240d insanity is contagious
 

This thread has been officially inspired by Dropnosky.

So someone had posted on the CL alert thread a china blue 240d for sale in Austin. VSTech had mentioned that someone around here should go look at it.

I did, at first, for the forum members. When no one gave him a reasonable offer, he reposted the car as 'first $500' take it home. Needless to say I had $500 I didn't mind parting with.

That car was a bit dirty, but over all it just needed a new alt belt, needs engine mounts and clutch hydraulics worked on. (been reading threads on the last part)

It's a cute little car. As soon as we get the title worked out (PO never transferred into his name, now I can't transfer to mine. This may be a big headache) it goes to the farm to be slowly worked over in time for my mother's fall birthday. She needs better MPG on her 70mile round-trip commute.

Two things I'm bugged about:

1. An additional Amsoil EF-90 filter has been added to the oil circuit. Ties into the back of the oil filter housing and the side of the pan. This could be a PITA.

2. Looks like one of the POs tried to add in a manual switch for the A/C compressor. Don't know what's wrong with this, but A/C is not blowing cold right now.

Need to get motor mounts, valve adjust and fluids all changed before I go working on creature comforts.

Awesome! Nothing like a POS 240 in your hands! though that one looks pretty nice. Congratulations!

Yeah. Not nearly the rust I've seen in your thread :D

Nothing wrong with additional oil filtration. could that be BP instead of EF?
that might be a bypass filter. filters down to 2micron.

looks like you have a nice project, the end results should look good.
your Mother will be proud of you :)

Charlie

It is a bypass filter. I guess added filtration is not a bad thing. I'm just hoping this isn't a veggie car. return lines are shot...

How goes the work? I think I just barely turned the corner from "POS" to "old car" on mine this weekend.

It goes well.

I got all the compost cleaned out. Found out that both hood hinge mounts (bottom) were rusted out and will need to be re-welded. Found a little more rust in the driver's rear floorboard at the drain hole as well. Nothing a little cut-off wheel and welder can't fix.

Parents drove down today to pick it up. Actually looked very nice up on the trailer.

When I got the car up on stands last night in preparation for the exodus to the farm, I found that both clutch cylinders looked new. Gold (unknown brand) and not black like the FTE I just got. Not sure if I trust them though. We took a stab at bleeding the ones currently installed and couldn't get the clutch to stay up and keep the car from stalling out. I had a few drunk nights like that back in college. :D

So, since there's no rush to get it on the road, we're considering pulling the drive train and checking everything. Think Konstan's thread. There are oil leaks in a few places (not all the same places my 617 does), the mounts are shot anyhow and I need to really look over the clutch and pressure plate.

I guess we could do our best to get the clutch hydraulics working and then do some test drives to see what nasty sounds we get out of it... Who knows. It should be arriving at the farm soon. And it may be a few weekends before I get up there. With only have a few minutes here and there over the last week to look it over, it's kind of hard to make heads or tails of how we want to approach it. Once it's at the farm and we can really do some stuff, it will be more clear. I'd be happy with new motor mounts and a working clutch at this point. I still can't find a good DIY on the clutch bleeding. Lots of posts, but most are hard to follow. And I didn't want to pull either cylinder to check them while it was at the house.

The good news so far, is that both parents thought the car looked great and agreed to pay me back the $500. :thumbsup:

Not to mention, I'm also glad to have the wagon parked back BEHIND the door again.

I've got a camera setup coming from Costco this week to catch the teenage arseclowns that greased me this last week. I've not yet released all of the anger from that event. (but my door handles are still nice & black)

I need to find a cheap one in DFW for my brother.