Do you ever get frustrated working on the '02???

[jgerock]

Sort of a mild rant - thought I would "share" my less than productive last 5 days:

1) Tried hooking up my iPod Shuffle to the Kenwood stereo using some USB cables. First song only plays (over and over). Repeat and random play settings are all OFF. Tried using it without any cables - same result. Tried using a thumbdrive instead. Same thing. Must be something up with iTunes. Looked at the Kenwood website for tips then called the place I bought the stereo for assistance (Crutchfield). Still doesn't work.

2) I went to the trouble of installing a neat USB cable in my shift console, moving the existing driving light switch into the Behr A/C faceplate (replaced the dummy green eschutcheon). Driving lights now don't work. I double checked the wiring and even took a picture of the (3) wires before I removed them from the switch. The switch itself lights up just as before.

3) Replaced the (2) rear stabilizer bushings on the anti-sway bar. Had to split them to get them on the bar. Bar is bent downward at the edges, making the new bushings splay outward at the extreme ends. This job was tougher than I thought. Had to use a pair of large Channel lock pliers to squeeze the clamp together to get the bolts started.

4) Tried replacing my front grills with one of the narrow ones purchased last year. The drivers side doesn't fit, so I tweaked it a little. The (4) screw holes do not line up with the tabs on the nose. Not even close for (3) of them. Gave up and re-installed the old grills.

5) Tried to instal the neat little "j-bolts" with thrumb screws that secure the grill corners. Had to drill out the existing hole in the nose to accept the plastic bushing. Tried fitting the grill with the J-hook and it's too short. See # 4.

6) Re-assembled shifter surround and console side pieces and now the shift lever hits the surround when shifting into 5th.

7) TYPING IN THE LITTLE TEXT BOX CONTINUES TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK. The box keeps jumping up so I cannot see what I'm doing. Have to use the sliding bar to scroll down. The cursor stays put but the box jumps up with each keystroke. Anyone else have this problem??

Sorry for the disgruntled nature.

[Scott Sislane]

That's when you get the BFH out to readjust things.

[BillWilliams]

Sort of a mild rant - thought I would "share" my less than productive last 5 days:

1) Tried hooking up my iPod Shuffle to the Kenwood stereo using some USB cables. First song only plays (over and over). Repeat and random play settings are all OFF. Tried using it without any cables - same result. Tried using a thumbdrive instead. Same thing. Must be something up with iTunes. Looked at the Kenwood website for tips then called the place I bought the stereo for assistance (Crutchfield). Still doesn't work.

2) I went to the trouble of installing a neat USB cable in my shift console, moving the existing driving light switch into the Behr A/C faceplate (replaced the dummy green eschutcheon). Driving lights now don't work. I double checked the wiring and even took a picture of the (3) wires before I removed them from the switch. The switch itself lights up just as before.

3) Replaced the (2) rear stabilizer bushings on the anti-sway bar. Had to split them to get them on the bar. Bar is bent downward at the edges, making the new bushings splay outward at the extreme ends. This job was tougher than I thought. Had to use a pair of large Channel lock pliers to squeeze the clamp together to get the bolts started.

4) Tried replacing my front grills with one of the narrow ones purchased last year. The drivers side doesn't fit, so I tweaked it a little. The (4) screw holes do not line up with the tabs on the nose. Not even close for (3) of them. Gave up and re-installed the old grills.

5) Tried to instal the neat little "j-bolts" with thrumb screws that secure the grill corners. Had to drill out the existing hole in the nose to accept the plastic bushing. Tried fitting the grill with the J-hook and it's too short. See # 4.

6) Re-assembled shifter surround and console side pieces and now the shift lever hits the surround when shifting into 5th.

2. Was the previous switch location grounded and the new position not grounded? Are the wirs firmly in the connectors?

3. That is normal, using one longer bolt to pull things together also works,

4. Getting grills to fit is more of a mystery than science. Sometimes brave souls have to readjust the tabs. Using masking tape on pretty paint makes it less nerve racking.

[jgerock]

2. Was the previous switch location grounded and the new position not grounded? Are the wirs firmly in the connectors?

3. That is normal, using one longer bolt to pull things together also works,

4. Getting grills to fit is more of a mystery than science. Sometimes brave souls have to readjust the tabs. Using masking tape on pretty paint makes it less nerve racking.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Light switch used the same (3) wires as before (one is a ground wire). Switch itself wasn't grounded to the shift console.

Sway bar brackets are OK - the new bushings are coming out on the ends (at the split point). This will result is premature failure.

Alloy grill tabs are no-where near the body tabs. The only one that is close is the upper left-hand one (on Driver's side). The other (3) are off by at least 3/4".

[Guest Anonymous]

Sometimes, but it can't be worse than changing valve cover gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, oil seperator, valley pan gasket, water pump, power steering hoses, radiator, fan clutch, etc. on my E39 540i. And if I kept the car it would need it again in another 60k miles!

[new2da02]

Oh yes I get frustrated...every little thing that should take 10 minutes takes an hour...rusted parts, cotter pin busting inside nuts...I am currently puttin in new shocks, springs, sways. Anyone have ANY idea why one of my bilstein sports will not fit in the strut...the other side did easily!! I measured inside of tube...1/4" shorter than the shock insert! WHAT?!! AHH!...FRUSTRATION! I love working on it though.

[BigDog]

I hear you on this little text box, you go too long and it's not soo good for typing in. I wonder if it's an IE8 thing only? Any firefox/mozilla users out there have the same issue?

On the other hand I suppose it does keep the messages short?

Patience grasshopper, all other 2002 things are overcomeable (is that a word?). There's enough knowledge here that you shouldn't be stumped on anything!

BD

[jgerry2002]

Usually frustration is caused by PO or perhaps dealer. I never blame the car.

My friends tii, on blocks for a little winter work including cooling system, front suspension, and tune up.

It took us all afternoon to get the damn waterpump off. Either the dealer or PO, instead of using longer bolts through the AC bracket at the water pump, used the stock length bolts. The damn thing was biting on a tiny bit of thread, of course all the years of water seeping in there caused it to rust to hell. SLOOOWWWWLY turning it out of the block, then used the bolts to slowwwwly clean up the threads. Yuck.

We managed to get that out, and order from Mcmaster-carr and get 10mm longer grade zinc plated 10.9 bolts for it. Voila, fixed, but in two weekends of seemingly little or no progress. A bit of anti-seize and the stronger bolt means that next time this won't be an all afternoon project.

Drivers side engine mount change, which is typically not a big deal... but of course the PO crossed threaded the damn bolt in the block and we had to cut/modify a new one to fit.

Passenger side was a usual act in stuff not lining up.... at all.... for about an hour.

One more thing.. Changing out all those PITA lines at the back of the K-fish pump makes you wonder why all the effort....

First drive will eliminate all of that though!

[ArdenK]

Do you ever get frustrated working on the '02???

Hey Jim,

Yes, I get frustrated All the time but that's part of the fun and enjoyment of DIY! The beauty of the FAQ is one or more members is able to advise and share their experience with us first timers.

Good luck with correction the issues you mentioned, if you need a hand, let me know.

Good Luck!

[thehackmechanic]

Oh, I get WAAAAAAAAY more frustrated working on my E39 528iT wagon. Working on the 2002 is desert.

[M3M3]

whenever i start to get frustrated i remind myself that i work on cars as a stress reliver from my real job.

well, then i scream an obsenity, hit something with a bfh, and get back on task!

like this weekend installing two new door seals, and reattaching the little wire from the heater control to the little tiny bolt on the backside of the heater valve....obviously this must be done blind if you do it without removing the heatervalve. hmmmmm, fun!

hang in there Jim!

[Kidasters]

I'm actually terrified of starting my 5 speed project on my 2002. I'm worried it will snowball, like every other project.

The mini is still not done. I still have to lay more carpet, and finish a headliner. And wire a 3rd brake light. And wire speakers. And wire the "secret audio" antenna. And get a title. And inspection. And - take another drink of Maker's Mark.

I'm really scared about doing work on the 330. The brand new Corsa exhaust is sitting in the garage now. I'm waiting to do it for when they finally ship me the short shift kit. And that has me scared to death (the short shift kit that is, not the exhaust).

Yeah - this is my hobby. It's rewarding when everything is done and right. It's damn frustrating right up to that point.

Later - you'll get through it. And so will the rest of us.

Ken

[pikeperkins]

"Do you ever get frustrated working on the '02???" Is a frog's ass watertight? I don't know the answer to that one, but yes, I get frustrated working on the car. Just this morning, I installed new inner and outer pedal box padding/insulation/whatever they are called. In doing the outer one, I had the damnest time getting the side closest to the frame rail in. Well as I'm swearing up a storm, I realize why that was. The frame rails and most of the driver's side (and passenger's side) floors have been replaced and the tab on the frame rail was preventing a smooth installation. So I found out some things about my car today that I suppose I never wanted to, but I'm glad I did. And I still love it, regardless.

[thehackmechanic]

Oh changing those door seals fucking sucks. One of the worst most tedious repairs I've ever done. One of the few that, on the next car, instead of making me think "oh I've done this before it'll go twice as quickly this time," it made me think "uh... well I don't really drive this much on the highway; I think I'll just leave it the way it is..."

[penth2o]

Sound logic Hack,

I like your way of thinking. Lol.