Hi, I've done it at last. I've aspired to an E9 for years now and I've only just gone and done it! I am the happy new owner of a Chamonix city-pack CSL. Overall it looks to be very solid, but needs some cosmetic attention to get it right. I'm not sure how original it all is so originality will the subject of a few posts I'm sure, once I work out how to post piccies.
Mileage is approaching 130k, but the interior is pretty good, only real interior issue is the nasty set of speakers in the parcel shelf. The car currently has no stereo, and I may end up leaving it that way TBH, and get the shelf re-trimmed in vinyl.
I've a few questions:
how stiff should the gearchange be? it has a 4-spd box, and gears 1, 2 and 3 are pretty hard to shift, especially 1. 1st is easiest to get if the car is still moving slowly, and really tough to get if stationary. Does that indicate clutch drag? (it's just had a new clutch fitted as part of the purchase)
there's a strong smell of fuel when driving with the windows open, so I suspect a weeping hose in the engine bay. Are there any prime suspects for this?
Also fuel related, after a motorway run I noted a fuel smell inside the valve cover (lifted the oil filler cap), does this indicate rich running, I assume this is not normal!!
the car has no rad fan on the water pump, it has a single elec fan in front of the rad which I assume is automatic operation with a coolant temp sensor somewhere. Is this standard? any cause for concern? (I have most of the bits to fit a viscous fan, but I'll only do this if I need to)
on the run home (mostly motorway) the coolant gauge stayed very low, below halfway, again is this normal, I was expecting it to run a bit warmer than this, but it was motorway miles...
there is a single remote brake servo under the bonnet, my old E24 had twin remote servos and I expected E9s to be the same. Is this normal, and how does a single remote servo operate the dual brake circuits?
My car has no underbonnet light or heat proofing, were these omitted from CSLs, or do I need to look to get these replaced?
A PO has modified the headlight system, so all 4 lights come on for dipped beam. I really don't like this and was planning to go back to factory wiring. I have some Cibie CSR lights to go in (hope they fit). Any thoughts or opinions?
Mileage is approaching 130k, but the interior is pretty good, only real interior issue is the nasty set of speakers in the parcel shelf. The car currently has no stereo, and I may end up leaving it that way TBH, and get the shelf re-trimmed in vinyl.
I've a few questions:
how stiff should the gearchange be? it has a 4-spd box, and gears 1, 2 and 3 are pretty hard to shift, especially 1. 1st is easiest to get if the car is still moving slowly, and really tough to get if stationary. Does that indicate clutch drag? (it's just had a new clutch fitted as part of the purchase)
there's a strong smell of fuel when driving with the windows open, so I suspect a weeping hose in the engine bay. Are there any prime suspects for this?
Also fuel related, after a motorway run I noted a fuel smell inside the valve cover (lifted the oil filler cap), does this indicate rich running, I assume this is not normal!!
the car has no rad fan on the water pump, it has a single elec fan in front of the rad which I assume is automatic operation with a coolant temp sensor somewhere. Is this standard? any cause for concern? (I have most of the bits to fit a viscous fan, but I'll only do this if I need to)
on the run home (mostly motorway) the coolant gauge stayed very low, below halfway, again is this normal, I was expecting it to run a bit warmer than this, but it was motorway miles...
there is a single remote brake servo under the bonnet, my old E24 had twin remote servos and I expected E9s to be the same. Is this normal, and how does a single remote servo operate the dual brake circuits?
My car has no underbonnet light or heat proofing, were these omitted from CSLs, or do I need to look to get these replaced?
A PO has modified the headlight system, so all 4 lights come on for dipped beam. I really don't like this and was planning to go back to factory wiring. I have some Cibie CSR lights to go in (hope they fit). Any thoughts or opinions?
