Joined the Club Today
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Planning to do the hard fuel lines this weekend. Any tips for doing this job? Shouldn't be to difficult as its just undoing soft lines on either end of the hard lines.
But I am told that the mounting bracket bolts/screws are rusted to shit, so that might make it difficult.
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Line wrenches. 11 and 13mm I believe...
You're thinking brake lines.
The screws under the chassis are phillips head, and usually rusted in place. You can bust the head off the screw to get the retaining plate out. You may also be able to bend it far enough to remove the lines, then bend it back up when the new lines are in (not sure on that one).
The hose clamps are likely rusted, but use a 6mm socket to attempt to pull them off without cutting them.
You can also cheat and cut the soft fuel line and not have to take it off the hard-line that you are replacing anyway.
Hoses always pull off well once you rotate them, so spin the hose before trying to pull. A pliers is usually required to get them to rotate first, or just slice the hose parallel to the center axis of the hard-line and it'll slip right off. -
You're thinking brake lines.
The screws under the chassis are phillips head, and usually rusted in place. You can bust the head off the screw to get the retaining plate out. You may also be able to bend it far enough to remove the lines, then bend it back up when the new lines are in (not sure on that one).
The hose clamps are likely rusted, but use a 6mm socket to attempt to pull them off without cutting them.
You can also cheat and cut the soft fuel line and not have to take it off the hard-line that you are replacing anyway.
Hoses always pull off well once you rotate them, so spin the hose before trying to pull. A pliers is usually required to get them to rotate first, or just slice the hose parallel to the center axis of the hard-line and it'll slip right off.I just placed an order for all new mounting hardware for the fuel lines from the dealer that I'll be picking up tomorrow.
Will cutting the soft fuel lines leave enough material to properly hook up the new hard lines?
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I just placed an order for all new mounting hardware for the fuel lines from the dealer that I'll be picking up tomorrow.
Will cutting the soft fuel lines leave enough material to properly hook up the new hard lines?
The hardware screws into studs that are welded into the chassis, so unless you manage to get the screw remnants out you won't be able to get the new stuff in.
Replace the soft lines if you're replacing the hard lines. Parts store hoses work just fine.
Make sure to get high pressure hose for the feed side (~$8/ft) vs the low pressure stuff at a buck or two a foot.
At minimum replace the hoses by the fuel filter. The hoses up by the motor seemed okay. -
You're thinking brake lines.
This. Still traumatized by those things. Can't move on...
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This. Still traumatized by those things. Can't move on...
With you on this one. A line on my old m3 rusted in one spot and I pieced in a section with unions. Every double flare tool I touched was junk, and of course the one good double flare I made I forgot to put the threaded nut piece over the line before I flared it
was one of my least favorite times I ever worked on my car
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All the brackets are rusted for sure. I just ran the new brake line along the old one as I had intended to redo that all at some point. I don’t remover if the fuel hoses were replaced at the filter or not.
Yeah I saw that when I was under the car. Is there enough room on the top of thank to replace the soft lines from the tank to the hard lines? I’m having a hard time visualizing it right now, the tank doesn’t have to be dropped does it?
If it were still warm out, I probably would just order a whole new tank as the Spectra one is well documented as being pretty much an OEM replacement. It’s also only $170 compared to $1200 for the OEM one.
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I’d replace the tank while you’re in there, it leaked over half. The fuel pump is new so then you’d have a fully refreshed fuel system.
replace it, you'll tank yourself later.
*bum dum tiss*
Probably the best idea. I’ll start doing some research, but for some preliminary readings, how much of a pain in the ass is it? From some of my browsing, doesn’t look too terrible.
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The hardware screws into studs that are welded into the chassis, so unless you manage to get the screw remnants out you won't be able to get the new stuff in.
Replace the soft lines if you're replacing the hard lines. Parts store hoses work just fine.
Make sure to get high pressure hose for the feed side (~$8/ft) vs the low pressure stuff at a buck or two a foot.
At minimum replace the hoses by the fuel filter. The hoses up by the motor seemed okay.I found that the parts store hose I bought to connect to the fuel filter fit poorly and kinked, so maybe think about getting the one 180 degree curved hose from FCP or something. Others experience may vary, but that’s my two cents.
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Probably the best idea. I’ll start doing some research, but for some preliminary readings, how much of a pain in the ass is it? From some of my browsing, doesn’t look too terrible.
+1 on replacing it.
Its really not that bad. Biggest challenge is getting those rusted nuts and bolts out that hold it in place. Once they are out your pretty much home free.
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+1 on replacing it.
Its really not that bad. Biggest challenge is getting those rusted nuts and bolts out that hold it in place. Once they are out your pretty much home free.
Good to know. I'll probably get an estimate of it when I do the clutch line.
After some debating, I think I'll probably wait to do the tank until spring. I bought a propane heater for the garage, but I think this job would be best done when it's not below 20 degrees out. I do plan to get the new booster in, bleed the brakes, and replace the rubber clutch line with the braided SS one I bought.
This might change when I can get under the car and get a better estimate of what the entire job will entail and what other tubing I will need to replace.
Also want to give my parents one of their stalls back.
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I recommend OEM fuel line, the stuff FCP sells (CRP) is good. It is much more flexible than parts store line that I have previously used. I had replaced fuel lines with parts store high pressure hose and it leaked after a year when it was really cold out. The OEM has much better flexibility and I've never had a problem with it. Buy 5 meters of 8x13 from FCP and send it.
32$ for 5m is only 2$ a foot. It's totally worth it to have a roll on hand.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-fuel-line-13311722262-5m#desc
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Replaced the booster last night, picked one up from @m42b32. Used @snaprecommendation and pumped the master cylinder piston by hand a little bit to push some fluid through before attaching to the booster. Soft fuel lines are little long so I was able to detach the manifold but keep everything attached otherwise, just enough room to sneak the old booster out and the new one in.
Didn’t bleed the brakes because I wanted to wait until I replaced the clutch line to do so. Replaced the rubber clutch line with the condor speed shop braided stainless steel one. Never bled a clutch before, but I’m assuming it’s similar to the brakes with opening the bleeder valve on the slave and pumping the clutch pedal to push fluid through? Does it matter if this is done before or after the brakes?
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It's leaking coolant and power steering fluid. Neon green and red droplets on the oil pan. Knew about the coolant as when I had started it a couple times, there was a puddle up front. Haven't been able to figure out where it's coming from as the top looks dry, figure it coming from the coolant pipe somewhere. Power steering looks like it might be from the lower banjo bolt.
Issues for another time, trying to be in the garage as little as possible with how cold its going to start getting.
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It's leaking coolant and power steering fluid. Neon green and red droplets on the oil pan. Knew about the coolant as when I had started it a couple times, there was a puddle up front. Haven't been able to figure out where it's coming from as the top looks dry, figure it coming from the coolant pipe somewhere. Power steering looks like it might be from the lower banjo bolt.
Issues for another time, trying to be in the garage as little as possible with how cold its going to start getting.
Not horribly surprised to hear the coolant pipe started leaking. The opening in the timing cover for that was a bit corroded, and with it being cold leaks seem unsurprising. I put 2 new OEM o-rings on that to attempt a seal.
There may be residual power steering fluid on the top of the pan, it leaked quite a lot before I realized what was happening with the lines. I'd hold off on judgement on that one for a bit. I put new crush washers on the upper line, but I didn't take the lower line off due to it being attached already.
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