Firstfives.org

I really hate play in steering too, and when I got mine it had a lot. I jacked up the car, shook all of the steering components and found the problem (the drag link to steering arm), replaced that, then spent an afternoon adjusting the steering box. My car is oem and the suspension is tired but the ...

I did try the vicegrips I have, but they were too big and the space (right underneath the throttle) is very limited. Just ended up making it worse so I stopped, plus everything covered in oil doesn't help. I have some OEM BMW nuts and washers on the way, and I'll look at buying smaller vicegrips fir...

Has anyone come across rounded valve nuts on the rocker arm, and how have you fixed it? I guess the only thing I can do is use a bolt extractor but the space is tiny and I don't want to drop metal pieces into the head. I searched the archives and one guy broke his engine by cracking the rocker arms....

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Call 002 Salvage in Hayward and get a used one with a clean torque converter. Or call Dirk at the place in Burlingame that is the local ZF facility and get an exchange rebuilt. Or if it is in good shape otherwise sell it to me! Considering my options.. I will try fixing it, I like its constant chal...

Further update to my transmission saga, went out to get Boston Market the other night and took the beemer to enjoy the newly-fixed sharp steering and give it a run. It felt really weird and drove strange, revving really high and snapping into gear. Figured it out - I've lost 2nd. It goes 1st, then r...

San Jose Steam Cleaning can put the ca on a hoist and properly clean everything under it Over by the Shark Tank, Huh just realized I've taken my daily driver to that car wash a few times, didn't notice they did underbody steam cleaning too. Although at this point I've been under the E12 so often re...

Update - Pan dropped and cleaned, filter changed. Old fluid was black sludge, filter had a lot of particles, some metallic and some pieces that were clearly getting through. Also a tiny curved piece of metal about 1/2inch long. Hope it wasn't anything important. But it shifts far better now, doesn't...

Yellow/green; brown; blue thick wires in what seems to be a black factory plastic protective sheath. If something doesn't work because of it missing then I am unaware of what it is. Fuel pump works. Gas filler door seems manual. The windows are manual. I was looking at my wiring diagram for other t...

If your fluid is as bad as you say, why aren't you dropping the pan to thoroughly clean everything that has old fluid on it? The pan filter is just fine for your transmission. Unlike an engine which is bypassing combustion byproducts to the crankcase for the oil to absorb an automatic is supposed t...

Remove the lower cowl panel, reach up and find the bulb and socket for the turn signal, it'll be visible. Wiggle the SOB and see if it starts flashing again. As previously discussed the lackluster wiring loom that winds its way around the cluster is a likely culprit. Huh you can get to the flasher ...

Early ones, meaning 79 and earlier with the rear cable, always seem slow, at least mine always did. Later ones, 80+ seem to move faster. Well maybe that behavior is normal then. I don't know how long the motor was dead for so not sure if it's ever been re-greased, but the movement seems to be consi...

Hey guys, wondering if anyone knows of any auto trans cooler line adapter fittings for the e12? I want to put a magnefine inline filter in, which is just a hose fitting, so want a pair to fit the radiator and the return cooler line. I have some adapters from a B&M transmission cooler, but they'r...

Thanks guys. I since found that the relay worked and the cables are okay but the motor itself was blown. Bought a used assembly off ebay, replaced the motor and the relay and it works again. Just in time for winter. Although it struggles a bit so it will need to be disassembled and regreased. It doe...

I see!!! I was confused, I did not understand the cable wasn't stationary. I imagine it worked like a window motor, or wiper motor.... It happened, half my cable housing just kinda broke off and I had a friend play back and forth with the sunroof...fun too watch it go in and out. Side note, if I ca...