This is a suicide note.

[Jesda]

My Q45 today decided that two of the MOST DIFFICULT TO REMOVE injectors (5, 6) were going to fail. I printed out Wes's very thorough guide to plenum removal (thank you, thank you, thank you) but failed to read the tools listing completely -- I neglected to buy BAND-AIDS!

So here I sit, hands bleeding and scraped, body aching, wondering why I go through the trouble for a car I'm no longer in love with.

I'm in so much farking pain right now. I just don't want to live anymore. AND ITS STILL NOT DONE!!!!

[Shift_Alabama]

They make Vicodin for that Jesda...and cocaine

[goody90q45]

You're setting us up for your eventual demise on April 1. Starts out as little cuts, then infections, followed by gangreen, amputation, and a quick death. Not biting this year. Wipe the blood off your knuckles and get back to your Q.

By the way, what is the outdoor temp there (wherever there is) today? It's tough to feel anything if it's much below 50 degrees. Easy to get nicked up.

[maxnix]

You know, I didn't have that much problem with skin abrasions.

I think you just have to have an assortment of long extensions.

[audtatious]

I think you just have to have an assortment of long extensions.

Or wear shop gloves?

[Q451990]

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...36117

Get Some!

And if this isn't a set-up for the most elaborate April fools day joke yet, then I feel for you. The plenum is a bear the first time... and the second time... and the third time - it just growls a little less each time... but still a bear.

Heath

[DrewQ45]

I can't even imagine what you are going through.

Makes me glad I live in GA... so far not a singe injector failure at 205K (knock on wood). I've never pulled the plenum.... the hoses will have to spew gas in my eye first. Shoot, I have over 95K on the current plugs. Have a new set sitting in a bag for about six months now. LOL

[Jesda]

I've gotten to a point where I'm just bored and tired of dealing with G50s. The hassle is a lot more fun if there's something new to explore and discover. At this point, it feels like hard, grueling, uninteresting work.

I need a change. I may jump on Lou's "Q for sale" bandwagon. There's a BMW E30 coupe for sale in nice condition.

[ScottJackson]

Yup, I just pulled the plenum on the 93 Q I bought from Chopp. Took me an afternoon but wasn't too terrible. It's a tedious job and I ended up with three short 10mm (head size) bolts left over. That metal tube under the intake that's damn near impossible to get those bolts out of there... yeah, those bolts don't get put back in there because I would hate to take them out again. And that little coolant hose that hooks up to the back and bottom of the throttle body is best put back on with two long pairs of needle nose pliers. One pair to hold the clamp open, the other to grab the hose and put it on the metal pipe. Turns out I didn't have anything under the plenum to fix after all. Oh well, it's just my time and a little of my skin and blood that was sacrificed. My Q that runs has injectors #5 and #6 bad also. I just wish new injectors weren't $170 each. Either that or I wish remanned injectors had fresh coil windings in them.

[Jesda]

This morning I cheated. I used a stack of phone books to prop up the plenum while I snuck underneath with a t-shaped screwdriver and got the injectors out (screws were easy to remove because this is the THIRD SET OF INJECTORS FOR THIS CAR).

Crisis averted. Motoring continues.

Resale value is so low I'd be taking a huge loss (because so much of this car is brand new) if I ever sold it. I'm keeping my eyes open for an E34, E30, Fleetwood, or Seville.

[DrewQ45]

Try changing the brand of gas you buy, even if you think their gas is great. Also change filter if you haven't lately. I remember when you got that car and to have that many injectors failing already points to the fuel.

[AZhitman]

I knida feel your pain, J. I no longer have the same passion for working on mine as I once did.

In fact, I've even kicked around the idea of selling her....

[louiegz]

I've gotten to a point where I'm just bored and tired of dealing with G50s. The hassle is a lot more fun if there's something new to explore and discover. At this point, it feels like hard, grueling, uninteresting work.

I need a change. I may jump on Lou's "Q for sale" bandwagon. There's a BMW E30 coupe for sale in nice condition.

Amen brotha! Get rid of the Q. I see with my Q is that you spend money on it and you don't get the desired effect from the money you spent. Case in point when I did the suspension work and my Q didn't feel like it handled much better. Go Bimmer. Handles better anyway and you can get it stick. E30s are great cars. What engine does the one your looking at has?

[Q45denver]

Also add a bottle of HEET and a little acetone to every tank.

[ScottJackson]

Of course I agree with the "go BMW" sentiment. However, I now have a total of 3 Q45s and only 2 BMWs. Strange how it happens that I just can't pass up a "deal". Not many good condition, running, E30s and E34s around for $1500 or less. My E34 540i is my favorite car and right now it's not running due to a leaky radiator (been a slow leak out the seam between plastic end tank and core for over a year) and a severely leaking passenger side heater core (not a fun job). But I'm trying to get the time to pull the good 4.0L and auto trans. They'll get sold and the money will go toward new radiator and heater cores. Then the rest will buy the last couple parts for my 351C swap and the driveshaft cutting and such to put it in. I'll let you know if I see any good BMW deals.

[lino]

Not many good condition, running, E30s and E34s around for $1500 or less.

That's almost as guaranteed as tax. If you can find one in that price range, buy it!I was willing to pay $8,000-$10,000 for a clean 1991-1992 535i. Near impossible to find in eastern Canada. I gave up after looking at so many poor examples. I have yet to meet a person as stupid as I am with maintenance. If you want to buy a BMW, buy from an entusiast/nut, pay the extra $$ and you will be the ultimate winner with the ultimate driving machine.

But I'm trying to get the time to pull the good 4.0L and auto trans. .

I never knew there was a good Nikasil M60

[lino]

I think you just have to have an assortment of long extensions.

Sometimes it's not the length of the extension, but how you use it

[lino]

I neglected to buy BAND-AIDS!

So here I sit, hands bleeding and scraped, body aching, wondering why I go through the trouble for a car I'm no longer in love with.

I'm in so much farking pain right now. I just don't want to live anymore. AND ITS STILL NOT DONE!!!!

So sorry to hear that The Great Jesda is in Q-pain. Don't give up! I can relate in some ways. I'm sure it will be worth it when it's all done.

If not, maybe I'll see if I can arrange for the nurse to stop by
Modified by lino at 1:11 PM 3/20/2007

[Jesda]

Lino, you can keep her! LOL!

As for the gas issue, the last owner (who had it from 1992-Feb 2006) used only Chevron. The guy before him I dont know, but the first set of injectors was replaced WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR of the car's life. Second set was in the mid 90s, third set a few years later, and now mine, one by one.

The E30 I inquired on has 150k, red coupe, 5-speed M20 I6. Same wonderful little engine as the E34 I briefly owned.

The good news is that the Q is now alive and well, for now.

[lino]

I've gotten to a point where I'm just bored and tired of dealing with G50s. The hassle is a lot more fun if there's something new to explore and discover. At this point, it feels like hard, grueling, uninteresting work.

I need a change. I may jump on Lou's "Q for sale" bandwagon

Maybe you can help this chap since you're bored and tired and are seeking something new and exciting....or simply jump on this wagon.

[lino]

Lino, you can keep her! LOL!

Gee...I was only trying to "help"

The good news is that the Q is now alive and well, for now.

Two thumbs up, one for injector 5 and one for injector 6.

As for the gas issue, the last owner (who had it from 1992-Feb 2006) used only Chevron. The guy before him I dont know, but the first set of injectors was replaced WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR of the car's life. Second set was in the mid 90s, third set a few years later, and now mine, one by one.

That's a lot of injectors. Mine are still original.

The E30 I inquired on has 150k, red coupe, 5-speed M20 I6. Same wonderful little engine as the E34 I briefly owned.

What year and is it an i or an e?

[louiegz]

The E30 I inquired on has 150k, red coupe, 5-speed M20 I6. Same wonderful little engine as the E34 I briefly owned.

Jes, get the E30. In fact, you should have kept the E34. Bimmer Baby!

[ScottJackson]

I never knew there was a good Nikasil M60

Mine doesn't have the Niki block, it's the alusil M60. Doesn't use a drop of oil between changes and the oil stays nice and clean. I'm pulling it because I need more power. The M60 isn't a bad little motor, but I don't think the 5HP30 auto trans can take much more power. The input shaft of the trans is half the diameter of the input of the 4R70W ford auto I'm putting in there, so probably about 3x as strong. I'd like about 450hp in the car and I could probably get that out of the M60 with turbo and alky injection, but I don't think the trans would last all that long with that. So I'm sticking in the 351C ford motor with the 4R70W and it'll be right around 450hp. If I want more, there's plenty of room to make more power with the 351C and a basically stock '99+ 4R70W can handle up to 700hp with only a good converter and shift kit (and a good trans cooler). Life's too short to drive a boring car and I'm getting old at an alarming rate. The other option is to adapt a T56 trans to the 4.0L, get custom pistons or thick head gaskets to drop the compression, add a 65-70mm turbo out back, and get better mileage than with the ford motor while also spinning less rpms. I already have the 351 and 4r70w. It only needs a few gaskets and rocker arms and it's ready to go. Headers will need to be custom and hooking up the BMW accessories is gonna be difficult though. I'll of course do more measuring, but if the accessories and headers appear to be too much difficulty, I may end up doing the 6 speed swap (maybe even just a BMW 6 speed if I can get it cheap enough, but the T56 should hold the power better and have the .50 OD)

[DrewQ45]

My E34 540i is my favorite car and right now it's not running due to a leaky radiator (been a slow leak out the seam between plastic end tank.

Scott,

I had a Toyota with the same issue. I took the radiator out and used some pliers to squeeze each metal tab on the clamp that holds it to the plastic. Tightened up nice and no more leak.

...Drew...

[92Q45guy]

Scott,

I had a Toyota with the same issue. I took the radiator out and used some pliers to squeeze each metal tab on the clamp that holds it to the plastic. Tightened up nice and no more leak.

...Drew...

Bars stop leak does wonders also. But then again, I would'nt want that crap in my heater core

[szh]

Also add a bottle of HEET and a little acetone to every tank.

Please use ISOHEET ... not HEET.

ISOHEET has isopropyl alcohol, and is much safer for your car.

Z

[maxnix]

Also add a bottle of HEET and a little acetone to every tank.

Never HEET, always ISO-HEET!

Actone is just a placebo at best.

[HashiriyaS14]

You're setting us up for your eventual demise on April 1. Starts out as little cuts, then infections, followed by gangreen, amputation, and a quick death. Not biting this year.

Come to think of it, he hasn't ever actually faked his own death on here, but that would be the logical next step.

I guess his brother would come on here with some funeral pictures or something, lol. I can just picture you guys hiding in the bushes taking pictures of a stranger's funeral to try and convince us it was Jesda.