Beiträge von steve

  • head lights

    The heat of the engine and the lamps themselfs make the insulation hard over the years and it brittles.
    Take a look at the wiring both inside the lamp and also along the lamp assembly.
    The wiring is wrapped in a black textile tape which is probably also stone hard.
    Recently I removed this tape from an old lamp wiring and on some parts of it the wires were blank.
    You can also disconnect the connectors on both side and with a multi meter check for shorts.

    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Reversing Camera

    Thanks. I had nothing else to do last night... :laugh:


    I'm not quite sure that you could rely solely on the camera, at least not with the one I'm using. Probably if you would use two cameras on either side of the license plate holder, you could also see the corners but that would mean a more complex monitor system which could put the two images side by side.
    A fish eye might work as well but would probably make it hard to judge distances.


    On the other hand, you could use the passenger side mirror together with the monitor to see that side.


    To put the monitor in the front, one option would be a replacement rear view mirror with a built in display.


    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Hi All !

    Zitat von Nifty50;96917

    There's always one clever clogs isn't there:roll:


    Let's please have a picture then.


    Cheers
    Graham


    Yeah, I know. Sometimes I should just keep my big mouth shut... :mrgreen:
    As I don't want to go even more off topic here, there is a new thread with the images...


    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Reversing Camera

    In another thread Graham asked for Images of my reversing camera, so here are some Photos and Information:

    The camera is part of a license plate holder. (German shop info)

    The monitor is a 3.5” with the mounting base removed. (Shop info)

    I made a little hole on the cover of the license plate lamp so that I could run the cable in the cavity above. It then runs down on the outer side of the rear lamp and enters the rear lamp trough a little hole between the rear lamp housing and the housing seal. This way there is no need to drill holes trough the boot lid. From inside the lamp there is an easy way to the rest of the lamp wiring and to the boot.





    The camera gets its power from the reverse lamp. (Either by tapping the wire directly or by pinning out the wire from the lamp socket and putting it into a single connector with a Y junction.)
    The video wire goes with the rest of the boot lid cables in the boot and from there in to the middle console between the rear seats. (Underneath the "cassette holder", there is enough space for the monitor cables and input box.)

    I mounted the monitor on to the first aid box because of two reasons. As the camera does not cover the corners of the car, I wanted to be able to look either trough the rear window or trough the monitor without turning my head back and forth. (Not to mention that there is no place for a monitor on the dash. Well, not as long as you want to keep everything nice and "original" anyway... ;) )

    This proved to be very effective but needs some training. As the camera was designed to be used with a front mounted display, it mirrors the image. Of course when the monitor looks also forward the sides are exchanged. This is no problem by parallel parking but needs some attention when driving down a road backwards.
    Power to the monitor is coming from the radio. (Also with additional connectors, so no original wire got “harmed” in the process.)

    In my 840 with the black interior I only used a thick Velcro to put the monitor in place as I wanted to be able to remove it quickly. (The monitor has a short cable with a plug to a longer cable, allowing easy removal). I got rid of the base of the monitor and replaced it with a self adhesive Velcro.





    It stays nicely in place, but the Velcro needs to be very tight around the first aid box so for my other car (The summer only Diva :mrgreen:) with the silver gray interior I just hung the Velcro from above.



    I had PDC sensors (also license plate mounted) before but I like the camera much more. Aftermarket PDCs start to beep constantly at 30 cm which is still far away from the other car. The camera on the other hand sits so high that it gives a perfect view to the back.


    (The image of the monitor here is way to bright, due to my photo camera.)

    It doesn't have any Infrared LEDs but the two reversing lights of the E31 give more than enough light for the camera to work. (Not to mention the brake lights.)


    (The garage is pitch dark, only the reversing light are on.)

    The monitor turns itself on as soon as the reverse gear is engaged (because the video signal is only then present) and goes off as soon as the signal is off.
    It takes an afternoon to mount everything but it's not really a big deal.
    If you don't have the proper tool to remove the pins from a BMW connector, try to find an old radio with a telescope antenna. The chances are high that one of the segments fits the job. (It did nicely in my case.)
    The pins are cheap and the connectors for the Y splice can be any used one from any kind of old (80s-90s) BMW wiring loom. The hole thing together was about 140 Euros (per car).

    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Hi All !

    Zitat von Nifty50;96860

    ...
    It will only be a matter of time before one of the electrical wizards on here posts a "how to" on fitting reversing cameras, then we'll all be laughing.



    :mrgreen: Have them on both of my 8's... easy fit... :laugh:

    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Rust a silent killer (of metal that is!)

    Early cars ('90-'91) were better as BMW used steel with lesser quality on later cars.
    Driving on salty roads is of course a major contributor to rust.
    I actualy hear the salt chewing on my car every time I go down the garage... :ahhhhh:

    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Norway 2010 corso to Eagles nest

    In 20 years - to drive your 8 - you probably have to have your own refinery and get your crude oil trough illegal ways. :)
    That will be the time after fossile fuels and before flux compensators...

    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Active Members: 999

    I think there are some other things to consider as well...
    We have here (regardless of the language used) a very friendly community.
    The quality of the posts are high and the tone is very civilized. This, unfortunately is rather unique in todays world wide web.
    Pushing the doors wide open and letting everyone in would inevitably degrade the forums quality.
    A couple of years ago we had our share of the accusing, flaming, banning type of E31 community here in Germany. I'm not too keen on going that road again...


    There is also a legal aspect (at least here in Germany). We have hordes of lawyers, who are greasing the net to find copyright protected content and make lots of money trough this. As long as most of our content is invisible for the ordinary Joes, we can post whatever we like (Pages out of magazines, car ads, etc). Opening these sections to everyone, might bring us many problems.


    There are other, larger 8 series communities on the net in different languages but most of them are quite noisy places. Why do we need to replicate that sort of experience here?


    The 8 series are slowly becoming a real classic sports coupe and as owning one becomes more and more difficult, it attracts more of the real enthusiast (like we are).
    Keeping this enjoyable platform for these enthusiast is what I find important.
    (Please don't misunderstand me: I don't mean some exclusive, luxury, best of the best, look how much I earn type of club here.)
    The words might be improper in this context, but I risk them anyway: I would opt for quality over quantity regarding future user base increase.


    I understand the problem with the current "paying without seeing" concept but there might be solutions to that. Giving an interested guest a limited time (say a month) membership for a small fee would allow a look behind the fence and help with his/her decision of joining the forum our not.
    The help which is offered by the countless experts here is invaluable. Therefore I find a 100 Euro one time payment more than justified, especially if one plans to keep the car for many years. Other clubs charge similar amount of money but each year.
    A combination of a smaller fixed amount and an optional donation part would be also possible.


    This thread seems to collect views and ideas regarding the future of this site, so I hope you don't mind my somewhat different opinion regarding openness.


    Cheers,
    Steve

  • 3 Königstreffen 2012

    Rasthof Würzburg Süd (A3) ab 12.00 Uhr wäre für mich kein Problem.
    Donnerstag sollte auch der Verkehr noch überschaubar sein (im gegensatz zu Freitag).
    Ich freue mich schon auf Euch! :)

    Grüße,
    Steve

  • 3 Königstreffen 2012

    Falls jemand zwei kaputte Xenon Brenner hat, bitte nicht wegwerfen.
    (Ich brauchte die Stecker und die große Gummidichtungen.)


    Ich werde am Donnerstag so um zehn, halb elf aus Wiesbaden losfahren.


    Oh, und frohes Neues! :)


    Grüße,
    Steve

  • Winter. Bring it on.

    Actually it's quite a joy to drive the 8 in the winter... :mrgreen:
    And I don't mean sliding around.
    Due to the sophisticated (and heavy) rear axle and the steptronic gearbox it drives without much drama and feels safe. (Good winter tires are a must, of course).
    It is still a rear wheel drive car, but I find it safer as a 1 or 3 series.
    (Not to mention my old E34 540, which was quite tail happy. :mrgreen:)


    A 2nd 8 is not as expensive as a new small car and for me (trough the Club insurance) it's even cheaper to insure as the old 5.
    So for me there is no reason why not to enjoy it all year long.


    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Rear blind dramas

    Here is a link to a post in the German section with images: >LINK


    Seats and side covers have to come out, unless you have foldable rear seats.
    (On the other hand, even then, removing them makes it easier to remove the side covers.)
    You should try not to remove the C Pillar covers tough. (In contrary to the images.) The fixing tabs brake very easily and it's not really possible to repair them.
    It is possible to remove the self without removing the pillar covers... it's just a bit fiddly... :mrgreen:


    Shelf in the front is held by clips. After unclipping them, slide the shelf slightly forward. Push the top of the sun shade gently trough the opening and slide the shelf forward.
    The sun shade is held by two screws underneath the shelf (accessible trough the boot).
    Disconnect cables.
    Clean and grease the rails.
    Connect cables and test if it works. (Hold it by hand or put the screws back again).
    When putting back the shelf to it's place, take care that the tabs at the rear go back to their place correctly (otherwise it might rattle).
    Now that's a real pain with the pillars still in place, but it's possible. Take your time there.


    Is your car standing on the sun a lot? That might caused the color change of the shelf. Not much you can do about it besides replacing it or putting new fabric on it.
    I don't know if re dying would work or if it would dissolve the glue underneath the fabric.


    Cheers,
    Steve

  • Oh the shame...

    Zitat von NickF;93299

    ...And I thought you 840 boys were of "questionable masculinty" ;)


    You know what the Ladies say: the bigger the engine, the smaller the...
    So with the 840 at least we have our place somewhere in the middle. ;)


    On the other hand, if I follow this logic, you made the right choice! You will be loved by the ladies, just don't tell them that you also drive a V12... :mrgreen:


    And BTW, in my opinion a far cooler choice then a Mini!


    Cheers,
    Steve