SiC

Could you see if you can find a rear caliper for an E46 316/318i? There should still be plenty being broken, so a cheap caliper should see it right. That’s what I ended up doing after having so many ones go sticky over the years of owning E46s.

It's my wife's joke that she asks everytime I buy a car, when am I replacing the thermostat?
Pretty much every car I've bought has needed one. From the E320 not getting up to temperature, to the GTI splitting it's housing and even my parents A4 that I bought off them didn't get to temperature either. 
I think it's one of those things people don't even realise is a problem. If the car isn't beeping at them or loosing power, they assume it's all okay. The fact that a gauge is not in the right place won't be something they realise. Especially as it's likely to drop gradually over time rather than a sudden change. 

This evening I had a few hours to put these new rear pads in. 
Apart from the E320, pretty much every car I've bought in the last year has its rear or front end in the air soon after I've bought it. 🤣

 
This is the offending side.


There certainly isn't much meat left on this pad! (More in a moment)

 
Slider pins are covered in white grease. Now I'm never sure if you should grease these pins? I thought you did but I have read that BMW say not to.

Pulled it all off and inspected it all.
Disc looked reasonable. It's had some heat through it but no massive scoring that I could see.

Slider pins were covered in grease. The bottom one I'd already started cleaning up (then remembered to take a photo) hence why it has less on it in this picture.

Piston doesn't look too bad under the boot from what I can see?

Carrier was crusty and filthy. I cleaned this up and greased the pad touch points. 

Piston went in but did take a fair bit of force with the spreader.

Now those pads...
Bottom is the inner and top is the outer.

I don't know what the pros think but my view is that I bloody luckily got away with not damaging the disc! There is a wafer thin amount of pad material left and the top just started kissing the raised lip of the disc.


I reckon the disc will be perfectly okay to reuse and isn't damaged? Incredibly close to doing so though.
I'd rather not change it if I don't have to, as they're not that old. Doesn't feel to have any high or low spots either.
Bloody lucky though!
The other side has loads of meat on the pads still. I didn't take pictures as I wanted to get it finished. The caliper piston and carrier were actually in far worse a state than the passenger side. Yet it span more freely. 🤷‍♂️

I put it all back together with new pads, cleaned up sliders and carrier. After pressing the brake pedal, the drivers side rear rubs ever so slightly but you get a tiny bit of spin after letting go. The passenger side however is really stiff and you need the wheel on for enough leverage to turn it. 
To me I definitely need a new passenger rear caliper. But tbh I think I might need both and be done with it. My thought is also that the drivers side might either be or become soon seized if the other side already has. 
I should also say while I think about it, I did try some hard braking on the way back. It didn't brake straight and true. More squirrelly and needed a fair bit of correction to keep it braking straight. Hopefully two new rear calipers will sort it all out properly.
Also noticed the passenger side has an older (rusty) Bilsten damper while the drivers side had a shinier newer looking Sachs damper. Tempting to lob a new one on that passenger side to have a matching new(ish) pair. Depends how much they are though.

Okay so I've been doing a bit of double checking on caliper part numbers. The caliper pair I linked earlier are not for this. Those are bigger and only fit the 2.5si and 3.0i/3.0si. This 2.2 has the same as the 2.0 and 2.5i, which are more expensive.
I think this is correct based on the part numbers on RealOEM:
https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/car-parts/braking/calipers/nk-2115207-brake-caliper-2115207-detail
Unfortunately eBay doesn't have any offers on with parts in motion right now. At nearly £50 I probably will only buy that left side as I can't justify doing the right as well at that price, when it appears okay at the moment. Maybe I'll regret that decision...

This evening I had a few hours to put these new rear pads in. 
Apart from the E320, pretty much every car I've bought in the last year has its rear or front end in the air soon after I've bought it. 🤣

 
This is the offending side.


There certainly isn't much meat left on this pad! (More in a moment)

 
Slider pins are covered in white grease. Now I'm never sure if you should grease these pins? I thought you did but I have read that BMW say not to.

Pulled it all off and inspected it all.
Disc looked reasonable. It's had some heat through it but no massive scoring that I could see.

Slider pins were covered in grease. The bottom one I'd already started cleaning up (then remembered to take a photo) hence why it has less on it in this picture.

Piston doesn't look too bad under the boot from what I can see?

Carrier was crusty and filthy. I cleaned this up and greased the pad touch points. 

Piston went in but did take a fair bit of force with the spreader.

Now those pads...
Bottom is the inner and top is the outer.

I don't know what the pros think but my view is that I bloody luckily got away with not damaging the disc! There is a wafer thin amount of pad material left and the top just started kissing the raised lip of the disc.


I reckon the disc will be perfectly okay to reuse and isn't damaged? Incredibly close to doing so though.
I'd rather not change it if I don't have to, as they're not that old. Doesn't feel to have any high or low spots either.
Bloody lucky though!
The other side has loads of meat on the pads still. I didn't take pictures as I wanted to get it finished. The caliper piston and carrier were actually in far worse a state than the passenger side. Yet it span more freely. 🤷‍♂️

I put it all back together with new pads, cleaned up sliders and carrier. After pressing the brake pedal, the drivers side rear rubs ever so slightly but you get a tiny bit of spin after letting go. The passenger side however is really stiff and you need the wheel on for enough leverage to turn it. 
To me I definitely need a new passenger rear caliper. But tbh I think I might need both and be done with it. My thought is also that the drivers side might either be or become soon seized if the other side already has. 
I should also say while I think about it, I did try some hard braking on the way back. It didn't brake straight and true. More squirrelly and needed a fair bit of correction to keep it braking straight. Hopefully two new rear calipers will sort it all out properly.
Also noticed the passenger side has an older (rusty) Bilsten damper while the drivers side had a shinier newer looking Sachs damper. Tempting to lob a new one on that passenger side to have a matching new(ish) pair. Depends how much they are though.

Thankyou all, very kind uplifting words
So today's work has been in 2 stages 

This crafter is in for a mystery engine problem, it was bought by the owner stripped like it is with the engine unable to start, when attempted it basically just made like a knock sound every crank rotation and would just fire, so checking it manually I found all 4 cylinders felt like they had compression 1 maybe less than the others and the timing marks all made sense, so I kept persevering to which it did fire up and run on 3 seemingly

Next up today this bad lad, 2.0 petrol freight rover in the exact spec i wanted for a recovery truck, decent underneath too !

The convoy doors offend me greatly it had to be saidbso I'll have to swap those for some earlier jobs 

Chassis is all sweet so that's getting painted up ASAP and the cab will go BL blue I think 

Here's a wierd thing, the pistons stop short by 8mm which to me seems mad, its a 2.0 O series so has the 89mm stroke rather than the 75mm of the 1.7, the engine itself seems to have been bored out 20 over and maybe overheated a few times as the radiator is new as is a few ignition bits, it running terribly prompted me to take off the head as the carb settings and ignition timing seemed to make no difference to running at all !,,I might end up building a new 2.0 out of a 1.7 and reusing the oversize pistons !

Thankyou all for your kind words there's no doubt its going to be a stress fest but I'm relishing the challenge my sister has been the star really as I've basically thrown her right into the deep end with welding/fabricating and quite intense mechanical work without any sign of flagging so far, not bad for a former office based employee!
We're based at Derwent foundry, Whatstandwell DE4 5HG 
01629 818296
RRM Ltd facebook
RRM Ltd website

For aslong as I can remember I've wanted to be directing my own path in business but never had the actual confidence to overcome huge self doubt and fears of failure, in 2021 when I nearly met with my mortality thanks to covid I remember hating that I'd played things safe as houses like a boring nobody and literally despite continued health maladies I feel that I've got a second run up at life , so I'm starting from nothing at 35 and want to get pushing forward with what is abit of a dream for me .
So basically my sister and I have teamed up to create a new garage/engineering works of which provides the usual bread and butter garage services and also more specialised work less commonly found like large manual machining capability and welding.
We're looking to stock up on a range of common classic parts too so that we can take on most project work without waiting on parts turning up in ebay etc albeit limited space prevents stocking a vast amount.
So far over the last 8 months !

Obligatory huge lathe brought back somewhat inappropriately 


Company car brought down , inappropriately 

Lathe electrical rebuild done because it was dangerous as hell, 415 through the soaked push buttons etc ,,horrible ! Once cleaned and generally setup it's been put to work straight away!

 
this s100 k series swap was quite aquite to drive, getting one to fit the earlier car isn't bolt in like with the estelle and rapid !

Cambelt snappage job on an iveco 2.3, lots of new valves and lapping required!

loads of work done, and loads more hopefully to come ! 

This evening I had a few hours to put these new rear pads in. 
Apart from the E320, pretty much every car I've bought in the last year has its rear or front end in the air soon after I've bought it. 🤣

 
This is the offending side.


There certainly isn't much meat left on this pad! (More in a moment)

 
Slider pins are covered in white grease. Now I'm never sure if you should grease these pins? I thought you did but I have read that BMW say not to.

Pulled it all off and inspected it all.
Disc looked reasonable. It's had some heat through it but no massive scoring that I could see.

Slider pins were covered in grease. The bottom one I'd already started cleaning up (then remembered to take a photo) hence why it has less on it in this picture.

Piston doesn't look too bad under the boot from what I can see?

Carrier was crusty and filthy. I cleaned this up and greased the pad touch points. 

Piston went in but did take a fair bit of force with the spreader.

Now those pads...
Bottom is the inner and top is the outer.

I don't know what the pros think but my view is that I bloody luckily got away with not damaging the disc! There is a wafer thin amount of pad material left and the top just started kissing the raised lip of the disc.


I reckon the disc will be perfectly okay to reuse and isn't damaged? Incredibly close to doing so though.
I'd rather not change it if I don't have to, as they're not that old. Doesn't feel to have any high or low spots either.
Bloody lucky though!
The other side has loads of meat on the pads still. I didn't take pictures as I wanted to get it finished. The caliper piston and carrier were actually in far worse a state than the passenger side. Yet it span more freely. 🤷‍♂️

I put it all back together with new pads, cleaned up sliders and carrier. After pressing the brake pedal, the drivers side rear rubs ever so slightly but you get a tiny bit of spin after letting go. The passenger side however is really stiff and you need the wheel on for enough leverage to turn it. 
To me I definitely need a new passenger rear caliper. But tbh I think I might need both and be done with it. My thought is also that the drivers side might either be or become soon seized if the other side already has. 
I should also say while I think about it, I did try some hard braking on the way back. It didn't brake straight and true. More squirrelly and needed a fair bit of correction to keep it braking straight. Hopefully two new rear calipers will sort it all out properly.
Also noticed the passenger side has an older (rusty) Bilsten damper while the drivers side had a shinier newer looking Sachs damper. Tempting to lob a new one on that passenger side to have a matching new(ish) pair. Depends how much they are though.

I was expecting the earlier cars to have been mostly mini but after offering a caliper up found this not to be. 
Also noted the brake hoses are like this at the front and looking like originals at the back. I think mini at the rear will do and ive got some for another bit of BL tat which should work but just a smidge longer, while complete Ado16 set are avalible on ebay the 50 quid price had me hunting for alternatives via work coming in around half that. 

Had to pop out to get chocolate as Mrs Cookie was having a hypo.
After sorting her Galaxy Ripple needs, I lined the two cars up, Mondeo mk4 Saloon v E320 Wagon AKA Big Fat German (BFG).
Now excuse the crap camera angles but amazingly the Mondeo is longer, taller and I think a tad wider.
Feels the complete opposite, when in the car. Would have put strong money on the Merc being bigger.
At least I don't have to worry about the BFG fitting in the pub and Tesco parking spaces.



 

Making good progress and half way.
Heater fan stopped working below half at Stratford area. Now at Birmingham Frankley services to get my glasses out of the boot. Heater fan coming in and out randomly when set to full now. Iirc these are based on E46 and I remember they have a hedgehog something that causes issues? Just some old car fun.
Anyway roof is staying down for now as 18C. Pushing on. 
 

Washed and now time to go!
 

Pez shot. Going to give it a quick pressure wash at the petrol station as dust from a building work on a nearby house is all over the windscreen.
Need to get going as chin wagging too long and won't be 9pm till I'm back. 

Yeah sorry. You have met me enough times to know about my verbal diarrhoea problem 🤣 
@purplebargeken van is mega nice.

#breakfastofchampions
 

The search for a small auto for Little Cookie is over.
After weeks of frustrating car viewing and not finding anything suitable, that I can also use, I've bought a car.
A big fat German bird to be precise.
I've bought the E320 wagon, that @SiC was selling.

 
While its probably unsuitable for Little Cookie, now its on fleet, she can learn to drive in the Mondeo. 
No collection thread as I forgot
but @andyberg and @BerginJR accompanied me to pick it up.
Good chinwag ensued and then the drive home.
First impressions. Its a big heavy motor. Been a long time since I've driven a big petrol engined slush box motor. Needs a different driving style to the Mondeo. Very comfortable, lovely seats, makes you drive in a more relaxed manner. Lots of buttons, no idea what most do. Car exactly as described, as I expected, given I'm a repeat customer.
Mrs Cookie likes it a lot. She has always wanted a mercedes, seats are comfy and cosseting for her bad back and heated. She had a big smile on her face. Not taken her out in it yet, as have to save up for petrol
@SiC kindly threw in some parts, engine mounts, transmission service kit, which was very kind of him.
Fat bloke with the worst wollard selfie ever.

I've ordered some bits. Rubber boot mat to keep the boot clean, new wing mirror indicator, as the drivers side is a bit grotty.

A replacement rear view mirror, as the auto dim liquid has leaked, leaving the mirror with a dark bottom half.

And I've ordered a book pack, so I can find out what all the buttons do.
She will be used for the upcoming family visit to Hexham and Kirkcaldy and nephews wedding in Corbridge.
That should put a thousand miles on her.
When we get back at end of May, I will tackle the replacement of the rear air bags, engine mounts and service the box. 
 

Steady now. 
Today see the last (for now) of dicking with the exhaust. The mount picks up on two existing bung holes. A simple bit of box section with an exhaust clamp  zapped to it. I want to weld the sleeve to the front section of exhaust to loose that clamp as its persistant on leaking. No exhaust paste used on anything yet untill i a few miles proves its working.  May try and make the gap between the hydo lines and the exhaust larger too. 

Time to get a few miles under its belt then. *Turns wheel while cars on lift* Ohh is that a stuck caliper? Guess im going to be visiting minspares again for brakes.
Ohh what the fuck is this design all about.

The swinging caliper design it seems of which EBC are the only people that make the correct wedge pads at £57 and Bigg Red  make a rebuild kit for £60, ouch.

For now tho. Slung back together while i wait for all the brake parts to arrive as im bored of this thing being on the lift.
 
 

Gone. Sold to a AS forum frequenter. I'll let themselves know if they want to. 
Will be one of the cars that I miss.

Ah ha, you too then!
Surprised and pleased really.  It always felt like it was pretty much a collection of spares flying in close formation given it would never make any logical sense to restore given the value of P4s and the price of spares.  Especially cosmetic stuff and trim, which that car really wanted a lot of, before even factoring in paint.  Shame to lose the genuine patina, but it really did want the paint sorting to ensure the car didn't just decay rapidly if being used regularly.  At the end of the day if it helps make sure it lives on it's all a good thing.  Better this than stripped for parts or taking a quick trip round an oval.

Gone. Sold to a AS forum frequenter. I'll let themselves know if they want to. 
Will be one of the cars that I miss.

Took her out today as I needed to get my hair cut and give this a wash. She's been a good ol' bus and I'm going to miss it. Didn't think I'd like this car so much. 
 

Been buzzing around in this yesterday and today. The MPG seems to be in the low 30s without trying too hard. This is on super unleaded though and the lower ethanol content will help here. 
This is coming out of Bristol centre back home. Was mid 20s in Bristol traffic but then rose as I got onto 30-70mph a-roads.

Then this evening I went to a local Lidl and back. Round trip of around 15 miles or so. Most of this was not needing to stop and not slowing down for corners 😀.

Pretty respectable to be honest, especially as I wasn't really trying. At most I'd just keep the revs down on a straight. I.e. 4th/5th gear at 30mph, 5th gear at 40mph and 6th pretty much above that. While it's not the 40+ mpg you get in modern TSI engines but certainly not bad for this era. I seem to remember these numbers are similar to my TT MK2 TFSI. 
I think it also helps having cruise on it now. I can just hit the set button and sail around without feathering the accelerator or keep close eye on the speed.
 
While some of the worn bushes no doubt mean this isn't exactly factory fresh, she does handle extremely well. I think the fresh looking Sachs dampers and new springs help a huge amount here. No idea when they went on but they're certainly not 198k and tbh look only a few years old at most.

I know the build quality on this era isn't exactly the best VAG ever did, but they really nailed the chassis setup perfectly. I know the same aged citybugs in the photo above drive well, but they're not a patch on the Golf. Yet they're probably not that far off second hand value?
Yes the engine can be a liability but all the bits that can have problems are very well known. All of which pretty much can be either fixed or mitigated DIY. On the flip side they're lovely powerplants to drive. Zippy low down diesel like torque but the long legs of a petrol. Unlike a N/A overtaking is a very modern feeling keep above 2.2k or so and have the turbo start spinning, then floor it to shoot off when ready. 
Basically they're pretty much all the car you ever need. I know you exterior is dull - I've long dismissed them previously because of it. However it makes you blend into traffic without being shouty about it. Which is pretty much standard Golf design philosophy - even the same on the extremely competent Golf R later generations that you have to understand the R badge to realise what they're packing underneath.

Even Mrs SiC really likes driving it. I asked her earlier why she happily drives this but doesn't like driving the Merc. "Golf is small, easy to drive, easy to park and nicer to drive". Nicer to drive probably because, even though she tells me off for doing it, she chucks cars around corners herself. You can do that in the E320 but there is of course a fair bit more body roll being so much bigger and suspension setup for comfort. The E320 is basically the same length as a new Range Rover sport and 2.5 feet longer than the Golf.

Gone. Sold to a AS forum frequenter. I'll let themselves know if they want to. 
Will be one of the cars that I miss.