Maintenance logs...

[netcsk]

So, how many of you guys keep logs of everything you do to the car? I leave off stupid shit (like adding an o-ring to the vents to keep them from falling) and oil changes, but put everything else on it.

You'll notice on my list below how I learned to work on a car with this car. I've done fuel pumps a few times before I figured it out.. hah! You'll also notice the progression of headlights (sealed to H4/H1 to HID H4/H1 to HID non-smiley Euros).

So, the list showing how much money I've spent on this guy! It makes it much easier when you accept that you will never sell it. You can also notice that as the years have gone by, I've started making more money haha.
I don't regret spending a bit of this money..

1986 325, 05/86 with 04/86 (single mass/small flex disc) driveline
Gifted 12/25/2002
Castrol GTX 20w-50 used till 03/22/05 - switched to Mobile 1 Synthetic 15w-50

2003 (175k-185k miles)
• V-Belts
• Drivers rear halfshaft
• Both fuel pumps
• Main relay
• Hella H4 headlight conversion
• Used Airflow Meter
• Used Idle Control Module
• Speakers, head unit, used dash switches, used M-tech 1 steering wheel
• Dashcover
• Spark Plugs
• Timing Belt, tensioner, and waterpump
• Coolant temp. sensor
• Used front bumper – hood fender fixed

2004 (185k-203k miles)
• License plate surround
• O2 sensor (187k – 02/03/04)
• Fuel Filter, used Fuel Pressure Regulator, injectors cleaned @ cruzinperformance.com, Bavauto plug wires, DF wheel bearing, used Cat. Back, Hella H1 highbeams, Turner ebay chip (~190k – 03/05/04)
• Used Cruise added, ebrake boot and handle cover
• Clutch-disc, pressure plate, T/O bearing, pilot bearing, master/slave clutch, PF wheel bearing, rear main seal, all tranny seals, shift linkage rebuilt with Z3 1.9L lever, flex disc, center support bearing (~195k – 6/25/04)
• Used full OBC conversion
• Used 89 ‘i’ driveshaft (200k – 12/17/04)
• Lemforder control arms, used 20mm front sway bar, new sway bar end links front, M3 offset control arm bushings (202k – 12/27/04)

2005 (203k-212k miles)
• Oil pan gasket, used electric sunroof conversion (203k – 1/07/05)
• Valves adjusted (203k – 1/09/05)
• Valves adjusted, Gaskets: Head, Throttle body, cold start, valve cover, intake, camshaft seal. Torx head bolts, timing belt, cap/rotor, cold start temp sensor (yellow two prong), used pass. side window motor, coolant, switch to Mobil 1 (205528 – 3/22/05)
• Used 2.73 LSD with new seals and gaskets, one touch window/sunroof, odometer gears from odometergears.com (208700 – 6/29/05)
• BF-Goodrich G-Force Sports 225/50/15 (209k – 7/10/05)
• Bushings: rear subframe, final drive mount, sway bar end links rear, trailing arms. Muffler hardware replaced (210k – 8/05)
• Used pass. window internals replaced (212k – 12/22/05)

2006 (212k-228k miles)
• Used ‘is’ rear seat put in, bottomed dyed. Wetokole seat covers put in over M3 seats
• Silber spark plugs, mahle air filter (215146 – 3/11/06)
• Valve adjustment (218623 – 4/15/06)
• New Windshield (223k – 7/06)
• Coolant hoses and clamps, under hood fuel lines and clamps, coolant, Redline MTL transmission fluid, rear main seal, motor mounts (224k – 9/15/06 )
• Good used driveshaft (228k – 10/11/06 )

2007 (230k-245k miles)
• Used ‘85 unknown mileage Head (cleaned, valve grind, machined flat, new valve stem seals), valve adjustment, all top end gaskets/o-rings, starter, timing belt, tensioner, water pump, thermostat housing/cover, thermostat, spark plugs, coolant, final drive bushing, new rear cover gasket, rear end fluid redline 75-90 oil (232916 – 3/13/07)
• New Front Stainless Steel Brake lines, rebuilt brake master cylinder (233900 – 4/30/07)
• New Rear (all 4) SS Brake lines, ATE 200 (Super Gold) brake fluid throughout (234240 – 5/9/07)
• Rebuilt Alternator (234480 – 5/14/07)
• Passengers Rear wheel bearing (German Motor Works – Knoxville, TN - 235k – 5/23/07)
• New V-Belts (236210 – 6/26/07)
• New Sumitomo HTR 200 225/50/15 (236453 – 6/29/07)
• Used Brake Booster, new grommets for brake fluid reservoir, new brake fluid cap, new clutch pedal spring, used pedal box assembly, new clutch master cylinder, new brake and clutch fluid (241k – 10/13/07)
• New Apexcone H4 55w 4500k HIDs w/ lifetime warranty (243221 – 12/25/07)
• New Fuel Filter (243247 – 12/27/07)

2008 (245k-250k miles)
• New Bosch main fuel pump (244176 – 2/6/08)
• Used Hella European Projector headlights (246550 – 3/27/08)
• Valve Adjustment (247682 – 5/16/08)
• Used M-tech 1 sideskirts installed (249k – 7/19/08)

2009 (250k- miles)
• New paint in factory color with Dupont paint, clearcoat, wet sand, and glaze ($2800). New tail light gaskets, installed/painted used Hartge front valance, installed painted new replica M-tech 1 rear valance. (250k – 1/3/09)
• Used Hartge 16x7.5 ET25 wheels installed with Falken FK452 tires (251,241 - 1/27/09)
• New trunk seal non-OEM from BMA parts, OEM door seals (251,346 – 2/5/09)
• Used cluster put in with odometer swapped over (251,400 – 2/7/09) to fix service lights and “sticky” temperature gauge.
• Install correct rear bumper strip (252k – 2/21/09)
• Install Eibach pro-kit springs and front Bilstein sport shocks. Install new tie rod ends. (253118 – 4/26/09)
• Install rear Bilstein sport shocks and new spring pads. (254030 – 05/22/09)
• Replace mechanical fan clutch. (254683 – 06/12/09)
• Install new OEM coil, OEM washer-fluid tank (all grommets and cap/filter), and OEM fuse box cover (255721 – 07/16/09)
• Install new OEM V-Belts and new OEM adjuster brackets/nuts for all components (255721 – 07/18/09)
• Install new OEM coolant level switch and OEM brake light switch (255791 – 07/23/09)

Timing Belt Due: 282916 – 3/13/11

[FLUTE007]

no

[nickpdx]

I've had a bunch of scattered little notes of some of the maintenance I've done but your thread inspired me to consolidate them into one list and add some things that I didn't make note of doing.

[whiltebeitel]

Maintenance logs make me add up the cost, and that would just make me cry for a few days.

[TexasTerp]

I don't have a log per say. I save and scan all of my receipts based on anything I purchase or have done to the car. I (ie my family) have owned the car since it came off the lot and I have almost every single receipt since 1987.

[Simon S]

Maintenance logs make me add up the cost, and that would just make me cry for a few days.

[kronus]

I've got a spread sheet and a stack of receipts. Does that count?

[nando]

I have a binder with all the receipts from the parts I've bought for my car. It's been a couple years since I've added it all up though.

do I record oil changes and valve adjustments? nah. I just do those things when it needs it.

[Dave]

I have a binder with all the receipts from the parts I've bought for my car. It's been a couple years since I've added it all up though.

do I record oil changes and valve adjustments? nah. I just do those things when it needs it.

When I was in my early 20s, and had yet to buy a new car, off the lot, I swore I'd start a very detailed log book for any new car so that I had truly Full Service History.

Guess what, I turn 39 in a couple of weeks, and I have yet to buy a brand new car. By the time I had the financial wherewithall to do it, I realized I'd rather let others take the big depreciation and have always purchased pre-owned cars.

Having said that, I keep a folder with all the receipts for parts purchases on every car.

[87e30]

My problem is I buy and sell a lot used so I don't get receipts. :(

[e30:)]

mine came with a shit ton of recipts and invocies, some were still when the car was under warranty. rear main seal, new diff, fun to look through it and see what has been replaced

[TrentW]

Have two E30's and have all receipts for both, keep running total for parts (labor is all me except for a couple of items), keep maintenance log in the back of my Bentley manual. I also have photos of the cars when I purchased them along with progress photos along the way.

By the way, how do you like the Sumitomo's? I have 225/50/15 Goodrich G-Force Sports now also, but almost down to the wear bars. Curious as to why you switched to the Sumitomo's...

[e30s52]

I have two binders full right now just for the e30.

[Guerc]

I told my wife I wouldn't spend more than $5k on the car and all of the mods. So, I meticulously keep all of my receipts in a binder.

Every time my running tally hits $5k, I take the binder out back, and burn the receipts. Then, I start over from scratch. That way I never have more than $5k invested in the car at any time.

[Jon325i]

I don't keep a super detailed log of things (like oil changes or general maintenance I do)....like Nando I just do those things when needed. I do keep the receipts for major purchase items such as tires, shocks/springs, clutch, alignment, etc. and keep them all in a binder.


Jon