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Miller MAF

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 2:54 pm
by val_c
Since installing Gen I Miller MAF system to my car I've had two issues with it:
1. Car was constantly running rich, it was obvious by the color of spark plugs, exhaust and... smell. This is not solved and Miller was no help.
2. Under hard acceleration between 4 and 5K RMP there was very noticeable stalling. It wasn't critical but annoying. Miller also couldn't advice the reason.

Recently I found that someone reported about the second issue on some FB group and that it was resolved by installing mesh affront of MAF sensor. Miller system never had anything before the sensor, while all production cars do have one or even two meshes there.

The MAF mesh was sourced during one of the trips to junkyards.
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I trimmed the metal mesh to fit between the Miller intake and original BMW flange. Unfortunately, the piece wasn't big enough to cover all corners, but I've decided that it's OK for the test.
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Installed.
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I put the system back to the car and took it out to test drive on highway. Amazingly, the stalling on high RPMs is gone now. I am quite happy with such an easy solution.

Cibie 35-series driving lights.

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 3:13 pm
by val_c
Euro BMW driving/fog lights cannot be installed easily under my bumper, as it was mangled badly by previous owner who cut it to have inter-cooler installed.
So I was debating what to do with the airdam openings: leave them as they are, install front brake cooling ducts, which could be cool but not necessary or find suitable driving or fog lights.
Opportunity came via FB marketplace ad where someone was selling 3 used CIBIE 35 series driving lights.

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I couldn't resist the price and bought them after checking airdam opening dimensions.
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Quick test fit:
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The inner part of the bumper might require some trimming:
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Fun time under the car modelling brackets:
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Bracket model is almost completed. Another test fit and then fabrication.
3-D printer would be cool, but will require some $$, so I will just use aluminum plates cut on size and bolted together with angles.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sat May 25, 2019 10:16 am
by 86_6series
Hi Val how are you.

The MAF looks like a great fix. so if I understand, the reduced volume of air thru the MAF is telling the ECU

to reduce fuel flow thereby leaning it out just enough for better drive-ability.

Great fix.

Take care Val.

Exhaust fit and function?

Posted: Mon May 27, 2019 9:15 pm
by songzunhuang
Val,
I'm looking to replace my exhaust system soon and noticed that you bought the Walker system. How's that working out?
Also, I love your "oil change". That was one for the ages.

Thanks in advance for any details about the exhaust.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 2:30 am
by val_c
songzunhuang wrote: Mon May 27, 2019 9:15 pm Val,
I'm looking to replace my exhaust system soon and noticed that you bought the Walker system. How's that working out?
Also, I love your "oil change". That was one for the ages.

Thanks in advance for any details about the exhaust.
Hello,
I hate to admit, but the Walker is still in the corner of my garage and not in the car. I am planning to have it installed this Thursday, I will report when done.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 2:30 am
by val_c
86_6series wrote: Sat May 25, 2019 10:16 am Hi Val how are you.

The MAF looks like a great fix. so if I understand, the reduced volume of air thru the MAF is telling the ECU

to reduce fuel flow thereby leaning it out just enough for better drive-ability.

Great fix.

Take care Val.
Hey Bob! All is good, no big changes, just life.
I'll have to run through a couple of tanks of gas to see if system will lean out, meanwhile the stalling is definitely gone.
I am not sure about physics behind the fix, but the opening is reduced like for 50%.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:37 am
by val_c
songzunhuang wrote: Mon May 27, 2019 9:15 pm Val,
I'm looking to replace my exhaust system soon and noticed that you bought the Walker system. How's that working out?
Also, I love your "oil change". That was one for the ages.

Thanks in advance for any details about the exhaust.
Still with IE.
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IE is out.
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Walker installed. It's much quieter than IE, but I feel that chrome tips protruding too much. Will trim them later. Cannot tell anything about installation as I wasn't at the shop at the time.

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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:33 pm
by tschultz
Maybe meant for us spec bumpers??

Car is looking really sharp! Nice job Val.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 11:10 am
by 86_6series
Hi Val,
Just gave me a thought--I have an IE exhaust with no droning at all.

But, when I install the higher HP motor with headers and custom down pipes

will it then cause droning, oh I hope not--can't stand to have any more setbacks.

Yeah, you're right-- seems like all the Bronzit-Beige are all money suckers

and the proof is that at 75 I'm still working to feed the beast.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 3:10 pm
by val_c
86_6series wrote: Sun Jun 09, 2019 11:10 am Hi Val,
Just gave me a thought--I have an IE exhaust with no droning at all.

But, when I install the higher HP motor with headers and custom down pipes

will it then cause droning, oh I hope not--can't stand to have any more setbacks.

Yeah, you're right-- seems like all the Bronzit-Beige are all money suckers

and the proof is that at 75 I'm still working to feed the beast.
Bob, I think yours IE shouldn't drone as you've got it new. Mine was used from roll-over car, I believe that something might be damaged in it when I've got it.
Nevertheless, the Walker is not so cool, but much quieter.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 3:13 pm
by val_c
tschultz wrote: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:33 pm Maybe meant for us spec bumpers??

Car is looking really sharp! Nice job Val.
Thanks! Shortened the tips a bit, so it looks just right now.
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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:11 pm
by val_c
Rials are back from the powder-coating.
The golden centers although were looking period correct, but gone now.
As both Rials and Remotecs have almost the same design and I like Rials more, Remotecs will be for sale.

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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 1:15 am
by val_c
Polishing... first time from 2005. This took some time and Meguiar's M105, M205 and M21

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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:27 pm
by val_c
Garage at night
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Re: Walker 47656

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:13 am
by sansouci
I saw your post from a few years ago and I'm in need of a new muffler (actually the rear section) and the Walker pops up on Amazon. But I have an '84 633Csi which is not supposed to accept the Walker. Anyone with any idea why it doesn't fit? or any suggestion for a reasonably priced solution?
--Ken

Re: Walker 47656

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 4:30 pm
by val_c
sansouci wrote: Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:13 am I saw your post from a few years ago and I'm in need of a new muffler (actually the rear section) and the Walker pops up on Amazon. But I have an '84 633Csi which is not supposed to accept the Walker. Anyone with any idea why it doesn't fit? or any suggestion for a reasonably priced solution?
--Ken
Hi Ken:
I am not aware about differences between exhaust system on late 633 and early 635, so cannot answer your question 100%. Personally, if price is right, I would take the risk, buy and try the cat back, especially with Amazon where returns are easy.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 1:34 pm
by val_c
I can't believe that I haven't posted in 2 years!
On the other hand, not much was done with the car besides occasional driving in the season, although she requires upper control arms bushings change and some small works here and there.

Meanwhile, I've decided that I like the look of 16" BBS from the 7 series better than Rials. Surprisingly, front 225/50R16 tires cleaned the struts without spacers!

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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 5:49 pm
by val_c
And two more years passed by!

Bumper and airdam refresh and fog lights installation.

The air dam was cracked for some time and finally, I decided to remove the front bumper, disassemble it and send it off to the body shop.

The crack:
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The previous bodyshop cut the effort by painting assembled bumper. This time I will send it off disassembled, so it will be painted properly and have one color and not three, as all bumper parts came from different cars.
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At the same time, I started thinking about installing fog lights in the airdam. The problem was that this was not-standard airdam and I could not use BMW fog lights brackets.
So the bumper was removed from the car and the search for lights started. As I couldn't fir standard BMW fog lights in this aftermarket airdam, I started to search aftermarket lights.

HELLA 450 fit OK dimensionally:
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Now time to mockup and make some brackets. Without a welding machine or 3-D printer, I opted for aluminum and rivets.
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Test fit with protective covers:
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And without them:
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Testing the wiring and lights functionality:
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Test fit on the car:
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Then bumper was disassembled and send off to the bodyshop. It took a few months before they repaired airdam and painted airdam and bumper.
My kids assembled everything in the garage:
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And installed assembly on the car:
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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 8:52 pm
by GRNSHRK
Looks great, I was wondering what happened to you \:D/

Plus you have help, nice =D>

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:54 pm
by val_c
GRNSHRK wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 8:52 pm Looks great, I was wondering what happened to you \:D/

Plus you have help, nice =D>
Bobbo,
It's crazy to think that I bought the 6 series before my older one was born. Time flies, kids are almost adults now up and take interest in cars.
For me the e24 is on a lower list of priorities currently, there is some stuff that I wanted to do but never got to it. With kid's help I might do some small projects slowly.

Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 4:01 pm
by val_c
Changing the oil pressure sender/switch to the correct one.
When I switched from analog oil pressure and temperature gauges to digital, I haven't changed VDO oil pressure sender/switch from 0-5 bar to 0-10 and oil pressure reading was too high.
Finally, I decided that it was time to bring readings to actual results. The price for the VDO sensor with 10x1.0 mm thread starts at about $100, while the same sensor with 1/4NPT thread costs $15.
I decided to use the latter and change the self-made adaptor with banjo bolt to the M12x1.5 to 1/4NPT adaptor available now on Amazon.

Old setup with self-made adaptor:
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New setup (additional 12x1.5 mm thread at the end of the adaptor is a bonus, I might use it for something else in the future. Currently plugged with 12x1.5 to 1/4NPT boss):
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Reading on cold start (seems to be right?)
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Re: '86 Canadian Bronzit-Beige Moneysucker

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 9:09 pm
by val_c
Cleaned the old sound/heat protection material from the hood and prepared the hood for the new insulation. The rubber tool from Amazon for stickers removal helped a lot, I don't know how would I clean the hood without it.
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The new insulation was ordered from the German company www.partworks.de.
The price with shipping was good, it's self-adhesive, so we'll see how it will stick and hold up when it will be a bit warmer (probably in springtime).

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