Shorty need some lovin'

[clarkitect]

Think I can lift this intake without pulling the fuel rail and electrical boxes? Just lift the whole assembly?

[dannyzabolotny]

Think I can lift this intake without pulling the fuel rail and electrical boxes? Just lift the whole assembly?

I did that with my 540i before. You just have to make sure all of your electrical bits are disconnected, including the starter wire and the oil level sensor wire. Then you just undo the intake manifold bolts and pull the whole assembly up. Make sure to remove the spring-loaded CCV pipe under the manifold before you fully lift everything up.

[clarkitect]

Dang forgot about that pipe. Thanks.

[dannyzabolotny]

You may want to replace your intake manifold gaskets if they haven't been replaced in a while. Just something to think about while you're there.

[clarkitect]

I replaced them last year when I did guides. Close to 1 year to the day. I did note that they seem pretty stiff, although that could be because it is 27 degrees in here. I will probably replace them. No way do I want to open this up again this week.

image.jpg
Intake manifold is up. 7:05. Time to start the water pump job again!

- - - Updated - - -

7:23. Water pump out. Getting good at it.

[scookm]

You remind me of the things I have been doing. I am into my 99 528iT for about $6k after purchase of $3,500. It just wear & tear, nothing has gone faul other than the brake booster which surprised myself & my Indy mechanic.

Nice work! I also buy where you do, so it was a good read. ;-)

[clarkitect]

You remind me of the things I have been doing. I am into my 99 528iT for about $6k after purchase of $3,500. It just wear & tear, nothing has gone faul other than the brake booster which surprised myself & my Indy mechanic.

Nice work! I also buy where you do, so it was a good read. ;-)

Hey thanks scookm! It's mostly a labor of love (and money). Mine had been very reliable so far other than this coolant issue. I tried to take care of most things to get it all up to speed.

Back in business! Thanks Danny and Nick.

[scookm]

You're welcome! I am lucky to have a really good Indy who is almost family now since he has worked on my cars now for 5 years & counting. I try & buy the parts & he does the labor. It really has worked out as a nice ROI. He is very fast but thorough at bottom-line family discounts. I do come from a family of muscle car/dragster racing, but these cars must be worked on with care. You are brave to dive in, so I respect that as well as others on these forums.

[clarkitect]

You're welcome! I am lucky to have a really good Indy who is almost family now since he has worked on my cars now for 5 years & counting. I try & buy the parts & he does the labor. It really has worked out as a nice ROI. He is very fast but thorough at bottom-line family discounts. I do come from a family of muscle car/dragster racing, but these cars must be worked on with care. You are brave to dive in, so I respect that as well as others on these forums.

You'd be surprised at what you can do with this forum and other online resources. A lot of my jumping in is out of necessity. This car is my daily so I need to keep it on the road and today's fix would have been several hundred dollars or more. Instead I'm into it for about $60 plus a little more time than I wanted to spend.

That said, i still use my indy from time to time. Good to have one who lets you bring your own parts too.

I had an E39 530i before I got this. Really loved that car. Always liked the Tourings too. Would love a 540iT.

[dannyzabolotny]

You'd be surprised at what you can do with this forum and other online resources. A lot of my jumping in is out of necessity. This car is my daily so I need to keep it on the road and today's fix would have been several hundred dollars or more. Instead I'm into it for about $60 plus a little more time than I wanted to spend.

That said, i still use my indy from time to time. Good to have one who lets you bring your own parts too.

I had an E39 530i before I got this. Really loved that car. Always liked the Tourings too. Would love a 540iT.

This forum is an amazing resource in general. I used to spend a lot of time in the E39 section, as I have three 540i's. I've done three timing chain guide jobs last year, and the first timing chain guide job I did was literally the first thing I had ever DIY'd on a car. Now that was a crash course in car work, and I learned so much from that.

Now I'm going through the learning process all over again with my 1995 750il. I could probably afford to pay a mechanic for this stuff, but I have way too much pride to do that, plus I love the satisfaction of repairing my own car. Not many people in this day and age can repair their cars, so it's a useful skill to have.

[scookm]

Agreed to both comments. My garage is inaccessible & the weather here in PDX is just too unpredictable. I would be all in with a empty garage. ;-)

[clarkitect]

Well, came out of the office last evening to see what looked like some fresh liquid under the car. Yup, was dripping coolant. Dammit!

Drove it 0.4 miles home and checked it out - coolant expansion tank was leaking after only 16 months and 14k miles.

When I purchased the tank I cheaped out and bought a Hudson brand tank. Looked just like the OEM one I removed from the car that I replaced because the internal disptick was broken. Total NOOB move not buying the BMW tank.

Fortunately I held on to the old tank for just such an emergency. I almost threw it away the other day too. Thankfully I didn't. Replaced the tank and all will hopefully be well. Will send the Hudson back to FCP.

Here I was concerned because I had all this extra BMW coolant laying around too. Turns out to be an unfounded fear. Can't have enough of this stuff.

[purplecty]

OE BMW expansion tank or will bust every year and a half or so... Ask me how I know

[tomloans]

OE BMW expansion tank or will bust every year and a half or so... Ask me how I know

I wish i didnt read this... Fortunately the expansion tank is an easy DIY. One thing you can do to avoid losing all the fluid is leave the bottom hose on for last. I have actually quickly popped off the old one and replaced the new one with minimal loss of fluid. But I was just thinking you can probably lightly pinch the hose with some visegrips so you dont lose the radiator fluid at all. I am going to try this next time. Incidentally this thread is really old.

[GSXRliterbikz]

I have some crazy new tanks laying around my shop if you want to buy one of these.
My car doesn't use that style anymore so I'll never need them.

[E39 Expert]

On my E36 M3 I got rid of the plastic expansion tank and upgraded to an aluminum Mishimoto expansion tank

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

[clarkitect]

OE BMW expansion tank or will bust every year and a half or so... Ask me how I know

Sadly I didn't have that knowledge at the time. Now I am in the know too!

I wish i didnt read this... Fortunately the expansion tank is an easy DIY. One thing you can do to avoid losing all the fluid is leave the bottom hose on for last. I have actually quickly popped off the old one and replaced the new one with minimal loss of fluid. But I was just thinking you can probably lightly pinch the hose with some visegrips so you dont lose the radiator fluid at all. I am going to try this next time. Incidentally this thread is really old.

I know it's old, but it's mine and I try to update it once in a while with whatever I do to the car. I try to update the ongoing parts list once in a while too. That's somewhere on a previous page.

I have some crazy new tanks laying around my shop if you want to buy one of these.
My car doesn't use that style anymore so I'll never need them.

I might take you up on one of those! May be driving by your way at some point in the near future.

On my E36 M3 I got rid of the plastic expansion tank and upgraded to an aluminum Mishimoto expansion tank

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

Wish the expansion take was taken out of the pressure equation on these cars and was just a buffer reservoir like on other cars. That would be much simpler.

[tomloans]

Actually this is a very good idea to keep one long thread updated. just keep a running track of what we have done to our personal vehicle.

[clarkitect]

Actually this is a very good idea to keep one long thread updated. just keep a running track of what we have done to our personal vehicle.

Yeah I think it works pretty well. Plus guys chime in with advice. Excellent!

[clarkitect]

Well I have not been a contributing member here for a while. Mostly stop in to see what's on the CL thread and what's happening with Brandon's latest car. Been busy with the new digs and associated renovations, so car time has been at a minimum. I've replaced the front brakes with Brakemotive pads and rotors trying to chase down a braking shimmy, but no avail. Still getting a shimmy on braking. Everything else up front is new. Will try to check it out this weekend, but we'll see. Also a clunking in the rear has shown up, some funny vibrations on the highway, and quite the clatter when starting it hot on a hot day. Sounds like hydraulic lifters. Annoying.

Also replaced the BALD rear Sumitomos after about 10k miles. When they get that bald you can really squeal the tires at read lights. Replaced them with some take-off Sumis from ebay. Should be good now until the fronts are shot, then will try a new tire but no sense dumping a ton of money into something that'll be bald in a couple years. Was thinking of getting some rear wheels to put on the front for a square set-up so at least they could be rotated.

Car still looks pretty good and is enjoying its new home.







Updated parts list here: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...1#post28850991

[clarkitect]

Keeping this updated. Needed front sway bar links, bushings, rear brake lines, and rear shocks for inspection. Did the front stuff at home and ran out of time so having my mechanic do the shocks and brake lines.

Some new parts


Under body plastics shot:






Sway bar bushings shot:


Stupid road salt. Everything is rusty:


New:




E65 winter mats work like a champ:


Wrinkle black paint didn't hold up very well. Bummer:




If anyone in the northeast parts out a Cosmos Schwartz shorty I would be interested in your doors. Mine are getting a little crusty.

Also still fighting brake vibration despite new suspension and brakes. Also an oscillating highway vibration. Not wheel/tire related since I get it with summer and winter set-ups. I am thinking possibly driveshaft related.

[cazal740i]

Scrape area, tape area and re spray

[clarkitect]

Scrape area, tape area and re spray

Yeah that's what I've been doing to all my cars. Doors are getting a bit too crusty for that though. Will do that again though until I get my hands on some matching doors. And move someplace warmer.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh! You're talking about the valve covers! Yeah, will do in the spring!

[psjr]

It looks like you may have your spark plug covers installed backwards... there should be no gap between them and the front of the valve covers.

[clarkitect]

It looks like you may have your spark plug covers installed backwards... there should be no gap between them and the front of the valve covers.

Doh! You're right. I double checked the torque on all the plugs at the end of of the day. Must have been in a rush to finish.

Thanks!