Rebuilding a 98 Dinan with 316k mikes

[Dion98740il]

She is a beauty but needs a lot of attention. Acquired it from a long time owner for next to nothing and bringing her back to life.
(Trying to post a pic from google photos...coming soon)

[Dion98740il]

I attribute my ability to fix a lot of things to forums like this and learning from all of you. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
First project as the fall/winter arrives, fix the interior blower. Checked all fuses, tested the plug under the glove and there was voltage so I ruled out the wiring, HVAC control panel, and the pulled the passenger seat out to inspect the fuse box under there since the previous owner has water leaks. Thankfully, being in Cali, is rarely rains so the fuse box was fine. Had to remove the entire dash to get to it.

[Dion98740il]

SYMPTOM: Leaking somewhere in the car
PROBLEM: plugged up forward sunroof drain holes with silicon when the windshield was replaced at some point
SOLUTION: pulled the headliner (it's sagging anyways and needs attention), flushed all four sunroof drain holes, pulled and replaced the windshield molding and cleaned out the excess silicon, re sealed the two sunroof cable brackets that are near the water channel
Headliner pulled
[IMG]https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/123138013_10158451605641195_9061253858549548555_o. jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=tPJ7t 3l9C3kAX8Ob82X&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=ebf8252fdc4b0b43a3890f44ecb72e6a&oe=5FDFFC EC]/IMG]
Front drain tube, I zip tied all of the tubes while I was in there anyways
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Rear drain tube
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Fished some weed wacker through the pipe
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Evidence of water than ran down the pillar

[Dion98740il]

SYMPTOM: Ugly rear parcel shelf and sun screen gets stuck
PROBLEM: Faded material and gears needing a shim
SOLUTION: A car of fabric/plastic color and a small shim in the gear motor
yuck

blown speakers that I will take care of later
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Taking apart the gear motor for the sun visor

Too much gap in the gears
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Shimmed
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Color coat for the fabric
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Painted and MUCH better


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SYMPTOM: No fluid coming out of the windshield washer
PROBLEM: Cracked lines
SOLUTION: replace with standard irrigation tubing I had lying around. Same fitting sizes.
Removed cover, just a could of push pins

Cracked lines, replaced right through to under the hood on the passenger side


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SYMPTOM: Key FOB buttons only work sometimes
PROBLEM: Oil under the buttons
SOLUTION: 99c eBay replacement buttons and key surgery


[IMG][/IMG]

[Dion98740il]

Pulled the bumper to clean the filter which the previous owner says he never knew was there.....I am not sure how this car is still running with a filter like this. Cleaning it out and the CEL came on but went away probably due to the immediate change in air/fuel mix.

[Dion98740il]

I have seen exhaust smoke on startup and see some coolant burning off the exhaust manifold...now comes the real work.

Pulled the tray out from under the engine to start and scraped 5lbs of sludge off it to clean it

GROSS



uh oh, oil in the spark plugs, leaking valve cover gasket

Valve cover off

Nasty, off to get powder coated

much better

New plugs and gaskets


Next up, the manifold, CCV/OSV, and valley pan.....

[agentrnge]

Wow, welcome! sounds like you well on your way into this ambitions project. Serious miles! I am only aware like maybe 2 or 3 others over 300k. Looking forward to pics!

What filter is behind the bumper?

[Azn Kenny]

Nice job so far.

I assume that's the engine air filter?

[Dion98740il]

It is the Dinan engine air filter. The car has Filter, ECU, Transmission Software, Exhaust, Suspension (short springs still there but shocks/struts were changed to a mix of KYB and Sachs )

Wow, welcome! sounds like you well on your way into this ambitions project. Serious miles! I am only aware like maybe 2 or 3 others over 300k. Looking forward to pics!

What filter is behind the bumper?

[Dion98740il]

Manifold out, oil in the manifold and intake ports with carbon build up, injectors flushed with carb cleaner using $10 ebay kit and new o-rings, CCV replaced with all new gaskets, throttle body cleaned out. Dunked the manifold in a tub of dawn and hand scrubbed. Confirmed the coolant leak at the valley pan gasket which leaks down the weep holes and is burning off on the exhaust manifold.

Carbon build up on the intake port

Oil in the intake manifold

Coolant leak in the valley pan

Nasty injectors

Cleaned up and put back together

Rear shot with new CCV installed and yes I even stripped the torx bolts off the throttle body and CCV even with the manifold off, replaced with Hex

[Dion98740il]

Yes indeed

Nice job so far.

I assume that's the engine air filter?

[CPHES]

Good work / cool project.

[kouks]

Wow, 316k miles. Did you check the engine compression yet? These motors weren't made to go that far. They are aluminum block, not cast iron like the previous generation.

[Mayorchuck]

Nice work. Do you have the service history? I have to think the guides were done at some point. I would pull the connections on the General Module just for kicks. The leak running down the A pillar can find it's way to the GM on occasion. I've also seen it fill up the glove box.

[Dion98740il]

I did drive it for a couple weeks before I started engine work and it felt avg., also understand I have never driven an e38 before so don’t know what is bad or good. Fingers crossed. The positive is I personally know the owner and he had it for 14 years and he did oil every 5k. No compression test.

Wow, 316k miles. Did you check the engine compression yet? These motors weren't made to go that far. They are aluminum block, not cast iron like the previous generation.

[Dion98740il]

Yes full history and I personally know the last owner. Area around the GM looks clean thankfully. Read through all the records and no guides. It is on its second engine (first one blew at 50k miles with a hydro lock situation with a puddle meets Dinan intake in the bumper) so the car has 316k on the cluster but this motor has 250k. Third transmission though!

[alexisonfire]

Wow, 316k miles. Did you check the engine compression yet? These motors weren't made to go that far. They are aluminum block, not cast iron like the previous generation.

I've seen as high as 360k miles on original guides in a 1996 740 i parted.

[Dion98740il]

Couple of small projects on it to share.
Replaced hood struts (easy job), half the interior bulbs were out so got the ebay LED kit, sun visors cleaned up, and JB weld repair some of the interiors bits that were separating.

Sun visor, clean above the red line and dirty below. Spray carpet cleaner, agitate with finger, dab with cotton towl.


Cleaned on the left

JBWeld the panel under the steering column. Hack job with previous owners with lots of clips and parts forced off.

[hmmurdock]

Couple of small projects on it to share.
Replaced hood struts (easy job), half the interior bulbs were out so got the ebay LED kit, sun visors cleaned up, and JB weld repair some of the interiors bits that were separating.

I need to start working on interior lights soon. Mind sharing your source for the LED kit? My last attempt at getting LEDs off eBay several years ago ended poorly.

Nice work so far. You're really diving headfirst into this project.

[purplecty]

Awesome build thread! RARE Prefacelift DINAN 7!

[Dion98740il]

I have been ordering so many parts I got it mixed up. I got them off amazon. I have not tested all the bulbs yet so I can’t say the whole kits works yet. I installed the trunk units and they worked. BLAST LED 18pc Replacement White... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GM2D2M8...p_mob_ap_share

[franco90]

wow nice

[hmmurdock]

I have been ordering so many parts I got it mixed up. I got them off amazon. I have not tested all the bulbs yet so I can’t say the whole kits works yet. I installed the trunk units and they worked. BLAST LED 18pc Replacement White... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GM2D2M8...p_mob_ap_share

Many thanks, good sir and good luck on the rest of your project!

[Dion98740il]

After pulling out every 1/4" socket/driver/extension, box wrench, bit driver I had to reach and remove the coolant accumulator, the valley pan is finally off.
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Nasty valley pan

[clarkitect]

Nice project! Car is going to be happy.