What did you do to/for your 1er today?

[Mandinca]

Thanks guys

[desertman123]

Still getting used to holding a good camera lol

[Warhammer]

Replaced valve cover it was cracked(noticed some smoke coming from underneath the hood and through my vents) Sweet baby Jebus, that is an expensive piece of plastic.
No more smoke so far... In it's defense, it lasted 85K.

[GoodMoodley]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

Replaced valve cover it was cracked(noticed some smoke coming from underneath the hood and through my vents) Sweet baby Jebus, that is an expensive piece of plastic.
No more smoke so far... In it's defense, it lasted 85K.

So how long did it take you and do you have any tips or things to watch out for. I am likely going to be doing mine this weekend.

[b1aze]

Originally Posted by GoodMoodley

So how long did it take you and do you have any tips or things to watch out for. I am likely going to be doing mine this weekend.

I just did this job a few weeks ago. It’s not bad at all but I over-prepared for it. It took me about 4.5 hours start to finish but if I had to do it again, 2.5-3 seems doable especially if I wasn’t doing plugs, coils, and the ESS again.

First, this video was absolutely crucial to watch 2-3 times prior and I had it going while I was doing it past the initial disassembly:

Some tips, tricks and things I ran into and solutions for them:
-I put my car up on ramps the night before. I couldn’t imagine how sore ida been if I had to bend that much further down for that long. It also allows you to get anything that drops into the abyss while the VC is off.
-Spend the money on a new Eccentric Shaft Sensor and do that while you’re in there. It’s not worth the time needed to do it again in the future (unless of course it’s been done recently).
-Buy a damn torque wrench and a good set of External Torx sockets. I bought this set and it’s my new go-to set when I need to wrench. Even and consistent torque on the gasket is critical and it doesn’t take much to seal these gaskets. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/eur...acturing-10100
- I didn’t have a deep ETorx small enough to get the horizontal bolt for the Valvetronic Motor but a 1/4” drive deep 1/4” socket (or something close) worked perfectly. No backlash. I’ve since used a “close fit” SAE socket for different and difficult to access ETorx bolts.
-If you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT want to break your PCV hose at the rear AND you have a “multi-tool”, you can cut the connection off of the old Valve Cover and have much better opportunity to pry the connectors apart. If you break this hose, you’ve got another 1.5-2hrs of labor to pull the intake manifold and scab something together with 5/8” vacuum hose or similar. I personally bought a new one, didn’t use it and returned it after.
-Having a friend to help you get the VC back in is VERY helpful (even if it’s just your wife for 10 minutes to support the far-end as it goes in). If you can have help, be the one working from the front of the car, focus your attention on the UNDERSIDE of the VC. You can make sure the bottom features clear the cams and other valve head components. Once I did this, it slipped right on.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by spitfire148

i did 2 things today,
1 fitted a new spliter
2 took some really crappy pictures

not sure where to go next ive tinted the headlights and rear lights, blacked out the kidney grills, fitter a spoiler, fitted new alloys, changed the head unit to an android touchscreen. not sure if i should lowwer it or remap it next or if at all.

[attach]Attachment 2041433[/attach]

May I ask which front splitter this is?? Thanks!

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by duder13

May I ask which front splitter this is?? Thanks!

Wow, that's a year-old post.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Wow, that's a year-old post.

Yeah, wishing I noticed it earlier!

[ShocknAwe]

Exhaust update! Dual 3" off the downpipes to 3.5" midsection and resonator.

Rear section is getting fabbed tomorrow, might have it back for sound clips this weekend!

[BimmerAg]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Exhaust update! Dual 3" off the downpipes to 3.5" midsection and resonator.

Rear section is getting fabbed tomorrow, might have it back for sound clips this weekend!

It looks like both the downpipes and the dual 3" section neck down to 2.5" at the flange. Why not modify the downpipe to stay 3" all the way to the flange?

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by BimmerAg

It looks like both the downpipes and the dual 3" section neck down to 2.5" at the flange. Why not modify the downpipe to stay 3" all the way to the flange?

They do. Fabricator didn't think it would matter much given such a short distance across the bottleneck with the turbo engine, and would have added somewhat substantial cost.

Also, the 2.5" flange gaskets are easy to source given standard size for the N54 downpipe. Sorta a practical decision.

[low135]

Disassembled my other wheels in prep for the new ones I'm picking up next weekend. The new faces are going off to powder coat for a new color first then they'll be put together with these lips and barrels

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Exhaust update! Dual 3" off the downpipes to 3.5" midsection and resonator.

Rear section is getting fabbed tomorrow, might have it back for sound clips this weekend!

That looks beautiful!

You got a little oil leak going on there, though. Must still have oil in it, then.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by duder13

Yeah, wishing I noticed it earlier!

And you give me grief for not noticing the N54's issues.

[JM98]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Exhaust update! Dual 3" off the downpipes to 3.5" midsection and resonator.

Rear section is getting fabbed tomorrow, might have it back for sound clips this weekend!

I have a similar setup but in 3" going to an AFE axle back and it sounds perfect with no droning. I kinda wish I went with 3.5 inch like you did for some more flow so I look forward to hear your results.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

And you give me grief for not noticing the N54's issues.

Nine months ago isn’t that big of a deal when the thread is nine years old, but, yeah sorry, I though you were trolling turbo owners earlier. Do you know what that splitter is by chance?

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

That looks beautiful!

You got a little oil leak going on there, though. Must still have oil in it, then.

It's leaking like a sieve from the oil pan. Addressing that soon along with all the other 100k maint

[Mandinca]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

It's leaking like a sieve from the oil pan. Addressing that soon along with all the other 100k maint

And that sir, is a pain in the ass to do. Ask me how I know.
I actually bought a set of Quik Jacks specifically for this reason rather than trying to do it on jack stands. If you have access to a lift then that's definitely the way to go.
I bought the gasket and bolt set from FCP and have no issues with any of it.

[1and1]

And, if you have any questions at all about your water pump & t-stat, then just go ahead and do em too while you're doing the oil pan. It'll never get any easier than while you're already there...

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Mandinca

And that sir, is a pain in the ass to do. Ask me how I know.
I actually bought a set of Quik Jacks specifically for this reason rather than trying to do it on jack stands. If you have access to a lift then that's definitely the way to go.
I bought the gasket and bolt set from FCP and have no issues with any of it.

Engine is likely coming out for the turbo and head job. Will do it then.

Originally Posted by 1and1

And, if you have any questions at all about your water pump & t-stat, then just go ahead and do em too while you're doing the oil pan. It'll never get any easier than while you're already there...

Yeah Wpump and Tstat done 25k miles ago. Not touching them.

Good thought though. Definitely easier.

[Mandinca]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Engine is likely coming out for the turbo and head job. Will do it then.



Yeah Wpump and Tstat done 25k miles ago. Not touching them.

Good thought though. Definitely easier.

Well then.....that makes it easier :-)

[b1aze]

Originally Posted by Mandinca

And that sir, is a pain in the ass to do. Ask me how I know.
I actually bought a set of Quik Jacks specifically for this reason rather than trying to do it on jack stands. If you have access to a lift then that's definitely the way to go.
I bought the gasket and bolt set from FCP and have no issues with any of it.

How did you like the quick jack?? Been thinking a lot about something like this or even a MaxJack system for a bit more for weekend warrior work