Messages

1

Suspension / Anyone use FCP Groton parts?

« on: September 06, 2007, 11:19:18 PM »

I have used them for my Volvo. I purchased sway bar end links ( twice ) because of the boots failing after a few months. Having the same issue on my E30 with parts purchased from Bavauto.

The problem doesn't seem to be the vendor so much as the manufacturer of the parts. Lesson learned spend the extra and only buy equivalent OEM parts. After replacing the cheap POS parts for the third time you will be glad you did.

2

Suspension / Anyone have problems with Bavauto suspension parts

« on: September 06, 2007, 10:42:30 PM »

Not trying to slam a vendor here. Just trying to avoid the reoccurance of a problem.

Less than a year ago I purchase two control arms, two offset urethan control arm bushings and two sway bar end links from Bavauto. When ever I have the car on jackstands or ramps I take the time to look things over. A couple of nights ago I was trying to solve a coolant leak issue. I looked over at my 10 month old control arms and notice the ball joint boots at the hub were toast, two separate pieces one top and on bottom. I then then at the sway bar end link, boot severly cracked, will fail soon. Other side same story.

Bavauto said that if I order new parts and send back the old they will credit my account.....Ok but getting these parts on and off was a pain in the ass and cost money.

I'm going to order the replacement parts but I want to know what manufacturers make OEM quality replacements. redoing my control arms once a year is not my idea of fun.

thnx

3

General Topics / How can you tell if your fan clutch is bad?

« on: September 06, 2007, 11:59:02 AM »

Thanks for the advice and help. I would rather drop a couple $$$ on parts than deal with the aftermath of a cooling issue.

If the fan should shread the news paper then I would say mine is bad. As I was thinking through this last night I also realized that normally I can hear the fan blow as I pull away from a stop. I'm not hearing that now.

I also discovered a coolant leak. It has been raining a lot around here lately and water has made it into the garage, either from it blowing in under the door or from dripping off the car. Last night I noticed that a puddle had not yet dried out, all the others had. Stuck my finger in it, yep coolant. Checked hoses found nothing. Noticed that the puddle was more and the back of the engine. Long story short the hose that goes into the back of the block or head - just below the ICV - seems to be leaking.

Hoses, fan clutch, and thermostat on the way, hopefully this solves the problem.

4

General Topics / How can you tell if your fan clutch is bad?

« on: September 05, 2007, 10:32:25 PM »

I noticed as I pulled in the driveway today that my temp gauge was showing a bit above normal, 3/4 instead of 1/2.

I have done some searching and the fan clutch comes up as a possible reason for the elevated temp. One thread says to see if the fan is stopped by a piece of rolled up newpaper. My fan is stopped this way. How sure of a sign is this of a bad fan clutch?

I'm trying to sort this out tonight or at the latest early tomorrow so I can order parts tomorrow and have them overnighted. I'm trying to hit one of the last autox's of the season on Sunday.

Any help is appreciated.

5

Suspension / H&R Sports #50406 - Who's Got 'Em?

« on: May 30, 2007, 08:18:55 PM »

Bilstein Sports

6

Suspension / here they are

« on: May 29, 2007, 11:44:37 PM »

Here are the pics of my car with the springs. The tires are 225 50 15 so the diameter is virtually the same as stock. The pics aren't the best but hopefully they give you a good idea of what the drop is.

7

Suspension / H&R Sports #50406 - Who's Got 'Em?

« on: May 21, 2007, 08:35:18 PM »

Did you find the info on the spring rates? If not I will find it and send it to you. If I remember correctly the 50406 are quite a bit stiffer than 29664 that a lot of people run on our cars.

BMP offered to take the springs back if I wanted to trade or send them back but I gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried them. I figured they make a living at this stuff they should know??

Like I said earlier the drop wasn't what I expected but I want performance over looks so depending on what you are after they may not be what you are looking for.

I will work on getting you some pics.

8

Suspension / H&R Sports #50406 - Who's Got 'Em?

« on: May 20, 2007, 11:21:38 PM »

I have them. so far I like them. If you want max drop they may not be for you. So far they seem stiff but not unbearable.

Info on spring rates in near impossible to come by, HR would not give up anything. I ended up buying a set from Bmp. I expecting more drop than I got, called BMP and spoke with a tech. He said that they had run lap times with the various springs and that he 50406 produced the best lap times.

Search under my name and should come up with a thread and it will give you the spring rates. I really like them so far but I haven't autox or spent track time with them. FWIW 50406 are sport springs for E30 M3, can't be bad?

I will take some pics if you like.

9

General Topics / Resurfacing dual mass flywheel

« on: March 07, 2007, 09:41:43 PM »

dlmrun2002, Sweet ride, I want your car!

10

Engine + Driveline / Diff replace

« on: March 06, 2007, 09:59:21 PM »

Almost

11

Engine + Driveline / Diff replace

« on: March 05, 2007, 10:54:22 PM »

LSD is not the determining factor. A small case, stock 318is diff will bolt up no worries.
I just installed a 4:10 LSD out of a 325 vert med case. I tried to installed it twice, it seemed like the drive shaft was too long. The med case is slightly longer than a small. I had to loosen the slip joint on the drive shaft and shorten it by 2cm or so. After than the med case bolted right up.

12

Suspension / Will H&R sports for 325i fit in 318is?

« on: March 05, 2007, 10:38:11 PM »

As for as fitting...if they are intended for an E30, 325 or 318 they should. A few months back I bought some HRs. Seemed every web site showed a different fitment. In the end it came down to spring rates. When I called HR they would not give up the rates. I finally got some info from a BMP tech. He offered spring rates and why they suggested what they did.

You can look up my thread if you are interested in learning more.  I think the thread was: wrong HR springs.

13

General Topics / To sell or not to sell

« on: March 05, 2007, 09:43:09 PM »

Make it fair or your next car will be a money pit. It always seems to come back around.

14

Engine + Driveline / Dinan Chip

« on: February 27, 2007, 07:01:03 AM »

From searching I understand that many of the ebay chips are Dinan knock offs. Any way to tell the fake from the real thing?

Any one out there have a Dinan? If so how do you like it?

15

Engine + Driveline / Rear end noise

« on: January 31, 2007, 10:34:15 PM »

Any resolution to the problem? I have something similar going on. Curious of the out come.