XCRN's 525i Build Thread

[XCRN]

check the solder contacts on the bulb socket. if depo they come loose on new housings. same thing happened to me. where did you get the led kit from

It turned out to just be a burnt bulb, it was one of the few I did not replace. I got the LEDs at the link below. They all fit well except the license plate light, you have to force those in but it works.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291157908767...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[XCRN]

For the second half of Spring semester, I have a class at a campus closer to the junkyard so I figured why not go by in between classes. I found 2 more E34s that have arrive in the yard, an M20 and M50. Here is some of the stuff I got. Two black leather shift knobs, all 4 black weather trim from an E46, three metal door handle trims, hood struts (mainly for the clips), spark plug cover beauty pieces, and somehow found the warning triangle that goes in the trunk tool kit so now people will no longer ask what goes there.



I also ordered new spark plugs because the car was sounding rough. I got Bosch Double Platinum.



These are just horrible.

[south42]

You got the triangle out of the blue car? You did not take the blue case for it thou. What color was the interior of 95 525i?


Andy

[XCRN]

It was expanded on top of the Volvo that was next to the blue car. The 2 E34s were silver and blue interiors, and I did not grab the blue case. Should I have?

Any idea when they are going to take that red E46 coupe out of the holding yard?

[762Armo]

Nice job on the interior there man. Looks clean.

[XCRN]

Nice job on the interior there man. Looks clean.

Thanks, tomorrow I am going to get some real photos of everything out back together.

[762Armo]

Saw somewhere in the thread that you're gonna drive this to Seattle. When you do let me know it'd be fun to hang out shoot the shit for a bit and talk about these cars.

[XCRN]

Plans have changed, I am flying since I need to go to Alabama shortly after then to Florida. But yeah I am game for meeting some people back that way. I will be staying at my mom's in Kirkland and helping her move and will be there for my sister's graduation, but I think I will be flying back that way late May early June. What part of Bellevue are you from?

[762Armo]

Lake Hills. Right now work in downtown Kirkland though.

[XCRN]

At least you are not fighting the traffic on your commute, but there is traffic no matter what so I guess it does not matter.

[762Armo]

It's not bad at all.

[XCRN]

I got all the interior back together and got some good photos of the rewrapping job.







I also did a compression test today and I am confused, but still slightly optimistic things are all right. I do not know the actual cylinder numbers so 1 is the front cylinder.

1 160
2 145
3 145
4 195
5 155
6 155

I am not sure on why number 4 is much higher than the rest, but I am thinking since that cylinder was the most flooded with oil, some of the oil poured into the cylinder and raised the compression. I doubt 5 of the cylinders can go bad at once and still be consistent. You guys have any ideas?

[BleedsBlue]

Car looks pretty good, man. You're right about the front being #1, at least. 1-5-3-6-2-4 for BMW sixes (front to back).

[XCRN]

Thank you, I am almost completely happy with the interior. The last bits I want to do is get some darker vinyl wrap wood trim, replacing the rear seat belt trim pieces, and a real cup holder which will probably take awhile (I am looking into reupholstering center consoles so I could add the bulge for the cup holder and keep the texture the same). For the cylinders I just listed them front to back, and in the spark plug picture in a previous post, the plug for cylinder 4 is the plug second from the left. The plugs should be here next Thursday so I will redo the compression test then on that cylinder hoping that the rest of the oil gets burned off.

[BleedsBlue]

Come to think of it, I've also seen sellers list compression #s for these sixes just front to back, not by firing order.

Not surprised that super dirty plug is #4.

[XCRN]

That cylinder is just strange, the coil pack and spark plug were also different brands from the rest.

[The Night Rider]

Great job, that interior looks completely different than when you got the car. Especially like the re-dyed carpet and black additions.

[XCRN]

Thank you, so much cheaper than buying an entire black interior conversion and I think I would be much happier with this than a full black interior. Now it is time to work on the drivetrain. Yeah, my priorities are not as they should be, but I do not need to drive this car since I have that Corolla to use.

[XCRN]

I got to finishing the last corner with the caliper rebuild and brake line replacement. It all went well until we got to bleeding the front lines. The rears we did no issue but the front was just pissing out wind and every now and then some would come out, progress was being made, just very slowly. We ran out of time so for now we decided to let it gravity bleed until next weekend and then try and get back at it. So for twice a day I am going to be checking on the master cylinder for fluid and fill up as needed. The level is going down and I do not seen any fluid leaking anywhere so it is working.

[atl530i]

Looks good.

[XCRN]

Looks good.

Thank you.

I have some most excellent news. I actually got to drive on public roads today even though it was just to the stop sign and back. It shifted fine and really quieted down after I got the new plugs and octane booster since the fuel in there is likely the low octane fuel in there. There is still a ticking noise which I assume is just the lifter. But there is still more to be done before it is dailyable. There was a pretty bad smell and when I floored it a previous time I heard a belt squeal so that needs to be changed, and I still need to do a transmission flush. Still so much to do but really is a great milestone.

The steering wheel squeal is the column trim is not put back on right and the wheel is rubbing against it.

[stoney85]

That interior colour change looks great! Love the two tone setup.

Has been something I've procrastinated about doing for a while, but this is all the encouragement I need now.

[The Night Rider]

Must feel good to finally get that thing driving. I'm hoping I can post a similar video in a week or two's time.

[XCRN]

That interior colour change looks great! Love the two tone setup.

Has been something I've procrastinated about doing for a while, but this is all the encouragement I need now.

Thanks, if you have to be inside your car a lot, make it something appealing to you. I have been procrastinating getting it driveable.

Must feel good to finally get that thing driving. I'm hoping I can post a similar video in a week or two's time.

It is an absolutly incredible feeling and will be all the more better when I am driving it to school. Now I will no longer have to convince girls I drive a BMW and pull up in a Toyota Corolla. Good luck with getting yours going. What plans do you have after getting it running?

[The Night Rider]

Now I will no longer have to convince girls I drive a BMW and pull up in a Toyota Corolla.

Lol.

Thanks, after I get it going and have made sure all is well; I will go for a drive...a long drive. It has been too long since I have got into a car for no purpose other then to drive - into the night just as The Night Rider once did.