Why is everything covered in pink dust?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Because DIY E36 RTAB limiters! Had a chunk of polyurethane from one of the integras (was shoved in a motor mount), so decided to save some dough and fab up limiters using hand tools. Fit great.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

What's an E35 RTAB limiter?

JamesShort · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:38 am

Michael Czeiszperger wrote:

What's an E35 RTAB limiter?

The RTAB bushings allow the bushing to flex/move quite a bit in the axial direction. These squeeze in around the ends of the bushing so that there is no longer any axial movement.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:51 am

Maybe Burger isn't familar with the acronym "RTAB"? Just incase I'm right it's:

Rear Trailing Arm Bushing

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Got it, thanks. But I thought Mike traded in all his BMWs on a real sports car.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

This probably helps makes more sense

http://www.bimmerzone.com/BMW_Performan ... -RTAB.html

Michael, I did sell all my BMWs and get a real sports car ... in 2008. But then I got sick of owning all Hondas and bought 2 more BMWs and a Porsche.

The E36 is really coming alive, M3 LSD, chip, and cone filter woke that car up.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Yeah, that does make more sense. My M3 has 145K miles on it, and probably needs a bit of maintenance. Do you have a good resource for a checklist? Mine is just a daily driver.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:50 pm

Michael Czeiszperger wrote:

Yeah, that does make more sense. My M3 has 145K miles on it, and probably needs a bit of maintenance. Do you have a good resource for a checklist? Mine is just a daily driver.

FCAB (the big ones with the lollipop case)
RTABs (with limiter or just get the Powerflex polys which have the limiter built in)
Vanos rebuild
Check ball joints on front lower control arms (replace asap if loose)
Trans mounts
Engine Mounts

Actually Michael, I remember the previous owner of your car doing a lot of the poly/rubber items just before you bought it, do you still have that list?

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

JamesShort wrote:

Michael Czeiszperger wrote:

Yeah, that does make more sense. My M3 has 145K miles on it, and probably needs a bit of maintenance. Do you have a good resource for a checklist? Mine is just a daily driver.

FCAB (the big ones with the lollipop case)
RTABs (with limiter or just get the Powerflex polys which have the limiter built in)
Vanos rebuild
Check ball joints on front lower control arms (replace asap if loose)
Trans mounts
Engine Mounts

Actually Michael, I remember the previous owner of your car doing a lot of the poly/rubber items just before you bought it, do you still have that list?

Yup, I've got the list, but those were at 90K, and its now 145K.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9450695/M3%20C ... istory.pdf

In the past year I've:

* Replaced the steering rack (leaking)
* Replaced the oil pan (cracked).
* New rubber engine mounts (the poly engine mounts were completely disintegrated)

steve remchak · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:36 am

Vanos rebuild? Seriously?

Seems to me this would be a "only as needed" maintenance item.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:48 am

Mike,

Doesn't polyurethane squeak with time, especially when wet? I have a 35 year old piece of Delrin in my office here as a decoration (I guess) that I bought to make some bushings on my Capri way back when. You're welcome to cut a chunk off the end of it if you end up with squeaky-squeaky.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:14 am

steve remchak wrote:

Vanos rebuild? Seriously?

Seems to me this would be a "only as needed" maintenance item.

It's been shown that factory BMW orings and seals wear out and can't hold full oil pressurs in as little as 30k miles.

I did mine in the ZHP at 75k and they felt loose (though I had no noise). Post install and break in, the power is much better

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:34 pm

JamesShort wrote:

It's been shown that factory BMW orings and seals wear out and can't hold full oil pressurs in as little as 30k miles.

Yeah, I know it's like :deadhorse:

but one would expect better quality from "TUDM".

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Vincent Keene wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

It's been shown that factory BMW orings and seals wear out and can't hold full oil pressurs in as little as 30k miles.

Yeah, I know it's like :deadhorse:

but one would expect better quality from "TUDM".

Yeah VK, I was just thinking I already have a bias against Bimmers and these guys aren't helping any at all.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:41 pm

Les Davis wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

It's been shown that factory BMW orings and seals wear out and can't hold full oil pressurs in as little as 30k miles.

Yeah, I know it's like :deadhorse:

but one would expect better quality from "TUDM".

Yeah VK, I was just thinking I already have a bias against Bimmers and these guys aren't helping any at all.

For whatever reason, the VANOS o-ring hardening issues are mostly confined to the 6-cylinder and pre-N version engines. The S62 V8 for example in the E39 M5 isn't known for commonly having this issue even after 100k miles or more of use, nor are the later S85 V10 and S65 V8 engines.

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