Has anyone ever removed the black plastic louvre vent assy's next to the batteries?
My right side vent has a damaged vane and to repair it I've tried removing the whole assembly, but only one corner of the plastic frame would come free. Don't want to apply excessive force and break it so am wondering if there is a trick to removal?
Also I'm wanting to remove the right side battery tray (currently have both batteries removed for replacement and some acid spill to remedy on and under the RH tray), but it appears to be securely bonded to the trunk/boot floor.
Parts catalogue shows it is a separate part, but even after removing the two bolts for the exhaust muffler hanger immediately below (nuts for these are welded to the battery tray), the tray is still stuck fast.
Attached is an annotated copy of one of Timm's pics (from his battery removal procedure) to illustrate the parts in question.
Any assistance or advice would be appreciated.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
I have done both. The vents are just hold in place by small plastic clips in each corner. Small amount of force should release them. However it is easier to remove them if you take the rear bumber off and push the clips down. The batterytrays are spot welded and in order to remove them you need to drill those spot welds off. If you clean it good you should be able to see where the spots are.
Many thanks for the prompt reply, Mika.
I will persevere with the plastic vent removal per your advice, but will not attempt to remove the battery tray, since it is spot-welded.
Have given the area a good neutralising treatment with bicarbonate of soda solution, followed by clean water flush, drain and drying out.
Once it's completely dry, I will spray in/around and under the tray with a Dinol wax, for future protection from acid/corrosion.
Will then re-install the plastic plug in the trunk floor skin, below the forward end of the tray.
This is fitted from underneath and access is gained by removing the exhaust hanger brackets and displacing the muffler heat shield, which I've done already. There's no sign of acid damage to the underside of the trunk floor skin, just some oxidation to the top of the aluminium heat shield, which I've now cleaned up.
While I'm in the area, I'm getting all four muffler hanger brackets stripped and re-plated, as they are showing signs of light surface rust.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Used a little more persuasion and got the aforementioned vent out, undamaged.
The rubber louvre/vane wasn't actually damaged - it had just popped out of the groove in the carrier, so after a good clean of the whole vent assembly I reinstalled the dislodged louvre using a plastic scraper to gently push the rubber tabs back into the carrier groove - all good again.
New batteries are next.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Following on from my previous post - what's the consensus on battery size?
The BMW parts catalog lists 2x 65 AH (DIN 66) batteries, but the old batteries that came out of my car were the larger 85 AH (DIN 85) units.
The latter is over a hundred bucks more per battery than the DIN 66, and of course much heavier too.
I'm leaning towards buying two DIN 66 batteries due to price and less weight to carry around, but would appreciate suggestions/advice from any experienced battery gurus on here.
We do not have severe winters here, so cold cranking is never going to be an issue.
The battery brand I'm looking at buying is VARTA, who are the OEM supplier for BMW, Mercedes, etc.
Cheers
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Both battery tray areas cleaned/painted and Dinol'ed, louvre vents reinstalled.
Two new VARTA 74AH (680CCA) batteries purchased, plus one new vent elbow connector.
Waiting on replating of exhaust hanger brackets now, to be refitted before I install the batteries.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Finally got the two new VARTA's installed yesterday.
Just waiting for the tie-down clamp and bolt for the left battery (getting them re-plated) before closing up that side.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Quick update - the new batteries are fully installed and the newly plated muffler hangers were installed again last weekend, which then allowed me to refit the rear wheel arch liners, rear wheels, trunk lining, etc.
In essence, the car is off jacks and roadworthy again!
Next I'm going to do some work on the front end - namely removing old/fitting new: headlight adjusters, looms and gas struts.
Will need some patience and luck with that, from what I've read so far.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Nicely done. You are particular like me. Only so many of us.
What "thumbs up" really means
Was the Dinol wax installed from factory? Or is this just your step to protect from any potential future mess?
CB42366 - 1991 850i 6-speed. Brilliantrot & Black Nappa Leather
CD00144 - 1994 850CSi. Hellrot & Black Nappa Leather
My other projects:
Supercharged Tbirds, V8 Tbirds, V8 Mustang Convertible, Audi V8 Quattro & Audi S8
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
Well done! Your attention to detail is incredible.
Desecrator of all things Sacred
Thanks - I'm a detail sort of guy by nature, I guess.
It also helps when you don't need to have the car on the road every week, so you have plenty of time to attend to these things.
Current:
1994 E31 850CSi Sterlingsilber/Anthracite Buffalo
Previous:
1987 E28 M5 Delphin
1986 E23 M745iA Arctic Blue
1986 E24 635CSi Polaris
1976 E3 3.0 Si Arctic Blue
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