What did you do in your shop today?

[Jims5543]

Anyone use this software?

https://www.bimmerdiagnostics.com/#xl_HeadingAnchor:58AHNEc


I am debating doing my own DC Transmission service on my M5.  FPC Euro sells a comprehensive kit with everything you can need including hardware.

I watched a youtube video and it seems pretty straight forward.  The only intimidating part is the initial start up, you need to hood this software up and put the transmission into some sort of service mode, then have it prime itself then start up the car.  According to the video you then have to keep the ending at 2K RPM's for a certain amount of time (1 minute IIRC) then check the fluid level again and top it off, then you take it out of service mode and you are done.

Seems simple enough.  I saw the software works with a wide range of BMW vehicles including every generation do the Bini.

Anyone used this software?  Is it intuitive or do I need to do some studying to use it?

[MPlayle]

Back in June, I sold the TRiking and trailer as a package.  In order to keep shipping costs even reasonable, they had to be shipped separately.  Getting the Triking shipped by it's self was easier.  Arranging shipping of the trailer has proven a pain-in-the-a$$.

It finally boiled down to the only way to ship it is if I put it on a pallet arrangement.

So, in splurts over the last three days, I procured a couple of standard pallets and some lumber and built up a long pallet and frame for loading the folded trailer onto for shipping.  Picture #72 is the second side rail and crossmembers to be installed once the trailer is loaded and strapped in place.  Picture #74 is the finished pallet with one side rail.  Picture #75 & 76 is the trailer ready to be loaded.  I use my engine hoist to do the heavy lifting and Bruce will be coming over on Wednesday to assist in loading it on the pallet.

[Jims5543]

There are 8 spark plugs in there somewhere.

I spent about an hour last night taking apart the engine bay in order to access all 8 plugs.

I had to pull the engine ECU's off and move them in order to get to the plugs under them.  They have coolant lines, I am not interested in opening that system up so I am just moving them around and working around them. I have 8 new Dinan coil packs to install with the new plugs. Dinan claims these coils fire 10% hotter than stock.

I decided to check book the transmission service. The computer programming is making me nervous I will screw something up.

[MPlayle]

With Bruce's help getting the trailer onto the pallet, I finished up getting it ready for shipping.

[94touring]

That looks expensive

[MPlayle]

Not especially.  The base pallets were free from a craigslist.org listing.  The 2"x4" lumber, screws, and a set of ratchet straps (the longer, light blue ones) came to just under $77.  The plywood used for the wheel pads abd the 1"x4" used for the joiner plates was scrap I had from a past project.  The shorter, dark blue straps were extras I had left over.  I charged $125 for the job, so net $48 and scraps cleaned out.

[Willie_B]

That looks well done Michael. An interesting project making it all happen.

[Jims5543]

What was the freight shipping cost for that pallet?  I am wondering if it would have been easier / cost the same to come tow the trailer back.

[MPlayle]

I do not know what the buyer's shipping cost for the trailer is going to be.

I can say for certain that it would have been cheaper all the way around for him to have driven down from Michigan and picked up the Triking and trailer as a package and towed it all back.

He has aready paid $1500 for having just the Triking shipped, plus the $125 for me to palletize the trailer ($1625 total so far).  My estimate of costs for him to have done the trip was $1800.

[Jims5543]

Finished the plugs/coils on the M5 last night.

My biggest hurdle was getting the coil pack out, they didn't want to budge. I was using a screwdriver and pulling, then remembered I saw a kid use a zip tie for more leverage.  That was the trick, I put one through the loop, put a rag in the zip tie and pulled on it like I was ripping anal beads out of a $25 hookers ass and boom!! They were coming out. It was all in the wrist. 

The plugs looked great for 53K  miles.  The new coils went in easy. After I was done, I was left with 2 10mm nuts. I have been scratching my head where they came from, I realized this morning driving into work that they were for the ground wires to the ECU bracket. LOL!! I am quadruple checking all my connections after work today and of course putting the ground wires back on. Then I am hooking the battery up, saying a small prayer to the anal gods and firing it up.

[Jims5543]

I do not know what the buyer's shipping cost for the trailer is going to be.

I can say for certain that it would have been cheaper all the way around for him to have driven down from Michigan and picked up the Triking and trailer as a package and towed it all back.

He has aready paid $1500 for having just the Triking shipped, plus the $125 for me to palletize the trailer ($1625 total so far).  My estimate of costs for him to have done the trip was $1800.

It was probably more of a time vs money thing for that guy. He didn't have time to make the drive but has the money to have everything shipped to him.

[94touring]

I do not know what the buyer's shipping cost for the trailer is going to be.

I can say for certain that it would have been cheaper all the way around for him to have driven down from Michigan and picked up the Triking and trailer as a package and towed it all back.

He has aready paid $1500 for having just the Triking shipped, plus the $125 for me to palletize the trailer ($1625 total so far).  My estimate of costs for him to have done the trip was $1800.

It was probably more of a time vs money thing for that guy. He didn't have time to make the drive but has the money to have everything shipped to him.

Yes I was saying it looks very expensive in shipping cost.

[MPlayle]

Shipping the same trailer new from the manufacturer today would be $500, so I would expect it will be similar to ship this one.

[Jims5543]

It been a stupid 2 weeks, between a lot of thing going on with family and work being insanely busy, I was struggling to find time to finish the M5. I connected the battery this past Saturday after I was done replacing the plugs and coil packs only to find out it is inoperable and throwing 60+ codes.

I was positive this had to be a result of a DME plug not seated correctly.  I purchased some contact cleaner with a dialectric grease additive, pulled all the plugs, sprayed everything well and let it dry.

Hooked it all back up, still dead!!  I had an appointment to drop it off today for the Transmission flush. I got a call from the shop to confirm the appointment, I explained to the tech on the phone my dilemma, he told me to check the plugs on the coil packs, it was 100% that.  AI also told me the same.

I went home after work last night, grabbed a cold beer and went to my 100°+ garage (too late in day to try to use AC) aimed 2 fans at me and went to work. I had to remove all the same items I did before in order to get to all 8 coil packs. 

I methodically made sure the coil was pushed down on the spark plug well, then checked every plug to make sure they were seated correctly.  I did not see anything that looked suspicious, obviously one was not connected right. I have no idea which one. All I know is that it works now, she fired right up and purred.  I pluged in the Foxwell Scanner, cleared all the codes, Shut it off for 10+ seconds, fired it back up. Zero codes.

Drove it to the shop this morning for the trans flush and decided to let them replace the serpentine belt too because it looks like you have to move the intercoolers to do it. Not in the mood.

I dropped it at the shop at 0645 this morning. They were not open and I could not find a key drop. I drove back in my E30 to drop the key. I snapped a pic of the front of the shop, my E30 looked cool parked with the old Mercs out front.

This little adventure has caused me to pivot, I always planned on getting rid of this M5, I still have another 2.5 years of warranty left, I am keeping it until this winter then selling it with the remainder of the warranty being transferable.

Then I am shopping for either a E34 (1988-1995) or E39 (1998-2003) M5, I am over this modern computer crap. Give me an old school OBD car I can work on myself without a Microsoft certification.

[MiniDave]

It's good that you have a good independent shop you can rely on, the closest one for me is miles away....and they're pretty spendy.

I'm rebuilding a Mini gearbox for a buddy who's job moved him out of town for a year unexpectedly, tore it down yesterday. He couldn't get it to shift into either first or second, and no wonder. Both synchros worn to the nub and teeth stripped off of both gears too. No idea how someone would do that but it looked like the oil hadn't been changed in forever.....so much nasty sludge on the bottom of the case.

Parts should arrive next week and then I can get into it....

[Jims5543]

This place is REALLY good but not cheap.

Transmission flush with serpentine belt and accessory belt replacement was $2,100.

They also changed an o-ring on a temp sensor that was seeping for "free",

[MiniDave]

I think they're ALL expensive any more. Like you I try to do all the work on my cars, but sometimes it just makes sense to have a shop do it.