Anyone with an S14 or S38 know how to sync TB?

[uflnuceng]

I just recently got an S38 powered M6. I tried throwing the hook out on other websites ( :cough: roachfly :cough: ) with no luck. It has 134k miles on it and still has the yellow caps (i.e. from the factory, not the dealership) on some of the TBs and some others are missing all together. I'm going down my list of tuneup stuff and have found this tool from JC Whitney that should work fine, although I hear the Carb Tune unit is pretty popular too.

If anyone has experience tuning their S14 or an S38 I would appreciate a couple guidelines. Here is what I got so far:

* The valve adjustment shouldn't be too hard. Have the tools and was going to turn the crank by using a wrench on the fan bolt. Will measure gap and then order shims.
* Sparkplugs came out looking good, same with the distributor.
* I think the injectors are a little dirty, but have used an entire bottle of Redline SI-1 with half a tank of gas, have replaced the fuel filter, and will redo SI-1 treatment again with a full tank of gas. Will also match with appropriate oil changes.
* Replacing tranny, power steering, and differential fluid with proper Redline stuff.
* Replacing power steering filter
* Clean Idle Control Valve
* Removing starter cos it needs a rebuild pretty bad.
* Oilpan gasket because there is a small oil leak somewhere.
* New engine mounts and tranny mounts
* Fuel tank gasket fix

I would like to do the TB sync myself. I found a writeup at Todd Kenyon's website. Just wondering if anyone has experience to elaborate on how to set CO, check the throttle linkage, check the current over the TPS, etc.

Other things on the tune up list include a lightweight flywheel and high performance clutch (if I can find one) and a UUC SSK.

Thanks
Jared

[SA E30]

Sorry this is a bit off topic... but does the E30 325i have a power steering filter ? ...just curious cause I'm gessing if does mine has never been changed

[uflnuceng]

No it doesn't have a PS filter... now quit hijacking my thread :twisted:

[SA E30]

No it doesn't have a PS filter... now quit hijacking my thread :twisted:

Sorry ... thanks.

End of Highjack ;)

[arsevader]

No it doesn't have a PS filter... now quit hijacking my thread :twisted:

Sorry ... thanks.

End of Highjack ;)

Re-hyjacked ;)

Yes it does, I believe it's part of the fluid resevoir and is not replacable.

Now we return to our regularly scheduled programming.... :oops:

James

[AdamF 88iS]

Neither of them have filters, its just a little screen in the bottom of the bottle. The difference is you can get it apart and clean it on the M6, but not the E30.

Now for the real post:

Valve adjustment: These are easy to do adjustments on with the proper tools, easier than M20s even. But you must have compressed air to blow the shims out of the buckets or you're not going to get far. Before you order shims from bmw for mega $$, check shims for Volvo 240/740/760/780/940, 8 valve and turbo models from the 80s and early 90s. Exact same shims, same sizes, must less money.

The TB sync is a pain in the ass no matter what tool you use. Before you touch anything, just check it, and if it's close enough just don't mess with it. You set CO on the AFM under the little blue plug there is an allen key you turn, tight for less CO loose for more. The TPS is the same as an E30 TPS, it only knows Idle and Wide open, its just a continuity check for that.

[uflnuceng]

Yeah, I have a bunch of goodies... the tappet, a compressor that is about 6" tall and good for 210psi. I live on a farm and help my father-in-law work on trucks, farm equipment, etc. The volvo dealer is atleast an hour drive away from me. The BMW dealership is down the road. I priced out the shims from the dealer already at about 4-5 bucks a piece. I'm willing to pay for the convienience.

I think I'll take my car to the Dinan dealer in the area for the TB tuneup... its sounding like its going to be a heafty PITA and I could end up screwing it up more. I definitely think it was tampered with by the previous owner, for good or worse I won't know till I get it checked out.

Thanks for the help Adam.

Peace
Jared

[jht3]

you can either turn the crank over by hand, or on the e30 m3 you can bump the engine over by inserting a switch between two pins on the diagnostic connector. i can't remember what they are offhand, but it's in the Koala cd. i'm guessing the s38 can also be turned over like this if you dont have a big wrench


sometimes you can reuse shims from one valve on another to get it back to spec. the process isn't all that hard


to set the base CO, you'll need a gas analyzer which most of us don't have. syncing the TB's isn't all that complex with the right gauges. just be VERY sure you don't have any vacuum leaks. you'll also want to reset your base idle, which is a simple process.