Firstfives.org

That is weird. When you measure the voltage on each side of the relay when it turns on, do you get 12v on both sides? Wondering if there's some high resistance somewhere, so you're seeing 12v, but put it under load and the voltage drops down, lower than can drive the fan. Might also be worth checkin...

True and I'm glad you didn't have to resort to dropping everything because that's a massive case of "while you're there...". But thinking about it, the urethane would be holding the subframe so rigidly, that central point wouldn't really be taking much stress or make noticeable difference ...

Great tip, and also as you mentioned to me as the e12 subframe mounts unbolt, we don't have to deal with the difficult job of pulling/cutting/burning out the subframe mount like the e28/e30/e34 crowd do. I figure that is rubber-mounted to keep road vibrations off of the frame, but when they're 40+ y...

That looks amazing! I have never seen (or noticed) that look before. Great work.

That's weird! Can confirm my '79 auto had the standard 32 mm hole with a brass bushing, and it came out with a normal pilot bearing puller. I didn't measure it, but I'm going to guess that the hole in that bushing was 21mm. At some point BMW may have realized they needed to put a bushing in there, o...

Strange that it lessens during a drive. Any luck having someone shake the car and you underneath to pinpoint it? The other thing is all of those pieces of metal are great at transmitting vibrations and sounds to different locations away from their origin. Could it be the subframe bushings, the whole...

You've chosen the dark path! But it's so easy to go a little bit further, and just a little bit further again.. Especially given so many parts are interchangeable. That the conrods are the same from the 2.5 to 3.5 for example makes things so easy. The only thing to keep an eye on is the B35 has a la...

If you're looking for a 3.5, I'd recommend the e28 b34 block because it's a little thicker and also bolts straight in to your engine mounts. My e34 block cracked between a head bolt hole and the coolant passages and toasted the engine.

Just a thought.. the M30b30 block is 89mm bore, and the m30b34/b35 block is 92mm. You could bore it out and get a set of those commonly available pistons. And end up with a 3.2l block. Throw an 86mm crank in there and you'd have a 3.4l. But that leads down a dark path, at that point it'd probably be...

I have a similar squeak to what you've described from the passenger side rear wheel, which I have believe is one of the trailing arm bushings. Unlike yours I can hear it when the car is stationary and I rock the car on the rear corners. When I'm under the car the squeak is hard to pinpoint because i...

Sounds like a fuel flow problem, not the regulator. Replace the fuel filter, they're cheap, and while you're there check the condition of the fuel hoses under there. You're supposed to use special 90* hoses but most garages would probably use normal fuel hose. Check the intake hose from the tank to ...

The aux fan has two speeds, half and full. I don't know what non-AC cars have, but factory AC cars have two themo switches, one for 90C and one for 99C, with two sets of wires for each. The 90C triggers half speed, and the 99C triggers full speed. Also, when the AC compressor is on, it triggers the ...

On recommendation from Eric I also bought an ST swaybar and installed it last weekend. Lowering the front subframe is scary but not difficult, just takes time. The ST swaybar come with instructions. Once your car is on jack stands, place the floor jack under the subframe, undo the rear bolts two tur...

Electrically e34 injectors won't work, the impedance is different between the L-Jet and Motronic ECUs and they're not interchangeable. Physically they can be made to fit the log manifold, I've done it. You need to change the pintle cap, and also find a solution to the fuel rail connection. I used ba...

The reason for swapping the oil pump/pickup is because the e34/e32 sumps are different to fit the subframe, and you'll need to transfer your e12 sump and pickup, they will swap between blocks just fine. I think it's covered in our first fives FAQ on engine swaps. Looking at my e34, which is similar ...