Firstfives.org

Seems like advancing the timing more than factory spec used to do more good than it does now. I attribute it to the change in gasoline, which only vaguely resembles what it used to, at least here in California. But it's a seat of the pants thing, time it, crank in a little more advance and see how i...

If it's the one I'm thinking of, more behind the clock than underneath it, it should be the blower changeover relay, when you turn on the A/C, it cuts out the heater blower and switches in the A/C blower. It's a 5 pin relay with NO and NC contacts. The relay itself rarely fails, but the switch that ...

I would love to have a manual / crank version. Electrics are always finicky sooner or later. I'm not sure you couldn't convert one to manual, especially the 80-81 version. I'd try some junkyard work first, but it looks like the manual bits from an E21 would bolt right up in place of the motor assem...

From what my big blue BMW book tells me, it's the roof, not just a bolt on. I think at best you would be grinding off the old one and glueing on the new one. The frame attached to the roof under the headliner that is. I'm not even sure the panel is the same size.

In other words, a longwinded no.

Mye28.com has much more on it. The link is more a B35 conversion, but it has some good stuff in it too. Search will bring up much more.

http://mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=60306

I have taken apart the AFM and adjusted the swiper arm, no change. I have installed a new O2 sensor, no change. But what does the O2 say when you're driving around? It may look goofy, but you've got to wire it up out of the hood, in the window, so you can watch it while you're driving. That will gi...

I just tried the 'pump the brakes when stopped at idle' with no variation in idle speed, so, do I have a problem with my 79 528i? You may not be pumping fast enough. Regardless, if the brakes work ok, you're ok. I am still trying to solve my rough idle after engine reaches operating temp issue, whi...

Seems like early cars had two linear springs up top, but later ones didn't. I might be thinking of E21's though, since the intake is so similar in appearance, except for 4 vs 6 that is. If that's what you have, with 2 linear extension springs, just run down to the hardware store and buy a couple. On...

swatterssr wrote:Interesting.
So, they been like this since new?

Yep, pretty much any vacuum boosted car is like this. E28's aren't due to having a hydroboost system running off the power steering pump, but that's the exception, not the rule.

No, it's there and there for a good reason. Granted, the car will run fine with or without it, but it's a painless smog device. It captures, then burns off, all the vapors trying to evaporate from the gas tank to the atmosphere and cause smog. Other than having to replace hoses every 15 or 20 years,...

It is possible to snap off hardened shock rods like Bilstein

Do I read that as you've done it? I'm surprised, I could see it more on E28's, which use a much smaller shaft/threads, but E12's are pretty beefy. Was it wailing on it for an extended time, or just a quick shot or what?

Holy crap, getting the pitman arm off the shaft of the old steering box was a huge ass-pain. Even though I've never tried, somehow I knew that. Which is why I'll swap out a box before I replace a leaky seal. Not that it's a fun job either, but less work overall. I know, not an option in your case, ...

Even though it serves a critical function, I'd say the torque is non critical. Meaning I just give it a quick shot with the impact wrench. It's a lock nut, and as long as you don't get it so tight you shear it off, or it's so loose there is play, it's good. And with the locknut, it'll stay that way.

Uh oh. Beware of mission creep. The pan I can understand if it's been repaired, but if you don't have oil pressure problems, then the next thing is rod bearings, then mains, then if you're that far, you might as well pull the head and go thru it, then is it new rings or new pistons... The pan is doa...

It could be leaky injectors, but it would manifest itself by acting flooded, since gas would have leaked down into the manifold while the car was off. Next time it happens, with the key off, pull the big plug off the ECU in the glove compartment. That will shut off the FI system. Then try to crank i...