love this stuff.....

[wycoco]

Why is it jacked up?

I'd only guess so it'd be easier to reach into. My back starts to hurt after a while when I'm bending over that far.

[mikeedler]

oh my god, you bought non oem parts for your BMW(hoses)!!!!!
ohh, and I work at a stealership, and noone brings e30s to us- My guess is E30 owners are too smart/ cheap!hahahha
I enjoy working on mine too. It is always such a good feeling to get something done- and correctly.

[Mtriple]

Please excuse my M20 ignorance, but what is this?



Looks like fun by the way. I'm in parts whoring mode right now and will most likely get started after the first of the year. My car has been in hibernation since Halloween.

[mikeedler]

that part is called a distributor cap

[Mtriple]

that part is called a distributor cap

Ah thanks! I figured it was something electrical as it is sitting on top of a Bosch box, it just looked a little big to be a cap.

[RCWells]

We jacked it up to remove the plastic undertray, drain the block, and we did a lot of the pulley bolts from underneath as well as dropped the fan to through the bottom. It does make it a little easier on the back too, but my back still hurt like hell.

[Jand3rson]

Why is it jacked up?

Jacking the car up when you're doing engine work actually does make things a little easier. You don't have to bend over quite as much, and if you drop something through the engine bay to the ground, it's A LOT easier to find.

[trent]

Ahh! Bosch!

See thread about Bosch vs NGK.

[kommissar]

I did that exact same job (minus the spark plug wires, but I still had to take them out to replace the spark plugs) when I first got my car. Scary as hell the first time I started it up and heard a noise from the engine bay.

Turns out it was just the outer ring on the vibration damper had slid forward a few mm and was hitting the fan pulley once every rotation. I think it moved when I was hitting it with a hammer while trying to get it un-stuck from the crank.

Once we got that sorted (and I realized that I didn't totally mess up my timing) it felt really good knowing that I only spent about $300 in parts and saved about $300 on labor. Now I am wishing I had the skills (and another DD) to rebuild an engine.

[ldsbeaker]

^^ yeah that. That first timing belt change is a sphincter tightener for sure.

[Dave]

Back saving tip for the timing belt change.

Jack it up and also remove the hood. Some people say its hard to re-align it, but I never have had a problem.

If you remove the radiator and its up in the air - not so much bending to do.

Take this from a guy who is old and has a bad back . . .

[kommissar]

Yeah Dave, I did the same thing. Popped the hood off and removed the radiator. It is quite easy to get the hood aligned again, it just takes a little bit of time and care.

I can't even imagine doing this job with the radiator in. It would be tight as hell.

I like lots of free space and little bending. Wish I had a lift in my garage. ;)

[Dave]

Wish I had a lift in my garage. ;)

Indeed. I know where one is for sale pretty cheap, but my garage ceiling is about a foot short of what it needs to be to make it work.

I liked that one in Roundel a couple issues back - it was some kind of shorter model - it would fit in my place just fine.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Fender mat is the ballz.

Mariano

[Dave]

Fender mat is the ballz.

Mariano

Yeah - mine just says "Craftsman" on it. I know it'd work better if it had pink racing stripes . . . :p