Non-BMW Stuff on a BMW Forum
-
Finally back at it for a little bit after Christmas. The AC evaporator is back in and it’s really cool to see how the interior is going to come back together with the console set in.
Got these for Christmas from my parents and my wife got me the Chase Bays front brake lines. As of December 18th they were still filling orders from Black Friday, so I’m guessing it will be a while before I get those and my replacement section of rear line.
I’ll get an adapter for the pressure gauge at the stock location, tap one of the plugs on the thermostat for the water temp, and then tap the drain plug for the oil temp.
-
Alright, I have three questions I’m hoping you guys can give me some advice.
- I got the new vent line cover. But the end towards the front of the car would usually sit inside the pipe coming from the car. I don’t have that anymore so there’s nothing securing it. Any ideas how to do this? I’m thinking some type of strap across it?
- My AC lines have these Schroeder valves for servicing. I’m seeing replacement Schroeder valves on FCP and whatnot but these are not replaceable. Are there just various types of lines and mine do not need new valves?
The replacement valve. Unless this is the one that goes on the compressor end of the suction line?
- I removed this trim piece and I’m not sure where it goes back.
- I got the new vent line cover. But the end towards the front of the car would usually sit inside the pipe coming from the car. I don’t have that anymore so there’s nothing securing it. Any ideas how to do this? I’m thinking some type of strap across it?
-
- i think that trim piece goes inside the glovebox, on the left side. the orientation is upside down in the photo.
Dan
-
- i think that trim piece goes inside the glovebox, on the left side. the orientation is upside down in the photo.
I realized the trim is for the hood release area.
I got No. 1 figured out and I need some r-12 to r-134 adapter valves for the lines.
But the AC saga has hit a wall. The large suction hose I got did not fit my compressor. All I can deduce is that it is from a different variation of compressor and since there are a million variations of compressors and systems, it's hard to tell which system it is from. On top of that, I discovered there are a hand full of Bosch/Behr compressors built that are not compatible with R134a. Turns out the two compressors I have are both Bosch/Behr and both on that small list. I guess the seals in it allow for the smaller molecules of the R134 to pass through them. Now I also need to determine if I find a different compressor, have this one rebuilt, buy a rebuilt one, etc.
The guy I got this suction hose from said he still has the compressor from the car that the hose came off of. Going to hope it's not a Bosch unit and will work with my setup.
-
I realized the trim is for the hood release area.
ahh yes. it has that opening in it perfectly sized to fit a pair of vise grips.
Dan
-
ahh yes. it has that opening in it perfectly sized to fit a pair of vise grips.
lol
Well, I think I got the AC hose/compressor issue sorted. After looking at as many pictures of the different compressors on and off cars, I beleive the hose I got is for a Denso compressor - which has a different configuration for the two hoses. I ordered what I hope is the correct hose for the Bosch/Behr compressor.
-
Having AC makes me jealous. I really want to build a coolshirt system for the hot autox/lapping days
-
Having AC makes me jealous. I really want to build a coolshirt system for the hot autox/lapping days
Wait to be jealous when it's completely working. lol.
I have to admit I am really excited to see all of these improvements coming together and the car more closely fitting the vision I had for it.
-
Having AC makes me jealous. I really want to build a coolshirt system for the hot autox/lapping days
DIY: I use a $40 Donjoy Iceman Cold therapy unit (cooler and built in pump) bought used off Craigslist in the race car. Cut off the electrical plug end, connect to toggle switch wired to my old cigarette lighter wiring. The Donjoy hose fittings plug right into the hoses of a regular Coolshirt. Fabbed a bracket and strap setup bolted to the passenger floor for the cooler. Total "system" out the door for less than $200 (biggest price is the shirt). Lasts for about 30-40 minutes on a 80-90 degree day due to the small size of the cooler. Plenty for sprint races, lapping, autox. Esp when you're stuck in grid, baking in a three-layer race suit while they clean up the mess some idiot made in the prior session.
-
DIY: I use a $40 Donjoy Iceman Cold therapy unit (cooler and built in pump) bought used off Craigslist in the race car. Cut off the electrical plug end, connect to toggle switch wired to my old cigarette lighter wiring. The Donjoy hose fittings plug right into the hoses of a regular Coolshirt. Fabbed a bracket and strap setup bolted to the passenger floor for the cooler. Total "system" out the door for less than $200 (biggest price is the shirt). Lasts for about 30-40 minutes on a 80-90 degree day due to the small size of the cooler. Plenty for sprint races, lapping, autox. Esp when you're stuck in grid, baking in a three-layer race suit while they clean up the mess some idiot made in the prior session.
I have all of the links saved, just waiting for it to get hot out so I can justify it to myself haha
-
Got the gauges mocked up. Started the harnesses for them last night so I can get them in. I need gauges in to be able to put the interior back together. I’m not super thrilled with the fit. But it’s the only gauge bracket that doesn’t either eliminate the storage cubby, middle vents, or something on the dash. I’m going to run some high density foam along the lip under where the gauge bracket sits to conceal that gap.
I'm using relays that will be mounted behind the dash to control the switched power to the gauges and the switched power to the lights. I'll use the radio swicthed 12v for the trigger on the gauge relay and then a headlight wire for the trigger on the gauge light relay. Pulled power directly from the junction block in the engine bay.
With that said, anyone have a good place to tap a headlight wire of some type for the light relay?
Found this wiring diagram for the lights. Would I be correct in that the yellow/green wire from the switch would be the switched 12v wire going to the lights that I could tap into for the switch on the relay?
-
With that said, anyone have a good place to tap a headlight wire of some type for the light relay?
if you're already at the back of the radio for the switched power, use the wire there for the switched dashboard lights. it is controlled by the headlight switch.
i looked up the 89 325i in the ETM, and it suggests a white wire will be the "Lights on input" wire. Some e30s differ based on radio type, etc, but this should be easy to verify.
tracing that wire to the "Light switch details" it shows that it is controlled by the light switch and gets power in the "Park" lights position and "Head(lights)" lights position.
Dan
-
if you're already at the back of the radio for the switched power, use the wire there for the switched dashboard lights. it is controlled by the headlight switch.
Thank you! If I'm reading that correctly, will that white wire be part of the radio wire harness bundle?
-
Thank you! If I'm reading that correctly, will that white wire be part of the radio wire harness bundle?
Yes, on the diagram you can see the black line for the wire just touches the box that represents the radio, instead of having an arrow and connector number (C216, for example). I believe it shares a small two pin connector with that adjacent solid yellow wire. (this is if you still have the factory radio)
alternatively, you may be able to utilize that GY/RD (gray/red) wire that splits off the harness and goes to position 1 of the C243 connector. it is labeled as "not used" which means the pin on the other half of the connector should be missing. you could either pull the pin from the connector and use it, or add a new pin/wire to the side that is missing.
this is what the C243 connector looks like:
it will be upstream in the radio harness in the dashboard. it should be the only 8-pin connector in there, I think.
Dan
-
These gauges took way more work and time than I thought they would. Mostly because the bracket fit like garbage once the two screws on the back of it were tightened down.
In the end I had to get out the belt sander and shave one side down so it fit in the cubby. Out of the box it was maybe 1/16” too wide making the fit very poor. It would fit OK when it was loosely sitting in there, but once tightened down it would lift up towards the front. I basically bent the mounting tab down a bit so as it is tightened it pushes the front of the bracket down/forward.
End result is satisfactory though. I would love to come up with a custom gauge bracket somehow that better matched the interior, but I wouldn’t know where to start.
I finally got the replacement rear brake line piece. I have the new/correct AC hose in the car and now all of the AC lines are in with new o-rings. Wtih the rear brake lines done I'll be able to put the gas tank back in the car. Once the rear is done I'll move on to the front struts.
Debating if I want to rebuild the axles while they are out. From the how-to's I've looked at they appear to be relatively straightforward and all new boots and grease is only $100 to do both axles.
-
Didn’t realize that the area behind the rear “door” cards are completely bare metal. Took those out and put sound mat in there.
Where the gauge relay power and gauge harness comes through the firewall and the runs down to their respective locations.
Also discovered that when the power was ran to my garage they ran 220. I asked them to wire the garage for 120v and always assumed they only brought that out to the garage. Cue the installation of 240v outlets. First thing I’m doing is putting in an electric heater.
-
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login