Firstfives.org

Good luck. Other than constant searching on eBay or a parts car I know of no other sources. You may try contacting Coupe Kings as they have occasional e12 bits and pieces or may be able to point you in the correct direction.

Ron,

I've always used Mr. Injector.

http://www.mrinjector.us/

Fast service, returned with a before and after flow graph.

The booster holds vacuum and the hissing could be related to a failed diaphragm in the booster. The hose leading to the intake log is connected to the booster on the lower drivers side and could have a leak as well and cause the noise. There is a brake circuit distribution log underneath the booster...

Back of the master cylinder is dry and it seemed like watery oil and smelled like oil. I suppose if the 1 way valve is bad, residual vacuum in the booster could pull vapor with oil residue back from the intake log which would accumulate over time. I'm replacing the master cylinder as a precaution an...

Thanks Mike. My securing collars have 4 holes in the top. The Bilsteins that came out had the notches on the side of the collar that would work with the spanner wrench.

Anyone installed Koni red front strut inserts? The threaded collar securing the strut insert in the strut housing measures about .2-3 mm too small and I can't imagine it's designed to be forced on to the insert body. I'm using the OEM securing collar and I believe the correct strut insert for a 1979...

Anyone ever find oil in the brake booster chamber? I suctioned out about an ounce of what seemed like watery oil in the course of a brake overhaul project. Back of the master cylinder is bone dry. Does the check valve by the intake manifold fail and allow oil vapor through? Thanks.

Ron,

I watched the BMW dealer use an infrared thermometer to compare the temperatures of the upper and lower radiator hoses to diagnose a faulty radiator and thermostat on my 540. Have no idea if consumer versions are accurate but seems like a good tool to help in situations like yours.

You have a choice of 1, good ol BF Goodrich Radial T/As

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearc ... iameter=17

MattyHarris, I believe e38 wheels have a 72.6 hub diameter but it may depend on the wheel. I know e38 M Parallels are sized this way. Most if not all BMW 5 x 120 lug pattern wheels are 74.1 mm. It the wheels aren't original to the car, you'll just have to try them to see. The offset should be cast i...

Ron,

Good guidance here. But I thought I read somewhere that splitting the calipers is risky as the bolts are NLA in the event they're stripped. Correct? Or do you have a source for the bolts?

Jon

Is there a process to prime the master cylinder? I've never done one of these but have always done it with new units for other cars.

Robert, The factory manuals can sometimes be a little assumptive rather than literal. I interpret the manual as be sure to bleed all 3. It only specifies the B to C sequence so (my) common sense and experience say bleed B, C then A. Anyway, bleed the hell out of them and hope you figure out why it's...

Robert, The blue e12 factory manual section 34-00/2 says "Bleed all 3 bleeder screws A, B and C. Always bleed both lower pistons in sequence B-C." I interpret that as lowest to highest in elevation. (A is the upper screw, B inner and C outer) I know we're drilling down to tiny details here...

"Different responses" between calipers indicates semi-seized piston or pistons. But these are new OEM from BMW? They come with a 2 year warranty if defective. How did you measure the response? How dramatic is the "pull"? If it pulls hard, then likely caliper / pad / rotor related...