60,000 Service To-Do's M54 Advice

[Vintage42]

If you do have to install the new plastic pipes, make sure the hole they insert into is good and clean, you lube up the o-rings, and you are careful to not pop an o-ring out of its groove when you shove it in...

Sometimes corrosion can affect the o-ring groove.
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post29531331

[325bob]

I still chuckle everytime I see that sticker on my manual tranny,"use ATF only", huh?

[ThatZ3Guy]

While I was looking for my coolant leak (I discovered that is in fact NOT the heater lines under the manifold), I noticed that my intake manifold is coated in oil. Now I'm thinking I'm going to replace the CCV, rebuild the DISA and VANOS with the German Auto Solutions kit, pull the manifold and clean it, replace the heater lines anyway, replace the valve cover gasket, intake manifold and injector seals.

I topped off the expansion tank and went for a drive to again try and track down the coolant leak. While I was driving, I got called in for work so I had to put the car in the shop and immediately leave. My dad went and took a look and he thinks the upper radiator hose is leaking and suspects that it leaks to a certain point and then doesn't leak anymore, which would explain why I observed the hoses to be dry when I initially found coolant all over the engine.

Using my borescope camera thing, I noticed what looked to be oil collecting in the crevices on the driver side of the engine. I think the banjo bolt oil line connecting to the VANOS may be the culprit here, but since I had to leave for work I was unable to get the camera back out and investigate. Ugh. Here's a picture of what I found on the side of the engine.

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This car needs to be in good shape for approaching spring weather!

PS: I haven't figured out how to attach a large image...

[upchuck57]

I am not a fan of reusing brake rotors. I recently replaced the brakes on my 97 Z3 with a Powerstop K592 brake kit. The K592 is a premium kit with ceramic pads and to date no dust. Powerstop also has more aggressive kits but this kit seems to fulfill my needs.

[ThatZ3Guy]

I am not a fan of reusing brake rotors. I recently replaced the brakes on my 97 Z3 with a Powerstop K592 brake kit. The K592 is a premium kit with ceramic pads and to date no dust. Powerstop also has more aggressive kits but this kit seems to fulfill my needs.

So long as the rotors have adequate material and are not unevenly worn, replacing them is only good for that warm and fuzzy feeling IMO.

[rf900rkw]

I do get a warm and fuzzy when I have a solid pedal after changing the brakes. I have never seen a used BMW rotor that was still in service specs and parallel. They always are worn concave.

[ThatZ3Guy]

I'd like to thank everyone for providing their opinions in this thread. I just finished my engine refresh today on the Bimmer. Under the hood I did:

CCV kit and associated hoses from Bimmerbum
Vacuum lines
DISA rebuild from German Auto Solutions
VANOS rebuild from German Auto Solutions
VANOS oil line (mine had developed a leak and was the main driver of this whole project)
Valve cover gasket & gromets
Intake manifold gasket
The two hard heater lines under the manifold
Coolant line from top of expansion tank to top of radiator
Spark plugs
Oil & filter change
Coolant change

Outside the hood:
Brake pads all around

In the coming days:
Brake Fluid Flush
Diff oil
Fuel Filter

I was very relieved when it cranked right up with no alarming sounds!

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