Got the touring back from Ant at A-Tech on Thursday. I would like to do most of the maintenance on it but thought it best if someone who knows what they are doing gives it a sort out to begin with.
He's done a great job I must say and the car drives really nicely, no comparison to how it was before it went in (it hadn't been serviced for 4 years).
It's had full service with new brakes, cambelt change, water pump, fluids, steering rack, pump, pretty much everything at the front suspension wise replaced, plus new rear shocks and top mounts as the self levelling suspension was knackered.
Prob some other stuff I can't remember as well but it now has an MOT and to drive it feels really tight.
Engine wise it pulls really well too. I had a destricted e36 328i sport before so it feels less pokey of course - prob 55 bhp less - but it makes a nice sound and there's not so much car to drag along so it's nippy enough.
I had a try of a few different mild chips while I was at A-Tech and I couldn't quite make my mind up so Ant suggested keeping them both and swapping them round to find the favourite.
I haven't had time to do this just yet as decided to take it out for spin in the wet yesterday to have some fun with it. While deliberately trying to get the back to step out I managed to get it very stepped out. 180 degrees the wrong way in fact on a slip road on to the north circ. Fortunately kept it out the barrier but I think some new tyres would be in order
Anyhow, did some work on it today. When Ant took off the self levelling suspension it was a bit low at the back and there's lots of speed bumps round mine so meant a lot of graunching noises. So had to swap the rear springs round to lift it up a bit.
You know your old when you start raising cars
So, pic before (note laptop for Zone advice on how to change rear springs!):
Simply undid the 19mm bolt on the damper, dropped the arm and took out these short ones. Putting these bigger standard touring ones on:
Ant recommened a good pressure wash under the arches and despite doing that still found a bit of mud around the filler cap while the wheel was off (banana skin touring optional extra)
Then swore a lot as it's a PITA getting those bigger springs in if your on your own and don't have a spring compressor thingy.
Ended up disconnecting ARB links and final drive bolt on the diff which helped get the arm a couple of cms lower. Then wound the spring as much into position as I could, sprayed a bit of wd40 on to make it slippery, then lying on the floor gave it a well aimed boot onto the spring seating. Not sure that's recommended best practice but it did the job. Just got to be very careful round the brake lines.
Put it all back together, then had a bit of a moment as stood back to admire my handiwork and saw it looked like a friggin' dune buggy:
My first thought was 'FFS they're coming off then', but they settled down a little and there's better clearance for speed bumps now:
Swapped a very faded front grill round too. Before:
After:
And my front room now has a nice new two seater leather sofa while I swap driver and passenger mechanisms round:
In order to get this bolster fixed up and have the driver seat as the passenger seat:
While I'm on the PC pics of my last two beemers are to hand:
e36 328is, very fast capable car but a bit of a boat to drive
And one I wish I'd never let go, a classic sleeper, 1973 Fjord Blue 2002 tii Lux:
Next touring jobs:
1) get the headlining out, re-trimmed in black suede and back in
2) get the carpet out and replace
3) swap the cracked dash round
4) get it UK registered at some point I spose..
All of those are such little short sentences but will prob take me months to do.
Must say this is a cracking forum, incredibly helpful so cheers all.
but like the chips, taste is a personal thing 
