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Thread: Bridge too far, suspension control valve sprung a leak

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Bridge too far, suspension control valve sprung a leak

    I have listed my e32 for sale on the Bay, item no. 282547381319. This car is meant to be owned by someone who loves the e32s and who is patient enough to give it care and time to have it run as often as possible on the roads.
    There is a leak close to the rear suspension control valve when the car was sat in my driveway and the mere thought of having to attack that has me put the white flag up.
    It's too frustrating. I believe that the car just sat too long without driving. Car starts, runs and everything just fine. It really is a 9/10 with 66 k miles. I bought it as a present for my daughter to take to college. She said that the car was too big for her and I guess my motivation to bring it to perfection went when she said it wasn't for her.
    Last edited by JMCLuimni; 06-28-2017 at 02:22 PM. Reason: corrected Ebay bid # as it was not working
    2001 740iL Sport

  2. #2
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    BMW E32 735i
    Hm this doesn't sound like a such big issue to give up. It should be only a matter of some labour and some spare parts. Yes, it's not the easiest fix to do, but it's wort it.

  3. #3
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    @StoyanG
    youre probably right but my motivation is not there anymore....
    Ive no need for the car myself and all the work and effort I was putting into it was for my daughter.
    2001 740iL Sport

  4. #4
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    If you bought this E32 with the intention of giving it to your daughter for college, it might be the wrong car, probably she feels it is too big for her and the fuel consumption for a college student is also not the ideal one. A smaller car like an E36 or E46 might be the better choice. Our E32 are now all >25 years old and they need a lot of care now, she probably only needs a small car, which has a good mileage, easy to maintain at low cost.
    Last edited by shogun; 06-15-2017 at 08:27 PM.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  5. #5
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    Shogun, you are right. But in relative terms here in the USA the e32 body is not as big now in 2017 as it was in 1993. The Mini of 2017 is almost the size of a Transit van of 1973!
    2001 740iL Sport

  6. #6
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    Arrow

    In case you reconsider repairing it after you have left steam off:
    To repair the regulating valve you can DIY. The control valve you can disassemble and install new o-ring, seals, nothing contaminated. The pipe connections could be corroded and it is sometimes difficult to get them off, but that are the same connections as used on brake lines, a hydraulic shop can remake them. Here is a good link http://bryanborough.com/750iL/
    Just last week someone repaired the regulating valve on a German forum and he told us these sizes for the o-rings/seals
    Regelventil:
    1x 12,5x1,5
    1x 16x2,6
    1x 13x2
    1x 9,52x1,78
    1x 6x3
    all sizes in mm
    The hydraulic hoses a hydraulic shop can recrimp for you. For the power steering fluid your model needs Pentosin CHF11S or the equivalent from Febi Bilstein, that is cheaper, for CHF11S that is synthetic, replacement for the older CHF7.1 from Febi is also available, that is mineral based.

    On my website under systems there are more pictures of a disassembled regulating valve.
    You might also be able to source a used regulating valve. New ones are no longer available. On a German forum now someone is using a E38 regulating valve with the lever of the old E32 regulating valve.
    Read these links, pics of disassembled and repaired regulating valves
    url]http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/508927/[/url]
    http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/511327
    http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/509799
    http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/509759
    Last edited by shogun; 06-15-2017 at 08:29 PM.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  7. #7
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    way too many
    I used to have an 81 Peugeot 505 turbo diesel. Loved the car, great mileage but was always gutless, had to turn the A/C off to pass someone. Little things started going wrong with it, nothing serious. One day the power antenna quit working and I said that's it, you're gone. Traded it in on a 5.0 Mustang, took a beating on the deal but never looked back. I loved that Mustang, found all kinds of new places to pass on my route to work that I never knew existed.

    I hear where you're coming from.
    ​"The US Olympics bobsled team has renamed their sled 'Biden' because nothing has taken America downhill faster"

    TheStigg (aka "gale")
    92 735i 5-spd, turbo pending
    89 535i 5-spd (may she rest in pieces)
    94 325ic 5-spd
    87 325is

  8. #8
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    Another option:you could also eliminate the whole LAD https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...nation+bavauto

    and use the shop manual for the regulating valve work, in case you want to repair it. https://www.bmwtechinfo.com/repair/main/

    part numbers you can find in realoem under rear axle http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...MW-740iL&mg=33
    #8 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=33_0346
    REGULATING VALVE from 09/1987 37121138407
    used on these cars http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...&q=37121138407
    it is above the rear axle you can see it immy, no special tools required, just the open wrench for the connections like on brake lines.
    Maybe you ask in the E34 forum classifieds if someone has a used one for sale.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  9. #9
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    are slow
    I'd eliminate the LAD and call it a day.

    Spare E34 springs on all side and you're slightly lower too.

  10. #10
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    PM me.
    Ken
    "Sansouci"
    Last edited by Sansouci; 06-17-2017 at 08:09 AM.

  11. #11
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    Hi

  12. #12
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    Just ordered parts and will have them by the 22nd.
    I will put the new control valve in and I'll rebuild the original valve for want of something to do.
    Will put new hose, feed line and return pipe on the replacement valve as I don't want to address this problem again.
    Now breath........
    Last edited by JMCLuimni; 06-18-2017 at 09:00 AM.
    2001 740iL Sport

  13. #13
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    Replaced all 3 lines to the valve. Valve pressure checks and operates as designed. No "contamination" in system. Have relisted the car on eBay item number 282547381319 if anyone interested in a very clean vehicle.
    Last edited by JMCLuimni; 06-28-2017 at 11:02 AM.
    2001 740iL Sport

  14. #14
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    It looks like an amazing car, I'm sure it pains you to have to let it go. If I lived closer & needed another car I would jump on it. Hope you get good money for it. Back when I was shopping for a reliable, relatively large (aka safe) car for my daughter, I found a low mileage Mercedes W123 turbo diesel coupe in excellent condition. My daughter nixed the idea, saying it looked like a grampa's car. She ended up with an 87 e30 which got her thru 3 years of high school and 4 years of college. Her friends quit riding with her because it didn't have air bags and one of the seat belt latches was wiggy. I have it now & it still runs & drives great & saves wear & tear on my 7.

    Cheers!
    Last edited by TheStigg; 06-28-2017 at 02:47 PM.
    ​"The US Olympics bobsled team has renamed their sled 'Biden' because nothing has taken America downhill faster"

    TheStigg (aka "gale")
    92 735i 5-spd, turbo pending
    89 535i 5-spd (may she rest in pieces)
    94 325ic 5-spd
    87 325is

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