Oil smell in car occasionally

[patriot66]

I also found signs of the start of rubbing on the other side in the exact same place,I’ve prepped both ready to weld at work tomorrow.

What do you think has caused that then ? What's rubbing on it ? :?

 

[Robster68]

I also found signs of the start of rubbing on the other side in the exact same place,I’ve prepped both ready to weld at work tomorrow.

What do you think has caused that then ? What's rubbing on it ? :?

I don’t know it’s not touching anything in the position of crack,all welded now though so will keep an eye on it,off to bmw Toulouse now to price up sump gasket. Will post pictures later

 

[Robster68]

So I finally managed to finish subframe and after closer inspection discovered bmw didn’t want to weld the bolt holes all the way around which fix subframe to chassis so I did it for them,I cleaned and sprayed myself and paint is drying over the weekend so it’s nice and hard when I fit it,sump was removed cleaned up and refitted with new genuine gasket and was spotless inside.Anti roll bar is next for repaint.

 

[patriot66]

Excellent work Rob. Proper job That lack of welding is shoddy Great reference photo of the oil pick-up and windage plate...nice and clean

 

[Robster68]

Excellent work Rob. Proper job That lack of welding is shoddy Great reference photo of the oil pick-up and windage plate...nice and clean

Thanks,yes the sump was well worth doing even without a leak just for peace of mind and some of the bolts were tight and had corrosion on them,all good now though.The subframe was shocking,probably welded by machine back in the day.
Problem is I want to clean up and replace all front end steering and suspension parts now.

 

[kis]

Nice work! Would be great to have a set up like yours! 8)
Re-fresh of the suspension is a must!
Well if you're planning on doing steering... take a look at a few of the hydraulic steering conversion threads...

 

[Robster68]

Nice work! Would be great to have a set up like yours! 8)
Re-fresh of the suspension is a must!
Well if you're planning on doing steering... take a look at a few of the hydraulic steering conversion threads...

Thanks Kis,having my own set up is a game changer,living in a little village near the Pyrenees is nice too,I remember before I lived in Essex/E London and hated it.I’m happy with the z4 electric steering funnily enough much better than the hydraulic set up on my e36,my shocks front and rear work ok but are rusty like the rear subframe,rear control arms etc so all will be cleaned up/replaced in the future with kw coilovers and quaife lsd,front end is finished for now,car is all back together for some kilometers before the snow arrives

 

[kis]

Yes, living near London has it's advantages and disadvantages! Very nice, off topic I know, but have you relocated there permanently?

I've seen a few bits are powerflex - so the polybushes should see you through the lifetime of the car. So looks like the front end is all sorted! Did you get to the bottom of the oil smell?

 

[Robster68]

Yes, living near London has it's advantages and disadvantages! Very nice, off topic I know, but have you relocated there permanently?


I've seen a few bits are powerflex - so the polybushes should see you through the lifetime of the car. So looks like the front end is all sorted! Did you get to the bottom of the

I’ve been here for about 8years and have my residency so intend to stay here for good.
I’ve just put a nice Autodoc front end rebuild inc sachs shocks and I’ll replace all power flex bushes back to original,oil smell seems to have gone

 

[B21]

Great write up and photos…you are clearly talented…sorry we missed you this year on our trip…enjoy

 

[Robster68]

Great write up and photos…you are clearly talented…sorry we missed you this year on our trip…enjoy

Thanks,yes shame about the trip,maybe Covid was a blessing in disguise with a cracked front subframe
Are you doing the trip again next year?

 

[B21]

Yes I was thinking about that subframe and a few hundred miles of boucing over some very bumpy roads...

Next year I'll do a few road trips closer to home.

2024 I fancy doing a Northern Iberia trip..been doing a bit of research on that one..so maybe then oif you are interested?

 

[Robster68]

Yes I was thinking about that subframe and a few hundred miles of boucing over some very bumpy roads...

Next year I'll do a few road trips closer to home.

2024 I fancy doing a Northern Iberia trip..been doing a bit of research on that one..so maybe then oif you are interested?

I need to find a 46mm socket first

 

[B21]

Yes I was thinking about that subframe and a few hundred miles of boucing over some very bumpy roads...

Next year I'll do a few road trips closer to home.

2024 I fancy doing a Northern Iberia trip..been doing a bit of research on that one..so maybe then oif you are interested?

I need to find a 46mm socket first

Here you go

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-5667-Socket-2-inch-Dia/dp/B00D2XKQIS/ref=asc_df_B00D2XKQIS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310744208542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16764445720016309815&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007348&hvtargid=pla-488162343288&psc=1

 

[Robster68]

Yes I was thinking about that subframe and a few hundred miles of boucing over some very bumpy roads...

Next year I'll do a few road trips closer to home.

2024 I fancy doing a Northern Iberia trip..been doing a bit of research on that one..so maybe then oif you are interested?

I need to find a 46mm socket first

Here you go

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-5667-Socket-2-inch-Dia/dp/B00D2XKQIS/ref=asc_df_B00D2XKQIS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310744208542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16764445720016309815&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007348&hvtargid=pla-488162343288&psc=1

Thanks,but as I’m an impatient sod I’ll look for one locally today.
Will I need a puller to get the hub/wheel bearing off and can I reuse it after?After all the bearing is ok and it’s really just a vanity project so I can clean and repaint everything and repair the disc backing plates.

 

[B21]

I need to find a 46mm socket first

Here you go

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-5667-Socket-2-inch-Dia/dp/B00D2XKQIS/ref=asc_df_B00D2XKQIS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310744208542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16764445720016309815&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007348&hvtargid=pla-488162343288&psc=1

Thanks,but as I’m an impatient sod I’ll look for one locally today.
Will I need a puller to get the hub/wheel bearing off and can I reuse it after?After all the bearing is ok and it’s really just a vanity project so I can clean and repaint everything and repair the disc backing plates.

Pass…not a SME on E85s…not been there on E89s either..always good to have a collection of pullers

 

[Robster68]

Waiting for 46mm socket to arrive in post,took drastic action.

 

[B21]

Brutal…but effective…very Ukrainian

 

[Robster68]

Wheel bearing came off easily,didn’t need to used recently purchased pullers,the same with inner race,I’m cleaning and painting stub axle now,looking to fit new 325mm backing plate before reassembly,I may need to wait for plate to be delivered after ordering tomorrow.