The story of "Swamp Thing"

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by guntherrex

can't believe that's the same car! Hope the mechanical bits prove reliable too!

Me too!

The previous owner did mention they just drove to Florida and in March he had a stroke. So it made a Florida trip just before I got it, that's gotta count for something.

[c-bass]

I did a quick scan with ISTA the other day and found no less than 45 error codes



However, I'm not overly concerned because I also found this under the hood



This is one of my favorite things to see when a BMW isn't behaving. Yes I did say favorite. Why? Having a torn intake boot can trigger all kinds of errors and is cheap and easy to fix.

Also the inside of that intake looks like a coal miner's lungs

Found the lower part of the filter housing is cracked. Booooo!!!



and I found this hose partially tucked behind the front bumper cover poking out. Looks like it's coming from the washer fluid so I'm guessing headlight sprayer?

[Happy]

Originally Posted by c-bass

Also the inside of that intake looks like a coal miner's lungs

LoL..!

Found the lower part of the filter housing is cracked. Booooo!!!

Afe cold air intake time!

[c-bass]

some parts have started coming in





Intake boot has been replaced





Cleared the codes and test drive time. I need to get a better idea what was making all the noise when I took it for a spin the day I bought it.

I'm guessing brakes or rear wheel bearing...or maybe a combination of both

[Happy]

Originally Posted by c-bass

some parts have started coming in.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/afe-cold-ai...AAAOSwP4ldgPc5

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by Happy

https://www.ebay.com/itm/afe-cold-ai...AAAOSwP4ldgPc5

As nice as that filter setup is, by the time you do the exchange rate, shipping, taxes and duties It's going to be over $400 for me and there's no way I'd pay that kind of money for basically a cone air filter.

Don't get me wrong I'd throw that in Swampy in a minute if I got one for my birthday...which happens to be on March 8

[c-bass]

I drove around the block a couple times and noticed Swampy sounds like a vacuum cleaner under the hood and had a better look.

Fan clutch is shot and I couldn't help notice how close the fan blades are coming to the valve cover





I'm thinking that maybe the water pump shaft or pulley is bent slightly?

Valve cover has a slight leak at the usual spot



Vanos oil feed line is "sweating" a little bit



My helper took a look in the back but didn't have anything to report.





I'll pop the back wheels off and see what's going on back there tomorrow

[Happy]

Originally Posted by c-bass

As nice as that filter setup is, by the time you do the exchange rate, shipping, taxes and duties It's going to be over $400 for me and there's no way I'd pay that kind of money for basically a cone air filter.

Don't get me wrong I'd throw that in Swampy in a minute if I got one for my birthday...which happens to be on March 8

Whata..Bummer!

Ok, I hope you get a second hand air box, that is reliable, and cheap!

Although, those cracks peculiar as they may be, will not purpose any threat to your M54.

[TriX5]

White glove service! Great help... :-)

[Purplefade]

I have to say, on the air box, if you can’t find an inexpensive replacement, that may be “fixable”. I think I might be inclined to measure the gap between those ribs, since it primarily runs down one section, setup a little clamping jig and two part epoxy a “splint” to the outside of the box. Before I clamped it in the jig I’d use the epoxy to set the crack and then fill in any gaps with a 1 minute hardening adhesive like the instant grab products that come in a caulk tub. Light sand and a quick coat of black paint and I think that box may be back in service - obviously with a deep clean and degrease first . If you were concerned about integrity, you could heat abs plastic, mold it to the inside, down the side and along the bottom, and epoxy a “splint” inside too.

Just a thought if you don’t find one quick.


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