Uh oh. Bennys' first tantrum! WAYHAAAY We're back in business! :) EDIT: 2000 mile update.

[Nictrix]

Once your car is back together your next project should be tidying all those cables behind your tv unit

[Chris_D]

Once your car is back together your next project should be tidying all those cables behind your tv unit

Hehe. I might just do that today as i think i've put my back out from yesterday and its also raining. Bummer.

There used to be a couple of yamaha mx830 amps in that hole so you couldnt see anything behind, but now theres just my littledot tube amp. Does look a tad scruffy, agreed!

[Chris_D]

Ooh look what the nice UPS man delivered this morning - 20mm spacers for the rears. Nice!
These will going on at some point today as well as continuing with ripping out the old CCV system.
Did my back (and my head) in on Friday so took it easy over the weekend but normal service resumes today....

Photo 17-10-2016 09 57 57.jpg (80.03 KiB) Viewed 1319 times

[Chris_D]

Just received an email from Ekris BMW here in Utrecht. I asked them about 2 weeks ago to supply a cost estimate for all of the repairs/upgrades I'm planning to do and they came back with a figure..... Eur 2042,89
Yikes!

I asked them to price up the following procedures and bear in mind that the figure above doesn't include parts/procedure cost for the VANOS rebuild.

1. Replace thermostat
11531437040
2. Replace waterpump
11517509985 11511711484
3. Replace oil filter housing gasket
11421719855
4. Replace sump gasket
11131437237 (oil service also required for this?)
5. Replace crankcase cover gasket
11120030496
6. Replace CCV system (whole system, including valve & hoses. Cold climate version required)
7. VANOS rebuild/replace
8. Compression test

My local BMW specialist has quoted roughly half the cost for the same procedures. Bonkers!
So concluding, it's always a good idea if you're toying with the idea of getting clued-up to do things yourself / going to an indy / submitting to the stealers.

Edit: link to the quote if anyones interested / understands Dutch
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6bg5fun4x3rmd ... 6.pdf?dl=0

[Chris_D]

Progress update this week: not much progress.

The cold-climate ccv kit finally arrived and it was straight down to business, removing the old system.
Upon trying to fit the new but bulkier valve, due to the insulation, I found there was just no room to manouvre the tricky s-bend hose into position. So the manifold has come off in order to fit the valve and hose into position but now i have to wait for delivery of an intake manifold gasket before replacing the manifold.
So, slow progress of sorts, but progress all the same...
In other news, the back end is looking a bit tidier with the black roundel, stubby, dark window tint and more importantly; the 20mm spacers which gives the zed a more purposeful stance and removes that 'wheels inboard' look. Pics to follow later, its a bit foggy atm......

[Chris_D]

So, plodding on....

I realised this morning, when looking at the various bits n pieces i've taken off Betty in order to get this damn issue sorted that we've almost crossed three seasons, lol. This all started at the back end of summer, we're now approaching the end of autumn as we're into single digit temps here in Vleuten today and we'll soon be welcoming in Mr. Winterpants. Mostly been losing time waiting for damn parts to arrive but I'm still optimistic that all will be sorted eventually.

This morning I loosened the intake manifold. It was scaring me enough to ponder giving in and taking to the indy. But no. I've managed to free it enough to give me enough wiggling room to get the CCV s-bend connected to the top port of the CCV valve. fekin RESULT!!
Still waiting for the new manifold gasket to arrive but I thought I may as well crack on and see how much I can do before it arrives.
Pretty nippy today at 9 degrees C. Working outside it's definitely thermals and fingerless gloves time!
Slug of tea and an egg butty then back to the grind.......

Manifold off time.jpg (145.59 KiB) Viewed 1277 times

[Marlon]

Progress update this week: not much progress.

The cold-climate ccv kit finally arrived and it was straight down to business, removing the old system.
Upon trying to fit the new but bulkier valve, due to the insulation, I found there was just no room to manouvre the tricky s-bend hose into position. So the manifold has come off in order to fit the valve and hose into position but now i have to wait for delivery of an intake manifold gasket before replacing the manifold.
So, slow progress of sorts, but progress all the same...
In other news, the back end is looking a bit tidier with the black roundel, stubby, dark window tint and more importantly; the 20mm spacers which gives the zed a more purposeful stance and removes that 'wheels inboard' look. Pics to follow later, its a bit foggy atm......

Edit: refreshed rear end pic...
Photo 21-10-2016 11 50 45.jpg

Very tasty - 20mm spacers make a huge difference to the stance don't they, I'm liking the black roundel too

[Chris_D]

Aye the spacers totally transform the look at the rear end now!
Anyway, time to call it a day. Freezin me knackers off and the inlet manifold gasket still hasnt arrived. Grrr.
CCV system plumbed together ready to be bolted back into place with the manifold and I managed to break open the old CCV valve to find that the rubber diaphragm has indeed ruptured. So, a pleasing confirmation this needed doing in the first place.
Pics later, my fingers are still too numb to work the buttons brrrrr. lol
Minor result. Somewhat enthused. Todays' soundtrack consisting solely of My Bloody Valentine helped distract from the cold and task at hand, even if it pissed off one of my neighbours and her yappy little dog - 'Dat is echt niet muziek mijnheer' (that's really not music sir)

[Mike6]

Thinking of fitting rear spacers on my car but does it upset the tracking/camber??

[Chris_D]

Thinking of fitting rear spacers on my car but does it upset the tracking/camber??

Not sure, as I've yet to drive it! However, I can't imagine it would make too much of a difference!

[Marlon]

Thinking of fitting rear spacers on my car but does it upset the tracking/camber??

I put 20mm on rear and 15mm on fronts and had no issues ok

[Chris_D]

Little update for today for anyone daft enough to be following this thread:

Well blimey o'reilly, shine a light, christ on a bike - we're almost back in business!
new CCV system plumbed in following removal of the inlet manifold. what an absolute chew that was! never again! or at least never again with the cold-climate version - too much bulky insulation to make it a quick easy job that it should be.

Next up is reseating the new cam cover gasket as it was still emitting smoke last time the engine was running. So playing it safe I'm going to pry it off, clean and inspect all surfaces thoroughly, use a little more permatex gasket maker than I did previously in the corners and half-moons, then carefully re-tighten all the fastners and maybe let it cure over-night in order to crank up tomorrow....
The trepidation. Fingers crossed.....

[sharpyboy]

Little update for today for anyone daft enough to be following this thread:

Well blimey o'reilly, shine a light, christ on a bike - we're almost back in business!
new CCV system plumbed in following removal of the inlet manifold. what an absolute chew that was! never again! or at least never again with the cold-climate version - too much bulky insulation to make it a quick easy job that it should be.

Next up is reseating the new cam cover gasket as it was still emitting smoke last time the engine was running. So playing it safe I'm going to pry it off, clean and inspect all surfaces thoroughly, use a little more permatex gasket maker than I did previously in the corners and half-moons, then carefully re-tighten all the fastners and maybe let it cure over-night in order to crank up tomorrow....
The trepidation. Fingers crossed.....

Glad you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, well done. Good look with the gasket.

[Mike6]

Waiting anxiously to know all is well - you would think it was my car!.

[Chris_D]

Thx chaps.
Yeah, really wanted to turn the keys and crank it into life today but i thinks it's important to let the gasket maker 'settle' and form correctly. Used a little more this time around and in a few more locations around different points on the gasket. It's a possibility that not using enough of the gooey stuff is why i had smoke emerging first time round.
Well, I'll be up with the birds tomorrow morning ready for the final stage of this rather arduous drawn-out procedure.......