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

[cakM3]

I don't think so. I think all 4 should be changed around 100k miles.

Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH now Free

Those sensors are $$$$$ I was shocked when I decided to replace all four in my ZHP....since I was feeling quite lazy replacing them, I let the dealer do this and was charged $225/sensor not to mention having to pay for labor....it was a very expensive bill for sure....but at least my ZHP is good to go for another 100k miles...

I'm sure you can find Bosh sensors for as little as $150 or so depending on where you go....


On another note, my ZHP is in the shop today waiting for a tire replacement. What makes this bad for me is that I just replaced my rear set and I got a stupid nail on my driver's rear tire! Can't patch the hole as it's on the outer edge of the tire....talking about sucky luck.... so I am waiting to buy another PSS just to replace the punctured tire....sucks.... In the mean time....I get to drive a 2013 328...interesting how the engine shuts down when you're stopped...

[330i ZHP]

I have the S54 tensioner, I have the ATI dampener (but the engine already had about 20k miles on it before install)...so I am now adding the upgrade to the oil pump (I am now having an entire unit made to order....OEM unit modified to increase oil pressure, revised internals, etc)

I've been aware with this problem for a long time, and is part of my apprehension to make the jump to the ZHP because the 3.0 engines are more prone to this failure. The biggest cause is the crank dampener not being able to subdue the vibrations that occur above 6000rpm. There is an upgrade from ATI right in the heart of Baltimore, MD, that covers the frequencies at those engine speeds...it's also something north of $600 last I checked.

Essentially the vibrations will combine with the frequencies experienced above 6000rpm to back the OPN off the sprocket or shear it completely off the Oil Pump assembly.

There was a ridiculously over engineered solution from a member over on e46f.com, can't recall anything other than his name was Gary. He would take the core and add an additional three mounting points. overkill for most street applications, but hard abused engines or tracked cars that see sustained periods of 6000+rpm are ripe for failure.

Three steps to alleviate the issue are:

• Upgrade to an S54 timing chain tensioner
• Replace the Crankshaft Dampener with new OEM or upgraded ATI unit
• Check and replace/repair/upgrade OPN

Let me know if anyone needs links or further information.

[330i ZHP]

[Hornung418]

Good work on the taking the final steps to have a healthy engine. Very interested in pics of the the beefed up oil pump.

GS3 + TT4 now Free

[Torxuvin]

Had to buy a new battery for the E21. Also, after two months of a single seat car I decided to install the passenger seat

Looks good. I love old school bmw interiors.

[Hermes]

Looks good. I love old school bmw interiors.

Thanks! The seats are actually from a late 70s 911 as the stock "comfort" seats were uncomfortable as hell. I'll eventually buy some Recaro's but I just can't justify the cost at the moment
http://www.2002parts.com/bmw/e21-recaro-seats.html

This was the stock interior when I got it last year

[az3579]

A set of E30 sport seats would be awesome in there... doable? They're not expensive.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

[Hermes]

Already had them in there, the seat mounts are wrong so I was gangsta leaning. Sold them to my buddy with an eta

[das boots]

You could have purchased a customized base mounting bracket from various manufacturers.

[Hermes]

I missspoke - the issue is not actually seat brackets as the holes line up, it's the way the E21 seat mounts are designed. There is a 1.5-2" vertical difference on the door side mount vs trans tunnel mount so I lean in towards the middle of the car. If you put a spacer on the tunnel side then you end up sitting far too high in the car.