60 minute fixes / upgrades?

[sfgearhead]

What mods/improvements or repairs can you guys think of that takes less than an hour and doesn't require major tools?

I was inspired to yank the bike rack off the touring today over lunch for a couple reasons.

1. It was a nice day out.
2. I wanted to get away from my desk and PC and was looking for an excuse to hang out outside
3. I usually have more pressing things to do when I get home and
4. I wasn't using it and wanted to quiet down the car and up my fuel economy.

This got me to thinking about the $100 fixes (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1301905&highlight=CHeap+fix) thread, and what easy fixes I could knock out over my lunch break.

So a couple ideas already popped up:

1. Repair missing/broken bulbs - one of my OBC lights is out
2. Replace microfilter
3. Remove old sticker residue from wheels
4. Vacuum interior
5. Replace air filter

So yeah, might be worst thread ever, but if I can knock out some small stuff during the week I can spend more time on bigger jobs like the brake flush and coolant flushes that I keep putting off.

[moroza]

1. Steering wheel tilt mod.
2. Lift bumper to hide the grill/bumper gap you probably have.
3. Adjust headlights (only at night, really).
4. Condition the seat leather.
5. Bong delete.

[bigsixe34]

cosmetically anything that is changed via rattle-can is easily done in an hour
-niteshades on various lights
-kidney black out
-possibly shadowline
-some more talented people can do an entire valve adjustment 60 minutes
-bolt on new wheels
-debadge
-oil change
-chip upgrade
to name some...

[sfgearhead]

5. Bong delete.

:lol LOL, my first thought was "hide the bong dude!".

6. Clean out stale bong water from carpet.

[bigsixe34]

1. Steering wheel tilt mod.
2. Lift bumper to hide the grill/bumper gap you probably have.
3. Adjust headlights (only at night, really).
4. Condition the seat leather.
5. Bong delete.
:rofl what's a Bong delete??:shifty
EDIT:

:lol LOL, my first thought was "hide the bong dude!".

6. Clean out stale bong water from carpet.

:lol around here that's asking for it, dude. i mean i've rolled around with a hookah in my e34 tons of times but never a bong :eyecrazy

[5senses]

fuel filter change... air filter... brake sensor (brake lining) change... retro to modern side mirrors( still waiting for the electric write up)... dogbones..etc

[moroza]

When you wake up one morning in a sweet-smelling haze and can't remember where you are, how you got there, or what year it is, it's time for a bong delete. :stickoutt

I deleted the chime/bong that reminds me of various things like that it's cold, that the car's starting, that my door's open, put on seatbelts, blah blah blah. Got sick of it and just pulled the speaker in the driver's footwell "ceiling" panel. Just pay a little more attention to what the CC says, in case it starts to lose oil pressure or overheat or whatnot. The tradeoff is nothing interfering with the sound of your engine coming to life.

[bigsixe34]

When you wake up one morning in a sweet-smelling haze and can't remember where you are, how you got there, or what year it is, it's time for a bong delete.

I deleted the chime/bong that reminds me of various things like that it's cold, that the car's starting, that my door's open, put on seatbelts, blah blah blah. Got sick of it and just pulled the speaker in the driver's footwell "ceiling" panel. Just pay a little more attention to what the CC says, in case it starts to lose oil pressure or overheat or whatnot. The tradeoff is nothing interfering with the sound of your engine coming to life.

ah, i get it now...
but umm, who the hell decided to call that sound a "bong" :confused. i mean i've heard of onomatopoeia but that's a stretch.

[moroza]

Maybe it's more of a Bing sound? I dunno, I'ven't heard it in a while. Now, if it made a distinct Burbleburblesluuurrrpp sound, it'd just be asking for it.

[attack eagle]

brake pad change

seat twist fix

amp rewire

headlight conversion.
headlight tilt
electrochromatic mirror + map lights

valvecover respray

aftermarket alarm is close to one hour... maybe one hour prep and 20 minutes install.

[nismoracer65789]

Performance chip install?

[sfgearhead]

"seat twist fix"

Good one, both my headrests are dead.

Lots of great suggestions, not all I'd be willing to perform in the parking lot at my office, but keep em coming!

One more - lube tracks on sunroof.

[renegadeforce]

glove box delete...:shifty

[LouieD]

Map lights, and head rests... even on Tourings!

[ThinWhiteDuke]

1. Steering wheel tilt mod.
2. Lift bumper to hide the grill/bumper gap you probably have.
3. Adjust headlights (only at night, really).
4. Condition the seat leather.
5. Bong delete.

What is this steering wheel tilt mod you speak of? I googled...got nothing. Link?

[moroza]

Stick two washers between the steeringcolumn mounting plate and the dashboard bracket, lower the wheel to a less truck-like position.

[David325e]

Clean Door Jambs and Grease hinges
Remove tail lights and clean in there
Check tires pressures, including spare.
Check vacuum lines.

[dansgt]

Stick two washers between the steeringcolumn mounting plate and the dashboard bracket, lower the wheel to a less truck-like position.
lower it? sh*t that things already too low for me lol. seriously it hits my legs lol

[moroza]

Truck-sized wheels need truck-like positions. Lowering should go hand in hand with a smaller wheel (I highly recommend the 370mm MTech 2).

[ShapeShifter]

Stick two washers between the steeringcolumn mounting plate and the dashboard bracket, lower the wheel to a less truck-like position.
Best thing I've read in awhile.:buttrock
Gonna do that first thing in the morning.:redspot

[TheStigg]

- new hood/trunk struts

- new wiper blades

- have tires balanced

- replace the brake light switch to get rid of the stupid warning.

my favorite: replace the p/s fluid reservoir & low pressure hoses & drain & purge the fluid, followed by detailing the engine compartment.

[moroza]

detailing the engine compartment.

60 minutes? :confused I've been detailing mine steadily over some 6 months... I guess a guru with a full tool set could do it in a weekend, but that'd be grueling.

[ThinWhiteDuke]

Stick two washers between the steeringcolumn mounting plate and the dashboard bracket, lower the wheel to a less truck-like position.

Ok, school me on the steering column mounting plate and dashboard bracket locations...b/c I'm slightly retarded.

I did my own control and thrust arms last weekend, and I torqued under normal load! So, I'm not completely retarded....

[moroza]

Don't want to threadjack more than I already have. I'll make a separate thread in the DIY subforum tomorrow (when I can take pics).

(wasn't this covered on e34net or some other thread?)

[5senses]

not to mine knowledge sir....

[attack eagle]

60 minutes? :confused I've been detailing mine steadily over some 6 months... I guess a guru with a full tool set could do it in a weekend, but that'd be grueling.

mine stayed clean... that is one benefit to living in a desert... the dust blows in and rinses right back off.


Don't want to threadjack more than I already have. I'll make a separate thread in the DIY subforum tomorrow (when I can take pics).

(wasn't this covered on e34net or some other thread?)


you mean the thread by a kid with 1/2" particle board spacers? LOL.

[vjdebart]

I like the bong

[ross1]

Replace V-8 engine mounts

[ThinWhiteDuke]

Allow to contribute to make up for my thread jacking:

Replace the Auxiliary fan / Aux fan resistor
Replace several bits of the interior (rear ashtrays, lights, switches, etc.)
Repaint trim (the black trim on the body, bumpers, grill)
Tune up (I know air filter was mentioned, but you should be able to do the oil, plugs, air filter, and check several other things in 60 minutes)

There's a TON you can do in 60 minutes....it's all the small stuff that keeps our e34s in good shape and babied as they should be!

I look forward to the tilt DIY. I searched the forums, diy section, bmwe34.net, and google and got nothing on it.

[sfgearhead]

Lots of good suggestions, but there are definitely difference between things that can be done in an office parking lot (replacing lights, etc), vs. things you need to be at home to do (replacing PS lines, which is a great suggestion). Yesterday I lubed the sunroof, today I'm replacing the microfilter over lunch. Maybe I need to cultivate some friends at work! LOL! Keep em coming!

[mean green 540]

When you wake up one morning in a sweet-smelling haze and can't remember where you are, how you got there, or what year it is, it's time for a bong delete. :stickoutt

I deleted the chime/bong that reminds me of various things like that it's cold, that the car's starting, that my door's open, put on seatbelts, blah blah blah. Got sick of it and just pulled the speaker in the driver's footwell "ceiling" panel. Just pay a little more attention to what the CC says, in case it starts to lose oil pressure or overheat or whatnot. The tradeoff is nothing interfering with the sound of your engine coming to life.

hahaha thats the first thing i did! I mean really... I know the freaking key is in the ignition light is the one i want to get rid of!:eyecrazy


Lots of good suggestions, but there are definitely difference between things that can be done in an office parking lot (replacing lights, etc), vs. things you need to be at home to do (replacing PS lines, which is a great suggestion). Yesterday I lubed the sunroof, today I'm replacing the microfilter over lunch. Maybe I need to cultivate some friends at work! LOL! Keep em coming!

lights CAN be and have been done in the office lot. I did a oil change once on lunch. lol