Man this guy is meticulous (Luke). He had a spreadsheet with everything laid out with part numbers and the order he wanted to proceed or at least the order and importance he wanted to start. He ran both a OB2 and a OB1 scanner for codes and came up surprising with very few codes. I didn't even know the car has two scanner ports, ignorance is bliss. He was impressed as generally the first time codes are scanned the reader lights up like a Christmas tree and leaves you with a book of issues.

I asked him about his time frame and he replied two or three weeks. Wow that is short, I was figuring sometime before the snow flies myself. I might have a road trip before the fourth of july in the MPB rather the Miata or the 55..... We will see if I have enough confidence to journey West to the coast or East to South Dakota.. Decisions, decisions. What a difference a couple weeks make...... Tedd

 

Tedd - Sounds like you found a great mechanic. I hope it works well for the both of you.

 

Well it looks like the new water pump and thermostat will go in today along with the inspection of the radiator clutch fans and related plastic parts plus the radiator overflow jug and cap which I know is bad. I told him if he finds anything is broke or missing fix it. Also told him parts didn't need to have a BMW stamp on it, this isn't a concourse build and I'm not impressed with BMW plastic parts stamped or not.... Tedd

 

Any way to tell on a sound system- radio who it is built by if the face plate is missing (stolen). or should I just chuck it and get something new. Doubtful that I could get a face plate only and I don't know the quality of what is left there of the old system anyway. Sorry just typing to myself and answering myself., it's early here. Oh ya, good morning all...... Tedd

 

Chuck it, Tedd. You'll have to pull it to see whose it is anyway. I guess check ebay for a used one just in case before you do.

 

Things have been happening with the MPB I just haven't been there to observe it at all. I did manage to solder some speaker wires back on the speakers that had been pulled off and a couple of paint products came in from UPS other than that I have been berried in rental repair and general things of life. Hope to get over to the mechanics place this Sunday and see where he is at on the rebuild and what he will need to go forward...... Tedd

 

I did the expecting nervous parent visit to my MPB and found much was done, new water pump ,thermostat, radiator flush. coolant overfill tank and radiator cap replaced. New rear shocks (or are they struts?) , new belts all the way around. Luke says I need to get it smog before he goes any further. Still lots of small stuff for me to work on when I get it home. Looks like I will get a new battery as this one will slowly go dead in a week or so not being used with no parasitic loss showing. Coming right along and I'm happy with Lukes work. I should be able to go for a extended ride this coming week. I'm ready.... Tedd

 

Alright, alright, alright!

 

Congrats on your progress... You have to love it when a plan comes together...

 

Kind of came together sooner than I expected, now I need a new garage beings the snow took my car port this spring . It hurts my eyes to see any convertible sit in the snow sun and rain for a extended time plus they just dissolve if not looked after. If I have to I'll temporally store the extras in a equipment shed on the farm till I get something here but it won't be handy for the impromptu fun run in the mountains or a quick run to a cars and coffee meet.

Soon the bling begins It needs lots of help in that department. Thanks for following along I have really enjoyed the ride so far.... Tedd

 

I dropped off a new battery at Luks place and It looks like he replaced the valve cover gasket and probably other stuff I can't see. I wanted to get the car for today and get it smogged so I can play with it but I couldn't raze anyone except the dog and he wasn't poetically happy to see me. I'll try later he works nights.... Tedd

 

Luke wants to drive the MPB and put a few miles on it just to make sure a troublesome check engine code doesn't return, may need a CAS as the one in it threw a code early in the rebuild. Looks like I'm on hold for a little bit. Anxious like a kid at Christmas...Tedd

 

Luke got the return of the dreaded check engine light again so a new CAS is next on the list to be replaced also I want new tie rod ends installed as it was towed by the tie rods before I got it. It's getting close to having all the hard parts that were in question taken care of. I would really like to get started on the paint work but right now my sight is shot and I couldn't tell a dent from a bump. Only a week till I get a new contact lenses and the world will be beautiful again. More to come, no one more anxious than me. I miss it not being in my driveway so I could rub on it or something....Tedd

 

The catch 22, The check engine light doesn't come on anymore cam angle sensor took care of it but Luke is trying to put miles on the MPB so it won't show that the codes have been erased but too few miles have been registered to show it's a permanent fix. I need to get insurance on it if he goes very far with it on the highway but I need the smog report to get the title finished and the registration completed so I can get insurance..... Gees. All I want to do is play with my new toy!

I think I'll just take a chance run the hell out of it on these mountain roads and try and get it done this week. Hook or crook...... Tedd

 

Ordering a new used set of door cards today and will probably drop off some plastic cowl covers I have cleaned up and repaired at Lukes house. Fantasize about a road trip and rub on some of the imperfections on the body planning on future repairs and what to address first. Hope the dog is nice today..... Tedd

 

Too late for the left hand door card, (I need it badly) it's was already sold but I ordered the right side at a good price and hope it's better than the one that's on there now. Very good condition without a picture is a subjective statement.

I have paint products coming in at the end of this week everything but the base coat and I'll get that matched at the paint store. Red has a oxidation issue and I don't trust the 20 year old code to match close enough.

I'll try and get some pictures as things change that are more visual, not much to see on a valve cover gasket change.... More to come....Tedd

 

Dang, Tedd, you got many years on me, but much more drive. Carry on, boss.

 

Remember a lot of the sweat equity stuff is being done by Luke. First car that I haven't been doing most of the upside down and over the top stuff myself. Boy i'm I ready for a road trip in this thing..... Still lost in the fifties ...Tedd

 

Getting close to finished on the hard parts. There is no juice going to the AC unit neither Luke or I have looked into this problem as yet so is next on the list to be done. Gotta have AC with this heat. Also all of the left rear light cluster was dismantled when I got it but laying in the trunk. I think that was the next item that was going to be stolen but they ran out of time. It's goin to be installed probably today or tomorrow shouldn't be much of a problem it's all there Maybe smog on Monday, play on Tuesday..... Tedd

My big job for today is to get a 5 gallon can of gas to Luke before it hits 110 degrease, it needs a few more miles recorded before it can be smoged....Tedd

 

Glad to see you enjoying the project. I love to see cars getting love.

 

Huston we have a problem. The money pit strikes again.

Luke just called me and said the MPB heated up again. He is looking for the reason as I type. I was suppose to pick it up Wednesday for smog but maybe not now. No water in the oil or oil in the water, new cooling system except same radiator. He noticed a small drip at the thermostat housing which is new but it might have been from pressure from the over heat. I'm going to get it set up for a leak down test as son as I can, this problem has gotta go away.....Tedd

 

Tedd, What I know about BMW's wouldn't fill a thimble but my bookkeeper just told me to replace 1 broken headlight assembly is over $2.500 sooooooooooooooooooooo good luck

 

I'll see it through even if I need a new head or even a engine. I budgeted this from the beginning knowing this wasn't going to be cheap or I wouldn't have started this thread with the name I gave knowing this was going to be a budget build. Much cheaper to buy a turn key car but they don't come with` memories or satisfaction of getting through the trials and hassles of a abused car and make it nice again. This is probably my last build and I like my cars to be reliable so I will spend some of my kids inheritance on a toy for myself. Still having fun but I'll get her done before the snow flies....Tedd

 

Well I'm going on a little road trip today not the one I want though. I'm taking the MPB to a BMW shop for a head gasket or head swap what ever it needs, gunna be expensive I bet. Luke doesn't feel he can get the job done in a timely manner and I don't think he wants to lose the rest of the summer not being with his kids on week ends ,I completely understand that, family is first. I had the feeling that this might happen from the get go if it became more than quick fix..... Tedd

 

“I knew it had to happen…”
”Roll With The Changes”

 

I think I found the problem on the way to the shop. The clutch fan began to make noise like a slipping belt, turned out it was the clutch fan trying to freeze up. Made enough noise that I could find it. Plus a lot cheaper than a new head or the labor to get it done. Happy again..... Tedd

 

Going to the smog shop today and getter done hope it passes smog. The shop I took it to last week was a bust. The guy there said I need a engine because of age and didn't want to work on it. Charged me $200 bucks for a leak down test and didn't want to work on this age of car because it would be more money than what the car is worth. I didn't think that was his decision on how much I was willing to spend on my car but what do I know. I have a shop in the town of Willows that will do what ever is needed to the MPB, may be nothing will be needed don't know I've put on over 50 miles and no over heat and no coolant has been added, we'll see.

Car was a blast and after driving the Miata and getting in the MPB the horse power was very apparent. Two different feeling cars. Not much feed back on the steering on the MPB as I didn't know how far I could push it before I was in trouble where as the Miata lets you know exactly what's happening on all four corners but the ride quality difference is totally IN favor of the BMW. It's defiantly a older gentleman's type car. We will see which one get used the most. I am a gentleman sometimes...Tedd

 

If the BMW is a gentleman's car it sounds like it won't be getting many miles on it. Just kidding Tedd. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a little dig in. I hope you enjoy the car. It is always good to see one brought back from the edge.

 

Passed smog with low numbers. Happy day. Had little mishap at the smog shop when I dropped the radiator cap between the fan and radiator before I went in for smog, had a hold of it once then dropped the damn thing farther down on it's way out and couldn't get my fat hand in the spot that it landed. More plastic on this rig than Mitel has toys. Had to get a mechanic to fetch it out for me, rather embarrassing especially when he mentioned that they don't work on BMW's in this shop but he was smiling the whole time.

Put on over 140 miles on the MPB but on the bad side it did use about 1/2 gallon of water. No leaks no smoke at the exhaust and no oil in the water or water in the oil. Definitely not what I'm use to. I'm going for a new head gasket and clutch fan when it goes to Willows hopefully the head separates from the block without issue this is always risky because of aluminum head steel bolts going into a aluminum block.

This thing flies, had a FEW green lights go yellow and I stomped it. It will set you back in the seat.... More fun to come....Tedd

 

I'm in the mood today for some body work. There are a couple areas what look like keyed scratches that I'm going to address .shouldn't be a problem that is if I remember how to do it, I think I have all the stuff that I'll need. Hope the weather cools down some I'm working out side trying to stay in the shade till I run out of ambition and retire for a nap..... Tedd

 

Tedd - How are things near you with regard to wildfires?

 

Fairly close to the Dixie fire, I can see the smoke plume on a mountain top from my back deck if the wind is blowing just right, other wise it's just so smokey that I can't see anything but I can taste it.

Doubtful if I'm in any kind of danger at this point but should the wind kick up from the North all bets are off. There is nothing much between me and the fire as far as roads go except a few logging roads and one large creek that might help some. We will see, I should know more by tonight ,they have quite a crew on it and the bombers have been dropping retardant on a regular bases.... I feel OK about the situation as of right now.... Tedd...

 

Evidently Dixie has grown another 10K acres nearly overnight and is approaching somewhere on the order of 45K acres w/ 15% containment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

I've got everything crossed (really hard to sand that way) but there isn't as much smoke today as yesterday.

So far I've gotten one bad scratch cleaned up down to the metal and three coats of Sealer primer on it, Not really that much but it is a start. Working on the hood next, lots of burnt clear coat to contend with, now a cold tall one and a nap. Just keep on keeping on..... Tedd

 

The fire is just keeping on keeping on, still only 15% contained. It was like a endless wagon train of fire trucks and bull dozers coming up HWY 32 today about the only road that is a direct rout from the Sacramento valley. HWY 70 is closed and so is 395 from Reno. I feel pretty safe right now, the feeling could change with the wind.

I'm starting on the burnt out hood clear coat. It didn't look to bad till I got after it with a DA it's now a Appaloosa, it will look worse before it gets better...... Tedd

 

This is a couple days ago when the wind was pushing the smoke away.... Tedd

Could be worse it could be on this side of the mountain

 

I viewed several videos of the Dixie fire a couple days ago. I believe the image you provided is 'facing' Northward or Northeastward? So, I believe as you suggested in an earlier post, as long as the wind(s) do not shift from a North (Northeastward) to South (Southwestern) direction you will hopefully be OK. If that's correct let's hope the winds remain out of the South (Southwestern) direction.

 

You could front a rock band. Snow, Bears, and Fire.

 

Thanks Koda, I needed that. I have the hood down to mostly old primer showing with a few small bare to metal spots. It's pretty smooth using 400 on a block sander on it now. Next is a couple small door dings that need attention then on with the DA to strip the rest of the car. If I had any ambition or legs I could do most of the sanding today and get it ready for primer but there is always tomorrow isn't there. I think I'm still having fun.

Can't see across the canyon this morning (to smoky) so I don't know if the fire advanced any my way or not still burning good towards the town of Chester according to the news but still quite a ways from me. I think my stuff is safe so far..... Tedd

 

Well Butte Meadows just received an evacuation notice, that's the next town to me about 6-7 miles as the crow flies, still not as much smoke as yesterday. Information is mixed or old. I'm having trouble tracking it's true location on the news seems I should be able to see smoke or fire if it was any where near Butte Meadows. Buy the way I don't actually live in Forest Ranch that is where I get my mail but about 7 miles North of it kind of between Forest Ranch And Butte Meadows.....Tedd