E30 M52
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Take a deep breath. These are minor hiccups. You're at the finish line!

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A couple years ago I replaced the SI Batteries and cleaned/tightened/re-flowed solder on the gauges. I dont think the battery replacement did anything and that perhaps the SI board itself is bad. As long as my speedometer, tach, and gas gauge work im fine although I need to re-fix the odometer gears. I need to swap in a spare odometer because I think the motor on mine may be burned out.
Gameplan:
Finish connecting the VDO temp gaugeRun a manual over-ride switch to the fan for actual emergencies
Go for a proper shakedown run.
If everything checks out I will drive it to work tomorrow. (30-40 min with stop and go traffic)
Next items on the never-ending list:
-oil dipstick tube mounting bracket
-Shim drivers side engine mount for better booster clearance
-Some ride height leveling with spring pads
-Alignment
-New brakes
-Wire fog lights (still need to find some connectors)
-Install HIDs
- 'is' rear spoiler
-Fix odometer
-Oil distribution block
-New steering wheel
-New front sway bar links (AFAIK they are original, I should have changed them out when I did the sway bars)
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So what you're saying is we should definitely expect to see this beast at Cars and Coffee on Saturday !
Is this the Watertown one?
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A couple years ago I replaced the SI Batteries and cleaned/tightened/re-flowed solder on the gauges. I dont think the battery replacement did anything and that perhaps the SI board itself is bad. As long as my speedometer, tach, and gas gauge work im fine although I need to re-fix the odometer gears. I need to swap in a spare odometer because I think the motor on mine may be burned out.
Gameplan:
Finish connecting the VDO temp gaugeRun a manual over-ride switch to the fan for actual emergencies
Go for a proper shakedown run.
If everything checks out I will drive it to work tomorrow. (30-40 min with stop and go traffic)
Next items on the never-ending list:
-oil dipstick tube mounting bracket
-Shim drivers side engine mount for better booster clearance
-Some ride height leveling with spring pads
-Alignment
-New brakes
-Wire fog lights (still need to find some connectors)
-Install HIDs
- 'is' rear spoiler
-Fix odometer
-Oil distribution block
-New steering wheel
-New front sway bar links (AFAIK they are original, I should have changed them out when I did the sway bars)
You can do it
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P_Roloff said:
Did you end up driving it to work today?
DOH! someone followed up with last nights goals!
No, I didn't and I feel bad because a guy at work brought donuts in thinking I would bring it (he is a BMW guy and is excited to see it)
I had some family things to do last night, so as soon as those were done I spent from 8P-10P in the garage working on some wiring
-Repaired the 12V outlet that had stopped working some years ago.
-Bypassed the window circuit breaker switch and recommissioned it to be a fan manual override switch

-Moved the VDO coolant gauge to the far right spot so its in better view since when it was in the far left spot my hand/steering wheel blocked its view and now that it is the primary coolant gauge I need to see it easily at all times.
-Completed the connection from the VDO temp sender in the head to the gauge.
Tonight I have between 5p-7p to button it up and test it out. I really just need to run one more wire through the firewall , put the HVAC panel back together, and try it out. As long as the temperatures stay below 200F on my test drive I will be taking it to work tomorrow.
. After that its just worrying about scraping and ripping my exhaust off on unexpected bumps.
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After that its just worrying about scraping and ripping my exhaust off on unexpected bumps.
i really want to be in the car with you the first time you make solid contact with your skid plate.
you:

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No, I didn't and I feel bad because a guy at work brought donuts in thinking I would bring it (he is a BMW guy and is excited to see it)
You have an awesome coworker!
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DOH! someone followed up with last nights goals!
No, I didn't and I feel bad because a guy at work brought donuts in thinking I would bring it (he is a BMW guy and is excited to see it)
I had some family things to do last night, so as soon as those were done I spent from 8P-10P in the garage working on some wiring
-Repaired the 12V outlet that had stopped working some years ago.
-Bypassed the window circuit breaker switch and recommissioned it to be a fan manual override switch
-Moved the VDO coolant gauge to the far right spot so its in better view since when it was in the far left spot my hand/steering wheel blocked its view and now that it is the primary coolant gauge I need to see it easily at all times.
-Completed the connection from the VDO temp sender in the head to the gauge.
Tonight I have between 5p-7p to button it up and test it out. I really just need to run one more wire through the firewall , put the HVAC panel back together, and try it out. As long as the temperatures stay below 200F on my test drive I will be taking it to work tomorrow.
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That’s an excellent idea, wiring the window lock to the fan. I hope you don’t mind if I copy the idea lol, I’ve currently got the fan wired to a toggle under the dash but I really don’t like reaching under there every time I want it on.
I might’ve missed it earlier, but where are your auxiliary gauges at?
Hope the test drive goes well!
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I might’ve missed it earlier, but where are your auxiliary gauges at?


Who needs radio?!?
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Want me to get you one?
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Want me to get you one?
I have been fighting whether to put a nice 6 button OBC back in that spot, a clock, or a blank plate (booo)
let me know what you can get them for. I may be interested, I think it would need to have a harness pigtail too
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Shakedown run:
Coolant temp on VDO=GOOD! temp stayed between 190-200F, given it wasnt a hot day and it wasnt a hard drive, but im not concerned with it anymore until a hard run on a hot day I guess.

The bad news: that cutting out issue happened and kept getting worse and is now debilitating. It stalled the car while driving once, gave me zero throttle response multiple times with a light lean pop out the exhaust, and I had to pull over twice until I had enough luck for it to start responding again.
It wouldnt accelerate anymore and I had to pop the hood and disconnect the MAF sensor to regain enough response to get the car back home.
Its not a mechanical issue because it runs perfectly when its not doing this.
My guess is that the used MAF I picked up is no good.
I have a spare TPS to try and Saturday I will try another testfahrt with the other TPS. (Im not expecting it to be the TPS but its a quick thing I can try)
Once it starts refusing to have throttle response I will unplug the O2 sensor and see how that goes. I honestly dont remember what car I bought it for (95 M3? 95 325i?) they really shouldnt be different.
Does anyone have a spare E36 OBD1 MAF I can try?
Im also going to email Sssquid and verify the MAF curve on this tune.
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That certainly sounds like a MAF issues, especially if unplugging it allowed you to drive home.
It's super hard to drive a car with bad MAF lol, I've done it once, not fun!I don't think I have a stock MAF, but I'll browse the parts shelf.
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I wonder though, because wouldnt a bad MAF manifest itself pretty much constantly regardless of temperature?
So far the car has run perfectly for a few minutes while cold and the problem seems to rear its head as the car warms up and enters closed loop which would point strongly towards the new oxygen sensor.
Who knows.. maybe the header coating fouled it as it was baking in, maybe my 3 foot extension harness sucks (Im pretty sure I checked resistance afterwards for good measure.... Regardless, I want a spare MAF so I will be on the hunt for a good deal on a new one or a known good used one.
I double-checked the part numbers for the MAF and the O2 sensor. both fit 92-95 M3/325i and are the correct parts.
I dont have a physical check engine light but I intended to wire it up once I pull the cluster again so in the meantime I cant do a stomp test.
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