BMW 330 Clubsport

[LanceRS]

Thanks for the replies. This is what found having finally managed to extract it from the car.
This morning is proving to all be a bit of a rush getting it all back together as I need to use it to get to work today.
Anyway,this is how it looks at the moment. as I stand here bleeding the system. My choice of parts in the end came down to what Euro Car parts had in stock for me to collect this morning.
The thought has also occurred to me, that as much as everyone bangs on about the weakness of the cooling system on these cars, this tank was 17 years and 150k miles old. Not too bad going.
Now if only I can get some warm air out of the vents and a temperature gauge that’s not in the red...

[LanceRS]

Quick and brief update.

I have (hopefully) learned not to try to do these jobs in a hurry on 4 hours sleep. Ended up having it bled properly by a friendly local garage.
With it all up and running it started to loose coolant, so two weeks later he’s replaced the water pump too and so far, so good.
Next job is to try and find out how the water is getting into the boot.

[LanceRS]

Thanks, I shall look into it.

[LanceRS]

I makes it’s way all the way into the spare wheel well, After all the rain that we have had recently, there was a fair bit. Unfortunately work has been a bit manic lately and I have not had time to properly investigate.

[LanceRS]

d_a_n1979 said:

LanceRS said:

Quick and brief update.

I have (hopefully) learned not to try to do these jobs in a hurry on 4 hours sleep. Ended up having it bled properly by a friendly local garage.
With it all up and running it started to loose coolant, so two weeks later he’s replaced the water pump too and so far, so good.
Next job is to try and find out how the water is getting into the boot.

More than likely rear light cluster seals or the side vents; have a look at them all and seal/replace what's necessary

The OEM cluster seals aren't expensive, so worth getting in anyway and change them as a preventative measure etc

New light seals bought and fitted. Seems to have cured the problem.

Anyway having just had a row with the wife because “your cleaning that bloody car again”, I thought that I’d share the results of my fairly brief efforts.

[LanceRS]

[LanceRS]

[LanceRS]

Merry Christmas everyone.

Just a quick update for anyone interested. My pre Christmas MOT meant new Mtec discs with Red stuff pads for the front along with a replacement front nearside calliper (annoying because that was the one I changed a couple of years ago). Finally had to get the rear brake lines replaced and while it was in the air, they found the obligatory broken rear spring, so they have been done too.
What wasn’t picked up was the knackered from ball joints, so those are something for the new year.
Once winter is out of the way I shall get the wheels refurbished.

[LanceRS]

Annoying bloody electric seats, what was wrong with a simple leaver?

Anyway this today’s issue. I knew that the seat would stop working at some point, but why could it not do it at the beginning of my days off and not at half past five the day before I go back to work? Equally, why does it have to get stuck at its rear most movement and not where I want it to drive?
I suspect that with the current weather I shall have to take it in rather than trying to sort it out in the driveway.
On a positive note though, the car is much better on it’s new front wishbones.

[LanceRS]

Not a very elegant fix, but a fix nonetheless.



Bit of a pain to do but quite impressed that I managed (with a little help from my teenager) to do it without removing the seat. We will see how long it lasts, but some testing shows that these wires have not movement placed upon them when the seat move forward and backwards, so hopefully it will be fine. It does make me wonder how it broke in the first place though.

Next on my list are a new pair of front PS4s, it seems that the knackered wishbones have taken their toll on them. An oil service is due soon too.

[LanceRS]

At last I have something to report. At long last I have got round to getting the wheels refurbished.
Before (they were all pretty much the same),

And after,


They don’t look new, but it is a hell of a lot better. The rims are painted rather than diamond cut again as I didn’t want to have to worry about the lacquer lifting again after a year.
They did warn me before I had them done that they might not be able to get them perfect due to the previous corrosion and to be fair, you have to get pretty close to spot anything or that the finish is painted rather than polished and lacquered.
I had a pair of PS 4s fitted to the rear at the same time as they were getting low.
Other than that not much has changed, it’s up to 162k miles. It had it’s inspection 2 at my local specialist, who spotted that the rear shocks are on their way out, so some Bilsteins are next on my list.

[LanceRS]

Thank you. As I have said before, one of the reasons that I have been so determined to keep hold of it, is that I genuinely cannot think of anything that would fulfill my requirements better (although if anyone wants to donate an Aston Martin I might re evaluate).
Yours had the one thing that I really miss, a sunroof.
These things really are bargains especially if you consider that they are as cheap as they are ever going to be.
When the world gets back to normal, I look forward to being able to use it properly again.

[LanceRS]

No real update, but as I am bored and it has had its first clean in 3 weeks, I thought that I would share. The wheels definitely look much better with the sun shining on them, especially now that I have found some tyre dressing in the garage.

[LanceRS]

Thank you.

Regarding the finish on the wheels. I used these people, who came recommended by a number of people.

B J V Engineering http://www.wheelrefurbishing.co.uk/
3, Hattons House, Flaunden Ln, Flaunden, Hemel Hempstead HP3 0PQ
01442 834169

I think that it was their ‘Silver Chrome’. Having had the BBS split rims on my e36, I know what a pain the diamond cut can be, so was keen to find something more robust. A friend had the 19”s on his M3 done in the same effect and I was impressed with them and decided to go the same route.

[LanceRS]

It’s not cleaned as often as I would like.

The wheels are covered in Rimwax and just washed with the rest of the car. BJV recommend that if I have to use something stronger, Auto Glym do a non acidic wheel cleaner.
I use Meguires Wash and Wax for normal cleaning.
Auto Glym Super Resin Polish, Glass polish, Bumper Care with Vinyl and Rubber Care. Collinite Wax or Meguires Ceramic Spray to seal the paintwork.
Autosol metal polish on the exhaust and Meguires Tyre Gel.
I think that’s everything.

[LanceRS]

Well today I think that I discovered something new.
Without wanting to bore people, I'm currently taking meds for a brain tumor. One or other of them has made me very forgetful and easily distracted. The most recent result of this is my leaving the car for about 14 hours with the ignition on and flattening the battery.
As far as I can tell, the car lowered the driver's window before the battery died. There are a few of us in this house and nobody noticed the window being open last night. I don't have any recollection of opening the window and cannot think of any reason that I would have done.
In any event, I came out this morning to find that at least the car was still there, but the battery was dead and the driver's side of the interior was soaked.
I jump started it using my wife's car and gave it a good run, I'm hoping that I have not completely killed the battery.

[LanceRS]

Thank you everyone.
I can now report that the battery seems fine. I’ve been using it as normal today with no problem, which amazes me given how dead it was yesterday morning. I did enjoy my spirited drive after I jumped it.
Fortunately, today’s weather has done wonders for drying out the seat and carpet.
I have also discovered that it is possible to wash off the leather care products with rain water as there was a pool of it at the base of the seat. A job for tomorrow.

[LanceRS]

Not a huge amount to report, the car has only done 300 miles in the last month, 140 of which were the return journey to Caffeine and Machine this morning.


Once the rain had cleared it was a really nice drive.
What I did notice yesterday while cleaning it, was that the new nearside front wing is already showing signs of starting to rust already!

[LanceRS]

Thanks. My first port of call will be the bodyshop that fitted it, they have always been really good to me, so it’s only fair that I let them have a look at it first.
Besides which, my Sapphire Cosworth is currently being recommissioned after too many years off the road so all available funds are going in that direction.

[LanceRS]

I managed to break the infamous 3rd gear. It's since been laid up for the last 6 years (life and wife kept getting in the way).
It's having the 'box rebuilt, all belts and fluids changing, new tyres and brakes.
It also needs the fuel pump wiring replacing as the voltage was dropping off on full boost.
All in all, a bill second only to the engine build.