dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted July 6, 2018 Ran a cooling system pressure test on the swish new 318. Then it hydrolocked on starting. So it certainly leaks past the head gasket on a dead cold motor, but is okay when warm. Might do a gasket. Not sure if I care. Found that amusing, did some donuts out front of the workshop. Took the X5 home instead. Way nicer. No idea why I buy all these e36s 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 changed the plugs in the M5, someone in its past has removed the coils, broken the tops of 2 of them, and put them back in! Destroyed them both getting them out again, so off the road until i get 2 new coils. Photo of the worst plug... 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZ BMW 368 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 I’ve started changing coils whenever doing plugs for that reason. The heat destroys the tips of them and particularly on the larger engines, the ones at the back of the block are difficult to get out without damage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 Yeah this wasnt heat damage, they had been snapped off, and one of the coil plugs was held in with cable ties! 8 of the 10 were perfectly fine. Coils are a bit pricey to change for the fun of it ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 Made some delicious fudge and a nutritional milkshake with the m43 during my lunch break 30 minutes in and I realised my E-torx set is at a mate's. So I haven't taken the head off yet If it has a cracked head I'll probably just park it in a corner and pretend I don't own it, or I could put a manual m44 in it or m42 and it'd still be a pile of garbage I'm doing super well at being an adult and the missus is super happy about this 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 Doing some crack for dinner Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZ BMW 368 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 2 hours ago, aja540i said: Yeah this wasnt heat damage, they had been snapped off, and one of the coil plugs was held in with cable ties! 8 of the 10 were perfectly fine. Coils are a bit pricey to change for the fun of it ! Cable ties to hold a coil together on a M5.... some people. My thinking has always been that the plugs last about 100k kms or slightly less so I don’t mind paying for coils at that time. I guess the M5 might eat plugs faster than normal though? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
allan 295 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 4 hours ago, dirtydoogle said: Made some delicious fudge and a nutritional milkshake with the m43 during my lunch break MMM milk shake one can expect when your head is leaking . But the fudge is down to sheer neglect surely? Have fun cleaning that little lot up ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 Refurbished/rebuilt the battery clamp for the 318Ci after POs boyfriend 'mechanic' managed to strip the thread in the securing bolt... Nope - I don't know how he managed it. All good now though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 Hang on a sec, are cable ties not BMW approved for all repairs? Seems entirely fitting for a 6 figure and 400 hp car! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 2 hours ago, allan said: MMM milk shake one can expect when your head is leaking . But the fudge is down to sheer neglect surely? Have fun cleaning that little lot up ? Correct. Some of the drains were completely blocked down to the block so if I don't bin this pile of junk I'll pop the sump off and clean it out I acid washed the head this evening, and hot washed it. Easy peasy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
allan 295 Report post Posted July 7, 2018 Great, make's life so much easier when one has access to the correct equipment. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted July 8, 2018 Washed the X5 after work then went for a tootle in Donald. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted July 8, 2018 ^ I like 50% of that post. And it's it's not the BMW 50%. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 (edited) Might have lined up a swap... Our E36 318i SE 4-door 5-speed manual sedan for a 1985 E30 320i... Don't actually want a 6-pot E30 but there's more chance of swapping that on for a 4-pot model than doing the same with the E36. If it happens I'll be looking for some tips on bodywork repairs. That's not something I've ever done as I consider it more art than engineering, and I'm no artist. Edited July 9, 2018 by gjm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 Tips for bodywork: 1) avoid 2) avoid 3) con someone else into doing it BTW I hate fixing rust, which is why I have 2 e21s. 1 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gabe79 410 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 A good mate of mine specializes in rust repairs up here on the Coast, if you want to send stuff up. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 A whole car...? Actually, I don't think it is all that bad. Rear quarter, and (as usual) battery tray. I'd be looking to tidy it up a bit without spending too much on it (a few $00, max) and then see if I can swap it for a half-decent M10 or M4x automatic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2157 Report post Posted July 9, 2018 Moved the 330, so I could brew up four jugs of Corolla Carpet Coffee... MMmmm 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3320 Report post Posted July 12, 2018 On 7/7/2018 at 12:40 PM, aja540i said: changed the plugs in the M5, someone in its past has removed the coils, broken the tops of 2 of them, and put them back in! Destroyed them both getting them out again, so off the road until i get 2 new coils. Photo of the worst plug... You priced a kit of 8? May be worthwhile, they’re all getting old. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted July 12, 2018 7 minutes ago, Olaf said: You priced a kit of 8? May be worthwhile, they’re all getting old. Im not having any Issues with misfires so not rushing to change them at the moment, have found some for reasonable prices but a kit of 8 leaves me a couple short!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turbolizard 38 Report post Posted July 12, 2018 On 7/9/2018 at 10:14 PM, Jacko said: Moved the 330, so I could brew up four jugs of Corolla Carpet Coffee... MMmmm How do you rate your coffee maker? I am quite interested in something like this, mainly for cars. Do you recommend? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted July 12, 2018 Found a replacement for the sedan left-side grille someone had fitted to the coupe with a bit of twist tie. Unfortunately I've also learnt that the kidney grilles comprise two pieces per side (and I replaced the front part): (1) the front, often chrome but sometimes black piece, which clips to (2) the plastic rear moulding, which clips to the bonnet. Sadly, most of the rear mouldings seem to have their clips broken. Both sides on the coupe do - one side is held in with mastic (or similar), so I'll be into finding a replacement pair of plastic rear parts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2157 Report post Posted July 12, 2018 4 minutes ago, turbolizard said: How do you rate your coffee maker? I am quite interested in something like this, mainly for cars. Do you recommend? Great, the little bissell is good for small jobs like cars etc, have had it for a few years and it always just works. Its amazing how much coffee comes out of things, the corolla for instance didnt look that dirty previously.. its just the interior has changed shade a few colours! Have a hoover standup carpet cleaner as well, and its rubbish... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted July 12, 2018 Decided it is more cost effective to replace the m43 head with a known good one, and faster. Cleaned one of my spare G220s in the dark and wet. Great fun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
