09-03-2010, 08:00 PM
OK, both parts installed today.
New (well, it's from an 86) air flow meter is in and was pretty simple once David and I stopped acting like n00bs and got it oriented properly with the airbox. Car (mostly) starts on the first try now and is running a LOT better. Not flawless... but it's about 90%. Motor pulls very strong until 4,500 (redline starts there) and if you really egg it on, it'll slam off the tach at 5k. You can really feel the torque and (lack of) power drop off around 4,300 though, so there's nothing to gain going further.
Slave cylinder was a little pain in the ass, but mainly because of where the bolts are located. It's theoretically an easy job, but a lot of things work well in theory. Big props to Andrew & both Davids for helping get the top bolt/nut back on. It was a bit terrifying when we got everything hooked up and still had no pressure in the clutch.
Turns out the brake lines drain from the bottom of the reservoir, and the clutch goes off the side (they share a reservoir). This means if you lose too much brake fluid, your clutch will stop working before your brakes give out, an apparent safety feature. Good foresight on BMW's part, I suppose.
Anyway, it must have taken a good 100+ pumps of the clutch pedal (and careful bleeding after every 6 or 7 or 10) to get ANY pressure. Just a lot of air in the line I guess. It finally built some pressure and started sucking down fluid. We did get all-new fluid in the reservoir so that's a good thing. Car drives fine and the clutch feel is back to normal.
New (well, it's from an 86) air flow meter is in and was pretty simple once David and I stopped acting like n00bs and got it oriented properly with the airbox. Car (mostly) starts on the first try now and is running a LOT better. Not flawless... but it's about 90%. Motor pulls very strong until 4,500 (redline starts there) and if you really egg it on, it'll slam off the tach at 5k. You can really feel the torque and (lack of) power drop off around 4,300 though, so there's nothing to gain going further.
Slave cylinder was a little pain in the ass, but mainly because of where the bolts are located. It's theoretically an easy job, but a lot of things work well in theory. Big props to Andrew & both Davids for helping get the top bolt/nut back on. It was a bit terrifying when we got everything hooked up and still had no pressure in the clutch.
Turns out the brake lines drain from the bottom of the reservoir, and the clutch goes off the side (they share a reservoir). This means if you lose too much brake fluid, your clutch will stop working before your brakes give out, an apparent safety feature. Good foresight on BMW's part, I suppose.
Anyway, it must have taken a good 100+ pumps of the clutch pedal (and careful bleeding after every 6 or 7 or 10) to get ANY pressure. Just a lot of air in the line I guess. It finally built some pressure and started sucking down fluid. We did get all-new fluid in the reservoir so that's a good thing. Car drives fine and the clutch feel is back to normal.
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M