[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by jsunma

re. Whine...

Sounds really dumb, but have you eliminated the HVAC blower fan from the range of possibilities? I have a whine like that and it's my car telling me that I really need to replace that 18 year old fan. I can get it to go away if I mess with the fan speed (here in New England, one constantly messes with that...maybe not so much in SoCal).

It could be that... it sort of seems like from the dash/cockpit area. I'll have to investigate it! Would love for it to be something straightforward like that!!!

[StradaRedlands]

Forget the mechanical issues, lets focus on cosmetics! Super Bowl Sunday was Railectomy day! I puttered away at it most of the day, although no particular part of it was hard or complicated. Just took my time and did a little then took a break. Repeat as necessary.

Serf27 does a great breakdown on the steps. There are a few older posts as well to cross reference. The only hard part is finding the roof moldings, and I came across some back in November.









I have a set of late production low-profile ones I'll eventually swap onto the other wagon, but hopefully can find another set of blanks!

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by jsunma

re. Whine...

Sounds really dumb, but have you eliminated the HVAC blower fan from the range of possibilities? I have a whine like that and it's my car telling me that I really need to replace that 18 year old fan (my car's birthday is this month!). I can get it to go away if I mess with the fan speed (here in New England, one constantly messes with that...maybe not so much in SoCal).

Yeah I like this thought path as well. You could just try switching the fan off when it’s doing it.

I know my e46 makes blower whine at specific angles of decline, but at no other time. I don’t think it’s gear dependent however.

[Tambohamilton]

I'm still fully on the fence about roof rails. I have zero intention of using mine, but just not sure if it doesn't look bald without them?? Kudos for finding the parts and getting it done!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

I'm still fully on the fence about roof rails. I have zero intention of using mine, but just not sure if it doesn't look bald without them?? Kudos for finding the parts and getting it done!

Definitely doesn't look bad with them... Just better without them!
And removing them doesn't impact utility as there are hard points for racks just like on sedans and coupes. I actually like the hard points more than attaching to the rails... seems way more secure and significantly lower to the roof as well.

[e91Owner]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

I'm still fully on the fence about roof rails. I have zero intention of using mine, but just not sure if it doesn't look bald without them?? Kudos for finding the parts and getting it done!

I hear you… I have an 11, so mine are low profile, but every time I see one without any rails, it seems as if something is missing visually.

[eljay]

Nice!!

Be sure to install some privacy walls between all those E9x cars when they park next to each other or they will start fights on who is favourite and throw fits and such!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by eljay

Nice!!

Be sure to install some privacy walls between all those E9x cars when they park next to each other or they will start fights on who is favourite and throw fits and such!

Or they could make babies... one or the other!

Today I added an inexpensive clutch travel stop which I find almost mandatory to get the best feel:



Still have that RPM specific whine. I turned off blower fan and no change, so rule that one out. I'll be changing transmission fluid sometime soon, but I don't think it's that. Small chance it could be AC compressor as there was a definite change of sound when I turned off AC today. It was different than this sound, but still not "normal".

And here's your dent-free and roof rail-free profile:



Followed up by a late afternoon view from today's walkabout:

[Tambohamilton]

Shame it wasn't the fan. How long can you run without the accessory belt? Long enough to do a quick test drive?

I'm still on the fence about the roof rails Though I wonder what a clown shoe would look like with them.....

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

... I'm still on the fence about the roof rails Though I wonder what a clown shoe would look like with them....

I assume you mean like the 2" heels/"Lifts" Trump wears? Where would you attach such a shoe to the roof rails? (obligatory BMW content ;-)

Okay, I'm putting on my pith helmet ('cuz that, like Trump, is likely to cause a 'pithing contest' ;-)
George

[jaffles]

I like it with no rails.....especially if you never use them.

[onebluemcm]

Re: whine - seems throttle position dependent? Particularly from your first video, it seems like at a certain throttle setting it's more evident, anything greater or less than that zone and it's less evident. Just made me think about induction tract noise of some sort.

Or, if it's load-dependent, does make me wonder about drivetrain. Have you had your eyes on trans and diff fluid yet? Sorry if I missed that. Does not seem like it's related to anything in the accessory drive system or wheel bearing to me, from what I can tell so far.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Shame it wasn't the fan. How long can you run without the accessory belt? Long enough to do a quick test drive?

I'm still on the fence about the roof rails Though I wonder what a clown shoe would look like with them.....

I don't know... I suppose I could remove it on my test-track hill and put it back on pretty easily. There's that one hill I did both videos on that I can really get it to re-create at...

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

I assume you mean like the 2" heels/"Lifts" Trump wears? Where would you attach such a shoe to the roof rails? (obligatory BMW content ;-)

Okay, I'm putting on my pith helmet ('cuz that, like Trump, is likely to cause a 'pithing contest' ;-)
George

Please, I like this car!!!

Originally Posted by jaffles

I like it with no rails.....especially if you never use them.

I actually do use them, but can use regular sedan racks, not racks on top of rails set up!

Originally Posted by onebluemcm

Re: whine - seems throttle position dependent? Particularly from your first video, it seems like at a certain throttle setting it's more evident, anything greater or less than that zone and it's less evident. Just made me think about induction tract noise of some sort.

Or, if it's load-dependent, does make me wonder about drivetrain. Have you had your eyes on trans and diff fluid yet? Sorry if I missed that. Does not seem like it's related to anything in the accessory drive system or wheel bearing to me, from what I can tell so far.

Could be induction, accessory belt components, driveshaft. But only in this very narrow area right at 2,100 RPM with just a little throttle. More throttle stops it, lifting off stops it. Nothing happens in different gears. That's why I've been going out to this one empty road that has just the right grade to it and lets me hold the throttle just right. In fact it's so rare, I could actually ignore it! But I don't want to... I want to figure out the problem and fix it! Then get back to the long crank!!!

I changed out the differential fluid and it had plenty in there and didn't seem totally gross. Just regular stinky 75w90. I'm going to do transmission fluid just because tomorrow or Thurs, but I don't think it's that. I'll use MTL instead of ATF just to get it a little thicker.

The three outstanding problems right now are the intermittent whine, a long crank/start, and PO saying DME had some sort of problem (That reminds me, I need to check the ESS connector for oil contamination).

Also shocks/struts are done, and rotors are really lipped.

Other than that...

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

... I'm going to do transmission fluid just because tomorrow or Thurs...

I don't know anything about the MT, but if you only have the whine in 3rd GEAR, then there may be some tell-tale metal shavings inside. If there's a magnet, inspect. If no magnet, then pour fluid removed through a filter & look for shavings/powder that would be magnetic.
George (Rails, NO Clown shoe ;-)

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

I don't know anything about the MT, but if you only have the whine in 3rd GEAR, then there may be some tell-tale metal shavings inside. If there's a magnet, inspect. If no magnet, then pour fluid removed through a filter & look for shavings/powder that would be magnetic.
George (Rails, NO Clown shoe ;-)

Magnets... how do they work???

I'll try to collect the drained fluid in a dedicated container rather than the oil drain pan I normally use. It could be transmission... sound seems like it's from the front half of the car which would include trans.

It's a mystery!

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I don't know... I suppose I could remove it on my test-track hill and put it back on pretty easily. There's that one hill I did both videos on that I can really get it to re-create at...



Please, I like this car!!!



I actually do use them, but can use regular sedan racks, not racks on top of rails set up!



Could be induction, accessory belt components, driveshaft. But only in this very narrow area right at 2,100 RPM with just a little throttle. More throttle stops it, lifting off stops it. Nothing happens in different gears. That's why I've been going out to this one empty road that has just the right grade to it and lets me hold the throttle just right. In fact it's so rare, I could actually ignore it! But I don't want to... I want to figure out the problem and fix it! Then get back to the long crank!!!

I changed out the differential fluid and it had plenty in there and didn't seem totally gross. Just regular stinky 75w90. I'm going to do transmission fluid just because tomorrow or Thurs, but I don't think it's that. I'll use MTL instead of ATF just to get it a little thicker.

The three outstanding problems right now are the intermittent whine, a long crank/start, and PO saying DME had some sort of problem (That reminds me, I need to check the ESS connector for oil contamination).

Also shocks/struts are done, and rotors are really lipped.

Other than that...

Sachs for struts/shocks in future? The suspension is always my favorite part to rehab. The return is always incredible. Brakes, goes, handles, and rides better afterward. I’m convinced there’s no better bang for the buck.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Sachs for struts/shocks in future? The suspension is always my favorite part to rehab. The return is always incredible. Brakes, goes, handles, and rides better afterward. I’m convinced there’s no better bang for the buck.

I'm a Koni SA guy... they work so great.
My favorite ROI job is doing brakes... I can't get over how easy it is and how much money I'm saving by DIYing it.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I'm a Koni SA guy... they work so great.
My favorite ROI job is doing brakes... I can't get over how easy it is and how much money I'm saying by DIYing it.

Love basically anything Koni. There is no better money spent than there at least at the current point in time.

And, yes, it’s astonishing how much shops want for basic brake jobs.

[StradaRedlands]

Got around to getting the transmission fluid changed.



I didn't have a way to collect it and look for shavings/particles, but it looked really good. Replaced with Redline MTL to give it a littler bit of viscosity. It didn't make the whine go away as I had hoped. FWIW I used these two for $12 Amazon plugs rather than the $18 each genuine ones. They seem fine.

Whilst underneath it I swapped out the very corroded ground cable. Didn't do anything for the long start problem.



Swapping that cable out was a tough job! Much harder than I expected it to be, but finished. I also did a few cosmetic chores, starting with plastic stapling the belly pan to keep it going a while longer.



You can't get those from the wrecked because they rip them off when they drain the oil and cut the cats out :-/

Speaking of the wrecker, I also swapped in some LED license plate lights that came from a five series donor.



And finally added a knock-off ZHP shift knob I had!

[StradaRedlands]

Haters are going to hate-hate-hate, but I did some Sharpie paint correction on the front bumper and rear door! At 10 feet it's definitely an improvement over the primer!



From this



To this



Similarly on the door and rocker





I'll go back and try to blend it in a bit with cutting compound, but I think it's an improvement!

[kkasson]

Not bad! I've used touch up paint on bigger scrapes like that and it never looks great anyway; sharpie is definitely a cheaper and easier option. Results were about the same. I might have to go do the bottom lip of my 5er's bumper now lol

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by kkasson

Not bad! I've used touch up paint on bigger scrapes like that and it never looks great anyway; sharpie is definitely a cheaper and easier option. Results were about the same. I might have to go do the bottom lip of my 5er's bumper now lol

I've never cared for touch up paint... it's always so clumpy and heavy. You need to sand it down, and then you're at a whole other level.

I ain't fooling no one, and it's obvious there was damage, better by reducing the white primer coming through. Actually hoping to find a replacement bumper to slap on, which just leaves the door/rocker. I hardly ever see that side, so very easy to ignore!