monty23psk

[monty23psk]

In preparation for the e28 m5 wheels, I got BMW wheel locks.


I started to clean my diff. Here are a few pictures of almost 30 years of grim on the original part.




I just ordered a stud kit from Condor Speed Shop as they are somewhat local to me.

I then replaced the rear diff speed sensor plug. The clips were brittle and one side broke while removing it. The other side was already broken, not sure when that happened.





Finished the passenger rear side. Got the ebrake installed and all the calipers. New brake lining sensor and making sure clips to hold all the wiring and cables are in place. I also installed the anti-rattle clip as I had forgot on the driver side. Both sides have been bled with Motul 600 brake fluid.



I installed new Lemforder sway bar links with new hardware from BMW. Even got new white clips for the ebrake cable. Little soapy water got the links on the swaybar.



Just need the differ installed plus exhaust and then its time for test drive. Still need to get tires and need to figure out if I will go with 215s or 225s.

[monty23psk]

I finished cleaning the rear diff. I prefer doing a better job but since I will be rebuilding it in the near future, I will give it a better cleaning then. I remove all the heavy grease with a degreaser and wire wheel. At least you can touch it without getting you hands dirty. At least the BMW test is clearly visible today.




Here are the internals, nothing loose or shavings on the bottom. The paper gasket was all wasted.



A few new parts, new speed sensor, oring and plug washers and all toque to specs:


Final product:

[monty23psk]

Got the diff stud kit from Condor. I wish the socket for the allen key was metric, I don't have standard and had to use an allen key. Already installed on diff and will try to install diff when I get home from work.

[monty23psk]

I got back today from a business trip and some parts came in so I can finish the car and get it back on the road officially. I already took it out for a short drive around the block but the exhaust is not installed. I plan on bleeding all 4 corners in the morning and will install these, abs wiring holder that goes on the subframe. The current subframe doesn't have them and the original ones are very brittle.



I also received one of the caps for the e28 m5 wheel. They are pricey so I got 1 for now. I am still looking for 2 used wheels and 3 caps. Will work the 16x7.5 e28 wheels in the front and the 16x8 e32 style 5s in the rear for now.


Here is the wheel installed, showing the BMW wheel lock.


Here is the cap installed. Will be keeping the stock tool from the 14" wheels as they both use this tool.


I then got BMW air valve caps. They are only $1 and has a nice grip material plus a o-ring on the inside to seal the connection.


[The issue now is that the stems have a long thread and the caps are not that long. This is how they come new from BMW. Here is picture from ECS tuning to show the gold threads exposed:



I don't like this, so I got black heat shrink tube to fill in the gap. Here is one example:


The goal is to refinish the wheel with nogaro silver like this. The e30 came with 27mm offset and the ones I am using are 20mm.

[monty23psk]

A few quick updates. After getting it all back on the road, the diff whine did not go away and requires a rebuild. I was going to venture on this myself as a kit is ~$500, but with the limited time to make it to the Vintage, I decided to have someone else do it, for a few hundred dollars more for the labor with years of experience. It will be total rebuild and I am slated to receive it for the install about 8 days before I take off for NC. I should get a few hundred break-in miles before the long trip.

In the meantime, doing some buffing of the single stage red for a little shine for the show. Will post a picture when done. Literally like putting lipstick on a pig but its better than the faded pink color. I also decided to clean one more thing in the trunk. The clasp that holds the car jack is all metal in the zinc plating is no more. The same with the the large washer that holds the spare tire. Here is a picture of it after some fast etch, SEM Prep, and SEM trim paint. I am waiting for gray scuff pads to do the same on the plastic knob with SEM Soap.


One thing that came up is that I need a spare tire, now that I only have the 5-lug setup. The e30 doesn't have a big opening in the trunk, so I need to find something that is narrow. I took measurements and will need to go with a 195 tire, like stock. The 205 tire will cut it too close. I don't want the rug to bulge. Luckily my dad has a spare 15x7 from an e32, style 7 with the cap.  Its width is 7" and I can go with a 195/60 or 195/55 tire. I will be going with the /60 so that the height of the tire is the same as my current setup, just won't be as wide. Who cares, its a spare. The style also comes in the same vicinity as with the current euro weave pattern. Center cap is hideous.

[monty23psk]

Got the diff back from Agent and his father in law Mark. Things a beauty. It got a rebuild including the REM polishing. Here is the diff returned with a nice fresh paint coat. You can also see the Condor stud kit as well. Hope to have the car on the road Wed night. Just need to install it and add a quart of Redline oil.




Here is picture of the internals as is and then after the REM polish.

[Nick_318is]

Looking real nice! Quick turn on the diff, they have one in stock or is that your same unit?

[monty23psk]

Same unit. Luckily I am just a few states away in the same time zone, FL - VA. I got it mounted last night. Will do the exhaust tonight to take her for a spin.

[monty23psk]

Whine is GONE!!!!! So good to drive a quiet car inside the cabin. Dealt with it for about 2 years. Even the exhaust is on the quiet side.  Here is a quick (and bad) shot of it installed.


I also finished the plastic treatment for the jack holder knob. Here are the 3 items installed.

[monty23psk]

Took the DA and some extra rubbing compound to shine her up before leaving to the Vintage. Better that the current hazy red look.

[monty23psk]

After my 2k mile trip for the vintage, I notice with the extra weight in the trunk and bumps on the road, I was getting a little rubbing at the rear fenders with the 215 tires. Not sure why BMW did this, but the rear fenders are rolled only half the way and the front half is at 90 degrees. On the trip, I ordered the Eastwood fender roller as for its price, had the best review. I received it and just today after 2 hours with a heat gun, the full arch is rolled and no more rubbing over bumps. Here is a picture of the machine. I will be renting it out through my rental website to fellow enthusiasts.

[monty23psk]

So after driving a bunch of miles with the new rear end, it am still getting a small clunk when I put it in gear from the rear. The only thing I didn't replace was the diff mount. I have a BMW made mz3 solid rubber one but it has 12 years and ~120k miles on it. Since I went the AKG path, I got one for for the diff. I just to the old one pressed out and new one in. I also got the rear aligned at a shop to get it back in spec as much as possible with the adjustable TABs.

[monty23psk]

Realized I had updated my r3vlimited thread but not this one from April 2019.

Hey everyone, been awhile. Since my last update, our 3rd child was born so car has just been sitting there with minor use or work. In preparation for the 2019 Vintage, I am starting up again. I sent in cluster to Bavarian Restoration to restore the instrument cluster as my SI board is bad, and I have a battery drain. I also have a sporadic speedo/mpg gauge and it all points to the instrument cluster. I got it back and here is a picture of it. I also has order some years ago a new trim piece that goes below and new screws from BMW. I painted the bezel when I painted the cluster face.  Bavarian also added a speedo calibration tool, which is the cable you see at the bottom. I will use my phone's GPS to calibrate the speed.



The car is on jack stands, as I am also upgrading my diff to a 3.73 LSD. Agent, on this board, is helping me with it. They rebuilt my 4.10 open diff.

[monty23psk]

I decided to change my spare tire as I needed a 6.5 wide rim so that the tire did not bump up the trunk carpet. I found out that the e34 spare tire, is a steelie with the right width. I found one pretty much never used and swapped the tire.

[monty23psk]

Nothing really to update as just driving it on occasion and gathering more parts.  But I noticed my Photobucket pics are not working. If you click on them, they will load and maybe if I have time, I will update them all to another site.

Happy new year all!