DrLeadFoot

Looks period correct, gas price-wise

E30 is back from storage!  Running strong 

E30 is back from storage!  Running strong 

E30 is back from storage!  Running strong 

E30 is back from storage!  Running strong 

E30 is back from storage!  Running strong 

E30 is back from storage!  Running strong 

VANOS installed.
Cams are timed perfectly.

It took a few hours and some patience and a little bit of experimentation to make the timing perfect. I had it set within the acceptable range but it needs to be perfect because quite simply it’s an S54 and the S54 deserves it.
What I believe prevents some people from getting it perfect is a slight advancement of the cams while tightening the sprocket hub bolts and the slightest bit of timing chain slack.  You can follow all the directions to the T but it can still be slightly off. There are plenty of forum threads where people had incorrect timing and error codes simply from using a non-BMW timing tool or by wrongly assuming they had it close enough. It is a fairly involved process and do not want to revisit this at a later time. It is as perfect as it can be. If by some chance it throws a code or is off, I will write myself off and quit working on cars.

Later today I should get around to the valve adjustment and get it all put back together.

Inner Monologue A: “you should spend a few minutes today working on the new shifter install”
Inner Monologue B: “Hey, that’s a good idea!”
Inner Monologue B: “Before I do that I better take the headlights out and delete the headlight sprayer system and install the new trim pieces I got from my Secret Santa”
 
I removed the headlights and found out the new trim I have is for an early non-M E46 and they are just so subtly different so I cannot use them. Darn
While removing one headlight the solder joint on the halo wiring broke. So I mended that...



Then I removed the headlight sprayer nozzles, hose, and disconnected the pump for it on the reservoir. No more washer fluid splashed all over the hood!
I noticed some less than stellar turn signal wiring.

 
so I fixed it.

 
So I made 0 progress today on the shifter but it was nice to take care of those small items

Im glad to see you are insulating the car from the cold during these freezing months 

some things never cease to be useful. for example:
castle door crossbars
 

Chipped away at some things.  Mike got the PS line replaced, m5 A pillars, black leather ebrake cable boot, new high intensity washer fluid container, washer fluid hoses, refurbished abs module, black front seat belts, and new wipers. 

I couldnt agree more

It's a leak detection spray.  Drys into a baby powder substance.  Washes off easy.  Pretty sweet!

Had a slight shimmy in the brakes so I had Mike replace the rotors and the pads.  Went with Zimmerman rotors and OEM BMW pads.
Scooped up a used M wheel with the updated airbag! Excited!
Got a power steering line leak so we'll be replacing that early next week.
Also replaced the dash lights, added the dimmer wire to my radio so the backlight on the keys works, replaced a bad O2 sensor under warranty, put new rubber mounts on the oil filter, added some leather interior bits: -steering column surround -upper & lower B pillars -center console arm rest.
Slowly chipping away!

110 octane!!  The smell alone is worth the lead poisoning.

earning that nickname, one main bearing at a time. 

I installed the anti-rattle parts. There was no axial freeplay beforehand and no axial freeplay afterwards. Waste of money? Yes. The other piece of the anti-rattle solution is to use S62 diaphragm springs. They are stiffer. The only positive from this portion of the project was being able to clean the thrust bearings and housings. There was a little bit of crud built up.
ORIGINAL VANOS THRUST BEARING AXIAL FREEPLAY: JUST FINE
 
All but 1 of the VANOS seals have been replaced. I am not a fan of how the teflon seals need to be stretched to fit and don't feel satisfied with the fitment of one so I ordered another and will wait a few days to get that last seal in. Visually, the old rubber seals were in decent condition and the teflon seals were not that worn or brittle. The exhaust side appeared to be worn the most/was the only side that seems like the new seals will give an improvement.
ORIGINAL VANOS SEALS: DECENT CONDITION
Next I replaced the cam bolts. They were the original 8.8 bolts (shown on the exhaust side) with no Loctite and none of them were loose, but new 12.9 hardware and Loctite 243 (shown on the intake side) will provide some peace of mind despite the originals likely never having any issue in the future based on their current track record.


ORIGINAL CAM  BOLTS: TIGHT AND UNBROKEN
Yet another reliability upgrade/“while you’re in there” piece, the upper timing chain guide. This guy is known to break and wear out fast. HEY! MINE IS BROKEN!

 
ORIGINAL TIMING CHAIN GUIDE: BUSTED!
Fishing out the broken piece without dropping it down the timing cover was a little nerve-racking. I even had a vacuum cleaner running to help try to catch the stray piece as i pulled it out with pliers
Here is the upgraded piece made from Nylatron, a material I use often in my engineering work. It has good friction properties and very good wear resistance for a plastic.

Everything should be buttoned together later this week as long as I get the parts I need.

The only reason I didn’t get a real tree this year was that I didn’t have an S62 swapped E39 wagon to bring it home with. It had absolutely nothing to do with ambition.

Merry XMAS!!
Update: Running strong!  Need an oil change soon and the rear subframe will be coming out to pop in new M5 bushings and weld in the dinan diff reinforcement. 

Merry XMAS!!
Update: Running strong!  Need an oil change soon and the rear subframe will be coming out to pop in new M5 bushings and weld in the dinan diff reinforcement. 

Merry XMAS!!
Update: Running strong!  Need an oil change soon and the rear subframe will be coming out to pop in new M5 bushings and weld in the dinan diff reinforcement. 

Merry XMAS!!
Update: Running strong!  Need an oil change soon and the rear subframe will be coming out to pop in new M5 bushings and weld in the dinan diff reinforcement. 

10mm rear spacers installed.  I think this makes the wheels ET 4 in the rear and ET 9 in the front. 
Structure and Fab sent some pics of the rear passenger jacking point rebuild.  Thank goodness Chris is better at fab work than taking pictures.  🤣

10mm rear spacers installed.  I think this makes the wheels ET 4 in the rear and ET 9 in the front. 
Structure and Fab sent some pics of the rear passenger jacking point rebuild.  Thank goodness Chris is better at fab work than taking pictures.  🤣