91 318is Never ending project(s) journal

[monty23psk]

How thick of sound deadening did you use? Dynaliner? 1/8 or 1/4?

I used the 1/8, non overkill pro for the doors. I feared that 1/4 size would be too thick.

[monty23psk]

I am running about 2-3 different projects at once so I want to do another update while I await some parts this week.

Here is a picture of the slider mechanism and you can see the middle black fiber optic cable broken. I got lucky on eBay as I found a non-AC panel from a car in Canada with low mileage. I got the slider mechanism replaced but also came a blank plug for the AC switch. This meant the structure integrity is brand new for the AC switch. I got the whole unit for the price on used HVAC panel in ok condition. Here is the picture of the broken piece.



All the levers are nice and smooth now and even better, all nice and bright with the LEDs. I also cleaned all the clear translucent parts with a optic cleaner and that surely made a difference from 30 years of dust.

I then moved on to my other project, installed factory new fog lights on my car that didn't have that option installed from factory. I knew the fog light switch housing was in in there, I removed all the under steering wheel trim and finally found it behind all the computers tire wrapped. I then added the 2 fuses and using my temp fog switch, pushed the button in and like magic, my green fog light LED turned on. First time isn 30 years this cluster has seen this light, super stocked.




Next will be pics of fixing the fog light wiring in the engine bay plus the lens and the Laminx items I purchased.

[monty23psk]

As I continue to work through the fog light wiring in the engine bay, the watertight insulation has crumbled away, so it just slides through the connector. I bought new tips from BMW, spliced them but solder/butt/heat shrink connector and then added heat shrink tubing on top of it to cover it. I also cleaned the connecters. Here are a few shots of one side which I also did the same exact thing on the other side.




Before and after of connector after a little simple green and toothbrush action:



Final product:

[Matt@EDC]

Oh the joys of connector repair... very nice detail work 👏

[monty23psk]

With the wiring repair, I started to work on the fog lights and mounting them.

I went with ZKW ones from FCP as I get lifetime warranty and the BMW ones are probably made by ZKW or one of its subsidiaries. Here is the picture of a new crisp lens.



With my car being red, I really like yellow fogs. I had the option to go with yellow bulbs or yellow Lamin-X. I opted for the bulb as I want to use LEDs. Here is the bulb that has about 1000 lumens which is close to a stock halogen bulb. I will still need to see how it looks because the yellow can look a different from the various power levels.



I did purchase the tint color from Lamin-X because with my front headlights having the smoked look. I want it all uniformed. Not sure how that will affect the yellow as well. Good thing, options with bulbs and Lamin-X.

Here are the lens protection I received:


One side applied to allow contrast:


Both sides complete.

[monty23psk]

Got the fogs installed. While I did buy a used fog light switch, I then opted for the dual fog light switch you can get in the Euro models. I decided to use the right side as a kill switch for my antenna. With the new radio, when it powers up, it sends the signal to extend the antenna. With the use of the iPod or BT streaming the majority of the time, I wanted to keep the antenna away from any danger. I got new timer connector to install them in the factory housing and ran the BMW black/red wiring. Worked like a charm. I added an LED amber bulb to the HL housing as well.

Here is the switch:


Here is one of the connecters crimped with a TE connector as I couldn't find the right one from BMW, they were all too large.


Here is the housing with the LED, which old one would power on whenever it wanted to.


Here are a few pics of the fog light install. No issue as valance was great and untouched all these years. Removed the blank plates which I had my sister get them when she owned the car before I got. I will sell them with the clips. Got new BMW hardware to install.





Here is one side installed and then one with the yellow light one. Next is for me to adjust and take some exterior pictures. Also need to see the yellow to make sure it is the color I am looking for and brightness.

[monty23psk]

I just completed another small project after going to an e30 meet and someone using LED tap in the trunk under the rear shelf to illuminate that area. My e39 had a lens in the middle but I didn't want to cut the metal to make it fit. I want to do something similar and still provide a temporary way to remove if not needed. THe bar is around 12 inches in length. I used the came connector when I added the 2nd trunk lid light and spliced some 22awg wiring in a sleeve following the factory patch. The LED light bar is pushing out some natural white color. Didn't want warm white or the cool blue, as I don't see the blue as functional. The light is very strong but not over powering and best part, it has using magnets in the housing so easy to attach and remove. Light has great reviews being used in RVs and shops due to the magnets. Here are a few pictures of the install.

A few pics:

Added next to factory wiring:


Light bar installed and held up by magnets. Got it at superbrightleds.com


Let there be light. I also like how this now make the color painted and audio system visible. I took this before I ran the wiring to make sure it all worked.

[monty23psk]

Haven't updated in a while. My last project was a doozy. I removed my old ABS pump to have ti rebuilt by Jordan. His pictures of my pump really shows how bad things with age get. In the 15 years I have owned it, the brake fluid has been flushed every 2-3 years. After getting the pump installed and everything flush/bled, I can now feel the pump working. I highly recommend this upgrade if you still have the ABS because age, not miles is what the culprit will be.

Old pump removed:


Jordan's pics of the teardown showing some of the low points:



What I call parts porn:


Final product (thanks Jordan!):


ABS plastic cover after some wet sanding, SEM Soap, and then SEM trim paint:


Everything installed:

[monty23psk]

Next project, swap in rubber front floor mats in place of my stock e30 black mats. The mats are NLA so I decided to remove the fronts, clean them and store them. I will use the rubber months for now during the rainy season and only use the carpet ones for shows. I wanted something OE and hear the e82 versions are small enough to be a perfect fit. I order them as they are still under $40 for the front set from BMW. They do come with the anchors to screw into the main carpet and uses velcro to prevent them from sliding. The driver side is a very good fit, almost perfect. The passenger side is just a little too wide at the top so it covers more of the bottom carpet up and to the side of the lower speaker. It really doesn't cover the grill trip just buttons up to it. Here are a few pics and I do recommend them. Weathertech ones looks like it will fit but looks more modern than these IMO.

[econti]

LED boot light is clean, great idea

[Staszek]

Are the ZKW fogs ones glass?

[monty23psk]

LED boot light is clean, great idea

Thanks. The more I use it, the more I like it. I recently updated my interior cabin bulbs to the new bright version LEDs from superbrightleds and it has the same color tone and much brighter. No more blue tint.

[monty23psk]

Are the ZKW fogs ones glass?

Yes they are made of glass.

[Jordan]

Haven't updated in a while. My last project was a doozy. I removed my old ABS pump to have ti rebuilt by Jordan. His pictures of my pump really shows how bad things with age get. In the 15 years I have owned it, the brake fluid has been flushed every 2-3 years. After getting the pump installed and everything flush/bled, I can now feel the pump working. I highly recommend this upgrade if you still have the ABS because age, not miles is what the culprit will be.

When we knocking out the Bosch 017 in your 1988 M5? :-D

[monty23psk]

When we knocking out the Bosch 017 in your 1988 M5? :-D

Sooner than later. Prepping and gathering parts to paint the e30 this fall. After than, I focus on the m5.