Posted by w.ollison on January 14, 2001 at 09:59:07:
Maybe a little history is in order. The car has presently just less than 60,000 miles. Back in September upon my return from the US Formula 1 my luck and problems began. First the luck. After driving 12 hours on the original hoses back to N. Va,and a mile from home, I began to see steam from the side of the car . No big deal I,ve been driving in rain for the last seven hours. probably just water on the exhaust. Get home more steam. Pop hood. Steam coming from under intake. I'ts the dreaded ? mark pipe that ties into the aluminum tube just above the block. Lucky I got home, because this is not a job for the side of the road. About time some shop found the leak(exstensive labor) and found the part,I could have been stranded for days and my pocket a little lighter(what kind of a car is that Jim Bob?)Good thing I didn't try and keep up with that AudiTT with the Jersey tags at the beggining of my trip home when it was still dry. Lesson learned, Change all hoses on old cars if you can not find proof that the previous owner did. I bought it from guy in March 2000, who had bought it in 1999 with only 29,000 miles on it. The shop he frequented ($4600 in repairs for lack of use by the senior original owner, he died at 96 in 99), should have known better. Now the gremlins begin. After I round up all new hoses and get some advice from a BMW shop I've dealt with for over 14 years, I tackle the job. I figure it's easiest to remove all intake pipes so i can lift the intake to access the ? mark fuel line sized hose. There also is another fuel line sized hose that ties into the middle of the block and in close proximity of the ? mark hose. The average home mechanic will never get to this hose without removing the intake pipe closest to the firewall. You can not even see it. Bring a mirror. Also BMW makes a superior grade hose in lieu of the standard fuel line hose specified. Xpensive. I should have bought it. This is not a job you want to do too often. I changed the hoses, reinstalled the intake pipes(new gaskets),new antifreeze,etc. Took me 2 days in the driveway. Time to start her up. Fires up no problem. Not a daily driver, but she started up fine after the procedure until the weather started to cool.The gremlins begin. One cold November morning, no cold start. Hmm. From previous ownership of two other 1981 528i's, I have tried cold start valve, temp time switch, vacuum hoses, temp switch ,new bellow,auxillary air valve,etc. I can somestimes get it stared now if the weather is around 45 degrees or warmer. Even then, I have to pump it to get it going. I've killed one Interstate and working on another. The starter is probably next. Non orinal parts K&N cone filter, Jacobsen energy coil and performance wires from BMP. Had same set up on previous 528i with no problem. Maybe if I can get it started and have my shop check the
Air/Fuel Mixture. Help.
Will Ollison 1981 528ia
1975 2002a
1998 4cyl 4runner W/ borla and K&N