Title pretty much says it all. I'm a firm believe in Artificial Summer*, so the consistent direction of my air vents is important to me. It also serves as a good training tool for making sure my hands are correctly positioned on the steering wheel, as if they aren't, they get cold ;-) So does anyone have any tips or tricks to stiffening these things back up? I'm tempted to duby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteec437 Umm.... what? For you and anyone else who happens across this thread. It's possible to read a few fault codes from the computer on an E30. A code of 1221 is an Oxygen sensor fault, a very common one. More info and other codes can be found here.by Earendil - Community Forum
So I'm in Safeway (a grocery store) today when I hear the intercom come on and announce: "could come to the phone for a code 1221". My immediate thought was that somebody had an exhaust problem... Should I seek help?by Earendil - Community Forum
Quoterkj Oh, wait a minute, I see a PrtSc (on top off) SysRg, is that the key I want? If you are using a computer running Windows, it is I will now bow out. Specific Apple related questions will draw me back out, or abstract computer questions in general.by Earendil - Community Forum
An article on the Northwest (US) E30 picnic was just run in the November issue of Performance BMW, a European mag. On page 2 is a great shot of daniel's E30. And his paint job doesn't look half bad from that angle Here is a link to a pdf version of the article: Upon further looking, the corner of his car shows up on the 3rd page as well. For those that don't know, hby Earendil - Community Forum
Google has a little button in the upper right hand corner "Print" next to "Send" and "Link". Is that closer to what you want? It's not absolutely full page, but it's quite large. I can't imagine these free services allowing to to print (easily) maps without their logo showing someplace. It's certainly possible to take the images provided andby Earendil - Community Forum
Well done yet again! That town was crazy though! And I don't mean the turns, narrow roads, or risk of houses, that just strikes me as fun. But the condition of the roads! Dirt road potholes are one thing, the edges aren't sharp, and they usually can give a little bit. But those were some nasty roads you took that car over at good speed. Did you give the rims a good look over and spinby Earendil - Community Forum
So I'm driving home late last night, making the 2000 foot elevation climb through twisty rmountain roads to get to my house, when the check engine light comes on and stays on. I was not driving her softly, but it wasn't extreme either. At the point when the light came on, I was flooring it (or close) in 3rd gear at 2800 RPM. It was a steep hill with no rear ledge, so when the light caby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteland sea air Didn't realize people were responding since I've stopped receiving emails, I started the car without the airbox because I was flushing the power steering fluid and it gave me room to work. Sorry I've always shortened check engine light to CEL since it's such a common issue with all types of cars. Thanks for the air meter information Archeo-peteriX! Shorteby Earendil - Technical Forum
*grabs popcorn and sits down* QuoteFerdinand I lied. Sometimes it's not at all easy. It can be quite difficult. This stage was a bitch. Only four GT teams got a zero on this one. We came oh-so-close to not making it on time. Day 3 - Stage 3 - Musgrave Harbour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdGPb-D7XUc In response to your written comments at the end... After crossing thby Earendil - Community Forum
Quoteducatipaso CEL = Check Engine Light <a href=" doh image/enn15/smiley_emoticons_doh.gif?o=1" target="_blank"><img src="; border="0"></a>by Earendil - Technical Forum
So now I'm curious what CEL stands for, as I would have called this resetting the ECUby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteland sea air For future reference, how does one reset the CEL? I started the car without the airbox installed (MAF unplugged as well) and the light came on, it cleared on it's own while driving later but it took a while. I'll admit I'm unsure what you mean by "CEL", but if you mean the check-engine light....than dur, you unplugged one of the sensors that the ECU nby Earendil - Technical Forum
In out play on the axles is normal. Movement is required for the suspension to be able to travel up and down since the diff is strapped to the frame. I could be wrong, but a bad center bearing or drum won't make noise, and they certainly won't make a clunking noise. They WILL cause vibration though. I would place a twenty on the clunking being your U joint. When testing it, you reallyby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteland sea air well it might not happen this weekend but I will most likely have some help. Is it safe to remove the cat and replace with a pipe? The car won't pass emissions so I am registering it as a historic car. Safe? Like, will the car turn demonic and kill you? Yes, it is safe. Is it environmentally friendly? No... Though you aren't likely to see any increase in hp.by Earendil - Technical Forum
Pretty car! Yeah, you do have to remove the exhaust If you have a buddy, it's actually a lot easier than you'd think.by Earendil - Technical Forum
Quotenomis3613 Hi Rick, (apologies to Earendil for hijacking this into an engineering geek-off!) In theory, yes, the pressure wave will reach the closest wheel first. But the speed of sound in water is 1 484 m/s so a 1m difference in brake lines will cause the far wheel to lock 0.000 674 seconds later! You may not be aware, but when I ask a technical question, I fully expect and enjoy a tecby Earendil - Technical Forum
I didn't realize it was one of those types of window-timed races. The intermediate check points you say you don't know where they are, but can you see them coming? Or does the timing crew catch you coming around a corner and tag you then? I guess what I'm getting at, is what keeps you from blasting through the course, and then slowing your car to 1mph right before each check poiby Earendil - Community Forum
Well, I can't find anything wrong with the system. Brake calipers release my wheel quickly, and none of them are dragging. I'm wondering now if it wasn't a combination of worn tires and a slicker portion of the road. That would cause a single wheel to lock up before the rest, if it didn't have the same rolling friction as the rest of them. Yet still enough friction to burnby Earendil - Technical Forum
About 6 months ago I replaced failing control arms associated bushings, tie rods, and swaybar links. Then last month I got rid of my vibrating metal-torn drive shaft, and associated torn center bearing. Just today, after having had my tires on for 7 months, I went and got them rebalanced. Just, WOW. For the past year my car has ever so subtly tapped me on the shoulder (read: Shaken my ass) to rby Earendil - Community Forum
QuoteMichiel 318iS QuoteEarendil If you lift a wheel up and give it a spin, a grinding noise from the center of the wheel might indicate bad wheel bearings. Is that what you mean? If you want to check a wheel bearing, jack up the wheel and spin it. Now feel the spring. If you can feel vibrations, the bearing is to be suspected. I've never heard of this method, but I like it!by Earendil - Technical Forum
Quotejaffar my theory is that the left/front wheel has the shortest brake duct and that's why it always locks up first. however, i have no proof for this - it's just something i *think*, because i noticed it in almost all cars i've driven if you have a seized caliper, you WILL notice. you will hear noise, feel it in the steering wheel at some speed and SMELL it. of course, it wby Earendil - Technical Forum
QuoteArcheo-peteriX Another one to add to your list is the bearings at the top of the front shock tower. *mentally adds this to the list of parts he didn't know his car had* Why no, I'm not a mechanic. I just play one on the internetby Earendil - Technical Forum
QuoteArcheo-peteriX The short answer is that the caliper has seized up. You'll either have to replace it or if you're lucky you may be able to rebuild it. Before I got my car, one of the previous owners had a seized caliper and the BMW dealer simply replaced the whole unit... $$$ Knowing the visual state of my calipers up front, this isn't surprising. What is surprising to mby Earendil - Technical Forum
I went to test my breaking ability the other day, only come to a stop and have blue smoke rise from my front left wheel. First, I don't have (working) anti-lock brakes. However I would expect, and have experienced, multiple wheels locking up at once. In this instance I could barely tell the front wheel was even locked up, so I didn't know to ease off the brakes. Now, the scientiby Earendil - Technical Forum
I chuckled (words added to hopefully keep my post from being marked as "spam"... *sigh*)by Earendil - Community Forum
clarifying question time! When does the noise happen? Only turning in one direction, or both? Only in a tight turn, or any angle? Is it constant, or come and go? Is it predictable (like at a certain point in the steering, or only when accelerating etc) ? i.e. Could you sit me in the car and demonstrate it with ease? It could be anything from a steering rack issue (fluids or something moby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteland sea air @ Earendil: from what I have read the center support bearing is half way along the drive shaft underneath the car, if you hear a grinding or squeaking noise coming from that region while turning one wheel then it could have packed up, also saw a video on youtube (I think) where it was so far gone it had quite a bit of play. Looks like the DS would have to come out if this turnsby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteland sea air So here's what I understand so far to test for the drive shaft U joint I should try and move the shaft by hand, pretty much any amount of play is bad I realise now I wasn't very clear. The drive shaft its self may twist, due to normal play in the transmission and differential. However when looking at the rear U-Joint, just inches from the differential, you shouldnby Earendil - Technical Forum
Quoteland sea air Thanks for all the great advice guys, how difficult is RR for the driveshaft parts if that's what it turns out to be With or without the right tools and parts on hand? It took me probably 8 hours total by myself. If I had all the right sockets/wrenches, a buddy, and had to do it all over again, I could do it in 2 hours probably as long as there were no unforeseen probby Earendil - Technical Forum