03-05-2012, 11:36 AM
Coming up on a year of DDing this car; I really lucked out on the lack of winter. Especially since while I *bought* a reconditioned defrost fan, I've been too lazy to install it! :thumbup:
Just finished replacing the clutch master. It was slowly leaking... then faster... then I'm carrying around a bottle of brake fluid... well anyway, after I figured out it leaks INSIDE the car and fills up the pedal box and soaks your driver's side carpet, it was time. :| But if you ever catch me bragging about how old BMWs are made to be serviceable, remind me of this clutch master. They COULD have made it easy, and it's such a simple thing, but every fitting was designed to be as hard to reach as possible, takes two people to get it out or in (so Jess loves my car even MORE now!), and I thought at least once that I was going to have to throw in the towel and get it towed.
On the plus side, other than the clutch master, the only other thing that needed attention in year one was wheel bearings. I was smart enough to spend ~$300 a few months ago and let a shop do that. Repacked the fronts, new rears, good to go. :thumbup:
What I thought was a blown front strut was really just that the large gland nut that keeps the cartridge in place had come off, leaving the strut to flop around and chatter happily! Large wrench and a few minutes and it's good as "new".
Just finished replacing the clutch master. It was slowly leaking... then faster... then I'm carrying around a bottle of brake fluid... well anyway, after I figured out it leaks INSIDE the car and fills up the pedal box and soaks your driver's side carpet, it was time. :| But if you ever catch me bragging about how old BMWs are made to be serviceable, remind me of this clutch master. They COULD have made it easy, and it's such a simple thing, but every fitting was designed to be as hard to reach as possible, takes two people to get it out or in (so Jess loves my car even MORE now!), and I thought at least once that I was going to have to throw in the towel and get it towed.
On the plus side, other than the clutch master, the only other thing that needed attention in year one was wheel bearings. I was smart enough to spend ~$300 a few months ago and let a shop do that. Repacked the fronts, new rears, good to go. :thumbup:
What I thought was a blown front strut was really just that the large gland nut that keeps the cartridge in place had come off, leaving the strut to flop around and chatter happily! Large wrench and a few minutes and it's good as "new".
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a van is a good guy with a van