Man, could have sworn I posted this.

[Halon]

Man, I have some questions regarding our cars that I was hoping I could get answered. I'm sure I posted this shiz, but I don't know if I put a title on it, somehow its not on the board. Damn. here we go again!

I am thinking about upgrading my cars suspension of course, because I plan to be doing some fun and crazy things that may stress it in stock form. So I figure why go through the heartache of busting it up then, when I can reinforce it now. I'm looking at struts right now, and I'm considering the Bilstein sport shocks, but I hear they lower the car like 1 or 2 inches, and I was wondering if stock springs could compress that far, or if I'd have to cut them, or if I'd have to buy new springs. Where could I get these springs from? Coilovers are a little expensive, so I'm not sure if I could afford them right now. But I'm in a position to do probally one of these many things I'm considering. haha.

I'm also in the position to buy a new engine for my car, I am looking at one currently from a 91 BMW 318. The only real difference seems to be that the engine has signifigantly fewer miles than mine, DOHC to my SOHC. If it still runs, I would say that even just the fewer miles would make it a notable investment. My engine won't run forever, and the inspection lights been coming on and off lately. thats my next question. This one, would be - do you think this is a good investment? its probally going to cost me about 200 or so for the engine, hopefully (including the transmission.) and then I'll have to go pick it up myself. Might work out nicely.

I mentioned that my inspection light has been coming on and off lately, and the little red lights beneath it have been flashing on and off periodically as well. Sometimes its just the inspection light, sometimes the little red lights will -all- light up, which worries me greatly, and then sometimes it'll be both, or fluxuate between the two. Now I'm not certian, my engine doesn't burn oil, or at least there isn't any blue smoke when I start up, I haven't seen any while driving. Just wondering what that could be about. I opened the hood and ran it while listening, and it -kind- of sounds like a "clack clack clack", but its real faint, and might just be my inexpierence in engine noises. However it also could be a bad valve or something just waiting to ruin my head gasket. My question here is, how much does it cost to get replacement valves. Are they simple to replace? I've got a bently on order so I'll have the repair manual soon enough... hoping its something I could get the part and do myself, because I can't afford a mechanic to do it. But should I go ahed and order a head gasket kit from Bavauto? its there on the list of popular products for my car...

Next question is about tyres. I have asked before, and some people suggusted Bridgestone Potenzas as a good tyre, some said they thought it was shitty. I got pitched some german brand of tyre I can't find here in the states, I never got a response about Azenis, and I know Pirelli makes a good tyre. So my question is, whats a good tyre that is going to put up well to abuse, and not wear quite so quickly? I mean I know driving hard on any tyres will of course cause them to burn away faster, but I was wondering which ones will resist that longer. I've heard Azenis don't break down so fast under high friction, they break away pretty reliably, and grip pretty good in the rain and the dry. Of course they're not a good winter tyre, but they can't do it all, can they? haha.

My next question is about some sort of computer hanging under my dash. My friend put a resistor in his mustang not too long ago, that he mounted under the dash, and it is sort of like that in how it is mounted, but it is larger, black, and has writing on it in german... I'm going to go check what it says.

Blaupunkt
Quadro Booster, BQB 80
Made in w-germany
Ausgangswerde: DIN 45 500

what the hell is that?

Those are my questions for now.

[greenlightracer]

Thats a stereo amp....

[Halon]

haha, oh. Neat. Another question I forgot to ask, was - my catback exhaust is SHOT, right now I'm considering replacing it, of course not right away, because I'm poor, but soon. I was considering the ansa full catback exhaust. Now would I notice a greater gain than OEM when I pair that later with the sterling header for my engine? Or will it just sound different? Also, does anyone know where to source a high flow catalyitic (Sp?) for a 318i? I haven't seen any on some of the sites I've been to, and I was wondering if there was one out there. Anyhow, thanks for your time.

I feel kind of silly about the amp though, haha.

The BMW mechanic told me that the lights in my car for inspection and whatnot, are service lights that don't nessicarially mean anything is wrong with my car. Whewie! Talk about releif. If I had to have a valve adjustment or whatever... they're charging like 87 bucks for that. Hmm, he wants me to get a new oil filter as well (33.99), axle fluid replacement (28.50), Spark plug service (82.45), Emission/Performance evaluation (79.99), fuel system (77.00), heating air conditioning (37.50), electrical system check (75.00), front brake inspection (22.50), rear brake inspection (37.50), micro filter ventilation system (58.85), Air Filter Replacement (37.35), brake fluid change (42.00), cooling system service (59.00), and timing belt & tensor m20 engine (295.70) I have an m20 engine, right? Crazy. I dunno. haha. Man, what the hell. I was thinking about the mark-up on some of these things, damn, I wanna be a mechanic. @_@

Thats like 929.98. After tax that would be over 1000 dollars in repairs and shit. I mean, goddamn. The parts probally add up to like, a whopping 300 dollars or so. Shit, I'll get most of this stuff from auto-zone and then consider letting them do my timing belt. No record of when that was done last on my car, so I guess it might be due... :-/

[Halon]

bumpity bump.

[schneider252]

hmm i think u wrote to much... ppl dont like to read ya know!

i kinda skimed through it and whatever ya do dont get the ansa exhasut! they suck and rust out in less than a year!

If u wanta spend $$$ get the IE,stromung, or the tri-tro from bavarian

If u wanta save cash and still get the sound of a good muffler get a Megaflow from Ebay i just got mine and im getting it installed Monday... here is what it sounds like on an 89 325is...he did it up to about 4000 RPM

http://www.r3vlimited.com/Media/Sounds/magna.wav

[Speedy-325is]

Do not CUT your springs, buy new Eibach or H&R, i run Eibach. perfection. BIlistien makes the best strut/shock, lifetime guarantee (u may use it too)

Toyo tires, Kuhmo's run nice too, a bit more stickey though.

$33 for oil filter?!? f'ing scam, i get them for $4, and it is something u can do yourself. find a new mechanic, the prices are not very good at all.

[Halon]

Welll shit. I just got my car back from the mechanic today and he told me about some things that definatly make me question the value of my purchase. Isn't that how it always is!?

Found
-------
Structural damage to the floor. He said he could have put his hand through the floorboard because the metal has rusted away, or is soft rusted or something. Sheet metal + weld = damn.

Damage to lower frame rail, driver side mount. He says hard cornering could turn my car into a deathtrap. What the fuck, sucks for me. :-/

5/16ths' an inch of crankwalk destroying my drivetrain. any idea if thats bullshit or not? I hope so. -_-

Belts need remove replace

Struts need remove replace

Leaking rear main seal. damnit.

Alternator bracket is loose.

No warranty was possible due to drivetrain problems. Fuck. This makes my day suck. Haha, I was planning on replacing the struts, and possibly an engine swap down the road. Looks like engine swap is alot more up close and personal than I thought if the crankwalk issue is as real as they say it is. Siiiiigh. Know where to find a good 318 engine for cheap? I need to get one. One went on ebay cheap, but the guy hadn't ran it in like 6 months, and I couldn't start it up or anything... sigh. Again. haha. anyhow, thanks for the replies.