Kalevera
01-15-2005, 12:05 AM
Today has SUCKED.
Let me preface this by saying that all I wanted to do was change the v-belts (because the clowns at Autozone gave me one that was too big for my fan/alt) and check the valves on my M30. My, what a nightmare it's been:
1) I went to the local BMW stealership yesterday inquiring about the belts - the parts people didn't really know what an "m30" was. They didn't have the belts in stock, told me they'd have them today. I go out there today (40 minute drive one way); thinking that it's the BMW dealership, I don't second guess that they could possibly give me the wrong belts - it's the dealer, after all!
2) I get home, pop the car up on the jack in the garage....FREEZING cold, despite my small garage heater. I think - what the heck, I'll try out the cassette player. Pop a cassette in -- *whrrrrr whrrrr whrrrrr* - can't eject it, can't play it...great.
3) Get the old belts off...and...the new fan/alt belt doesn't fit - 13 x 1040, the manual calls for a 12.5 x 1055, the old one was 13 x 1065, and nothing I try will get the damn thing over the water pump. At that point, my garage lights BROWNED out....damn.
4) I call up my buddy Brett Anderson, who tells me that I should be able to get a 1040 on that cog. I call up the stealer and ask if they have a 1055, like the manual says. They have a 1050, it's 5.30 and they close at 6. I scramble over there, get there at 6.02. Part department's closed, everyone in that section of the building has gone home. I go to two other auto parts stores before I find one that's open/willing to serve me. As I pull into the parking lot, I notice a guy getting ready to pour Prestone into his V8 e34 -- I ran over and told him he should get that stuff out of there as quickly as possible. He didn't seem to care -- :(.... Finally, I get my belt. Wooo.
5) Belt goes on, great. I have the garage door open and it's cold, so I decide to close it. The car is jacked up on the DS, the top of the hood catches the garage door and STARTS TO BE PULLED FORWARD. I freak out, gladly the thing released itself...I check the hood and go on to other things. Before closing the hood, I notice a puddle of coolant in the front drivers side of the engine compartment....it's the coolant return line - SNAPPED - courtesy of my hood and the cold.
6) I try to remove the radio to get that tape out -- I don't have the correct hex key. The radio starts beeping at me, thinking that I'm trying to steal it.
So, now I have to replace the coolant return line and yank the radio out. And all I wanted to do was check my banjo bolts! And, to make the deal sweeter, I've got to get it all done early tomorrow morning, so I can smog the car and get it back on the road.
Anyone know how I can quickly and efficiently replace that coolant return line? I was thinking about slapping a piece of small tubing and some plumber's GOOP on it, but who knows if it will withstand the heat and pressure.
I'm frustrated.
Lowell
Let me preface this by saying that all I wanted to do was change the v-belts (because the clowns at Autozone gave me one that was too big for my fan/alt) and check the valves on my M30. My, what a nightmare it's been:
1) I went to the local BMW stealership yesterday inquiring about the belts - the parts people didn't really know what an "m30" was. They didn't have the belts in stock, told me they'd have them today. I go out there today (40 minute drive one way); thinking that it's the BMW dealership, I don't second guess that they could possibly give me the wrong belts - it's the dealer, after all!
2) I get home, pop the car up on the jack in the garage....FREEZING cold, despite my small garage heater. I think - what the heck, I'll try out the cassette player. Pop a cassette in -- *whrrrrr whrrrr whrrrrr* - can't eject it, can't play it...great.
3) Get the old belts off...and...the new fan/alt belt doesn't fit - 13 x 1040, the manual calls for a 12.5 x 1055, the old one was 13 x 1065, and nothing I try will get the damn thing over the water pump. At that point, my garage lights BROWNED out....damn.
4) I call up my buddy Brett Anderson, who tells me that I should be able to get a 1040 on that cog. I call up the stealer and ask if they have a 1055, like the manual says. They have a 1050, it's 5.30 and they close at 6. I scramble over there, get there at 6.02. Part department's closed, everyone in that section of the building has gone home. I go to two other auto parts stores before I find one that's open/willing to serve me. As I pull into the parking lot, I notice a guy getting ready to pour Prestone into his V8 e34 -- I ran over and told him he should get that stuff out of there as quickly as possible. He didn't seem to care -- :(.... Finally, I get my belt. Wooo.
5) Belt goes on, great. I have the garage door open and it's cold, so I decide to close it. The car is jacked up on the DS, the top of the hood catches the garage door and STARTS TO BE PULLED FORWARD. I freak out, gladly the thing released itself...I check the hood and go on to other things. Before closing the hood, I notice a puddle of coolant in the front drivers side of the engine compartment....it's the coolant return line - SNAPPED - courtesy of my hood and the cold.
6) I try to remove the radio to get that tape out -- I don't have the correct hex key. The radio starts beeping at me, thinking that I'm trying to steal it.
So, now I have to replace the coolant return line and yank the radio out. And all I wanted to do was check my banjo bolts! And, to make the deal sweeter, I've got to get it all done early tomorrow morning, so I can smog the car and get it back on the road.
Anyone know how I can quickly and efficiently replace that coolant return line? I was thinking about slapping a piece of small tubing and some plumber's GOOP on it, but who knows if it will withstand the heat and pressure.
I'm frustrated.
Lowell