My project E36!

Abix · 18th April 2009, 20:13

Hey guys thanks for the suggestions. The car aesthetically is perfect and just the way i wanted it. Mechanically i have been driving it around town and so far id say im happy with 60% of it. I guess with old cars you never know when something might stop functioning. For example the power steering failed as one of the bearings had come of and the power steering liquid drained out. That got fixed within a days time.

Recently on my way back i started to notice smoke from the A/C vents after which i saw the temperature needle and it was all the way to red. I stopped the car and opened the bonnet to find that the pipe leading from the radiator was leaking steam. The car was then towed away to a service station and they found large amounts of rust deposits and absolutely no coolant. The problem has been sorted and couple of other problems with the air flow meter have also been detected which eventually would have given me a headache. Altogether a bit disappointed with the mechanical work done on the car, as i have had to bring the car to the workshop every other day and is a bit nerve wrecking when you don't know what might happen next. Expecting to get the car back on Monday, will update soon.

Cheers

autopsyche · 19th April 2009, 10:53

Just spoke to Abix, seems like the car suffered a coolant leak. The radiator has already been flushed out once, more rust only means that it has a lot of muck left inside. The AFM which came on the car was already repaired and had been all taped up, thats what causes the unstable idling, had tried to adjust it as much as possibe but i guess replacement is the way to go. Abix how many kms had u logged on since you took delivery of the car, because overheating problems do tend to crop up randomly, if it was a workmanship fault it should have overheated on the first day itself? Would also suggest a double check on the radiator fan wiring and relay, a switched off fan would cause the same.

Ricky_63 · 19th April 2009, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by autopsyche

Just spoke to Abix, seems like the car suffered a coolant leak. The radiator has already been flushed out once, more rust only means that it has a lot of muck left inside. The AFM which came on the car was already repaired and had been all taped up, thats what causes the unstable idling, had tried to adjust it as much as possibe but i guess replacement is the way to go. Abix how many kms had u logged on since you took delivery of the car, because overheating problems do tend to crop up randomly, if it was a workmanship fault it should have overheated on the first day itself? Would also suggest a double check on the radiator fan wiring and relay, a switched off fan would cause the same.

Which means that the radiator was obviously not cleaned properly, if at all. I thought that was an area one would address for sure while re-building an engine, right ?

autopsyche · 19th April 2009, 15:04

The engine only serviced, i wonder why the assumption of a rebuild. The radiator can always have some angry muck stuck inside which after cleaning refuses to come out. In such a case the only option is to change it. You can run a coolant flush in a radiator ten times but it wont change the situation much.

speedsport · 19th April 2009, 15:26

lol.... the last time i looked into an E36 engine bay i saw a clutch fan and as far as i remember it does come from the factory with a clutch fan and not a fan with wiring and relays. slipped out of your mind maybe. thought i'd tell you before you order an electric fan with a wiring relay to sort it out.

Am out of here. all the best with both your projects.

autopsyche · 19th April 2009, 17:27

Yes my bad, it definitely slipped my mind on the fan. Thanks for the pointer.

Ricky_63 · 19th April 2009, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by autopsyche

The dillema of the alloys never ends....

M3 Sedan Bumper, Skirts & Fender Grills, Projector Headlights, Smoked Tail Lamps, Custom Stitched Black Leatherite Interior, Full Body Refurbish and Paintjob, Engine Refurbish, All New Suspension Parts & Steering Overhaul, New Brake Rotors & Pads, New Windshield & Moldings.

Am i forgetting something?

To quote from your own post : ENGINE REFURBISH, ALL NEW SUSPENSION PARTS & STEERING OVERHAUL

The engine was re-furbished & the steering (which failed) was overhauled

Need I say more ?

DocG · 19th April 2009, 19:55

Ok, simply to pitch in, yes the BMW 4 cyl engines of yore used clutch fans, but it's one of the easiest things to swap in the car. Almost everyone I know who kept the 1.6/1.8 mill switched to an electric fan, just because it was simpler, and they had the convenience of adding a switch in the car. Something that might just be necessary in India with our summers.

So my question is if so much money was spent, then why was this not done?

Also something I don't understand, NOT TO BLAME OR FLAME anyone!
Why is it that in all these mods and refurbs, reliability issues keep cropping up.

I do agree that even in countries with well established tuning histories there are the occational issues that crop up. But over here in India these are extremely common

accord masters · 19th April 2009, 21:30

@ docg - its because in India cost cutting measure are taken a bit extra seriously and the term JUGAD comes into play in fixing cars.

monty9991 · 20th April 2009, 15:26

its just if you compare your older car i.e. modded cedia with this beemer, i'd vote out for cedia. that looked better. its just my opinion.

lurker · 20th April 2009, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by accord masters

@ docg - its because in India cost cutting measure are taken a bit extra seriously and the term JUGAD comes into play in fixing cars.

it doesn't seem cost-cutting, but more like margin-hunting by the tuner which would be very common in India.

Scarface · 20th April 2009, 17:16

Lighthing option on XtraLights - 888-954-4482 Shop for HID Xenon Light Kits, Headlights, Tail & Corner Lights, LED, Mirrors may be interesting!Please check it out if u haven't done so yet.Cheers!Great Build anyways!

Abix · 21st April 2009, 00:08

Hey guys, thanks for the inputs, haven't got the car as yet, because there were problems regarding self start which were cropping up. The mechanic told me i should have the car by tomorrow morning. Will update on how it feels.

Monty9991: Its hard to compare the two monty that one was made out to be an out and out loud tuner car, with my beemer if i had gone through a similar approach i feel id be beaten up by team bhp members and rightly so because with the BMW i wanted it to be sober which actually suits it the most. Believe you me the car still turns heads.

Scarface: Thanks, the car already has phillips HID kit on low beam and on the fog lights.

Scarface · 21st April 2009, 13:54

Abix: Checked out the low beam and the fog lamp pictures!Looks wonderful!Was suggesting an upgrade for the tails thats available at xtralights!Cheers!

monty9991 · 21st April 2009, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abix

Monty9991: Its hard to compare the two monty that one was made out to be an out and out loud tuner car, with my beemer if i had gone through a similar approach i feel id be beaten up by team bhp members and rightly so because with the BMW i wanted it to be sober which actually suits it the most. Believe you me the car still turns heads.

well yeah you are right. thats what i had in my mind after i posted that. you might not wanted your beemer to be loud as you already had one earlier.

18th April 2009, 20:13	#376
Abix BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 315 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Hey guys thanks for the suggestions. The car aesthetically is perfect and just the way i wanted it. Mechanically i have been driving it around town and so far id say im happy with 60% of it. I guess with old cars you never know when something might stop functioning. For example the power steering failed as one of the bearings had come of and the power steering liquid drained out. That got fixed within a days time. Recently on my way back i started to notice smoke from the A/C vents after which i saw the temperature needle and it was all the way to red. I stopped the car and opened the bonnet to find that the pipe leading from the radiator was leaking steam. The car was then towed away to a service station and they found large amounts of rust deposits and absolutely no coolant. The problem has been sorted and couple of other problems with the air flow meter have also been detected which eventually would have given me a headache. Altogether a bit disappointed with the mechanical work done on the car, as i have had to bring the car to the workshop every other day and is a bit nerve wrecking when you don't know what might happen next. Expecting to get the car back on Monday, will update soon. Cheers
	() Thanks

19th April 2009, 10:53	#377
autopsyche Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Delhi, Indi Posts: 1,519 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	Just spoke to Abix, seems like the car suffered a coolant leak. The radiator has already been flushed out once, more rust only means that it has a lot of muck left inside. The AFM which came on the car was already repaired and had been all taped up, thats what causes the unstable idling, had tried to adjust it as much as possibe but i guess replacement is the way to go. Abix how many kms had u logged on since you took delivery of the car, because overheating problems do tend to crop up randomly, if it was a workmanship fault it should have overheated on the first day itself? Would also suggest a double check on the radiator fan wiring and relay, a switched off fan would cause the same.
	() Thanks

19th April 2009, 15:04	#379
autopsyche Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Delhi, Indi Posts: 1,519 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	The engine only serviced, i wonder why the assumption of a rebuild. The radiator can always have some angry muck stuck inside which after cleaning refuses to come out. In such a case the only option is to change it. You can run a coolant flush in a radiator ten times but it wont change the situation much.
	() Thanks

19th April 2009, 15:26	#380
speedsport BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: new delhi Posts: 125 Thanked: 50 Times	lol.... the last time i looked into an E36 engine bay i saw a clutch fan and as far as i remember it does come from the factory with a clutch fan and not a fan with wiring and relays. slipped out of your mind maybe. thought i'd tell you before you order an electric fan with a wiring relay to sort it out. Am out of here. all the best with both your projects.
	() Thanks

19th April 2009, 17:27	#381
autopsyche Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Delhi, Indi Posts: 1,519 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	Yes my bad, it definitely slipped my mind on the fan. Thanks for the pointer.
	() Thanks

19th April 2009, 19:55	#383
DocG BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mumbai - Singapore - Cali - Sydney - S.Korea Posts: 870 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Ok, simply to pitch in, yes the BMW 4 cyl engines of yore used clutch fans, but it's one of the easiest things to swap in the car. Almost everyone I know who kept the 1.6/1.8 mill switched to an electric fan, just because it was simpler, and they had the convenience of adding a switch in the car. Something that might just be necessary in India with our summers. So my question is if so much money was spent, then why was this not done? Also something I don't understand, NOT TO BLAME OR FLAME anyone! Why is it that in all these mods and refurbs, reliability issues keep cropping up. I do agree that even in countries with well established tuning histories there are the occational issues that crop up. But over here in India these are extremely common
	() Thanks

19th April 2009, 21:30	#384
accord masters BANNED Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: delhi Posts: 456 Thanked: 44 Times	@ docg - its because in India cost cutting measure are taken a bit extra seriously and the term JUGAD comes into play in fixing cars.
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 15:26	#385
monty9991 BANNED Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ludhiana Posts: 706 Thanked: 42 Times View My Garage	its just if you compare your older car i.e. modded cedia with this beemer, i'd vote out for cedia. that looked better. its just my opinion.
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 17:16	#387
Scarface Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	Lighthing option on XtraLights - 888-954-4482 Shop for HID Xenon Light Kits, Headlights, Tail & Corner Lights, LED, Mirrors may be interesting!Please check it out if u haven't done so yet.Cheers!Great Build anyways!
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 00:08	#388
Abix BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 315 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Hey guys, thanks for the inputs, haven't got the car as yet, because there were problems regarding self start which were cropping up. The mechanic told me i should have the car by tomorrow morning. Will update on how it feels. Monty9991: Its hard to compare the two monty that one was made out to be an out and out loud tuner car, with my beemer if i had gone through a similar approach i feel id be beaten up by team bhp members and rightly so because with the BMW i wanted it to be sober which actually suits it the most. Believe you me the car still turns heads. Scarface: Thanks, the car already has phillips HID kit on low beam and on the fog lights.
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 13:54	#389
Scarface Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	Abix: Checked out the low beam and the fog lamp pictures!Looks wonderful!Was suggesting an upgrade for the tails thats available at xtralights!Cheers!
	() Thanks