Nonsense Thread

[MrBurgundy]

This was the exact problem I had before I finally committed to just buying something. Kept getting distracted by the myriad choices of cars out there. Happily, the E36 M3 always came back around to the top of the list.

How was the toyota doing with the trailer and car on it?

[MR E30 325is]

How was the toyota doing with the trailer and car on it?

To be honest, much better than I thought, considering it has a V6.

130.6 miles through 10,000 ft of elevation gain and it got 13.3 mpg. Set cruise at 65 and let it do its thing with the 'ECT' option engaged. Only dropped to third on two of the longest steepest climbs.

When I drove it through Phx, 40 miles to my brothers, on flat ground, I did 70 and got 16.8 mpg.

Other than that, I barely noticed it being back there. Very stable and quiet inside. I was impressed.

[Melon]

Hello, back from the promised lands of apexes and speed.

[Melon]

[2mAn]

Hello, back from the promised lands of apexes and speed.

Welcome back!

That pic looks awesome.

BTW I hope your helmet is painted like a Melon. That would be epic. I rarely use that word so that it still means something when I say it... and it would be epic

[Melon]

Welcome back!

That pic looks awesome.

BTW I hope your helmet is painted like a Melon. That would be epic. I rarely use that word so that it still means something when I say it... and it would be epic

It's not, but it is bright ass orange.

[ForcedFirebird]

Seriously BMW?!?! If the n54 valve cover wasn't already a pain, the e88 doesn't have enough room to pull the cover out unless the trans mount nuts are removed and engine tilted forward. Grrrr.....

Cyls 5&6 are practically under the dashboard lol.

[TeXJ]

Seriously BMW?!?! If the n54 valve cover wasn't already a pain, the e88 doesn't have enough room to pull the cover out unless the trans mount nuts are removed and engine tilted forward. Grrrr.....

Cyls 5&6 are practically under the dashboard lol.

ever replaced the spark plugs on a LS f-body? The last two on either side are the same way. Pain in the butt to remove.

[ForcedFirebird]

ever replaced the spark plugs on a LS f-body? The last two on either side are the same way. Pain in the butt to remove.

There's a reason "Firebird" is in my screen name lol. Built a turbo (single, then twin) Firebird back in the days of forum noob-ness.

Still, 7hrs book for a freaking VC gasket? The e90x chassis isn;'t near this bad.

How about an alternator on a 3.4DOHC GM FWD car? lol Requires sub frame drop...

[roguetoaster]

Crank angle sensors on Cruze and others require the engine and/or trans to be removed, which is most cases will necessitate a replacement of AC condenser and at least one line. It's also a common failure. The book time was also comical, but not as bad as anything turbo related on an LLY/LBZ Duraturd where one really needs a service writer who does not blindly quote book time. Every time I think about replacing the alternator or servicing the rear brakes on my SVT Contour I question why I keep buying those cars.

Not to crap on American cars & trucks, but it seems that packaging for maintenance is often left to the same evil megalomaniac, even before the bean counters remove quality from components.

Guess that's why we're on an E30 forum, because we probably value ease of maintenance.

[ForcedFirebird]

^^^Ford i4 crank sensor bracket, early 00 era.

Doing friend a favor. He had a Merc Cougar FWD POS that blew a HG. Doing him a "favor" and was going to swap out used engine. OK, 9hr book, did it 6hr after hours for low $$. Swapped it out in one eve, no start - screw around with it until 2am, no crank signal. During work the next day, found some obscure post on a mechanics forum about the manual vs auto CPS bracket. OK! Welp, the screw that hold the bracket is IN the bell housing, facing the engine....derp. Take a look and figure the trans pull is easier than the engine swap was ---- nope. All night again to R&R the trans for one little screw. The flex plate and flywheel had different location for the reluctor, so they changed the angle on the bracket to keep the sensors universal, but instead of having a bracket that mounts outside, they saved that $0.00003 per car.

[TeXJ]

There's a reason "Firebird" is in my screen name lol. Built a turbo (single, then twin) Firebird back in the days of forum noob-ness.

Still, 7hrs book for a freaking VC gasket? The e90x chassis isn;'t near this bad.

How about an alternator on a 3.4DOHC GM FWD car? lol Requires sub frame drop...

haha I didn't even notice, touche :D

I've not had to do the alternator on a 3.4, and I think that would be a blessing now lol

[TeXJ]

For ease of maintenance, my jeep has been fairly easy to work on. Granted there was that one time i forgot to put coolant in the system after a waterpump replacement...that turned into me replacing the motor lol

[roguetoaster]

^^^Ford i4 crank sensor bracket, early 00 era.

Doing friend a favor. He had a Merc Cougar FWD POS that blew a HG. Doing him a "favor" and was going to swap out used engine. OK, 9hr book, did it 6hr after hours for low $$. Swapped it out in one eve, no start - screw around with it until 2am, no crank signal. During work the next day, found some obscure post on a mechanics forum about the manual vs auto CPS bracket. OK! Welp, the screw that hold the bracket is IN the bell housing, facing the engine....derp. Take a look and figure the trans pull is easier than the engine swap was ---- nope. All night again to R&R the trans for one little screw. The flex plate and flywheel had different location for the reluctor, so they changed the angle on the bracket to keep the sensors universal, but instead of having a bracket that mounts outside, they saved that $0.00003 per car.

Oof. I feel your pain that Cruze tidbit was on the back of a similar scenario. Shop owner was doing a favor for a friend with an engine with a dead hole and offered to do the repair at a discount, friend was a cheap ass, got a rando J/Y engine, the CPS from the original car couldn't swap because the plastic integral mount broke on removal, offered replacement opportunity as we'd done two recently on other Ecotecs, declined, J/Y engine goes in, said engine ended up having a bad CPS, left a message for the customer, rolled car outside while waiting on a decision, customer collects their car without notice overnight, abandoning their keys, complains about how it's mostly broken, threatens the shop, legal action ensues, shop owner wins, but it's an empty victory, and all over a $100 part on a car that might have been worth 2k. Of course that omits how we had to chase down the J/Y engine supplier after they didn't show for 3 weeks, and how they didn't pick up the core, ever. which ended up being outside to the day the shop closed.

[Melon]

Crank angle sensors on Cruze and others require the engine and/or trans to be removed, which is most cases will necessitate a replacement of AC condenser and at least one line. It's also a common failure. The book time was also comical, but not as bad as anything turbo related on an LLY/LBZ Duraturd where one really needs a service writer who does not blindly quote book time. Every time I think about replacing the alternator or servicing the rear brakes on my SVT Contour I question why I keep buying those cars.

Not to crap on American cars & trucks, but it seems that packaging for maintenance is often left to the same evil megalomaniac, even before the bean counters remove quality from components.

Guess that's why we're on an E30 forum, because we probably value ease of maintenance.

My ranger and explorer with the 4.0 SOHC known for stretching timing chains. So, let's put one in the back, like the Audi 4.2L :rage: