Well I've still been enjoying the BMW. I have used it for a number of runs to lowes with the trailer as I installed a trailer hitch on it some time ago. I aways get good looks when I'm towing the trailer with the BMW. I really got a look when I left a 240sx in the dust at a light with a water heater in tow on the trailer. Always good fun.
I bought a new set of front brake pads. I installed the LH ones no problem. When I went to install the RH ones I found one of the caliper mounting bolts loose. Uh...not good. I had never had that caliper off. I put in the new pads and find the bolt that was loose is totally stripped. Ugh. I'm going out of town to Charlotte tomorrow. I had planned on taking the maxima (get all the miles I can on it before I replace it). Not sure I want to leave it with the wife this way. Well I guess it's been this way for almost 2 years so I guess one more week won't hurt. I buy a caliper and caliper carrier assembly off e-bay just for the carrier. A week later its all installed.
While I was shopping for parts I ordered a set of M3 struts, strut mounts, sway bar links etc. I've got a big box of parts now. I've just got to get some time to put them on.
Well after the trip to the big city the car had enough miles for it's first oil change and most my previous cars were nissans or Rx-7. I remove the filter and compare to the new one my wife picked up for me. no chance these are the same. She must have gotten the v-6 one. Quick trip to the store and we are back in business.
Weather starts heating up and I've still not got a good resolution to my heating issues. Having the second fan run all the time was too noisy. I decide to wire the fans to both come on at the same time. I make the wiring change and proceed to test the set up. The primary fan doesn't come on at all. What? Some checks with the volt meter and some looking at the wiring diagram I find that when the relay trips to turn on the second fan the first fan goes off. Well that's not what I want. How'd I miss that. It's an easy change. I test again and they both come on. However I notice the main fan is spinning the wrong way. Humm... These two issues explain my heating problems. Well it should be ok now.
Oh I also found that my front fan lost a blad somewhere along the line. Very strange. I break off the blade on the opposite side to balance things out until a replacment can be obtained.
Heat issues seem to be gone now though I'd still like the fans to come on sooner (guess I should have asked for that when I had the ECU programmed).
My brother comes to visit with his Audi A6 with mods. I easily pull away from him on the on ramps even though my car is carring easily a few hundered more pounds of passengers. He says. "your car's not loud". I still don't get it.
Follow up on the maxima accident. Insurance writes it off as a total loss. I buy the car back for salvage value $264. I straighten the front sheet metal and replace the right fender. Pound out the rear quarter panel and replace a few lights. Total cost about $250 and the car is back on the road. I spend $300 on a lawyer to go to court. My wife is found "not guilty" of reckless driving. (sliding on slipery pavement in VA is reckless driving). The balance of the insurance money and the Rx-7 money can go to getting her a nicer unsmashed car.....Maybe.
