New Owner 1981 320i

[osburn383]

Thanks for the info.

There's a mechanical temperature switch that runs to the evaporator in the center console, my money would be starting there. If the wire isn't receiving the 12 volts, also double check that it's the correct wire. When I pulled an archaic alarm system I accidentally mistook one black wire for that one. Checking is easy, if you turn the ac switch on it should read 12 volts at startup. It's a thin 16 ga black wire coming out of the passenger side firewall on mine. They were all dealer installed though, so your mileage may vary.

Went and took it apart to inspect.
Found some lovely surprises.






Plus this support bar was not attached to anything.
Probably was the source of my an awful rattle.


Bare wires were just sitting like that behind the console!
Anyone off hand tell me what they go to?






I found the relay for the AC.
I tested for ground. Was good.
Jumped power to the opposite side of the coil.
It clicked and powered everything up!

After doing this the knob now activates the relay like its suppose to.
I guess the inside of the relay had corroded together?
Probably should get a new relay.






I will try it out on the drive to work tomorrow and see how it performs.
Also looks like there is adjustment screws to tweak for when the compressor will cycle.

[charter21p5]

Really great thread! Cannot wait to see the car finished!

[osburn383]

Thanks!

Really great thread! Cannot wait to see the car finished!

While I'm waiting on a new style of r12 can tap I put these on the car the other day.
Some aftermarket taillight assemblies I bought from Norway for $80 shipped.

[cgifool]

wow, great deal on the taillights!

whats the source?

[osburn383]

Got them here.
http://www.nos-parts.com/Taillight-u...E21)-1980-1982.

I was mistaken on price.
The ones in the picture cost me $132 shipped from Norway. Frico Brand ( not sure if thats how you spell will have to look at the lights later)
They fit great look 99 percent the same.
I had also bought one left oem taillight assembly on ebay from Austria for $80 shipped.

wow, great deal on the taillights!

whats the source?

[osburn383]

Does any body off hand know what this might have went to originally?
I was looking through the schematics but didn't see the blue wires. Might have found the yellow red in the heater section.
Might be the original wires for speed control and the dealer ac install tech did this?





This section seems to have the right colors.
The speed of than fan works fine.

[cgifool]

Speakers?

[osburn383]

Speakers?

Oh I think your right looking at this.
Which makes sense looking at the awful radio wiring.

[Somjuan]

If you want music, leave the old wiring dead, common ground systems will make a modern amp and head unit suck.

[osburn383]

Did some cosmetic improvements on the bumper.
Much better!
Going to go back and cut the supports down later to tuck it even closer.
Oh and definitely watch out for when drilling those gas supports.
Way more oil came out than i expected.







The amount i cut out.

[xplodngKeys]

I'm a new owner too!

Woohoo! we're in a club! Hope that 5spd works out for you, the thing is geared amazingly well to keep me from getting impounded

[osburn383]

Time to do the wheel bearings.
Had a ticking coming from the driver side wheel.

Super dirty.
You can seal the seal as long stopped doing its job with all the grim.







I used the rotor as holder for the hub.
Used a seal puller to extract the seal. Been a handy tool over the years.
Used a socket on an extension to knock out the small race.
Then used a large flat head and hammer to knock out the larger race.






Cleaned and painted.





I rented a bearing driver set from Autozone.
Makes putting in the races super straight forward.
Packed the bearings up with nice quality grease.





Installed.
I followed what several threads recommended on tightening the castle nut.
Tightened to 22ft/lbs while spinning the hub.
Back off the nut, then tightened to 2ft/lbs.
The backed the nut off to the first hole to put the cotter pin through.






Well all seems good.
It got rid of the ticking!

I will probably recheck the nuts in about a week.

[osburn383]

Well the passenger side was to loose.
Went to the next cotter pin hole and seems good now.

Now i have a ticking in the rear.....

I jacked it up and put the car in gear.
Cant really hear the ticking.
Seems like it needs a load.

My diff whine/whirr is getting louder though and could be the cause of some of the ticking noise.If I spin one tire by hand the diff makes a noticeable repetitive clunking noise.
When both tires are going the same direction it barely makes any noise.

I am searching for a good used diff now to try and replace it.
I need to check the cv axles to make sure they are not clicking.
Not sure on this.
Just repack cv axle and see. Looks like no new ones are available anymore.

I did experience a very loud repetitive metal clunking sound when cornering very hard left.

[Somjuan]

I would guess cv before the diff, have you done a fluid change?

[pommeree]

Wheels look awesome. What kind of paint did you use here? The 2K in a can?

[osburn383]

I would guess cv before the diff, have you done a fluid change?

Going to try and get under it and inspect more thoroughly this weekend.
Changed the diff fluid a few weeks back.

- - - Updated - - -

Wheels look awesome. What kind of paint did you use here? The 2K in a can?

No this is VHT Black Epoxy Paint.
Sprays nicely and cures fast.

There is a 2k Black paint for aimed at hotrodders i would like to try out some time, but the $22 a can price holds me back.

[82Kashmir]

I have the same model automatic 3 speed appox 150k on the clock. When I drive over 50 mph the car has a noticeable humming whirring noise form the rear of the car_ driver side, drives fine otherwise. How much noise is normal? Dif fluid has been changed.

[Thecatmilton]

I have the same model automatic 3 speed appox 150k on the clock. When I drive over 50 mph the car has a noticeable humming whirring noise form the rear of the car_ driver side, drives fine otherwise. How much noise is normal? Dif fluid has been changed.

Differential could be bad. I have a '83 320i automatic differential with 71k miles on it if you are interested. It should be good, but it is untested. I am planning on welding it so I don't hurt the diff currently in my car.

[osburn383]

Been a bit since updating any work.
Been daily driving it for months now without o much issue.

Sorry no pictures this time.
I did install front a rear st sway bars.
That made a huge improvement on the feel of the car.
Much more stable while driving normal and spirited.

Installed a Ireland "Alpina" Front brace.
Seemed to help but couldn't tell any better feel than what the sway bars had given me.


Main Issue.
I have been having trouble with the front wheel bearings.
I replaced both front sides several months back as they where making this clicking sound.
You could hear is going straight but was more pronounced when turning.
They seemed better for awhile.
They started to make more noise again so i put skf bearing in instead of the national bearings.

I followed the BMW procedure Where you rotate hub while tightening to about 26 foot pounds
Then back off. Tighten to 2 foot pounds and back off to next available cotter pin hole. While having the washer move behind the nut.

There feels like there is to much play when rocking the wheel from the 12 and 6 o-clock position.
They make more noise now especially when turning.
If i tighten the castle nut any more i am no longer able to move the washer behind the nut.
Really at a loss on this. Any help would be much appreciated.

[osburn383]

Sooooo i figured out my wheel bearing issue.
I was my chrome wheel trim rings making all the noise........
Perfectly quite now driving through the neighborhood.

[charter21p5]

Looks good!

[bwesty]

Los Angeles transplant here, but native to the 205. Cheers

[osburn383]

Got the new wheels mounted.
Ended up needing 17.5mm ecs tuning spacers.
Drives soooo much better now.

[SilverPuddle]

Looks really good. Great job!

[osburn383]

Some work from the past month or so.

Rebooted and greased the axles.

The old. Starting to dry rot the rubber.







Got the axles off without to much trouble.
I would suggest a friend to help spin the tires and pull the e-brake so you dont have to get up and down a million times.





Getting those covers off to re-grease was more work than i had anticipated.









Cleaned and ready for new grease.




Ready to reinstall.





Had gotten a low mile diff to replace my whining diff but it ended up having a pinon bearing whirring noise.
Then i got a second one and same.
Put the original back in and no pinon noise but same old whine.
I will come back to the diff later when i do a 5 speed swap.
It looks nice all painted and cleaned to bad it needs a rebuild.