[JB20DGM]

Took a few hours on Saturday morning to replace both front wheel bearings on the 325 and put the summer wheels and tires on. Also went ahead and replaced the wheel bolts with some shiny new ones to get the old, kind of beat, originals that were still there.

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by codeterrorist

Over the weekend cleaned both the F48 (X1) with crap splattered all across the back from the kids' boots. Door cards with dirt and mud. Took a whole 5 hours of cleaning.
The next day it was the E90's turn with 3 hours cleaning the interior and exterior.

The X1 had dried up wax on the lower hard plastic areas from when my dad was trying to help and wash our car. Dawn dish soap and a toothbrush took it right out after a whole year of me trying to get it out with rubbing alcohol and even using Goof Off. Go figure. Found the tutorial on Youtube!!

well done.
dawn dish soap is the miracle cure for a number of things; after wrestling the chargepipe install i placed a bit of dawn diluted in water in the silicone angled boot openings and on the piping (and on the exterior to slip the band clamps around a bit) and it literally caused the sticky silicone to behave and it all came together.

thinking about dawn martinis as an option....

[BRG_N54]

Took half day off Friday to change oil & filter on the '08. I used Liquid Moly Molygen 5w-40. Old filter looked clean as a whistle.

[Hoody007]

Ordered spark plugs & filters for the F10 (N52) and the E90 (N55).

The E90s A/C is definitely low on freon. Intermittently blows warm / humid air, and it’s not even that hot out yet. Got a quote of $300 to get it evacuated and recharged - seems a bit high but it’s been a long time since I’ve needed to get A/C work done…

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Ordered spark plugs & filters for the F10 (N52) and the E90 (N55).

The E90s A/C is definitely low on freon. Intermittently blows warm / humid air, and it’s not even that hot out yet. Got a quote of $300 to get it evacuated and recharged - seems a bit high but it’s been a long time since I’ve needed to get A/C work done…

I was quoted $245ish for a full recharge (currently have zero refrigerant in my system) so that sounds about right. It's not the cheapest material

[Serf27]

I got an AC pump and gauges from Amazon for about $100-$120.

Super simple to service after watching a few videos.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Serf27

I got an AC pump and gauges from Amazon for about $100-$120.

Super simple to service after watching a few videos.

Can you share the links you used? I need to do this. Did you weigh the refrigerant or just use pressures?

[Serf27]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Can you share the links you used? I need to do this. Did you weight the refrigerant or just use pressures?

Here’s the pump and gauges.
GYZJ 3.5 CFM Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump for HVAC/AC Refrigerant Recharging, Single Stage,1/4HP, 1/4" Flare, for Wine Degassing, Food Processing W/200ml Free Oil https://a.co/d/6bmyfMD

OMT AC Gauge, AC Manifold Gauge Set for R134a R12 R22 R502, 3 Way Automotive AC Gauge Set with Antishock Gauges Hoses Couplers & Adapter, Puncturing Can Tap Freon Recharge Kit for HVAC https://a.co/d/3hDtHRm

Videos

I can’t remember if I used chrisfix’s video, I for sure watched ericthecarguy’s video a few times.

I didn’t weigh the refrigerant, I used this chart.
I also didn’t evacuate the system, the failed compressor and relief valve took care of that..
I remember a friend had a recovery pump that looked like a vacuum pump and was pretty cheap. The recovery pumps on Amazon don’t look too cheap.

AC is as cold as ever now.

Some good info here about refilling.
https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1841834

[Silnismo]

Changed my valve cover and gasket, went from aluminum to plastic (I know!). Also changed my power steering reservoir, spark plugs and Dinan ignition coils.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Silnismo

Changed my valve cover and gasket, went from aluminum to plastic (I know!).

That change is worth it simply for the removal of the external oil separator mess. I'm tempted to do the same when it's time for another gasket replacement. Were there any challenges? If I remember correctly when I looked into it last there were a few differences such as the ground mounting point and a few other things (aside from obvious stuff like needing the new crankcase ventilation plumbing). What do you do to the old oil return line that used to go from the external separator to the oil pan?

[Seattlesquash]

Did my oil, 185k miles, 5k interval w/ driven DT40. Btw, where do you guys put your jackstands?, don’t really have a good spot up front on this car during oil changes.

[Silnismo]

lowrydr310

So I had removed to old oil separator when I installed my 3 stage intake manifold since it was sourced from a newer n52.

Yeah the grounding wires needed to be extended and there isn’t a hole on the plastic cover for me to screw down the harness like there was on the aluminum one. I did not end up using the spark tube seals on the plastic one since it was causing fitment issues for my ignition coils (the aluminum one they were molded on the valve cover).

[P14kle]

Aliexpress Specials!!



Actually very pleased with the quality and fitment (and the price!!) 😎

[tcphoto]

Seattlesquash I use ramps with a short 2x4 so I don't rub the bumper or use the front/middle jack point then place jack stands.

[colorado.e9x]

Theres an oem plug for the oil return line. I have one sitting around I never put in my old motor. Ill post the part number if I find it.

Adjusted my coilovers and found out my strut bodies are 10mm higher up front than I'd like.

[Jeff S]

I walnut blasted for the first time . . the after pic is before the final blowout and cleanup. Similar before & afters on the other 5 cylinders. Car runs so much smoother now with 72k miles, I believe this is the first time it has been done to this car.

[Seattlesquash]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Theres an oem plug for the oil return line. I have one sitting around I never put in my old motor. Ill post the part number if I find it.

Adjusted my coilovers and found out my strut bodies are 10mm higher up front than I'd like.

Isn’t that where you can use the e30 perches? As far as I recall I lowered my fronts as such and raised the rear 6-10mm with rubber strut mount pads/spacers from E30 or E21 or some older generation.

[jwalther]

Ready for warm weather. Summer wheels/tires and roof rack installed.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by Seattlesquash

Did my oil, 185k miles, 5k interval w/ driven DT40. Btw, where do you guys put your jackstands?, don’t really have a good spot up front on this car during oil changes.

Any reason you're not using the front center lift point? I also lift the rear so that the car is level when draining.

[Seattlesquash]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

Any reason you're not using the front center lift point? I also lift the rear so that the car is level when draining.

Just access I guess w drain pan, but I drop car to ground during draining so level. Bigger repairs I use quick jacks

[Dirtleg]

Had another thread explaining the why so I won't go into that here.

But today I installed new coils. Well just the front 4. Will get the other 2 this weekend. Didn't have time to dig that deep.

Apparently the ones that came on the car were junk and it wasn't immediately obvious until the misfires started happening.

Putting in new, quality coils was a night and day difference. The car feels much more powerful than it has since I've owned it. Part throttle is much stronger.

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by Silnismo

Also changed my power steering reservoir

Got any tips or suggestions for that? I'm about to do that soon (I already have all of the parts). Did you go through the process of bleeding as much of the fluid as possible from the rack?

As with so many things, you can find about 10 different DIY procedures for these things that all suggest 10 different ways of doing the job.

(I'm not really confused, despite what the emoticon says. I tend to look at all 10 ways and then just figure it out on my own, incorporating online info as desired/needed plus what my Bentley manual says. But I do more heavily weight first hand reports from this thread.)