Had it been a disputed oil well in Iraq, a whole army would be on top of it. Why can't the army put into action here and save the nation's wildlife? Why are they waiting for BP to take action, they should do it themselves as a national interest and present the bill to BP. Personal interest should be put aside for (inter)national interest.by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Congrats! Great times, even with less sleep. Enjoy!by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
And if the others are overtightened AND have extra load due to the 6th being broken, chances are that they snap one after the other and then you're off for a longer journey.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
So, I have been hiding this from you for almost a week now. Last Thursday I picked up my new every day companion, hopefully for a lot of happy motoring. Chose for a self igniter this time, a 2003 E46 320d, as I'll move in about a month's time and I'll need to cover a lot more kilometers, 96 more, single direction, coming from 10 km. That's 212 km daily. Some facts: 150 hby Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
A while ago someone posted a story on the origin of the BMW logo. Here's a video on it. Sorry about the advertisement at the beginning.by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Lift the wheel off the ground, make sure it can't fall off the jack (use stands!). Turn the wheel and put your fingers on the front spring. If you feel vibrations in the spring, suspect the bearing.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
That's just great! Around here, Alfa drivers start waving when their cars are about 10 years old (alfa's die young). Got my first wave only 3-4 weeks ago, from a young (male, alas) E30 driver, though I've waved many of them before. E30's might be just to reliable, the people still driving them are not car lovers, just happy that the car they bought lasted this long. Alfaby Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Don't tell me about non A/C heater core replacements! I enriched my cursing vocabulary on that one.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
Nice one! Have fun and good luck with it!by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Well, I was replacing the front brake pads on my iS this weekend (seems like I wasn't the only one here working on my car over the weekend). Tried to do so last week but couldn't find my #7 allen key. With all the work done and the girlfriend sitting next to the car enjoying some sun (and no airplanes), I went over the engine bay to check left and right. Just to have a look at themby Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
To use Rick's words: hmmm. I don't thinks this is normal. Yes, putting back the halfshaft could give the impression the play is gone, as you can't put enough load on it as during driving. I never had the halfshaft out of my iX and I don't want to let you make extra costs where none needed, so I'll wait for the iX guru's to see their verdict.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
Bend a rod on startup? I don't think so, the starter engine isn't powerful enough. My previous 318iS had a bad head gasket leak (or cracked head/cylinder), allowing water to settle on top of the piston while cooling down. Either it cranked and ran on 3 cylinders for a couple of seconds, or it didn't crank at all and I had to remove the spark plug to spit out the water (sorry fby Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
The idea most people in Europe have of US roads: only straight on and 90 degree bends.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
Apologies dude, I thought you were kidding along with me. As Peter points out, it is a Beetle, by Dr Porsche, and both Beetles and Porsches (911's) have the same lay-out, transmission on the rear axle, engine behind it.by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Posted this one on my Facebook this afternoon: E30 M3 Rally pure soundby Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Or is every classic Porsche a Beetle?by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
I never understood why people put music over such movies. The soundtracks of intake and exhaust sound combined with a bit of mechanical rattle is still the best to me. I especially liked the slow motion on the Audi taking off. Tyler: rally Beetle = Porsche? :-pby Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Tyler, great job! Especially for a novice. You may be a little proud of yourself.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
Most petrol cars I know had a spark plug wrench in the toolkit. I consider it standard equipment, especially on older cars (with carburettors), where you could flood the engine.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
So what looked expensive at the time turns out to be real cheap over time.by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
And not just plain M3's, but EVO's...by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
No signs of spring yet, here. Though I like winter (as every season), I'm now longing for spring, the smell of nature waking up, the colours, the views.by Michiel 318iS - Community Forum
Just think about it this way: how much is your life worth compared to a set of brand new shocks? Would you rather pay with your whole life rather than an arm and a leg? If you don't know the history of the right hand side shock, consider it scrap. And what's the use of going through a shock replacement when not having 'new' characteristics, even unknown characteristics. Ifby Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
In order not to damage parts, when putting it down (like the cylinder head on your workbench) or when hitting it (your rocker shaft), use softer materials, so you don't damage it. A piece of wood, a nylon block, a copper hammer, they're all being used such that deformations will be taken by the wood/nylon/copper instead of the valuable part you're hitting. If the stud threads aby Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
No use in buying two sets either, tyres wear when not being used as well.by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
QuoteEarendil Perhaps... It was the drivers side bolts, the very front and very rear bolts, in other words the first to be loosened. Probably makes no difference Can you think of anything to keep an eye out for? Or just forget it and do as Peter says, make sure the holes are clean before putting the new bolts in? Nothing bad should have happened to the block thread. Check the old head gaby Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
Put the timing belt on correctly, it will only improve your engine performance (or better: your performance won't be deteriorated as it was before)by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
The spark plug just unwinds over time, until no thread is left and it pops out. You won't notice until the last second (very few blow-by due to the loose plug + it is a 6 cylinder, you won't notice if one is running a little less well)by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
Experienced something similar on my iX, but it wasn't the #6 plug (3 or 4). Had the hood open with the engine running and saw the plug moving back and forth a bit. It was my first car and scared the hell out of me. Since then I checked the plugs for tightness regularly, which was obviously needed. I never really trusted it. I guess the #6 plug has it more often as it is less accessiby Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum
At first I thought you were kidding about the factory option marten repeller. Then I checked the link. Never heard of it but it seems like a nice option in troubled areas. How about keeping marten predators in your garage?by Michiel 318iS - Technical Forum