2” of rain forecast here in my area of Vermont, plus an inch of snowmelt. Back roads, and my long and steep driveway, are going to be a disaster. I’d take 6’ of snow over 1” of rain (in the winter) any day.
My 330xi Resuscitation Thread
61 - 70 of 70 Posts
I’ve had good luck with Felpro gaskets before but I’m wondering if they aren’t going to work with the strange BMW design. I could envision having a different durometer might not work right. I have a feeling the rubber is suppose to be soft to expand and fill the channel. Typically a valve cover gasket just compresses to seal two surfaces.
Anyways I took the valve cover off for the third time, cleaned it again, looked for cracks and then put a very thin coat of RTV on the edge of the gasket that fits in the channel. And a thin smear on the lower face.
If this still fails I’ll get a German gasket.
Side note: weather is delaying LCA bushings.
My Felpro VCG on my X5 3.0 has been on there longer (no leaks)than the Elring and Victor Reinz gaskets on my E46.
Did this just to compare ...I would get Fel pro if FCP has it but they don't .
Did this just to compare ...I would get Fel pro if FCP has it but they don't .
Good to know! Thanks! So it’s me.
I got the grommets and gaskets off Amazon.
Currently the grommets are on sale for under $7.
FEL-PRO ES 72490 Grommet Set https://a.co/d/i3Ebsbe
FEL-PRO VS 50631 R Valve Cover Gasket Set https://a.co/d/cswMkPw
Got the Fel pro grommets to match the gasket as well - closeouts at rockauto for a buck a set lol- imagine to my surprise when the grommets arrived it had "MADE IN GERMANY " on there.this was 4 yrs back about 60 k miles ago.Fel pro VCG was USA .
I would go BMW VCG, Felpro then Elring or Victor Reinz.
Finally got the new bushings. German brand from ECS.
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Unbelievably they are marked wrong. L and R. Maybe they are for the Great Britain market (that’s a joke, or some semblance of one).
Once I sorted that out I finished up the drivers side and moved to the passenger side. The heat shield wasn’t fun. Somehow I got it out. They must install that thing before putting the engine in. The control arm was somehow more difficult to get in. Not sure why I had more trouble installing the control arm with the bushing installed versus the other side that didn’t. Maybe I was more tired.
The lower joint on the sway bar link was shot.
I didn’t do the tie rods or the CV boots yet. I’ll save that for another day.
Next up is cleaning the belly pans. Wait until up see the assortment of fasteners used to hold those up.
Unbelievably they are marked wrong. L and R. Maybe they are for the Great Britain market (that’s a joke, or some semblance of one).
Once I sorted that out I finished up the drivers side and moved to the passenger side. The heat shield wasn’t fun. Somehow I got it out. They must install that thing before putting the engine in. The control arm was somehow more difficult to get in. Not sure why I had more trouble installing the control arm with the bushing installed versus the other side that didn’t. Maybe I was more tired.
The lower joint on the sway bar link was shot.
I didn’t do the tie rods or the CV boots yet. I’ll save that for another day.
Next up is cleaning the belly pans. Wait until up see the assortment of fasteners used to hold those up.
To get the heat shield back in I had to jack up the exhaust to give me some clearance. That might be a result of the failed motor mounts.
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A possible reason they are marked wrong is because the housings are mirror image castings of the FCAB housings on the e36. I know this because I've probably pressed 200 to 300 FCABs over the past 15 yrs for various 3-series models.Finally got the new bushings. German brand from ECS.
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Unbelievably they are marked wrong. L and R. Maybe they are for the Great Britain market (that’s a joke, or some semblance of one).
Once I sorted that out I finished up the drivers side and moved to the passenger side. The heat shield wasn’t fun. Somehow I got it out. They must install that thing before putting the engine in. The control arm was somehow more difficult to get in. Not sure why I had more trouble installing the control arm with the bushing installed versus the other side that didn’t. Maybe I was more tired.
The lower joint on the sway bar link was shot.
I didn’t do the tie rods or the CV boots yet. I’ll save that for another day.
Next up is cleaning the belly pans. Wait until up see the assortment of fasteners used to hold those up.
Not sure how long you are planning on keeping the car but even the factory FCABs simply don't last on the XI. That's because they are fluid filled and thus probably lack adequate rubber structure to do the job. Even if performance is not the goal, Powerflex poly are seen as the best replacement. I've been pre-pressing those for XI folks for years.
Pre-pressed FCABs for all e46 models/variants
Hey all The mods asked me to consolidate my pre-pressed FCAB offering posts so here goes… I’ve been doing this service for 15 years. As indicated, I pre-press new FCAB bushings (front control arm) for three e46 variants: standard e46 & z4m, awd XI, and e46m3 models. These are ready to slip...
www.e46fanatics.com
Thank you for the insights! That makes a lot more sense.A possible reason they are marked wrong is because the housings are mirror image castings of the FCAB housings on the e36. I know this because I've probably pressed 200 to 300 FCABs over the past 15 yrs for various 3-series models.
Not sure how long you are planning on keeping the car but even the factory FCABs simply don't last on the XI. That's because they are fluid filled and thus probably lack adequate rubber structure to do the job. Even if performance is not the goal, Powerflex poly are seen as the best replacement. I've been pre-pressing those for XI folks for years.
Pre-pressed FCABs for all e46 models/variants
Hey all The mods asked me to consolidate my pre-pressed FCAB offering posts so here goes… I’ve been doing this service for 15 years. As indicated, I pre-press new FCAB bushings (front control arm) for three e46 variants: standard e46 & z4m, awd XI, and e46m3 models. These are ready to slip...
I suspect these are the last bushings this car will see.
Test drive showed that high speed vibration 65mph+ is gone. More concerning was the severe wheel shaking under head braking while turning. Also gone.
Next up is tie rods and an alignment. I didn’t do the tie rods because the wife was not happy her car was not in the garage while the BMW was up in the air waiting for parts.
Also need to address the CV boot.
And I’ve got new front rotors and pads to go on.
And…
Next up is tie rods and an alignment. I didn’t do the tie rods because the wife was not happy her car was not in the garage while the BMW was up in the air waiting for parts.
Also need to address the CV boot.
And I’ve got new front rotors and pads to go on.
And…
61 - 70 of 70 Posts
