. Took it apart yesterday and sanded it down and painted it up. It's on and looks awesome.
It's amazing how just little changes in a body line can really make a big difference.