Author Topic: DesktopDave (Read 68537 times)

DesktopDave · « **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2010, 09:03:57 AM »

Well, I've had a lot of good & bad recently...long work-related trip around the Commonwealth showed up a few problems.

First, parking brake still needs adjusted. I hate those brakes.
Second, I think I'm losing the passenger rear bearing. Sounds a bit like I'm dragging a matress down the road...either that, or the shredded passenger drive shaft outer boot killed the outer CV joint...
Third, the Blaupunkt stereo is both good and bad. Bluetooth works brilliantly...but the USB media reader it won't recognize the file system on my phone. The speakers "thump" periodically, sometimes frequently. Might be some low-quality rips, or perhaps read errors. I'm planning on upgrading the speakers soon, hopefully it's not an overheating problem in the head unit's internal amp...
Finally, the HVAC fan makes a really high-pitched annoying squeal on hard right turns. Bad bearing or the fan cage is striking the hvac case. Good thing I have a spare, eh?

longtallsally · « **Reply #16 on:** November 04, 2010, 04:19:34 PM »

Honestly, I'd say something's amiss with that head unit if all that is happening...

And like I said, get some premium speakers. I think I paid $40 maybe for mine straight from a junk yard. They sound incredible! My head unit was $200 or $250, so I've got a pretty smokin' stereo for less than many pay for a single set of component speakers.

I'm in the same boat on the Ebrake- I think I had it too tight, now I think too loose. And I need to balance it better as well.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2010, 07:49:25 PM »

I'll post any parking brake tips, but I suspect it has no easy solution. My rear suspension definitely isn't right...sounds a bit like a full bingo cage currently.

I have a set of nice Polk 5 1/4" 2-ways that I stripped from a parts car a while back. I'll have to try them out. Maybe I'll score an amp in a future trip too, and bypass the output stage on the head unit entirely.

YetiX · « **Reply #18 on:** November 04, 2010, 09:17:00 PM »

You have the weirdest damn problems with your car... :p

Gerta318is · « **Reply #19 on:** November 04, 2010, 09:50:15 PM »

Dave - You know that cruise control cable is less than 30 bucks at Tischer? The clutch switch runs about 60ish with the bracket. Just FYI

Let me know when you can chat and I'd love to give you a call to pick your brain about the cruise control set up.

Gerta

longtallsally · « **Reply #20 on:** November 05, 2010, 12:22:27 AM »

Quote from: Gerta318is;98339

Dave - You know that cruise control cable is less than 30 bucks at Tischer? The clutch switch runs about 60ish with the bracket. Just FYI

Let me know when you can chat and I'd love to give you a call to pick your brain about the cruise control set up.

Gerta

Read the write up here on it, and all your questions will be answered. I cobbled mine together completely from parts at a yard and it works like a charm. I think I have $20 or $30 TOTAL in it and I use it constantly.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2010, 09:16:06 AM »

Work has defintely slowed down on the car. She's ready for another Yankee winter, we just got our first real snow. On a more positive note, I scrapped two E30's to clear out space for my winter project.

***Warning...Non-M42 content***

I feel a bit guilty about not answering posts on the board every night. Like everyone else, I'm pretty busy during Xmas, but it gets worse. I have another project to consume my spare time. A few friends and I have gone in on two old 80's Honda motorcycles. We're splitting them up for parts, but what's left stays with me. Then we see if I can get them back to running condition. Here are the victims:

You can check them out here; I'll post updated pictures as we go.

seeohngee · « **Reply #22 on:** December 28, 2010, 07:14:51 PM »

Definitely keep us posted on the old Honda's motorcycles. I've been thinking about getting an old bike myself, particularly a yamaha XS11 and turn it into something like this...

By the way...

Thank you for all the help/advice that you have provided on this forum!

DesktopDave · « **Reply #23 on:** December 29, 2010, 04:26:13 PM »

No problem, I love to help. I have yet to pick up the most recent group...three v65 Sabres will be in the garage. I'd definitely suggest doing that sort of a chop to the Sabre - it's such an ugly bike to start with it's bound to help.

Is that your bike or garage? Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa and old Yamahas...yum. I'd also consider a CB1000 or a ZRX1100 too.

I also got my swapped M20 (gasp!) running today. It wouldn't even turn over yesterday...I was pulling my hair out trying to track down the wiring differences between the early chassis (1987 325e auto) wiring and the late model's (1991 325i manual) M20B25 motor. Turns out I just forgot to delete the auto tranny wiring/disable the auto interlock relay. Now it's running! I am so stoked!

Now it just needs brakes & clutch bled out, steering leak patched, rear exhaust replaced, radiator leaks plugged up, etc, etc...

DesktopDave · « **Reply #24 on:** January 05, 2011, 08:29:02 AM »

Now I'm down to only two BMWs. Shockingly, both run. The M20B25 swap needs a lot of work yet, but it's about 15degF and I'm reluctant to pull parts. Anyone close-by have a cheap muffler & rear straps? I'm guessing I'll have to bite the bullet and buy one on EBay. There's a really cheap US-made one for about $220 that I'll try. I put one like it on a VW Jetta recently and it actually fit pretty well.

While I am storing another one (an '88 sedan for e30 luck) it feels lonely in my driveway. After I handle the bikes I'll shopping for another one though...likely a 318Ti. Two are on CL now, but both look very dicey.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #25 on:** February 13, 2011, 09:23:47 PM »

More work got done on the burgundy car. It wasn't starting two weeks ago, but it was cold & then I went on vacation. But I'm back, figured I'd take a crack at it.

Basically it just quit, but still seemed like it wanted to go. It turned over easily and it'd catch a little now & then, but not enough to really get started. I tested the coil, pulled the plugs, checked the rotor & cap, everything checked out. The plugs reeked of gas, I was hoping that the DME wasn't dying. Check Engine Light didn't come on either. Crank sensor checked out (no cam sensor on the M20), timing belt still tight, everything basically checked out.

:confused:

So I figured I'd work on something else. I pulled the old 325e cluster & put together a working 325i from three spares I had sitting around. I noticed that the PO had entirely removed the O2 bulb in the middle, and the oil change LED light bar. So I found a good SI board (it was the oldest one, go figure), swapped in my 6.5K "i" tach, kept the chassis speedo to preserve the mileage and used the best of the three cases. BTW, I'm not sure if you've heard this around the 'net, but you absolutely can mix & match MotoMeter or VDO components. They're all electrically the same. Internally they're different, especially the odometer gears.

So I buttoned it back up and noticed that the fuel gauge was suddenly empty. It had been half full before...hmmm. So I put another couple gallons of gas in the car...after ten seconds of cranking she fired right up. Sometimes it's the obvious answer, eh?

So now I'm down to a few little items remaining.

The big stuff:
new radiator
new rear exhaust section
a bit of brake work. The brakes are really soft & the clutch needs bled or replaced. It's surprisingly hard to drive a car without good brakes and the clutch grabbing 1/2" off the floor.
P/S seals are shot too...e36 steering rack upgrade should fix that.

Then the little stuff:
working parking brake
13 button OBC
leather sport interior
power sunroof conversion
recharge for the OEM BMW r134a A/C
new driving lights

A bit of body work should finish it off. She has a bit of rust to chase down, one of the tail lights is weeping and the clear coat is peeling here & there.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #26 on:** March 13, 2011, 02:28:50 PM »

Chocolate BMW update...

The cluster is about 90% right. Coolant temp sensor is very sluggish. Never heats up. Might be a bad thermostat, have to replace that one of these days. Likely it'll be the old one from my M42 when I upgrade that this spring.

I tried a new type of epoxy on the radiator...high-temp SEM patch panel adhesive. A buddy had a half-tube that was about to expire and a really nice dispenser. Unfortunately the mixer tube was full of epoxy, so I cut it off & mixed it manually. I used a high-temp nylon vac fitting to replace the broken rad overflow tube. It's just a temporary repair, but works well so far. I also epoxied a broken retaining ring on my engine lift (don't worry, it's non-structural)...this is serious stuff!

Also found that the brake lights weren't working right. As soon as I turned on the key, the brake lights came on. I figured it was the brake switch, but it tested perfectly, continuity until the button is pressed, then it breaks the circuit open. :confused:

It ended up being the brake booster rod needing some adjustment. Did yo know you can adjust your brake pedal height? Well, you can! I'd swapped the pedal cluster when I replaced the old slushbox, turns out the brake pedal sits slightly differently. No problem...here's my technique...loosen the jam nut on the booster rod, pull the brake pin, spin the clevis until it's right, then put the pin back & re-tighten the jam nut.

Now mostly everything works, only safety issue is that she needs a good brake bleeding, maybe new rear pads. A few light bulbs need replaced, have to hunt down a wandering idle, and she badly needs some tires. A rear muffler section will have that car sorted out & ready to roll.

Once I get this nice comfy 325i running perfectly, I'll be free to strip my M42...goodbye A/C, P/S, insulation...see if I can put her on a diet.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #27 on:** April 02, 2011, 03:17:53 PM »

Weekend update...the M42 gets a new thermostat & fanstat. I used a hotter version to see if I can find another MPG or two. I took a while to look the car over, it's time for a bit more bodywork too...the tinworm is at my passenger front quarter & the right taillight is leaking a bit. I dinged the front fascia a bit, have to pull that out too. All in all, not too bad for such a harsh winter.

The chocolate BMW 325i now has new rear brake pads and the system's been bled very nicely. I asked the kids for help (eminent domain of daddy) & annoyed them with pressing the brake pedal about 100 times each. Worked out too...my son now [sort of] knows how to properly bleed a brake system...without cursing. Front brake pads are shot...parking brake needs some adjustment.

I might also have a line on a rear exhaust section and some of the other stuff I keep looking for. I've also found other parts over in Williamsport, maybe they'll end up in the car too. CyborgBen and I are splitting up an old 'vert he found somewhere...hopefully it'll be in decent shape.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #28 on:** June 25, 2011, 04:45:22 PM »

Some good & some bad today. I found a coolant leak, looks like I'm in for a hose delete sooner than planned. Might as well do the 4-hole injectors too. I have the parts for that already.

Bad news is that I can't get the front suspension apart. I can only have the car down for a few days here & there, so it can't be up on jack stands a week or two.

Good news is that CyborgBen had some decent US ellipsoids...and needed some old Bilstein Sports I had sitting around. I wish Hella had thought the adjuster nuts out a bit better, but they're in and ready for testing tonight!

Rain_E30 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 26, 2011, 03:07:22 AM »

Still checking your thread Dave.

Good luck ahead!