Jacob's other Wagon

[Laecaon]

Practically none. Doesn't seem to be a problem. Cone doesn't extend too far.

[draker]

Ah cool. Looks great!

[Laecaon]

Installed a catch can a bit ago since I deleted the crank case ventilation system.

Then I determined, oil consumption is well not consistent. Sometime it seems like it eats nothing, other times, it blows through oil. Research indicates the real problem are the ring lands on the pistons. So time for some aggressive cleaning.

First up is a bottle of Liquid Moly stuff. Made in Germany, comes in a can... one of those pour in your oil and idle for 10 minutes before an oil change. People say it does good things...

Then the oil change(s). Then there is a regiment of oil changes. Run conventional oil, 6 qts, with 1 pint of seafoam, and 1 pint of ATF. Do this 4-5 times for 250-300 miles each time.

I dont know if I buy into it, but it doesnt hurt much to try it. Motor still starts up fine, oil light turns off as it always has, motor actually sounds quieter right now, power is as its always been.

[DRIVEN]

This may not be easy on your car since the engine is canted but here's a method we've used at work with varying degrees of success.
Warm the engine up then shut it down and pull the plugs. Pour enough SeaFoam into each cylinder to cover the top of each piston and let it sit over night. In the morning, rotate the engine over to clear the cylinders then reinstall plugs. Start the engine and run it until it quits smoking -- and it's going to smoke ALOT! Best to do it when the wind is blowing away from the neighbors or at least late at night. Did I mention it's going to smoke ALOT?
I've done this on my own car and it made a noticeable improvement. Still uses oil, but nowhere near what it did.

[draker]

The ATF and seafoam should help a ton. That is, if gunk is actually the issue. ATF has a lot of detergent which will clean like a mofo. Especially if you are doing it 4-5 times. I'm excited to see the results.

[izzo]

The oil change places, use it to flush the motor.

Drain oil, add whatever the engine calls for. let it idle for 5 minutes, drain and put your regular oil in. I've heard of Drivens method and that it works, too.

[Laecaon]

Yes! Just did the nearly impossible. Got my computer to talk to my car! Full BMW Software with diagnostics and recoding software! The hard part was the China made cable (had to hack the FTDI driver to accept the chip inside), and then had to do some hocus pocus to get the software to install, and then run in Windows 7 64bit (software doesnt like 64bit).

Now to add the ability to roll up the windows with the key fob, Both mirror fold down in reverse, Flashing lights with lock/unlock, and make Fogs stay on with high beams.

[Taterhead]

I enjoy keeping up with your threads but most of the shit you do is over my head.

[Laecaon]

So I did figure out how to code some things on the car. Ill probably stop for now, as now everything I want to do means buying and adding components to the car.

What I did, high beams are now both HID and Halogen, but flash to pass is just halogen. Fog lights also stay on with high beams now. Did manage to get the windows to roll up with the key fob, as well as the corner lights now flash with lock/unlock. Locks auto lock at 15mph now, and the car auto locks if unlocked and not touched for 2 minutes.

I wanted to add the courtesy blink (blinks 3 times with one touch of the turn signal) but that requires a new light control module (and if I am going to do that, I am going to add rear fog lights).

Going to add a piezo beeper so I can hear when the car locks/unlocks (will also double as the alarm sound).

Also, did 3 of the atf/seafoam/oil treatments. Now back to synthetic. Decided to go with Castrol as now they support BMW's LL01 spec. Castrol also makes BMW's oil, and many dont like Mobil 1 in these cars. Also a Napa Platinum filter. Waiting for the car to cool down before changing the oil .

[Laecaon]

Ok so I had a little problem... So probably about 2 weeks ago I noticed my valve cover gasket was seeping. So I ordered one at the end of last week. Well on my way to work Monday, I noticed a cloud of white smoke behind me, but the motor was still making power (going up hill) and sounded the same as always, so I stopped at the top of the hill. Popped the hood, and saw a bit of flame lick the valve cover right over the exhaust manifold, luckily it self extinguished. Anyways, passenger side engine bay was hit with about a quart of oil, it went everywhere! So I popped it in neutral and went down the hill to work. The ride home was perfectly normal with no loss of oil... IDK. Well I took Tuesday off of work to do the valve cover gasket that was being delivered Tuesday...

I also did spark plugs, because well I had no idea about the ones in the motor. (I also decided Im only ever going to buy NGK V-Power ever again, coppers that dont last too long but are copper so best performance and stupid cheap).

Ill let the pictures tell the story from here out. The last picture is of the awesome cubby hole in the engine bay.

[Laecaon]

I am happy to report, oil consumption is way down. So far at 3.5k miles since the oil change and its still fairly close to the high line on the stick.

Got the passenger airbag replaced under recall. BMW reported I need a 4 wheel alignment (I agree, or at least front), and that I have a mysterious oil leak, which I agree, its somewhere undetermined after searching many times.

Evap ready monitor still has not set, but no CEL. So I found a cheap ($30) BMW scanner that will allow it to read all the secret codes on the car, and it does some other fun stuff.

And besides all of that, I was on ECSTuning looking at various things to buy, and I stumbled across the tail lights. New OEM Euro Clears for only $50!!! bought sooooo fast.

Im still lovin it.

[Laecaon]

Oil consumption in 5k or 7k miles (I dont remember) was less than a quart. Yay!!!

But then my drivers side tire was low on air. Drove to the gas station (didnt feel like getting my air hose out), and filled the tire. Then I looked for any screws/nails/sharp things. Finally found it. Cord showing on the inside corner of the tire'; cant tell if tread or sidewall.... oh look at that, its both tires...

Its not like I dont look at my car, the front end is often in the air. The rear end, well it looks good when looking down the driveway....

Its parked, until I can source some Michelin Sport A/S...






So glad neither popped on the way home from work...

Now to determine if its broken springs, or bushings, or alignment...

[BLUE]

Congrats on the oil consumption going down Jacob. Meh tires stuffs happen. NGK v-power has been what I've used for a while myself (some idiot kid behind the counter insisted many times on me using autolites in my old Subaru...).

[yello620]

Its parked, until I can source some Michelin Sport A/S...


Now to determine if its broken springs, or bushings, or alignment...

Any particular reason for the Michelins?

Ohh, it's bushing and alignment. Along with running factory BMW alignment specs will never produce good mileage, NEVER.
What is adjustable in the rear of that car?

[DRIVEN]

What did Bruce say?

[Laecaon]

Bruce said he was going home...

[izzo]

Its parked, until I can source some Michelin Sport A/S...


Now to determine if its broken springs, or bushings, or alignment...

Any particular reason for the Michelins?

Ohh, it's bushing and alignment. Along with running factory BMW alignment specs will never produce good mileage, NEVER.
What is adjustable in the rear of that car?

This


Doing alignments is fun, doing BWM, Audi, voltswagon and mercedes suck. So do bushing alingments on a fucking ford.

[Laecaon]

Bushings are um easy... Also, the alignment is easy. Go have fun with a GM where you have to grind the spot welds, or with lots of american cars where you need alignment kits to replace lower control arm bolts and what not. At least these cars are fully adjustable without extra parts.

In the rear you can adjust camber and toe.

Michelins, well I had a set on the car already, I really liked the way rode, and there was never ever any tire noise from them. Compare them to my friends Subie with identical tire size running Hankook S1 Noble2's, and well I think my car sticks to the ground better and the tires cope better.

After driving nearly 1k miles already on them, I like these tires a lot. Super quiet, and grip is great, car feels more responsive in corners now; how much of that is new tires vs these tires? I dont know. But the tires are also Y speed rated... those sidewalls are STIFF.

And after checking on my rear end bushings. I can hardly get anything to move. I looked up how to test them all and my car exhibited none of the issues people were posting. I was looking at the rear trailing arm bushing mostly. Also checked for broken springs. Nothing.

[Laecaon]

Car is aligned. Somehow it feels "freer", like its just floating down the road. Still goes around corners nicely.

Rear wheels had too much camber, now at -1.5 degrees each. Also both had too much negative toe. The right rear was definitely a bit worse regarding both, and he said that is why the right front wore faster. Right front was just a hair off with a bit of toe in.

Also thinking of getting some shocks... Namely, Koni FSD. Reviews basically boil down to, faster lap times than Koni Yellows (adjustable sport shocks), but also more comfortable ride to the point of it being numb. These are the stock shocks on a Gallardo... And Koni has a sale this month...

[DRIVEN]

Spotted!