What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

I finally got my ZHP aligned after changing struts and shocks. I know very little about alignment, so I'd greatly appreciate input regarding the results (shown below). Note that they mentioned some degree of difficulty in getting it perfect due to their lack of some special BMW tool (?) but thought this was "good enough". Funny how that didn't seem to be an issue when they did my xi...

On a related note, I'm having to modify one of my ECS strut bar mounting plates, because the alignment required them to push the driver side strut mount so far over that the cavity under the strut bar mounting plate isn't big enough to cover the studs and the hole in the top of the top of the strut pillar.

Alignment cost = $69

Attachment 32829

I'd say it's not the best alignment I've ever seen. There's no reason they couldn't get both sides to be the same values. Rear left was -1.4, now -2.0... Rear Right was -0.6, now -1.6. If -1.6 was the best they could get on the right, they should have made the left the same.

-My two cents.

Thanks, Chris. I'm thinking of having it re-done at another shop--one that has all the proper tools.

It doesn't look bad for $69. I would probably be fine with that if I didn't see any issues while driving.

Received the left reset stalk button for my speedo cluster and just replaced it. I ordered the part off eBay in the UK (discussed in this thread on 4/23) just based on symptoms (and thanks to Webster's repair posts) and I hadn't even pulled out the cluster yet. So I was happy to take it apart and find that, sure enough, a broken off piece on the stalk that touches the button. Really quick and easy fix. Hardest part was locating and waiting for the part.

The image on the top is the new part ( with 90 degree finger), and the bottom image is the broken one (without it). Now I can go reset that oil service interval........

Spring wash and wax today. Heading to the BMWCCA GTG at Sterling BMW in the morning.

Edit: just found out it was cancelled. Bummed out, it needed its spring wax anyways

Well, you'll get a kick out of this... I tried reworking the mounting plate, but the Dremel tool couldn't eliminate an interfering radius in the cavity, so I had a local machine shop take care of it for $40. Got it home, went to position it and dropped a washer into the bowels of the engine bay... lovely. So, I got my QuickJack out, jacked her up, pulled the belly pan off, and actually managed to find it in short order. Good news, right? Well, my elation was cut short when I realized I forgot to put the strut bearing mount nuts back on when I lifted the car, dropping the strut down completely, of course--certainly screwing up my new alignment. The only silver lining is that I was considering another alignment anyway. I guess that cinches it... so much for tooling around this weekend.

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Originally Posted by Reasoned1

Well, you'll get a kick out of this... I tried reworking the mounting plate, but the Dremel tool couldn't eliminate an interfering radius in the cavity, so I had a local machine shop take care of it for $40. Got it home, went to position it and dropped a washer into the bowels of the engine bay... lovely. So, I got my QuickJack out, jacked her up, pulled the belly pan off, and actually managed to find it in short order. Good news, right? Well, my elation was cut short when I realized I forgot to put the strut bearing mount nuts back on when I lifted the car, dropping the strut down completely, of course--certainly screwing up my new alignment. The only silver lining is that I was considering another alignment anyway. I guess that cinches it... so much for tooling around this weekend.

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Damn, Friday night and already calling it quits for the weekend.

As I was reading it I was imagining all the ways that would happen to me.

Did the junkyard run. Hit the Chattanooga pick a part this morning.

Got the battery tie down bracket
now newly installed and scaa legal.

Bunch of other normal junkyard stuff. Picked up a gm5 module to practice soldering in new relays.

And a nice sunburn.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZHPizza

Did a load of "working in the garage clothes"

Yikes
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...23f1547d4d.jpg

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I have a hefty bag full that I need to take to the laundry mat (too many oil rings left in the home machine...).