Beemerlad's M52 Chromie

[E30BeemerLad]

Well the chromie is in daily service and is behaving itself.

Trailered the Golf up to near Croft Circuit today as the cooont won't start now, so I've thrown it into the hands of a pro. Once that is back and behaving it will be off for bodywork.

Then I'll decide which way I'm going with the chromie.

May be moving house soon and will be able to get hold of a proper sized garage, so that may change things.

[E30BeemerLad]

Just had a drive of the gaffer's GTR, man that thing is quick.

I had it in manual mode and was in 3rd coming off a roundabout (he was in the passenger seat) and gave it a squirt, it chucked the back end out and quickly took care of matters before some full bore acceleration.

Very nice indeed

[E30BeemerLad]

Towed the Golf up to Croft yesterday to see nice man Andy Outhwaite & leave the car with him

Andy had it running by lunchtime and the misfire is gone!

I can't remember what he told me was the faults, something about wiring/ plugs at the fusebox end and the wires going to the ignition switch were not too clever. It has just another small fault to sort which is a hot starting problem.

He's been down the road in it and it lit the fronts up in 2nd when it came on cam, so sounds a vast improvement on what it was.

So relieved the misery is coming to an end

[E30BeemerLad]

Got the turd back from Andy tonight.

No missfire any more and it seems to behave alright. It has a bit more go than it did as a KR engined car, but I wouldn't say the difference is staggering. It's smoother. A hell of a lot better on fuel too.

I kicked it's head in a few times on the way back and was doing a steady 80+ and the MFA was showing 45mpg when I got home, so that's a bonus.

The faults were wiring related. I don't fully understand but there was a poor earth on the temp sensor and also something to do with a wire being shared on the plug that deals with low coolant level?

I'm past caring about that lot now though.

I have some spares I may sell now though like MK3 VR6 fuel tank & pump and also a pretty new looking dizzy. I'm glad I surrendered to Andy rather than keeping on buying more sensors & switches etc as it wouldn't have made the blindest bit of difference.

[leeparkes]

Is this Golf your second car/project etc?
You were on about getting rid of the chromie to get another daily, use the Golf.


I had a passenger ride in one of those GTR's, savage aint they.

[E30BeemerLad]

The Golf is the wife's car, we've had it about 4-5 years now.

It generally does get used as a daily, so the chromie will be back to getting driven a couple of times a week again.

I'm just thinking about trying to spend less time faffing about with cars though. The drag car will be stupidly insanely fast and will give me my fix of spannering and messing about, so was thinking about something sensible as a daily like a 328i touring or maybe a Golf 4 1.8T

[leeparkes]

What about doing an E36 328i Compact? They make a great daily driver.

[E30BeemerLad]

I just can't be fagged with another engine swap mate

[E30BeemerLad]

Drove to the local KFC tonight and as I pulled up outside and put the N/S/F wheel up onto the kerb there was a pop and then a load of smoke coming from under the bonnet. Bugger.

Looks like a PAS hose may have given up. So I drove it home, pump will be foooked now as it was making a good noise after a couple of miles and was making a proper protest when I got home.

Happy days

[Speedtouch]

Dude, you need to steer clear of fast-food outlets!

[leeparkes]

Hows that Drag car coming on?

[DanThe]

I think Magpie had the same thing, the flexi hose rubbing through where it was touching something. Will have some proper pipes made up in about a weeks time if you want a bolt on job mate

[E30BeemerLad]

Fitted a set of Dan's PAS pipes to the turd today.

The pump is a bit whiney but I can live with that for now.

Took it out for a quick drive and to the jet wash for a £3 treat and then kicked it's head in on the way back, still puts a smile on my face.

The rear axle for the drag car has been built, not seen it yet.

[E30BeemerLad]

Check out the Pioneer goodness

Edited after uploading bigger pics

[toby]

Looks nice but pictures are a bit small

[E30BeemerLad]

Sod it, the sun is out, I'm going to have a bash at fitting this shizzle. There's a fair old bit of wiring, think the seats will be coming out and the carpet up.

[Rav335uk]

Is this the stuff Pacer sold?

[DanThe]

You tart!
Got that wire in yet? Extra fuel economy must be more worthwhile surely?

[E30BeemerLad]

Dan, message me with what wire from the ECU I need to connect that plug to.

I've got the executive Pioneer gear installed. Been sweating like a pikey in a spelling test all weekend in the sun.

So as there was an autochanger and a pair of amps to go in, I decided to srip the interior back.



The outgoing Sony X-Plod, it's actually a decent Ipod unit and cost about £300, the missus bought me it.



Getting it working

Carpet back in

Back in the 80's
The first song that came on the local radio station was a Duran Duran number




Sound quality is great too

[Rav335uk]

Tut tut lee
period sounds and a facelift gearknob.

[E30BeemerLad]

I've got the original pre-facelift gearknob still attached to the original shifter Rav, it doesn't want to part company though

[Jhonno]

I've got the original pre-facelift gearknob still attached to the original shifter Rav, it doesn't want to part company though

Just pull a bit harder.. (That's what he said..)

[Duke137]

Lee that's some nice kit there

[Rav335uk]

..

[E30BeemerLad]

Yeah, I'll swap you one for those pop-outs

[Rav335uk]

I'll bell you later , we'll work something out

[E30BeemerLad]

Swapped in a different ECU at the drag strip on Monday, can't say it made much difference to constant wide open throttle, but it has a 7k rev limit now and allows it to go well past 60 in 2nd gear now.

Out on the open road today on mixed throttle it seems keener to pull, so it does feel much improved. Need to get the Vanos seals done so the engine is tip top. Could do with an oil change on it now too.

[DanThe]

Give me a shout when your next down this end mate and we will get that vanos sorted, can do an oil change too if you like?
Airbox fitting will prob be compulsory so you best bring that

[E30BeemerLad]

The exhaust has been rattling and farting for months, so this afternoon I jacked the coont up and removed the system, ground off the M3 mount off the back box as that rubs on the rear panel when the exhaust gets hot and expands.

I replaced the bashed up sleeves that join the downpipes to the system and fitted it all back. I think there's a slight leak at the front still but it's a hell of a lot better and will be less of an embarrassment at the pod next week.

I also got round to fitting a stock airbox in place of the ripspeed cone filter it has lived on for years. I'm not sure if the arse dyno detects less top end urge. I will have to kick it's head in a few times tomorrow and make a decision.

It's still a rusty turd though. I pulled a set of brand new still in the box chrome arch doofas out and pushed them into place, then decided the rust looks better.

Must sort the vanos seals out sometime, it has been used as a daily for the last few months.

[E30BeemerLad]

Well it's nearly the end of an era, the Chromie will be going on Saturday. I'm probably going to regret it like hell, but I've got other things to focus on right now.

Looking back I'd like to thank Dezzy & Dan in particular for their input with the car and helping me to get it put together and generally keeping me going.

[leeparkes]

[Rav335uk]

Car's coming straight to mine on Saturday Lee.

[Kedge]

Which deviant has bought it?

[leeparkes]

What, you bought it?

[Rav335uk]

Deal was done ar Santa Pod