A few months ago I purchased a full Stage 2/3 E31 840i OBD1. I was able to get what I believe was a tremendous deal for what has turned out to be an epic car.
Heres what the for sale pictures looked like.
The car showed up with some known issues. One of which was the braking. I took the car for a short drive and was immediately shocked at how bag the brakes were. Not only did the brakes not work well but there was grinding also.
IMG_0926 by JEllis, on Flickr
The previous owner included new brake pads and I set out to change the pads. Here you can see the Dinan upgraded front brakes. I believe they are CSI calipers and rotors.
IMG_0919 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0921 by JEllis, on Flickr
Upon closer inspection I noticed this damage to the drivers side rotor. Turns out the previous owner had one of the pads in backwards. Easy fix. Rotor has to be replaced but the braking and feel was great after changing the pads with the correct orientation.
IMG_0920 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0922 by JEllis, on Flickr
Rotor marks on the back of the pad from being installed backwards.
IMG_0924 by JEllis, on Flickr
Old pads
IMG_0923 by JEllis, on Flickr
The interior is in pretty great shape considering its age. The steering wheel will be replaced and I conducted a leatherique regiment to the leather.
IMG_0918 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0917 by JEllis, on Flickr
Post Leatherique. I also use Griots interior cleaner to get all the stains/discoloration out of the carpeting.
IMG_0928 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0927 by JEllis, on Flickr
I took the car out and discovered two more concerning issues. The rear wheels were rubbing badly on the fender and the car would go into limp mode during heavy acceleration.
Here you can say how bad the rubbing was on the tire.
IMG_0915 by JEllis, on Flickr
The previous owner was using way too big of a spacer so the rubbing was an easy fix. The limp mode was concerning and potentially expensive. But I pulled the codes and narrowed the problem down to a possible bad MAF. Getting to the intake required removal of the passenger headlight and I wasn't quite prepared for the mess the intake was in. I am not sure if the intake or filter were ever checked on.
IMG_0916 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0933 by JEllis, on Flickr
Here you can see where the steel reinforced flex pipe is coming apart. There were multiple holes in the flex pipe. It was also soaked with oil from "blow-by" due to a faulty PCV.
IMG_0930 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0934 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0936 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0937 by JEllis, on Flickr
I purchased some silicone hose, a custom AFE filter and associated hardware and came up with this.
IMG_0940 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0941 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0942 by JEllis, on Flickr
Here you can see everything buttoned up again. The Dinan SC kit is a later version using a Powerdyne unit. Dinan drilled holes in the housing to lower temps in the belt housing to prevent belt slip and ultimately extend SC life.
IMG_0944 by JEllis, on Flickr
I **** the plastic bleeder screws and replaced the original part with a brass part from TMS.
IMG_0943 by JEllis, on Flickr
Old dirty MAF comes out and brand new OE MAF goes in.
IMG_0935 by JEllis, on Flickr
The crumbling wheel well liners played a part in the nasty air filter. New parts ready to go in.
IMG_0931 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0929 by JEllis, on Flickr
Old rusty hardware.
IMG_0932 by JEllis, on Flickr
Front plate comes off. New front plate delete panel waiting to for paint.
IMG_0912 by JEllis, on Flickr
Back on the ground.
IMG_0914 by JEllis, on Flickr
All buttoned up for now.
IMG_0925 by JEllis, on Flickr
The car drives amazing after fixing the brakes, removing the rear spacers and swapping out the MAF and dirty intake and parts. The car pulls hard! The SC has never been rebuilt and I have my doubts its making full boost but it pulls very well. I am in love with this car. More to come.
Heres what the for sale pictures looked like.
The car showed up with some known issues. One of which was the braking. I took the car for a short drive and was immediately shocked at how bag the brakes were. Not only did the brakes not work well but there was grinding also.
IMG_0926 by JEllis, on Flickr
The previous owner included new brake pads and I set out to change the pads. Here you can see the Dinan upgraded front brakes. I believe they are CSI calipers and rotors.
IMG_0919 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0921 by JEllis, on Flickr
Upon closer inspection I noticed this damage to the drivers side rotor. Turns out the previous owner had one of the pads in backwards. Easy fix. Rotor has to be replaced but the braking and feel was great after changing the pads with the correct orientation.
IMG_0920 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0922 by JEllis, on Flickr
Rotor marks on the back of the pad from being installed backwards.
IMG_0924 by JEllis, on Flickr
Old pads
IMG_0923 by JEllis, on Flickr
The interior is in pretty great shape considering its age. The steering wheel will be replaced and I conducted a leatherique regiment to the leather.
IMG_0918 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0917 by JEllis, on Flickr
Post Leatherique. I also use Griots interior cleaner to get all the stains/discoloration out of the carpeting.
IMG_0928 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0927 by JEllis, on Flickr
I took the car out and discovered two more concerning issues. The rear wheels were rubbing badly on the fender and the car would go into limp mode during heavy acceleration.
Here you can say how bad the rubbing was on the tire.
IMG_0915 by JEllis, on Flickr
The previous owner was using way too big of a spacer so the rubbing was an easy fix. The limp mode was concerning and potentially expensive. But I pulled the codes and narrowed the problem down to a possible bad MAF. Getting to the intake required removal of the passenger headlight and I wasn't quite prepared for the mess the intake was in. I am not sure if the intake or filter were ever checked on.
IMG_0916 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0933 by JEllis, on Flickr
Here you can see where the steel reinforced flex pipe is coming apart. There were multiple holes in the flex pipe. It was also soaked with oil from "blow-by" due to a faulty PCV.
IMG_0930 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0934 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0936 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0937 by JEllis, on Flickr
I purchased some silicone hose, a custom AFE filter and associated hardware and came up with this.
IMG_0940 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0941 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0942 by JEllis, on Flickr
Here you can see everything buttoned up again. The Dinan SC kit is a later version using a Powerdyne unit. Dinan drilled holes in the housing to lower temps in the belt housing to prevent belt slip and ultimately extend SC life.
IMG_0944 by JEllis, on Flickr
I **** the plastic bleeder screws and replaced the original part with a brass part from TMS.
IMG_0943 by JEllis, on Flickr
Old dirty MAF comes out and brand new OE MAF goes in.
IMG_0935 by JEllis, on Flickr
The crumbling wheel well liners played a part in the nasty air filter. New parts ready to go in.
IMG_0931 by JEllis, on Flickr
IMG_0929 by JEllis, on Flickr
Old rusty hardware.
IMG_0932 by JEllis, on Flickr
Front plate comes off. New front plate delete panel waiting to for paint.
IMG_0912 by JEllis, on Flickr
Back on the ground.
IMG_0914 by JEllis, on Flickr
All buttoned up for now.
IMG_0925 by JEllis, on Flickr
The car drives amazing after fixing the brakes, removing the rear spacers and swapping out the MAF and dirty intake and parts. The car pulls hard! The SC has never been rebuilt and I have my doubts its making full boost but it pulls very well. I am in love with this car. More to come.
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