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

[Vas]

What steering coupler did you go with ?

[Lanister]

What steering coupler did you go with ?

OEM. I didn't see any other alternatives and figured hammering my old one is not my choice.

[Imola.ZHP]

Not BMW product...Oil and filter change, transmission fluid changed, power steering fluid flushed, topped up brake and clutch fluid, swapped out glitchy HID bulb and buffed the headlamp lenses. A friends Civic is ready for the holiday road trips!

Nice work! Love the lift too! This is why I can't justify trading our 2007 CR-V EX-L with Nav for a BMW X vehicle. The Honda is paid for, the Nav with backup cam and XM radio are just the right amount of technology and isn't outdated; we wish it have bluetooth, but thats ok. It's great on fuel and cheap and easy to work on.

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I've been MIA for about a week, been busy with school, life and dealing with the loss of my dog that passed this last Tuesday.

Replacement tire came in Wednesday, got it mounted and balanced on Thursday (tire shop didn't have to use ANY weights, Pilot Super Sports are expensive, but damn they are good!). Put it on Saturday at work in the heated shop, close enough to 5k, went ahead and rotated (side to side, you can do that with pilot super sports) the 3 that were older, the other rear tire doesn't have much life left in it. On my list. Vacuumed the trunk tonight.

Just have a few weeks of school left and then I'll be working on the front suspension that I've had in my trunk (actually removed about two weeks ago) since June.

[Stu]

Showed my differential some love and changed the fluid.



The fluid that came out looked surprisingly clean, almost exactly like new. But there were definitely metal shavings in the catch pan, so I'm glad I changed it out. I used approximately 1L before it started dripping out the fill hole, but I had bought two just in case.

I am not sure if Castrol Syntrax 75w90 is the same as Castrol Syntrax Long Life 75w90, which is the OEM fluid. The "Syntrax Long Life 75w90" seems to only bring up UK websites, so I don't know if it's a regional marketing difference for the same fluid. Either way, $10, picked it up at AutoZone, back of the bottle says it's made for extended drain intervals; good enough for me. I've got an extra (opened) bottle sitting here of about 1L. I'll save it for donation at the next Mafia meet

[330i ZHP]

I really hope you didn't mean HID bulbs on that Civic there...

I agree - not my car

[JupiterBMW]

Not BMW product...Oil and filter change, transmission fluid changed, power steering fluid flushed, topped up brake and clutch fluid, swapped out glitchy HID bulb and buffed the headlamp lenses. A friends Civic is ready for the holiday road trips!

Hey Stu, what sort of locking device is on that lift?? I would assume (and hope!) that there is something more than just relying on the hydraulic rams.


iPhone 5S. Tapatalk Pro. BOOM

[330i ZHP]

as it goes up there is a ratcheting lock mechanism and teethed locks slide over those but do not allow going down (even with the hydraulic pump) without releasing the locking system with a pneumatic line (you have to hold two buttons to lower)

[toddness]

Got the x3 back from the dealer - new tranaxle - woohoo.
Ordered tuneup parts for the 02. Thinking about getting an electronic ignition, new coil (currently red) and updated 320i alternator....
ZHP is again whole. Body shop came through on the moldings and fender well rivets - and should be paying for my headlight debacle...

Nice to have 3 sweet bimmers again - and yes, I love the e83 3.0si m-sport w/6MT.

[Lanister]

What happened to your headlights, Todd?

[toddness]

What happened to your headlights, Todd?

I'll try to be brief, which I think never happens.

ZHP got hit in late August, took it to great body shop. Got car back and driver side headlight was out, combined with issues that just lacked the quality I am used to from them. I told them I would replace bulbs and test, which failed, then I swapped ballast with passenger, still dead. Hermes told me to disconnect battery in effort to reset codes (I believe this is what disconnecting battery does) (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...140#post305140). - i chubbed this up as i did not actually disconnect ground from the battery.

I looked closer and found the outside air temperature sensor wire under a lot of tension with the turn signal lead wrapped around it. I suspected this was somehow involved, agreed with the body shop to take car to dealer and let them sort it and whoever 'owns' problem, pays for dealership visit.

Dealership found autoleveling code thrown, which deactivated headlight until reset. I have to believe it was the body shop not disconnecting ground and yanking the wire, which is peculiarily close to the nest of ground wires near the rear of the headlight assembly.

My thought is it's on the body shop. Car went in with lights ok. came out with one dead, that needed a code reset and the only explanation the from dealer that it happens if someone connects the wrong wire or some short like that. We'll see if they agree to pay the 125.00 inspection/resolution.

I should be getting a call from them shortly.