What have you done to your car today?
- Thread starter Buckz
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Replaced the crank sensor O ring. Starter motor was done last winter so it looks new(ish) Did the Oil filter and cooler last week. Replaced Valve Cover, Solenoid motor gasket and Eccentric gasket a few weeks ago. Safe to say I had a bit of cleaning to do before I put everything back together! Bought everything from BMW, service and price surprisingly good.
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Bmw Enthusiast
Member
Just done oil filter housing & oil cooler gaskets on 2008 E85 N52. Loads of good advice here and elsewhere on this job on the N52, but could not find anything for the N52 in a E85. Getting to the 6 bolts was a challenge, much less room at the front of the E85 due to that front cross member. Job done (and well if I do say so myself!)...might just have inspired me to do a utube vid of this as definately different to the other N52 guides for a Z4. Get in touch if you need any tips. A mulitude of etorx devices are needed!
Thanks! I'm hoping it'll be worth the effort. From my research (based on the E46, as there's so much more information!), I'm going with:
- stock rear rta bushes with load limiters
- poly rear subframe
- all 4 hub joints as ball joints (as per the m3)
- everything else standard
This video is basically all you'll need:
I think on the z4 it is tighter with the diff, so I'll probably:
- fit the suspension arms to the subframe
- fit the subframe to the car
- set the suspension to height and torque up
- remove from car
- fit diff
- refit subframe and dif to car
So far no special tools. Just a socket and spanner set and an E12 torx bit. Impact gun is useful for fighting the tough bolts.
I bought this tool. I've only done the upper arms with it so far, but with an impact driver, it made it a walk in the park (once I'd worked out how to use it!)
I'm just doing it on axle stands at home. I just jacked it up and started unbolting stuff, starting with the exhaust and working upwards. Honestly, the hardest part so far has been getting the prop shaft out of the diff as it was a bit stuck. It's all logical and pretty easy if you're confident with mechanical work. Just time consuming and awkward working on your back a lot.
Oh, and a load of stuff to clean/treat/protect the metal. I like bilt hamber stuff (used it on my e30 with good effect - still holding up well after thousands of miles and several years).
And obviously a drill/angle grinder with some nylon wheels and paint removal flap discs to clean everything up.
This is what I ordered. I have some of their products already, so you'd probably want 1l of hydrate 80 not just 500ml, and I have a 5l pail of their underbody wax, too.
And obviously a drill/angle grinder with some nylon wheels and paint removal flap discs to clean everything up.
This is what I ordered. I have some of their products already, so you'd probably want 1l of hydrate 80 not just 500ml, and I have a 5l pail of their underbody wax, too.
What did you think of the Alpine?
Coventry
Today, before it started raining. I got the car out the garage and fitted a new front left wheel speed sensor. I also learned that they are left and right handed.
I then made a s**t tip of my garage as I fitted my new front suspension. I had never done this before. I also learned that there are left and right things here too.
I now have to go through this god forsaken mess so I can get my car back in and start cleaning up a load of parts I got in a good deal.
I then made a s**t tip of my garage as I fitted my new front suspension. I had never done this before. I also learned that there are left and right things here too.
I now have to go through this god forsaken mess so I can get my car back in and start cleaning up a load of parts I got in a good deal.
munchkincoupe
Member
The "S" is an awesome car, beautifully balanced with lots of feedback - but unless you are going to do lots of track days I think the standard Alpine is better for road driving.
When the pro drove it right to the limit, I realised I was probably driving it at 40% of its capacity and that was enough for me!
axelleveau
Member
Not tinkered with the car yet but collected those bits to help the noise match the looks! 
Devon
Seems a bit low Mikey. Normally 2.2/2.4 bar, which is 32/35 psi. Are you reading the scale right?
Yes, you are correct 32/34 psi
I have had this annoying bumping sound when I drove over uneven road surfaces slowly, coming from somewhere under the passenger side. I have poked around under the car as best I can and made sure the wheel nuts are tight. Well, after clearing out the boot yesterday and then the inside, and finding a small bottle of water under the passenger seat it has stopped!! My wife stores things under there. 
Bloomin' heck, they look awful
They often do - they're a PITA!Bloomin' heck, they look awful
Dropped the fuel tank to check for rust behind it. It's pretty clean, but a couple of scabs where BMW fits foam to the fuel tank, and that foam sits against the chassis. If the foam wasn't present, it'd be much less rusty!
Then removed the battery tray for better access for my ongoing rust treatment. This... was not fun. 4 out of 7 bolts snapped, half the boot needing stripping down, and 7 of 8 bolts under the car were rusted away and needed extractors to get them out.
Then removed the battery tray for better access for my ongoing rust treatment. This... was not fun. 4 out of 7 bolts snapped, half the boot needing stripping down, and 7 of 8 bolts under the car were rusted away and needed extractors to get them out.