In your second photo, think the snorkel just came off the airbox and the ignition wires spread into the gap. I can't quite make out what's happening with your rubbing situation, the photos are too close-up.
Enjoy your project!
Thanks for the link!
The car has been sitting for about 18 months from what I know. It was brought to the shop I bought it from and abandoned there.
Thanks for the notes on the airbox, I assumed that was the case but hadn’t confirmed.
Here are some better photos of the rubbing issue, thanks for looking!
Your car is missing foam sound insulation which would prevent metal-to-metal contact. I'm not sure it's normal for there to be contact, though, even without the insulation. It could be that the mounting bracket is bent causing the rubbing edge of the airbox to ride too high. When you take it all apart it will probably be obvious.
It appears that the air filter was not installed correctly. I am noting the bracket that holds on the lower portion of the air box appears bent upwards. You should check that and simply bend it back into place if it is bent.
Orient the wires on the distributor so the go left in the photo, rearward in real life. I think only one of mine goes straight down from the dist. That’ll make room for snorkel to attach and drop the air box. Good luck finding an icm. I have my old one, if you want to borrow, replaced cause it wouldn’t rev over 4750 but worked fine otherwise.
1981 Sapphire blue automatic
Hit 200k mi. on Fathers Day 2016!
250k October 2020
Family owned since new
Route 150 between Ojai and Santa Barbara
In your second photo, think the snorkel just came off the airbox and the ignition wires spread into the gap. I can't quite make out what's happening with your rubbing situation, the photos are too close-up.
Enjoy your project!
Thanks for the link!
The car has been sitting for about 18 months from what I know. It was brought to the shop I bought it from and abandoned there.
Thanks for the notes on the airbox, I assumed that was the case but hadn’t confirmed.
Here are some better photos of the rubbing issue, thanks for looking!
Search 528i or e12 on BaT for plenty of good quality pictures for reference. Here’s one of the most original I’ve ever seen:
