E12 M535i Project - 08-21-19 Update
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
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I charged the battery last night hoping to get some troubleshooting in today. After I got home, I put some fuel in the car since I was sure there was none. Hooked up the battery and for the first time since buying it, tried to start it. Nothing. Tried a couple more times and got nothing. So, I got out and said, "Well, he said he checked for fuel, but never got around to checking for spark, so let's check for spark." Then I got a hammer. I tapped the handle on the ignition control module and it fired right up. It didn't want to stay running at first, so I held the throttle at about 2k for a few seconds. Ran fine after that. I smelled fuel, though, and sure enough something on the #2 injector was leaking lots of fuel. I don't know if it's the hose or the injector itself. I quick ran to the yard and grabbed the ignition control box off of one of the E12s (the first one I went to had a motronic B34 in it, so that was no help).
So, before I can actually drive the car to see what else works/doesn't, I need to fix that issue and replace the brake master, as obviously, I have no brakes or clutch. Fortunately, the PO said he rebuilt the calipers a couple years back. Once I get the brake master, We'll see how everything goes.
So, before I can actually drive the car to see what else works/doesn't, I need to fix that issue and replace the brake master, as obviously, I have no brakes or clutch. Fortunately, the PO said he rebuilt the calipers a couple years back. Once I get the brake master, We'll see how everything goes.
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Adam W in MN
- Posts: 5053
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
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Missed this post until Stuart emailed me. But Chris and I have been corresponding offline about it and I'm helping where I can so I'm in the loop. The story from beginning until end is still a great read, especially to see a car like this saved by the right enthusiast owner.
Chris, what parts are you having issues with?
Adam
Chris, what parts are you having issues with?
Adam
Adam has been quite the help so far before and after the car arrived. Well, he gave me more to "worry" about before it arrived, but of course, I really haven't started tearing into the mechanics of the car until a couple days ago due to time constraints.Adam W in MN wrote:Missed this post until Stuart emailed me. But Chris and I have been corresponding offline about it and I'm helping where I can so I'm in the loop. The story from beginning until end is still a great read, especially to see a car like this saved by the right enthusiast owner.
Chris, what parts are you having issues with?
Adam
Anyway, as for the parts issues, I'm having a hell of a time finding ordinary chassis parts, etc. For example, Autohaus doesn't even have the actual control arm. Just the bushings, and they don't even have "good" parts. If I wanted to drive off a cliff, i'd put new Karlyn control arm bushings in. I'd rather keep it off the cliff. I want to replace the whole arm! Pelican doesn't even list E12 parts. RockAuto lists stuff like Quinton Hazell and AC Delco. Sure, they might be great for Morris Marinas and Chevettes respectively, but not for an M535i. There are some things I can get easily, of course, but others that are confusing. I guess it just comes down to needing to adjust the way I look for parts. Of course, like I said before, if we find E12s in the yard, they're knackered. The only nice one I've found was sadly a Polaris over Marineblau cloth '81 528i. Unfortunately, that was in late 2009. I'd give a [rather dented] kidney to have that for a parts car. straight, rust-free and a gorgeous interior sans dashboard.
I think much of it also is just how different the car is. I have virtually no experience with L-Jet and my troubleshooting skills amount to a lucky hit with a $2 hammer.
In due time, it will all come together.
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Das_Prachtstrasse
- Posts: 5616
- Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
- Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under
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Adam W in MN
- Posts: 5053
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
- Contact:
On the parts, I guess I haven't ordered from anyone other than the dealer in quite some time. From that perspective, everything is still available for the most part. But the price increases are really starting to piss me off.
Last year there were 3! One in the 1st half of the year, then a 10% surcharge on anything coming from Europe, and then another one in the Fall.
I do think BMP Design has quite a bit of parts and Bav Auto, but in my experience some of the things you get are not of oem quality standards. So I go right to the dealer (I have a good price worked out with them).
To be honest, if I were you, I would start going through Blunt for parts because he gets his parts through my dealer and has even better prices than I get. Sometimes I use him for orders, sometimes I go right to them. I did get my master cylinder from him.
Last year there were 3! One in the 1st half of the year, then a 10% surcharge on anything coming from Europe, and then another one in the Fall.
I do think BMP Design has quite a bit of parts and Bav Auto, but in my experience some of the things you get are not of oem quality standards. So I go right to the dealer (I have a good price worked out with them).
To be honest, if I were you, I would start going through Blunt for parts because he gets his parts through my dealer and has even better prices than I get. Sometimes I use him for orders, sometimes I go right to them. I did get my master cylinder from him.
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Das_Prachtstrasse
- Posts: 5616
- Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
- Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under
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JW in VaBeach
- Posts: 670
- Joined: Aug 23, 2008 9:42 AM
- Location: Virginia Beach Va.
post topic
It appears that, with the exception of wheel bearings,wkohler wrote:PARTS ARE A PAIN IN THE ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
all of the major front suspension and steering pieces are
available from Maximillion.
If you are ever inclined to give up on this one, let me know.
As of yesterday, I have now driven the car.
I was surveying the brake master cylinder region and upon removing the cap from the reservoir, noticed that there was a wee-bit in there. When I bought my Touring, it had a can of Prestone brake fluid suitable for all DOT 3 and DOT4 applications. So, I filled 'er up and had a very nice clutch pedal and a pretty good brake pedal. Put the car in reverse, clutch in and started it up. Released the clutch and pulled out of the driveway, went down my street and turned around. then came back and put the car back in the driveway facing the other way.
The driveline feels quite good and the transmission shifts VERY smoothly and is quite quiet. It took a couple of seconds to get used to the pattern. So, this means that I can get a 3-day permit sometime this week and take it over to my friend's shop.
I didn't have the chance, but I'm going to get out the inspection mirror and see if I can see the grommets between the reservoir and the master. I have a sneaking suspicion they're what's doing the leaking.
I was surveying the brake master cylinder region and upon removing the cap from the reservoir, noticed that there was a wee-bit in there. When I bought my Touring, it had a can of Prestone brake fluid suitable for all DOT 3 and DOT4 applications. So, I filled 'er up and had a very nice clutch pedal and a pretty good brake pedal. Put the car in reverse, clutch in and started it up. Released the clutch and pulled out of the driveway, went down my street and turned around. then came back and put the car back in the driveway facing the other way.
The driveline feels quite good and the transmission shifts VERY smoothly and is quite quiet. It took a couple of seconds to get used to the pattern. So, this means that I can get a 3-day permit sometime this week and take it over to my friend's shop.
I didn't have the chance, but I'm going to get out the inspection mirror and see if I can see the grommets between the reservoir and the master. I have a sneaking suspicion they're what's doing the leaking.
Today, I had the title put in my name and got a 30-day registration. I'm not getting an emissions test until I have replaced all of the pertinent parts under the hood and given a valve adjustment, etc.
I put my new tag in the rear window, as well as my insurance info in the glovebox and went to fill up with some petrol. Sure, I've got oil leaking out the back of the head and a wet fuel injector, but I needed some fuel. Damn this motor pulls pretty well. I didn't beat on it for obvious reasons, but I could tell that it's pretty damn strong. They also weren't lying when they said "close ratio" for the transmission.
Tomorrow morning, I'm heading out for Denver, so I'm going to drop the car off at my friend's shop and have him go through it, do the fuel lines, etc. I figure it will save me some time and he can keep telling me what a mistake I made buying this car.
I put my new tag in the rear window, as well as my insurance info in the glovebox and went to fill up with some petrol. Sure, I've got oil leaking out the back of the head and a wet fuel injector, but I needed some fuel. Damn this motor pulls pretty well. I didn't beat on it for obvious reasons, but I could tell that it's pretty damn strong. They also weren't lying when they said "close ratio" for the transmission.
Tomorrow morning, I'm heading out for Denver, so I'm going to drop the car off at my friend's shop and have him go through it, do the fuel lines, etc. I figure it will save me some time and he can keep telling me what a mistake I made buying this car.