My guinea pig

[J3M93]

So, I have no mechanical experience and no family/friends that have mechanical experience, I will do everything myself. This will be hard.

Here is the first picture I ever took of here, an '89 318i, m40 of course since im in Australia. Manual, almost no options except the sunroof and only 220k kms on the clock.


She has a few quirks including the reverse lights not working, any tips?

What i've done
-Boston Acoustics se50's front and rear (no amp, still running strait of stock non premium wiring)
-yellow tinted the headlights
-changed oil, filter and sparks

What i have and not installed yet
-jom's (im a student and shipping prices for h&r's and bilsteins were ludicrous)
-basketweaves
-full set of revshift bushings including cab's
-raceskid


What i'd like to do
-convert airconditioning
-new control arms
-gc coils eventually
-m50 swap
-lsd
-recaro's
-decent tires

i'll put up some more interior shots as i get them.

I also made a trip to sydney recently and came so damn close to to buying this, WOW.


Also spotted this beauty,

[J3M93]

Okay so i've decided to tackle the whole rear subframe tomorrow, I plan to drop it all out in one piece and then go from there. I've heard that it's best to break the sub frame bolts free before jacking the car up, anyone else heard this? And where is everyone placing their jackstands? Just forward of where the bracket that bolts up to the underside of the subframe bushing meets the edge of the car?

also, i've got those jack stands that are just a flat plate with like a 15 degree bend upwards on the edges so that location doesnt seems that safe to me

[grt]

Queensland plates?

Nice work! If you want to go to the trouble you can push the subframe studs up through the floor (remove you back seat). I have left the studs in before and it's a bit of a pain, you have to make sure you have the whole subframe/diff assembly level so it comes out.

Where abouts in Queensland are you? If you are into motorsport there is a 'come and try' hillclimb on at Mt Cotton on the 20th.

Goodluck!

[J3M93]

Im in brisbane as well, if the car is back on the ground before then ill definitely make it! Whereabouts are you finding out about these things? I want to start getting into the motorsport scene but dont really know many other people into it.

Any thoughts on the jack stand location? that's the thing im really concerned about at the moment

[grt]

Brisbane southside??

I will take some pics tomorrow for you.

[J3M93]

Thanks man! and yeah, Mt Gravatt East specifically, whereabouts are you?

[grt]

I'm in Carindale!

Here are some pics of the rear subframe stud from the inside of the car. You have to pull out your rear seat. They are the black round thing. Here is a quick 'how-to'.

First support the rear subframe with your jack.
Remove the 2 allen key bolts from the side of the bracket.
Remove the nut from the subframe stud.
Re-install nut onto stud (only a few turns)
Hit the nut with a hammer to push the stud up into the car.

Also put your jack stands in front of the subframe bracket. I have done this heaps of times with no problem.





Jack stand position. (to the right of the allen key bolts)

[grt]

Check out these 2 threads for more pictures.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828178&postcount=3

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1828179&postcount=4

[J3M93]

Damn man, we're practically neighbours!

and thanks heaps for the photos, i've been searching and searching for a step by step but didn't really find one, you're a life saver

[grt]

How did you go with the subframe?

[MT325is]

it looks good man, what are you plans for the car if any yet?
or are you just making it "perfect" daily for now?

[J3M93]

Update: Stuck on exhaust bolts, need to get an angle grinder to cut through them but everything else is ready to drop out

I just want to get a good looking daily for the time being, hopefully i can get an m50 in by the end of the year

Oh yeah, and i recently picked up an mtech 1 wheel for $50! ill post up pics later tonight

[grt]

Have you tried spraying them with a penetrating product?

[Anthony B]

Get some wd40 on the bolts crack them tight & then try loosen them. Liking the progress you're making with your project

[J3M93]

so i finally managed to et some time to work on this and i've hit a snag, how are you guys getting your subframe down after knocking the pins out? I keep on getting caught on the wheel well.