So it starts!

Captured a la phone camera.

Click to view

If you listen to the video, you can hear the timing chain rattling away like a maniac for a few seconds after it starts. This was because of the lack of oil pressure in the timing chain tensioner I had previously removed, thinking I was going to replace it with the updated version. The budget did not agree, ( Read more... )

NOV 10 - DEC 11
MORE SURGERY

More motor madness.

Prepping the head to get it cleaned up and checked on:

( Read more... )

NOV 10 - DEC 11
SURGERY

For the next month I would be embarking on a journey through the heart of the car.

BMW M42 motors are notorious for what they call "timing profile gasket" failures. The engineers decided it would be a wonderful idea if they made this gasket very susceptible to failure and extremely difficult to replace. Left unattended, coolant ( Read more... )

OCT 31 2011 ( Read more... )

OCT 31 2011 ( Read more... )

OCT 18 2011
JUMP START

So I am too poor to buy a new battery, so I test the electrics by jumping the wires to another car.


( Read more... )

OCT 15 2011
THE FIRST DAY

So I finally get some time to pick up this ol' bimmer. Not really knowing what to expect (hoping for the best, really). Here's what I end up getting:

( Read more... )