mike472

In my opinion, E30's were the last cars BMW made that can be serviced by shadetree hacks like me. E36, E46 and on have more electronics, less 'user' servicable items, more plastic 'replace only' parts, etc. Steve, No truer words ever spoken. Forget E46's and E36's for a beginner shade tree mechanic. My sons 330ci ate 4 set of Rear control arm bushings here on the rough roads of NYC and myriad other problems with expensive electronic parts going bad amongst them. All in 5 years of ownership. Do you really need that little linkage to level your headlights constantly? That little bastard broke on a regular basis. This car made me physically sick after all the problems we suffered through with it. It totally queered me on newer BMW's. They are not keepers but leasers. At the end of 2-3 years give it back and get another one. I did own an E36 M3 for 15 years but I was not a beginner mechanic and I also was an adult driver that exercised some restraint with the gas pedal. New BMW's are too fast for most novice drivers, my son included. I used my 26 year old sons muscle to do a head gasket on this 76 and he learned a lot more then he could have on his 330ci. First of all I would have never attempted this on the 330ci. Whole lot more stuff to take off and do. Luckily that was one thing the 330ci never needed. On this job he learned how to clean bolt holes with a gun barrel brush and my mityvac, how to install a big brake kit, how to wrestle an exhaust system into place laying on your back, how to install new flexible brake hoses, how to torque the head... The list goes on and on. He is now full of self confidence and is proud of the steady improvement we have been making to the car. He is actually becoming appreciative of a car that doesn't have umpteen million horsepower and how much fun this car is to drive in spite of it. Stick with an 02. By the way, I'll take wearing seat belts over airbags any day of the week. Don't let that be your deciding factor. When we started the car after doing the head the look on my son's face was priceless because he was proud of having done most of the work. He thought my love of 02's was out of wack but now that he's been driving it and getting admiring looks from everyone who see's it he's changed his tune. Our next job is rear disc brakes, a 5 speed and an Ireland suspension with Bilsteins.

2nd on the thin nosed vise grips. This type looks like a needle nose pliers except it's a vise grip. Grab the end of the pin that has the head and turn it back and forth while pressing with your finger or grab the end with a needle nose plier and try to squeeze it out by putting one side of needle nose on the end of the pin and the other on the clevis bracket then give it a squeeze while working it back and forth with the vise grip on the other end. Soak the shit out of it with something like Corrosion-X(much better then WD40) and you will get it out. Do not saw the thing. Totally unnecessary. You can take the clip on and off with a thin piece of wood like a paint mixing stick. Just push the clip onto the end of the stick. Pick a stick thick enough to hold the clip open and then use the stick to put the open clip on the end of the pin and then carefully push the pin with a L shaped pick that fits in the confines of the booster bracket. Manuever the clip with the pick til it locks in and then pull the stick out.

Looks like you're doing a great job. Everything looks absolutely spotless. Keep up the good work.

Jim, I was going to do that. I have one going on the Estoril car but haven't done much since I had surgery on my back three months ago. I haven't done anything but add to the post about acquiring the car. I have a bunch of stuff I've been meaning to post but haven't gotten around to yet.

Good man. I'm curious to see how the big condenser works out I saw you mention in your other thread. Take some good photos of where and how you mount that and the drier. From the sound of it you should have great A/C. My wife is pissed that neither of my running cars has A/C. I sold my last crappy fridiking system and swore that I wouldn't put A/C in these cars. I may just begin searching for a Behr console for my Inka car.

I think it would be foolish not to do it now. You're not going to get up the ambition to take all this shit apart later. Especially if you're second guessing it right now. Get that Sanden compressor with the bracket, a new drier and some hoses and have at it. It won't take you that much longer. Even if you don't finish the inside stuff right away at least get the engine compartment stuff done.

Psymon, Thanks for the sentiment. I got the manifold today so all is well in the world. I agree with you. I have had nothing but good experiences so far with people on the board. I like to think it goes with the ownership ethos of the 2002. Honest, straight talking, down to earth folks who treat people like they want to be treated. I can't think of anyone I've met in the 36 years I have been involved with BMW's and especially 2002's that I didn't like. Some may have have some strange ways about them but great people none the less. I think I was more upset that one of our flock had the stones to do something like that. Turns out he was a good guy after all.

I sent him an email at the same time I posted my last message here. Still no reply

The jury is still out on this. I still have not received my manifold

I never meant to over-react but I felt I waited a reasonable amount of time(over a week) with no response to any method of communication and finally I had to resort to posting my displeasure here. I did not do this before I attempted to communicate here on the forum in a very nice way. You could look it up. I also appreciate that some other here feel this is a necessary function on the part of members to keep everybody on the up and up. If you are going to market your wares here at least be on the ball about checking your thread. If you want to be in the business of selling parts you have to think about customer service as if you were a real business. All it takes is good, prompt communication with the customer. I might also add that I would call out any person who did someone else wrong too(thanks Ray).

Thanks for finally getting back! I have tried contacting you here on the forum and using the email address you used for paypal. When I saw you answer another guys post and seemingly ignored mine I thought the worst. I am happy that you finally did respond. I didn't want to do anything right away but after a week of not hearing from you I assumed you had screwed me. Next time post an email or activate your email button so people can communicate with you to avoid problems like this. My faith in my fellow man is somewhat restored.

That's him.

Great advice. Where would you press charges against the guy? In his town police department? I would think this is some sort of mail fraud which I would think is a federal offense. Point me in the direction and I on this guy. In the meantime I will try to get to the moderator on the E30 forum like you advised to get his IP address. Thanks. Its nice to know that there is a great bunch of people on here for the most part. PS... Bryan, It's a 318i manifold I was after. Charge me a nominal amount for it. I don't want it for nothing. Just use my email button. Nice to see another islander on here. I have one other SI compadre here, Lou Liharevic who is also a forum member.

Ray, Thanks. I just looked and it is the same guy. He is in NC. I am in the process of getting my password back on the E30 forum and flaming him there too. I must have registered before but forgot my password. I appreciate you pointing it out to me. I am f*&king mad as hell. At myself for being so trusting, and at this no good bum for ripping me off. I wish I could reach through the screen for this guys throat. F'n leech on society.

I tried to get justice through Paypal. My mistake was I made it a personal payment. There is no recourse when you do it that way. I do it so the guy doesn't have to pay the 3% service fee. Next time I'll pay the 3% and at least I'll know I can get my money back if this happens again. I will be a little more careful in the future. I really should have checked out this guys posts before I bit. I know he looks at the forum. Thats for sure. He's busy seeing if any other fish bit on his ad. I just hope no one else gets stung by this guy.

I paid this guy through paypal for an intake manifold and he pulled a disappearing act on me. I lost $90 and learned a lesson. I should have looked at the guy's posts. He had all of 20 posts mostly selling stuff. I tried contacting him by email and through the forum but no response. I saw him responding to other guys questioning him about his merchandise but radio silence for me. My first bad experience. Does anyone know this guy? There's always a rotten apple somewhere in the barrel.

How are you guys insuring your car? I have my daily 02 that I value at 15k were I to have it stolen. My garage queen I would value from 25-30k. Who would you go to and what coverage would you get. I would piggyback this on my regular car policy but I think someone like Hagertys would be better in terms of a collision policy and getting the car repaired properly were something to happen. Also one is a daily driver and the other is not.

Nice shot. Love the color of your car!

You don't need to pull it unless it's leaking. If you want to change the fluid, suck it out with a mity-vac and put fresh oil in. It's not worth taking the box out otherwise. Too much stuff to take off. As CD mentioned above it's important to use HYPOID 90W oil. Make sure it says HYPOID.

Check all the front end parts on the other side including passenger's side ball joint and drag link bushings(pittman arm) upper strut mounts and wheel bearing play. Check that steering shaft tube under dash is bolted up good and tight at the firewall.(4-10mm nuts). Check steering coupler bolt(the one that goes through the shaft where it connects to the steering box) if this tube is popped back from the firewall. Adjust the steering box only after you have checked all these things. It helps to have an assistant turn the wheel while you observe things from underneath.