Messages (Become)

I got one locally yesterday and was just going to update this thread. The inside part is the metal tubing plus the column rod with the upper and lower bearing. The stuff that is in between the top and bottom plastic covers.

I found out something yesterday. Today, BMW sells a charger, it looks to be a rebranded CTEK version. So besides reading Porsche and Corvette owners use it, BMW just outright sells it. Just the back and device says BMW. Save yourself $ and get it from Amazon, ~$40 savings.

I did forget to add the gas being used has changed due to ethanol and how it burns. Also, in between brands makes a difference. Our cars were engineered for a different gas, so the spark/burn has different characteristics if something changed.

in the end, if wallet is not an issue, is more about SPGs than MPGs when you drive. SPG = Smiles per gallon

From what I have seen over the 15 years plus on the internet is that most of the numbers are calculated incorrectly or they are fluff. Dave's numbers seem to be accurate but like everything, variables of city versus highway and they type of driving you do will affect the numbers. The stock numbers from BMW for the 91 m42 from EPA is 18 in the city and 25 in the highway. You can check the EPA website. Also, what gas tank you have also depend as most of them are the 13.1 gallon tank but I have heard some might have the larger 16 gallon tank or smaller 11 gallon one. Also, if you have the 13 gallon tank, you MPG would be lower.

Best thing you can do is get an app that measure how many gallons you add and the mileage and after 3 months, you have a realistic baseline. This would be city or combined. Then after, you can do an only highway trip to see what you get. AC on these cars, because of drag, really kill the MPG.

normally the leak is at the 2 small 2-3in hoses from the gas tank to the fuel rail, the to and return pipes. they dry out over time. I believe you can get to them by just removing the upper intake manifold, so you only need those paper gaskets. Everything else you got is great for a complete overhaul but might not be required.

BMW PN: 35411152744
Cost should be $5 plus shipping or tax.

first, you should use the sealant recommended in the 4 areas of the gasket. Also, if you put it back, you should be fine unless you see obvious leaks. Then you must replace it. The spark plug gaskets are the first ones to go and you will not notice until you start burning/loosing oil. Just torque the bolts in order.

I am currently working on this. If you look at my thread under members area you can see all things I have been replacing.

Here is the AGA bronze clutch pin installed:

That's right, forgot. Here is the BMW PN: 34111153198

Reading your posts, I believe something is unplugged or the hoses are not installed correctly.

Also, from your first post, when the car is idling, and you turn the AC, not sure if this is what you meant by heater, the idle will drop until the ICV kicks in and brings the idle back up. I believe nothing was wrong unless this was happening with anything electric, like your lights, radio, windows, which you stated. I would need more clarification if I was your mechanic.

Then when you cleaned the ICV and put it back the idle was erratic, this means the hoses are not on correctly or something like this as you have an intake leak or you damaged the ICV during the cleaning process. That is my opinion of course from working on these engines for over 7 years.

Now after theshop looked at it, it seems to be worse. Normally during these troubleshooting steps, things stay the same, might get better, but if something goes bad, you should be able to rollback what you did to return it back to the status quo. If it does not, then things are getting damaged along the way.

Another option is to light up a tobacco cigar, remove the valve cover vent hose, towards the front of the engine and blow that smoke in. Just get a good body cigar.

Nice add, and '93, great find.

colorbond by brydana has OEM color match. I have used  BMW black and its dead on. They have other BMW colors.

if you got a TRE pump, you need to put a 15 amp fuse. I just went through this.

are you saying those are just cleaned?  they weren't repainted?  i painted mine with trim paint but they've got stone chips and peeling

what is SEM Prep and treatment?  I'd love to refresh all my trim instead of repainting

SEM prep and treatment to the trim under the front windshield:

Before: (wet after simple green washed)


After:(full prep and spray down)


Here are the arms after SEM prep and paint I got at the junkyard and the extra new trim pieces. Then I find out, the the arms are actually two driver side from the car I pulled it. So out $5 for one arm. Need to go back to get passenger side.

They were painted. I notice on other cars when they do the trim paint, that after some time, chips and peeling happen. Its all int he prep work to prevent this. I cleaned with Simple Green degreaser then use the instructions provided on SEM sits under the MSDS doc on the trim paint. For the metail, you need to sand and use a cleaning agent which is a spray can from SEM also. Then I painted with trim paint. For the plastic pieces, you use SEM soap with grey scuff pad, very important to be gray. I got mine at NAPA. It sand finely the plastic. Then paint. Adhesion promoter not needed but recommended.