monty23psk

[monty23psk]

Yes I

Awesome! I also have a Jordan-rebuilt ABS unit, and damn it is one of the best "upgrades" I have ever done. The stock ABS is really good (when it is actually working)!

Yes, after you did it and reported back I decided to do it. Car feels different, in a good way. Even with the upgraded brakes it is so much better.

[monty23psk]

Have done a few things while still collecting some parts for the paint job. I took care of a leaky top o-ring on the AC compressor. While doing it, I replaced the r134a service ports and valves from BMW. The blue and red caps are nice and bright. The internal valve was replaced with a kit I got from Amazon that also has the same tool.



Here is the low pressure installed:


I also took the change to replace the watertight insulated connectors for the AC compressor as they deteriorated and one of the connector plugs was broken. I has connected them and just used heat shrink tubing to protect from water. I added new tips and new connectors from BMW.

[bmwman91]

Keeping busy over there! Looks like you are making good progress.

[monty23psk]

Another update a long time coming. Steering wheel would rattle over bumpy or uneven payment. First I thought it was balancing or something worn but the rattle is only felt with the steering wheel. The airbag steering knuckle guibo was starting to show the cords. The part is a one piece solution riveted for the airbag cars. It has recently gone NLA. I decided to do what many do, remove the rivets and add the stock or aftermarket guibo. I decided on rubber and all the other materials, while great for the track will, not make it as enjoyable on regular roads as the rubber item. I got all new hardware from BMW for the conversion. I can saw that the little rattle is gone but need to really drive it on the highway to test. Luckily just remove the bolts from the steering rack is enough to get the knuckle off in my case. I can now service this if needed with out remove these bolts.


Here are the cords showing through the rubber which was allowing it to flex and cause the rattle.


Here are all the new parts from BMW.



All back together. Also used a wire brush to remove grime and old cosmoline on the aluminum.

[bmwman91]

Wow, awesome! I was afraid I would need to go with a solid coupler since the OEM one is NLA, but it looks like an inexpensive OEM part works fine after rivet removal. Could you post a parts list of the guibo and fasteners?

[monty23psk]

Sure. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=1113-USA-10-1987-E30-BMW-325i&diagId=32_0480

Parts 9-13.
You will need 4 bolts/nuts. I ordered the 8 washers but only 4 will work due to the wider part at the top of bolt. The diagram has is incorrectly on both sides of guibod. Part 11 is not listed here but I did find it and ordered it. I didn't need it as the plastic bushing on mine was there and still tight. I did install the new one (because I had it) but had to use a 10mm drill bit to open it up a little to fit the steering shaft.

If you want me to get you the PN, just let me know and I will pull up receipt.

[bmwman91]

Awesome, thanks! Yeah, if you have the #11 PN handy, I will try to get that one as well. At this point, with a 31 year old car, I just replace everything in an assembly if it is not made of metal lol.

[monty23psk]

Totally agree.  Here you go: 32311114508   

[monty23psk]

Another small update. Noticed a little oil on the floor of garage. Found out one of the bolts for the lower oil pan had fallen out. Feared something was stripped and over time it backed out. Order new bolt from BMW, and sure enough, it was striped. I order the timesert m6 kit and off I went. Replaced the gasket with a version from BMW, which is from Elring but seems to be a different model than when you get it aftermarket. Also replace the front bolts that had oxidation due to threads being exposed from the top. Also, did a cleaning of the inside/outside with Simple Green and a toothbrush. Didn't take a pic of the before.

Timesert installed:


A cleaned lower oil pan (I then took a wire wheel to remove any old gasket residue):



Gasket:

[bmwman91]

Leaky oil pans...such a pain. Did you install the gasket dry, or with some sealant?

[monty23psk]

Leaky oil pans...such a pain. Did you install the gasket dry, or with some sealant?

Dry, followed BMW instructions. The gasket was still dry except where the bolt had fallen off and even that it was minimal due to the other 15 bolts being used to keep it together. If it was like this for 10 years, why mess with it.

[monty23psk]

After using Bosch batteries, non-AGM for the last 10 years, I have decided to find an AGM replacement. Going through my records, I have changed it out every 2-3 years for it not able to hold a charge over night. With Pepboys being sold, and they no longer carrying Bosch, I decided to go with an Odyssey AGM 96R battery. Our cars and probably the 325i/is with battery in the trunk, uses the T6/GRP91 size. While a H6/GRP48 will work, it is an inch taller. The only GRP91 I find that is AGM is from Bosch and nothing easily found in my area. The 96R size is same width and height as the the 91 just a little shorter in length. As long as you can get creative with the tie down, it will work just fine. I installed it tonight and all is good. Even the SI board GGraves voltmeter reads higher with the key in position 1. This deeper cycle battery should hold out better and it comes with 3 year warranty from Autozone. I have a GRP 93 on the shelf, 3 yrs old, AGM and still has 12.6v.

[bmwman91]

Nice, good to know about the sizing. I have found that it is getting harder and harder to find places that stock the proper battery. I can probably 3D print a spacer block to make a 96 fit well. Fingers crossed that I get at least a couple more years out of the battery in there!

[monty23psk]

I have something up my sleeve with another battery, also from Odyssey that some of the 911 owners use. Found out someone used it in a non track e30 m3 and no issues. I will post pictures here once I install.

[monty23psk]

So here is what I was up to. Doing some research, the 911 guys do this battery upgrade and confirmed an owner with e30 m3 street version car did it as well. There is an Odyssey battery, the PC925, that is much smaller, still AGM, and about ~12lbs lighter, and also cheaper than the 96 I bought. Because I was within my 30 days, Autozone happily exchanged it and credit me the difference.

I also found a company that makes a kit to mount it. Company is call Rennline, same as the one with the phone mount I installed. I purchased the universal kit and bolted it with 2 bolts to the existing e30 plastic battery tray. I did get measurements in having conversations with them. Great customer service.

Here are the old 96R batter compared to the new 925. I did have to by the SAE terminal posts which is nice as it has a bolt that screws in on top. Used it for the trickle battery charger connectors.


The posts (from Odyssey):


The battery installed with the Rennline mounting kit: