'Oddjob' aka 2002 330i Touring
Discussion
Matt_N said:
How much of a pig is it to do the bushes?
I've got a 330i salon which is no soubt due some new bushes in the near future (consumables!).
Have you attempted the RTAB?
Also, where did you get them from?
Ta.
Front bushes are a bit of a sod to extract from the housings, means cutting the insides out with a hacksaw, then slicing the outer sleeve very carefully till you split it then the bushes should fall out. The new power flex bushes push in with some copper slip to help and a vice, takes about 4-5 hours to do , but helps having a friend to help or someone who's done it before. (needs a vice to hold it).I've got a 330i salon which is no soubt due some new bushes in the near future (consumables!).
Have you attempted the RTAB?
Also, where did you get them from?
Ta.
Edited by Matt_N on Tuesday 7th April 20:17
Getting the housings in and out is fairly straight forwards to be fair, the time is extracting the bushes from the housings but once those are out, it's fairly straight forwards to do so.
I'm going to be doing the RTA bushes tomorrow, so I'll get a few more pictures hopefully and do a write up, as I don't have a bush removeal tool... so going at it with a hacksaw and a bearing puller.. see how we get on
I got my bushes from here http://www.powerflexshop.com/
So today was changing the RTA bushes, I used one of the many guides to check for details, but if you've done an E36 RTA bushes, it's the same idea for the most part, but actually a bit easier as BMW revised the design to make it easier to change the bush in situ. One trick i did was to give the brackets a light coat of paint / primer just to give me a mark to re align them once I'd changed the bush, least then I'd know the tracking wouldn't be a mile out.
First up it's getting the bush down into a area where you can attack it:
I used a bearing puller, but there are special tools for this job. I didn't have the time / money to go hunting, so made do with my bearing puller to force out the inner part of the bush.
Once that was free, I got the outer ring cut with a hack saw, least as far as i'd dare without cutting into the arm itself, before using a chizel and a lump hammer to split it. Given how bad the bushes on mine had corroded , it didn't take much to get them out. Problem was the remains of the outer shell had bonded themselves to the face of the arm.
So out with the dremel to clean it up, it's nasty and dusty work, so face masks and goggles came out too.
This was what was left once i got the bushes out.
The Powerflex items are a lot easier to fit, just press in by hand with plenty of copper slip, and I bolted it all back up.
First up it's getting the bush down into a area where you can attack it:
I used a bearing puller, but there are special tools for this job. I didn't have the time / money to go hunting, so made do with my bearing puller to force out the inner part of the bush.
Once that was free, I got the outer ring cut with a hack saw, least as far as i'd dare without cutting into the arm itself, before using a chizel and a lump hammer to split it. Given how bad the bushes on mine had corroded , it didn't take much to get them out. Problem was the remains of the outer shell had bonded themselves to the face of the arm.
So out with the dremel to clean it up, it's nasty and dusty work, so face masks and goggles came out too.
This was what was left once i got the bushes out.
The Powerflex items are a lot easier to fit, just press in by hand with plenty of copper slip, and I bolted it all back up.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Monday 2nd January 16:37
Matt_N said:
Good to see the PF bushes go in nicely, I've had to wrestle a fair few of those in the past!
Mine has just been MoT'd with no advisories on the bushes so I think I'm gonna go for a 4 wheel alignment first.
It might be an idea to get the PF bushes installed first, as your alignment won't wonder out as the OEM bushes wear out. It didn't take me more than 4 hours to change them in an afternoon's work, though do soak all the adjustment bolts on the upright to help free them off so the guys doing the alignment aren't fighting with the car for hours, saves some cost Mine has just been MoT'd with no advisories on the bushes so I think I'm gonna go for a 4 wheel alignment first.
Well, forgot to update this , but managed to get the 4 wheel alignment done, it wasn't far off but I found out that the front wheels are set to 0 degrees camber 
Which is a bit odd, but still feels like the front end wants to push in corners. I'm guessing it's set to encourage understeer and dialing in some front negative camber should improve the handling further.
Also today's activities involved a change of oil as the car was still wanting to suck down whatever was in it. The filter to be blunt had seen better days , so much for having been 'recently' serviced, the filer looked like it'd not been changed in over a year.
Still, fresh one in and 6.5 litres of Castrol Edge 5w30 in the engine, it seems to be happier so far.
Also found a hesitation or misfire as of late was becoming noticeable at part throttle around 2-3000rpm, which turned out to be the plugs being WELL past their change date judging by the condition. Soon as the fresh set in, all hesitation had gone.
Old on the left new on the right, probably was overdue for replacement.
And one last job was to change out the malfunctioning brake light switch, the old one decided it work but constaintly, leaving my rear brake lights on. Great for getting tailgaters off my back
but I doubt the police would take kindly if they'd spotted me with them stuck on.
Which is a bit odd, but still feels like the front end wants to push in corners. I'm guessing it's set to encourage understeer and dialing in some front negative camber should improve the handling further.
Also today's activities involved a change of oil as the car was still wanting to suck down whatever was in it. The filter to be blunt had seen better days , so much for having been 'recently' serviced, the filer looked like it'd not been changed in over a year.
Still, fresh one in and 6.5 litres of Castrol Edge 5w30 in the engine, it seems to be happier so far.
Also found a hesitation or misfire as of late was becoming noticeable at part throttle around 2-3000rpm, which turned out to be the plugs being WELL past their change date judging by the condition. Soon as the fresh set in, all hesitation had gone.
Old on the left new on the right, probably was overdue for replacement.
And one last job was to change out the malfunctioning brake light switch, the old one decided it work but constaintly, leaving my rear brake lights on. Great for getting tailgaters off my back
but I doubt the police would take kindly if they'd spotted me with them stuck on.Edited by Sf_Manta on Monday 2nd January 16:40
No photos today, but did change out the fuel filter, which turned into a utter saga as whomever put in the old one had used jubile clips and then rounded the lot off.. Great.
Managed to undo them but in no way was i going to be able to redo them. Thanks to a friend 6 new clips were acquired and a replacement tube for the perished vacuum tube that fell apart. All back together and after an initial air lock which a few mins waiting for the fuel pump to prime the system sorted out the problem and returned the car to normal running.
Shall have to see how fuel economy and performance is now. On the cards for replacement is
> New set of aux belts as the current ones are looking decidedly worn out
> New radio to replace the dead CD changer and crappy tape player.
> New air filter (Looking at the proper K&N filter setup with heatshield)
> Braided hoses for the brakes and clutch lines and delete the restriction valve in the clutch line
The aim is since some plans fell through for a holiday in the US this year, Me and a friend plan to tour some of Europe, visit the Ring and do a few laps
and finish off by going to the Belgium GP in August, should be one hell of a trip
Managed to undo them but in no way was i going to be able to redo them. Thanks to a friend 6 new clips were acquired and a replacement tube for the perished vacuum tube that fell apart. All back together and after an initial air lock which a few mins waiting for the fuel pump to prime the system sorted out the problem and returned the car to normal running.
Shall have to see how fuel economy and performance is now. On the cards for replacement is
> New set of aux belts as the current ones are looking decidedly worn out
> New radio to replace the dead CD changer and crappy tape player.
> New air filter (Looking at the proper K&N filter setup with heatshield)
> Braided hoses for the brakes and clutch lines and delete the restriction valve in the clutch line
The aim is since some plans fell through for a holiday in the US this year, Me and a friend plan to tour some of Europe, visit the Ring and do a few laps
and finish off by going to the Belgium GP in August, should be one hell of a trip Cracking bit of kit OP, did you replace your CCV? if not I have two tips for you, get the Valve that comes with all the pipework, because every pipe broke when I did mine, and remove and clean out your dipstick housing, its double walled and I did it with a cable tie and Gunk.
It wont cure your oil consumption problems, they all do that I'm afraid.
It wont cure your oil consumption problems, they all do that I'm afraid.
Already changed the CCV valve and WHAT a b
h of a job it is to do along with all the pipes.
I did some research into why these engines suck down oil, and it's a few reasons, the CCV issue for one but also grade of oil used. Though recommended is between 0w30 and 5w30, the thinner stuff is more likely to be sucked through.
I've swapped out the oil not long ago for 5w30 Castrol and so far oil consumption hasn't been an issue as yet, will be keeping an eye on it though.
h of a job it is to do along with all the pipes. I did some research into why these engines suck down oil, and it's a few reasons, the CCV issue for one but also grade of oil used. Though recommended is between 0w30 and 5w30, the thinner stuff is more likely to be sucked through.
I've swapped out the oil not long ago for 5w30 Castrol and so far oil consumption hasn't been an issue as yet, will be keeping an eye on it though.
Well, so far the parts are coming for the trip to Europe, mainly for the ring.
Firstly, due to the lack of a decent stereo, or CD changer for that matter, Managed to pick one of these up whilst on offer:
Unfortunately, due to a cock-up, I've got the wrong adapter loom and have to wait till the correct one arrives, before I can fit it. The other annoyance is the central mount single din adapter that BMW did is NLA, at least here in the UK. However there is a company who carry it in the USA, but it's $150
Something for the future but till then i have to put up with the crappy off centre fascia one.
Plus being DAB, an extra antenna is needed, managed to find a decent one on ebay for £20 that attaches to the windscreen, again, have to wait as the screen has a number of chips / cracks in it from the roads I have to drive which is bks.
The final thing on order currently..should turn up this week would be this:
Next month will be brake / clutch line replacement and a full system flush, and maybe some decent pads, suggestions would be good but considering DS2500 by Ferodo.
Firstly, due to the lack of a decent stereo, or CD changer for that matter, Managed to pick one of these up whilst on offer:
Unfortunately, due to a cock-up, I've got the wrong adapter loom and have to wait till the correct one arrives, before I can fit it. The other annoyance is the central mount single din adapter that BMW did is NLA, at least here in the UK. However there is a company who carry it in the USA, but it's $150
Something for the future but till then i have to put up with the crappy off centre fascia one. Plus being DAB, an extra antenna is needed, managed to find a decent one on ebay for £20 that attaches to the windscreen, again, have to wait as the screen has a number of chips / cracks in it from the roads I have to drive which is b
ks.The final thing on order currently..should turn up this week would be this:
Next month will be brake / clutch line replacement and a full system flush, and maybe some decent pads, suggestions would be good but considering DS2500 by Ferodo.
Well.. after much waiting..
Which then the contents of which was duely fitted... in about an hour.
First impressions are that the engine is noticeably more responsive to throttle input, and has a bit more urgency about it through the rev range (Would need to do back to back dyno runs to confirm differences), and the aural dept has meant I've got a face like this
Which then the contents of which was duely fitted... in about an hour.
First impressions are that the engine is noticeably more responsive to throttle input, and has a bit more urgency about it through the rev range (Would need to do back to back dyno runs to confirm differences), and the aural dept has meant I've got a face like this
Edited by Sf_Manta on Monday 2nd January 16:42
carpetsoiler said:
M54s sound epic with a massive cone filter whacked on them. Jolly good choice, sir.
I can certainly agree with that statement!
Also, new grills, and need to take some pictures of the new stereo installation. took a while but now have DAB / Bluetooth / USB and an Aux line in within the capabilities of the new head unit, and some improvement in sound quality.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Monday 2nd January 16:41
'my first BMW' mod #1!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff