What did you do to your other car(s) today?

[Das_Prachtstrasse]

Finished the install of the electric rear sunblind in the e34. Retrimmed parcel shelf, new rear windscreen without the 3rd brake light etc, new blind motor, new control unit - it's been a bit of a mission. I had the factory installed manual blind up 24/7 but it's great being able to see when I reverse at night with the convenience of a button press.

Started removing the 29 year old window tint off the remaining windows, too. Fun job, that.

[wkohler]

Removed water pump and had way more non rusty-still green coolant come out than I expected from a car that supposedly hasn't run since 1986.

[gadget73]

In 1984, Ford bought BMW M21 turbo diesel engines to put in the Lincoln Mark VII and the Lincoln Continental. The Mark VII was a two door, the Continental is a four door. I've got one of those four door cars. Engine is BMW, engine accessories are Ford. Its a very strange car, not many were made, and fewer survive. Ford put their fingerprints on it in a few spots, mostly where it makes life more difficult.

Since there is more M21 knowledge from use in the 524td, I troll around here for oil burner knowledge. I know not a thing about BMW anything else .

Interesting! Sounds like a strange beast indeed.

Also... Leave it to ford to take a perfectly good engine, and shit all over it.

Indeed. Mostly what is different from the BMW version are the engine accessories and cooling stuff. Ford alternator, PS pump and AC compressor, and the radiator has inlet/outlet opposite what BMW did so the upper and lower hoses are strange and unavailable. The accessories are common to many 80s Ford things, but the tensioner is specific and was not meant to be rebuilt. I fixed that problem.

[e28Sean]

Indeed. Mostly what is different from the BMW version are the engine accessories and cooling stuff. Ford alternator, PS pump and AC compressor, and the radiator has inlet/outlet opposite what BMW did so the upper and lower hoses are strange and unavailable. The accessories are common to many 80s Ford things, but the tensioner is specific and was not meant to be rebuilt. I fixed that problem.

I only ever owned one Ford product (well, two, but, the same year make and model, one right after the other) and it was not what I would call a quality automobile. Then again, perhaps we're just spoiled by these glorious examples of fine German engineering.

[gadget73]

Depends which Ford. They made some real turds. I'm partial to the Lincolns because at least they had better seats and some extra build quality. If you're going to break down, you should be able to wait for the tow truck in comfort.

Injection pump is out. Yay. And I vacuumed the Towncar.

[a]

The Rat's main electrical stuff is mostly from super etas. Yesterday, in a drizzle that was more comfortable than the muggies, I fixed the Rat's intermittent starter. The ground cable finally rotted through between the frame ground and the starter bolt. Starter is mounted on 2 1/2 shaft bolts. Supplemental grounds were fastened with 6mm hardware. The battery is from the last super E. It sits back asswards from the stock series 24. I used 2 positive cables. One for the starter power, other is now a frame ground. The E28 parts did the trick. The Rat starts like it used to. Click Vroom. The 4.0 OHV engine would probably fit easily in an E 28. An M 20 would likewise fit in a Ranger.

[jca]

Did a bit of interior work on my 83 E-21...used Liquid Nails to glue down the parcel shelf carpet and a small section of 2X6 pine behind the foot well carpet...works great as a clutch stop.

[tig]

Q7 (my Utah commuter for now) has a 6 disc changer in the center console.

I have something else that I'd love to spirit away in that hidden space when it's not appropriate for me to have on my person.

So I bought a set of euro radio removal keys, and a fiber optic loopback cable on Amazon and yanked that changer out.

Now if I flip up the armrest I see a flat panel. If I pull the latch of that, it opens up to a convenient and appropriately sized storage space.

We've not used a disc in this vehicle since we've owned it (2009).

[wkohler]

I did left front wheel bearing on the touring today. Not bad for 325k miles
I guess, but the car was undrivable with the old one, which I misdiagnosed as tires for the last 6 months. Then it got really bad. Was going to do the other one but I couldn't get two. Also was going to do brake pads since that's been screaming at me but I seem to have lost the pads and the sensor which doesn't make sense.

[gadget73]

Pulled the radiator to take it to the shop for a re-seal. I'd replace the thing but replacements do not exist. I figure a place that actually does radiators can either re-seal it or source me something I can drop in. If it has to be replaced, I'm halfway thinking that the smart move is to reverse the inlet and outlet so I can use BMW radiator hoses instead of the impossible to source Ford hoses.

[T_C_D]

H&R and Koni install on the e90.

[slammin_e28]

Made my rx7 run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRBgPQqQ4LU

[gadget73]

Hung a bumper on the back of the car. Old one had really nasty chrome above the exhaust, replacement one isn't perfect but at least it doesn't have peeling chrome. Added bonus, the bumper is not sitting in the middle of my garage floor anymore.

[Mike W.]

Added bonus, the bumper is not sitting in the middle of my garage floor anymore.

Reclaiming space can be huge. I had an antique grandfathers clock I inheirited when my Dad passed. C. ~1700, one hand, a basket case. Not in great shape. But a 300 year old clock, I can't just throw it away.

Put an ad on Craigslist and sold it for a couple of hundred. I was jacked, not because of the $250 but because I'd reclaimed ~8 cubic feet of garage space! Woo Hoo, more space!!! I'd have been happy to have given it away to an enthusiastic individual, the cash was just a bonus. But I couldn't just throw it away.

[gadget73]

yeah, space is the final frontier. I have a couple crates of old radio schematics that are getting donated to the radio club at their meet in September for exactly that reason. Its duplicate stuff for me anyway. I got a bunch of old test gear and tubes from a guy that was moving. Need to finish sorting through it, all the stuff I can't use is going too. I have a console stereo I got for a friend who wanted it. 3 years later he still hasn't made space for it. I think that one is going to another home.

[amagansa]

Finally finished repairing the power steering issue on the e23. Installed the rebuilt booster, replaced the bad hose, and bled the brakes, and no more leaks! Also discovered the source of the weird ticking noise from the wheels. Turns out one of the wheel weights has been rubbing on the strut. Gotta fix that. ALSO also discovered my left rear brake hose has swelled up to the point where no fluid escapes when you crack open the caliper bleeder. Hose ordered.

[Mike W.]

Not just today, but a little love the past week or so on the E12

Replaced headlight switch, no dash lights.
Refinished the wood trim on the door panels and dash. Looks so much better.
Cleaned door panels and armrests. Wow, what a difference. Really cleaned things up.
Replaced 2 door switches and interior light.
Cleaned battery cables, connections, fuses, fusebox connections in and out. Restored power windows and mirrors
Repaired inop power seats. Hot tap wasn't making a connection, nor was it fused. It is now with a small circuit breaker.
Trying to clean the rear windshield. That last quarter inch next to the rubber just isn't having it. I've used water, vinegar water, window cleaner and Tuff Stuff. I'm convinced at this point if I want to get it really clean I'll have to pull it. Not happening. Good thing the defrost grid was already dead or else it would be now.

Still to go is the sunroof, I've got power up there but no go.

[1st 5er]

Not just today, but a little love the past week or so on the E12

Replaced headlight switch, no dash lights.
Refinished the wood trim on the door panels and dash. Looks so much better.
Cleaned door panels and armrests. Wow, what a difference. Really cleaned things up.
Replaced 2 door switches and interior light.
Cleaned battery cables, connections, fuses, fusebox connections in and out. Restored power windows and mirrors
Repaired inop power seats. Hot tap wasn't making a connection, nor was it fused. It is now with a small circuit breaker.
Trying to clean the rear windshield. That last quarter inch next to the rubber just isn't having it. I've used water, vinegar water, window cleaner and Tuff Stuff. I'm convinced at this point if I want to get it really clean I'll have to pull it. Not happening. Good thing the defrost grid was already dead or else it would be now.

Still to go is the sunroof, I've got power up there but no go.

Glad to see it's getting loved.
Mine has been so neglected.

[Mike W.]

Not just today, but a little love the past week or so on the E12

Replaced headlight switch, no dash lights.
Refinished the wood trim on the door panels and dash. Looks so much better.
Cleaned door panels and armrests. Wow, what a difference. Really cleaned things up.
Replaced 2 door switches and interior light.
Cleaned battery cables, connections, fuses, fusebox connections in and out. Restored power windows and mirrors
Repaired inop power seats. Hot tap wasn't making a connection, nor was it fused. It is now with a small circuit breaker.
Trying to clean the rear windshield. That last quarter inch next to the rubber just isn't having it. I've used water, vinegar water, window cleaner and Tuff Stuff. I'm convinced at this point if I want to get it really clean I'll have to pull it. Not happening. Good thing the defrost grid was already dead or else it would be now.

Still to go is the sunroof, I've got power up there but no go.

Glad to see it's getting loved.
Mine has been so neglected.

It's a shame it got so neglected so much wasn't working.

[Mike W.]

Got the sunroof working, with much ado. Even fixed the wiring so it only works with the key on. Might be worth a separate writeup since it's the same as E28s.

Finally after 10 years I got the back up lights hooked up. Found the little harness in my box of tranny parts and wired it up. Notice I didn't say working. Seems the switch is bad, which I have seen before. I thought I checked it before I put the tranny in... but that was 10 years ago. Ah yes, two steps forward, one step back.

[dsmith]

I started on my e30 touring project. Tore down most of it and will probably buy a rotisserie to do the body work. I don’t feel like dealing with jack stands.

[amagansa]

Today I replaced plugs+wires on my e23. Also installed new parking brake shoes and finally got my parking brake to work again, never had it working ever since I bought it. Replaced a swollen hose near the LR caliper, but still feels like it's not flowing correctly. All I can think of is the caliper needs a rebuild. I'll try an extended bleed session tomorrow, maybe get some debris out. Also fixed another PS leak that sprung up. A copper washer and no more leak. For now...

[foamy]

fixed the emissions crap for my 98 outback so it can be re registered before winter comes.

[gadget73]

Injectors, injection pump, injector lines, and timing belt is back on the Continental. IP timing set as well. Basically at a holding point until the intake gaskets come in. I found that I need to modify my timing tool, the set screw for the indicator is on the bottom when its screwed in. I need to figure out how much to shave off the end to get that 1/2 turn. Of course the original hole I made lines up exactly where it should, unfortunately the tap broke in there so its useless.

[gadget73]

bled the fuel lines last night and the car tried to start. Got a shipping update on my gaskets, looks like they left Pelican and I may have them by the weekend. With some luck I'll have this abomination running by the weekend.