YAMBT (Yet Another M52 Build Thread)

[Jimbob]

Heh, getting there mate just been too lazy to drag myself over to the workshop!

I removed the old E30 rack last night though, will get the E46 rack in there tomorrow or Sunday. Removing the track rod ends was an arse, ended up putting the nut back on and bashing it with a large hammer:

[Jimbob]

Couldn't get back up there at the weekend, but have now got the E46 rack fitted tonight. Fair play to anyone who has done the swap with the engine in place as this was a complete c#nt of a job with the engine out!

The short of it is this; bent the E30 pas pipe to fit, used the front mounting holes to get it fitted due to lack of clearance to get it back in the rear holes. Took the info found elsewhere on the Zone about using the complete E30 tie rods, and modified the steering linkage by removing the rubber guibo to shorten it ever so slightly - it fits perfect and feels smooth when turning (not quite a real world test, that will come soon enough..)

[78gizmo]

Hi sorry to thread hijack, did you get my pm about collecting the M42 exhaust? If not please drop me a pm with your mobile number, i should be up your way next week.

[Jimbob]

Changed the sumps over today, check out the E36 sump!




Just before Xmas I attempted the brake servo swap, unfortunately I threaded one of the brake line bolts so I ordered a new line from BMW...didn't realise they came as a straight pipe, so spent a while getting it to shape:

[Jimbob]

Disaster struck last weekend, one of the lights in the garage has developed a wiring fault which has basically screwed over any evening work as it's the light over the engine bay. Hopefully get it fixed soon but my mate's having a bit of trouble with the landlord, in the mean time I'll have to get down the shop and get a few halogen lights or something as things are beginning to drag.

Got a lot of things crossed off the list today, next task is to fit the electric fan, and then go about fitting flywheel/clutch/gearbox and getting it dropped in!

[Jimbob]

Bought a 320i shifting arm off of the Zone but unfortunately had part of it snapped off, seen here:


Cut the piece off my original shifting arm and welded it on. Took 5 mins but show that dodgey sellers still frequent the Zone.

[Jimbob]

Gearbox is on will drop the whole thing in tomorrow, then the fun of finding all the right bolts, washers and nuts begins..

[Jimbob]

Haven't updated in a while, getting difficult to find the time to work on the car - day job is getting in the way





My extreme lack of mechanical knowledge holds me up every chance it gets, but I'm getting there..!

2 issues when dropping the engine in; had to remove the power steering pulley to clear the slam panel, then had the wrong engine mounts (for what it's worth, ECP list E28 M5 mounts, but when they turn up they're the same part number for the E34), I was able to get a refund and swapped them for the only other mount that could potentially work..E24 628 mounts - fortunately they're fine!

Done the Z3 short shift conversion and replaced everything listed on the Zone Wiki for it. Gearbox is back on its mounts, just need to get the 325 prop fitted to finish off the underside until I have to tackle the exhaust system.

[Jimbob]

Not updated this in a while!
Been slowly working away on it for the last month, hopefully I'll have it fired up this weekend before it gets a trip to a local welders to tidy up the exhaust system, then a case of insurance and tax....



Finished connecting up the inlet elbow after fitting the M50 manifold, just need to grind off the E30 airbox bracket to be able to fit the E36 airbox. I've relocated the power steering reservoir to accomodate this as well, just need to finish bending the other power steering hose for it to fit the E46 rack.
Currently in the middle of running the battery cable through the cabin to the boot, then I'll be able to see if my wiring is up to scratch!

Also modified the analogue clock housing to fit an oil temp gauge:

[DanThe]

Just do a double check of all earths and especially Pin 20 of the C101 before you connect that battery up

[Jimbob]

Yeh will do cheers mate.

So how many beers do you reckon 24v owners owe you now?

[rix313]

What size spacers are they? May need to ger some made up for mine, I currently have the two halves bolted straight to each other with the rack on the rear holes for my M42.

Good work!

[Jimbob]

Thanks mate.

Will double check the length of the spacers on Thursday for you

[Jimbob]

Right, got it cranking over!

However, not receiving a signal at the spark plugs - what are the possibilities?
1) EWS
2) Crank sensor
3) Cam sensor??

If I'm getting fuel through when cranking it over would that mean EWS is OK?

[Jimbob]

Quick update, I get a squirt of fuel when the pump primes, but no more fuel is supplied when I'm cranking over.

So in short, no fuel and no spark.

[Ziggy]

Who are you, and what have you done with Jim? There's no way you're the same person, as I remember how long your last build took...

[Jimbob]

Hi Ziggy

To be fair this one is starting to catch up with the last one! Bit pissed off about it though, my hands are tied till a few bits of kit turn up to test everything, and I won't be able to work on it again till Friday night. Problem is, it's my stag do starting next Friday and I was hoping to drive this beast down there for the weekend - it's going to a place at Holton Heath to sort the exhaust before then and the earliest I can get it down there is either Saturday or Monday if thing's go well, so could be touch and go if it'll be ready in time...

On a brighter note, I thought the MOT runs out in May - turns out I've got until September! Also found the Clifford alarm certificate which should make the insurance about £200.

[Jimbob]

It's alive!!!!!

It was the bloody EWS, got the ECU back in the post today, as soon as I plugged it in and turned the key it started up instantly, idled perfectly too.
Made me jump though! Wasn't expect it to fire up that quickly (if at all). WELL CHUFFED! Shame I have to go out tonight as there's still a few bits to do before the exhaust is sorted at the weekend.

[DanThe]

Nasty EWS, be gone!

[Dezzy]

I've just noticed your sig Dan. Do you offer such a service?

[DanThe]

Yes sir, special cash price for zoners

[Dezzy]

That is nice to hear. Someone who can offer such a service and look after zoners, All at the same time

[Jimbob]

I've used Dan's services for several items now and can't fault the speed of delivery, quality of product or the low price. If I wasn't being such a tight c#nt I would also buy his exhaust manifolds


The car is now in the garage to fit the M3 exhaust system and a few other teething problems (had the mission of bleeding the cooling, brakes and clutch last night but failed miserably with the cooling system, a huge blockage somewhere). Hopefully have it back on Tuesday or Wednesday and then straight to the post office for 6 months tax

[Jimbob]

Car is now taxed and great fun to drive, the exhaust is pretty quiet at idle, but sounds amazing at full chat!
Just done about 20 miles in it and watched the petrol gauge go down very quickly
Final major tweak to be done is tracking/alignment then that's it for some time due to the wedding, just hope the small case diff can last long enough before I have a spare few hundred quid to get something else

[E30BeemerLad]

I'd say be sympathetic with launches and when releasing the clutch on any fast shifts and you may get away with it

[Kedge]

Good effort Jim!!!!

[Jimbob]

Good advice mate and basically what I'll be doing for most of the time...just can't help but rip into 3rd though.

Cheers Dave!

[Jhonno]

Once rolling it'll be not too bad, it's the hard starts which kill them!

[Jhonno]

Nice one btw.. PICS!!!

[Jimbob]

Cheers, only the 1 pic at the moment because since it was 'finished' all the other jobs round the house that I've been putting off have now taken priority..



It's got an oil leak which I haven't had time to diagnose yet, hopefully find time on Sunday afternoon. The engine oil level is bang on the middle between min and max, and the power steering resevoir is full - I haven't had it on axle stands yet but it could be the gearbox........yay.