What did you do to your e21 today?

[amarino]

I read old threads on here about using an impact wrench snapping off the top of strut insert when trying to remove so was hoping to avoid that.

Thanks for the offset wrench link, I'll add that to my HF shopping list for today. I still need something like it for tightening when putting back together as I definitely won't use the impact for that.

[320iAman]

I use a vise grip-round jaws type on the shaft covered in cloth and then use an impact wrench to spin the nut off, the vise grip is put in between the upper coils, the nuts spins right off no problemma. Tightening the nut is same except use a deep socket and ratchet wrench, plastic internal lock washers are for the birds use a regular hex nut with loctite, plastic will give way and the nut will loosen over time.

Randy

[amarino]

The pass-through socket set worked great. Got the fronts done today and went for a test drive to let everything settle then checked the tightness on all the bolts again. Now to do the rears tomorrow.

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[amarino]

Got the rears done today. So much easier than the fronts. The ride is much nicer and no more scraping on speed bumps. Still have a shimmy around 65mph on the freeway but the front tires are worn unevenly due to the camber it used to have with the cut springs. Hopefully that goes away after new tires and if not will need to dig into the steering rack.
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Also picked up my 215mm flywheel from the machine shop. Luckily it was all surface rust and very minimal pitting.
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[buccatini]

replaced the alternator bushings. 3 year old poly bushings were eggshaped causing the alternator to cant to the passenger side causing the belt to mis-align. That was easy. a lazy 3 hours, cleaning everything, new belt, some new hardware, tightening the electrical connector on backside of the alternator, new heat-shrink...you know the drill. Fueled by an overdose of cold-brewed coffee and the arrival of the air volume sensor to intake manifold boot, I decided to replace said boot. OM MY GOD! WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS?
This should start with: a.) remove battery b.) drain all fluids c.) disconnect all electrical connectors, hydraulic lines, and cables from motor d.) pull motor and put on engine stand e.) rotate motor as needed to remove all necessary items to install new air volume box-to-intake boot. f.) re-install motor.

Otherwise it turns into a thankless six hour job of nothing but struggle, cursing, cursing in German, guttural cursing and more coffee. It is done. One should never speak of this again or yet maybe revisit this Hell in another three years.

[320iAman]

Changed out my control arms, the rubber bushing in the Control Arm that holds the sway bar was cracked. The control arms installed had the gaps filled with one step 3M polyurethane shore hardness of about 50 same as hard rubber yet durability much much more. The bushings were new. This is Crucial,,,When changing these dont remove the nut all the way on the control arm ball joint and the steering end link ball joints when pressing them out-too easy to wack the threads and make them unusable.

The Control Bushings were new Lemforder $15 ea,,now the price is ridiculous from some sellers. Dorman Control Arms.

s-l500.jpg What they looked like originally,,, Now what they look like.DSCI0486.JPGDSCI0487.JPG

Randy

[amarino]

Had something draining the battery overnight the last few days.

• Started by putting my multimeter that can measure DC amps inline with the negative battery cable.
• Pulled fuses 1 by 1 until the reading dropped to 0. I started on the left side with fuse #1 and turned out what was draining the battery was on fuse #17, second to last one.
  
  • Fuse #17 is the worst since it has the most stuff on it, from the ETM it controls: Warning buzzer, Seatbelt switch, Interior Lights, Trunk light, Digital clock, Tachometer, Turn Signal, Hazard lights.
  
  
• Turned off the lights in the garage and I looked around the cabin and I could see light coming from the glove box:
  
  • PXL_20201022_040411897.jpg
  
  
• Glove box has also been really hard to get closed lately. After some messing with it I found that the bracket where it grabs onto was loose. Tightened up the 2 screws, no more wobbly bracket, glove box closes easily, and no more light stuck on and battery draining.
  
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[320iAman]

Installed New Front Pads Bosch Quiet Cast---amazing how firm the pedal gets from new pads, plus the brake fluid reservoir gets fuller from reduced brake fluid in the lines..

Randy

[okieflats]

Every time I notice the brake fluid level getting low I install new pads.

[320iAman]

Front Pads especially are worth keeping track of as this is where the stopping power is plus Quiet cast types have Ceramic materials infused which makes them quite rotor friendly , no grinding or squealing noise is a big plus. These were at about 50% or slightly more used up.

Randy

[320iAman]

Still had wheel wobble at 55 mph or so,, went in and had the new tires with 6,000 miles rotated and balanced, the weights on all tires were off by 1/2 gram,,wobble is history..

Randy

[msiert]

Took the Bimmer out for a night drive, couldn't resist snapping a picture of a classic car in a parking garage.

Just a week out of a 3 months stay at a mechanic's shop, getting a new a/c compressor installed.

It's currently 63F at 8:30 pm, just beautiful!

[Vermont320i]

Installing low boost turbo on original M10 engine, planning for E36 168mm LSD swap in this winter.
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[glashaus]

I had the ITB 320 painted and just got it back before the weather turns...

[mjweimer]

I had the ITB 320 painted and just got it back before the weather turns...

Looks great!

[320iAman]

Picked up two new Mahle LX36 Air Filters for $10 plus a Haynes 3 & 5 Series Manual,, USPS Priority Mail to boot, He had a BMW and sold it off these were spares not needed anymore, I dont have the 3 series or 5 Series- a book to sell off..
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Randy

[Manny G.]

Finally wired up the Euro bumper license plate lights using the US wire harness. The light spread is much nicer along the lower valence.

Also installed the rear bumper brackets from the Blunt Tech kit i bought 2 years ago. I only installed the fronts back then because I had BMACs adapaters mocked up... the additional brackets really make the bumper sit more solid and flush.


Oh and I power washed and steam cleaned the undercarriage while I had it up on my Quick Jack lift.

[320iAman]

Bought a few items from FCP Euro. Picked up the last of my tune up items plus some Throttle Body Hoses and a few gaskets just to have some extras. Be in next Monday.
1.jpg 2 of these $6 ea-- Very Very Good Deal2.jpg This one for a slight cracked one on the car3.jpg4.jpg

Randy

[GDCish]

Parked my '83 for the winter
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[Vermont320i]

Installed a HKS blow off valve and ignition distributor vacuum assist from a volvo 240 turbo. Still need correct WUR, though. The last piece!

[jbowen944]

Installed new Hella Comet 550's in amber under the bumper. Pulled the old wires running to the broken fogs and redid the wiring as a harness, shrinktubed all of it and ran it hidden. Lights work, will point them tomorrow evening.

[PowerKraut]

Put the engine back in

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[320iAman]

Purchased New Valve Springs 2-6 Packs for $104 -$112 with tax, After the purchase 6 pack went from $52 to $88 per 6 pack. I'm building up new parts for M10 Cylinder Head and Motor.

OE numbers 11341278066, 1134127866, 07306019001, 11 34 1 278 066, 11341276504

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Randy

[amarino]

Few years back I bought a G245 on eBay and the seller let the FedEx store do the packaging. They just double boxed it and filled it with packing peanuts. Not surprising when it arrived damaged as the shift selector rod got bent down and cracked the rear case. Went through the damage claim process, got my money back, and in the end the original seller nor FedEx wanted the broken trans back. So it just sat in the garage as a "spare" and I was on the lookout for a rear casing. I ended up finding another G245 locally for a swap that I never did.

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Few weeks back was browsing Facebook Marketplace I came across a whole G245 that was just the empty shell. Looks like was stored outside and all the steel has rusted but the casing looks good where the other is broken. Don't plan to do anything with them until needed.

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[320iAman]

New Custom made Tucker Valves Seats installed 4-Intake/Inlet 4-Exhaust Valve seats, Interference was Custom Machined at Tucker to .005" - Five Thousandths of inch. It took about 4-5 minutes to drive them in flush no heating or oiling required. You can't miss when the valve seat is seated the sound changes from a thud to sharp twang. I used .375 " Top 8mm tapered pilot made in India, valve seat driver and two valve seat driver heads made in USA, Goodson and a few others carry these tools and a 2 1/2 lb Engineers Hammer.

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Next job will be to cut the narrowing angle in 15 degrees.

Randy