Introduction or The Pilot

Might as well keep track of what I did. The inspiration for the title is from The Hack Mechanic .

Other than oil changes, headlights, angel eye bulbs, wiper fluid pump (which were all suprisingly involved on a 2006 BMW 330i), the following are a few things that come to mind, when I think DIY. No notes about wipers and air filters.

Getting the right parts is invaluable. Having the right tools is even better. In my case, DIY guides or youtube seldom had exactly the correct procedures, or the folks who previously worked on those cars, took a few liberties. Many thanks to friends and neighbors for help.

 

1999.5 VW TDI

Oil pan gasket , ebay part from turkey.

3/24? bolts are tricky. 

    (1) Rotate wheel to move flywheel to correct position

    (2) Use a round edged allen key - straight won't fit


Brake pads: BMW E9x, F31

2006 Early E90 had slight different sized and number of fasteners. Hawk pads work great with stock discs for HPDE. But are loud and dusty.

Akebono pads with stock discs faded after a couple of laps at HPR on a 2014 328dX.


E9x 330 rear brake discs

Hella Pagid stock. Stood up well to HPDE.


2003 BMW 525i M54

Valve Cover Gasket

Change from plastic valve cover to a MITZONE Aluminium valve cover. Came with gasket, grommets and bolts. A few bolts had to be reused. Old rubber grommets were rock hard.

I got by without wobble extensions.

Also changed spark plugs and coils. Coils were Delphi (a couple of different styles - 4 clicked in, 2 did not), and NGK spark plugs. (Though a couple of coil boots were "welded" to the spark plugs, this was not the reason for the intermittent SES) . Through later debug after also changing to cold weather CCV, this example gets intermittent SES at high altitude with 85 octane gas. No such issue with 91 or higher octane. Thankfully ran ok on our 2023 spring break: ~ 1600 miles. 





2006 BMW 330i N52

Valve Cover Gasket

The single most useful diagram for a first timer - how to remove the injector connectors, from this thread.

This car had a metal valve cover and a sheet metal looking valve cover gasket - not the rubber one, which seems to roll and give folks a hard time. Watch out for difference between older and newer N52. 

For 2 of the 19 bolts, I needed a wobble extension and a short extenstion.

Also changed spark plugs - Bosch double platinum. Seems to be running ok.

Thanks to fcp euro for the right parts in a kit.

References:

  1. https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/2007-2010-x3-n52-valve-cover-replacement-diy.682281/
  2. https://blog.fcpeuro.com/n51-n52n-valve-cover-gasket-replacement
  3. https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-3-Series-E90/ENGINE-Valve_Cover_Replacement/ENGINE-Valve_Cover_Replacement.htm
     



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