Dumb Question Thread - No Flaming Allowed

[Slideways]

Have a proper dumb question for this thread this time; when removing the axle from the differential does any diff fluid come out? Need to repair the inner cv joint boot and was wondering if I’ll need to have some Castrol diff fluid handy or it’s actually a sealed unit and I'm being dumb?

You won't lose any diff fluid. The output shafts are bolted to the drive flanges on the differential, so they just get unbolted. Now if you want to replace the flange seals on the differential, then you might lose some diff fluid.

[BigRussia]

Have a proper dumb question for this thread this time; when removing the axle from the differential does any diff fluid come out? Need to repair the inner cv joint boot and was wondering if I’ll need to have some Castrol diff fluid handy or it’s actually a sealed unit and I'm being dumb?

[Cubieman]

I think so. You have to get it hot enough, but steel is easier to work with than any alloy.

You have a proper torch?

A long pry bar or something would be good to give you the leverage. One end down below that step, then the otherside of that step will be your fulcrum. I like your idea of pulling too. I would mock it up and practice first. Can this fit into a vice or can you make a quick jig or something to hold the whole thing? Maybe even in-situ if you had to.

Or take it and an 18 pack to a local muffler shop.

Unfortunately the best torch I have is MAP gas, I think I can vise that bitch up and give it a go. I just worry about cracking the welds, it bent one way (likely from a crash) now I am bending it back.

I do like how the resonators are clamped on so worst case I can just delete them or get new resonator as both sides are bent up. The exhaust is likely going to be super tame with 2 sets of resonator but the M6 isn't getting high end shit, that's for the 3 series.

[Tbonem3]

I think so. You have to get it hot enough, but steel is easier to work with than any alloy.

You have a proper torch?

A long pry bar or something would be good to give you the leverage. One end down below that step, then the otherside of that step will be your fulcrum. I like your idea of pulling too. I would mock it up and practice first. Can this fit into a vice or can you make a quick jig or something to hold the whole thing? Maybe even in-situ if you had to.

Or take it and an 18 pack to a local muffler shop.

[Cubieman]

I bought a used full exhaust system for my M6, supposedly Dinan, at least the mufflers. My issue is that one of the resonators is bent on the outlet side.

I don't know much about metal, welds etc. so I wondered if this could be fixed by me maybe with some heat/pliers/leverage.

[Acarv_426]

Adaptations get reset when the battery is undone as well. You'll be fine. Will take some time for smog monitors to set.

Appreciate the info. Thanks Tbonem3

[Tbonem3]

Adaptations get reset when the battery is undone as well. You'll be fine. Will take some time for smog monitors to set.

[Acarv_426]

I was running INPA and the laptop slid off my lap. I accidentally pressed F7 reset adaptations while the car was running. How screwed am I? Thanks

[oceansize]

1. Are there any non Genuine BMW center support bearings that are as good and lower cost? (Yes I know they are only like $150 to start with)
.

Might want to check your local BMW dealer as getbmwparts is $20 cheaper.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-parts/bmw-center-bearing-26122282495

[Slideways]

I need to do the driveshaft center bearing, and MAYBE the driveshaft CV joint. Long story short, I have a clunking sound after leaving my driveshaft not properly supported for a long period of time while doing my RACP. Stupid, I know. I'm inclined to believe, or at least, hoping, the center support bearing is the culprit.

1. Are there any non Genuine BMW center support bearings that are as good and lower cost? (Yes I know they are only like $150 to start with)
2. Are any of those fasteners one time use only? Or can I reuse everything?

I am going to try just doing the center bearing first, and if the clunking problem persists, then I'll drop the shaft and do the CV joint. So I'm hoping I can reuse everything if I need to drop it all twice.

The Rein branded one on ECS appears to have the BMW logo ground off. Unfortunately, they seem to be NLA. If you cannot source that one, you might have to go genuine.

[Nate047]

I need to do the driveshaft center bearing, and MAYBE the driveshaft CV joint. Long story short, I have a clunking sound after leaving my driveshaft not properly supported for a long period of time while doing my RACP. Stupid, I know. I'm inclined to believe, or at least, hoping, the center support bearing is the culprit.

1. Are there any non Genuine BMW center support bearings that are as good and lower cost? (Yes I know they are only like $150 to start with)
2. Are any of those fasteners one time use only? Or can I reuse everything?

I am going to try just doing the center bearing first, and if the clunking problem persists, then I'll drop the shaft and do the CV joint. So I'm hoping I can reuse everything if I need to drop it all twice.

[Zekarus]

I'd like to know how to check if the original engine is still present in the car. Buddy of mine is selling a car with a swapped motor and I'd like to help him disclose that. Is there an engine serial number plate with part of the chassis VIN in it, or is this confirmed another way?

yes you can check the number on the block. it's engraved and you can see on the picture where. just turn in the right front wheel, don't need to jack up the car. with the number and the vin you can at least check if it's the original block. you can go to BMW or you can try to ask free car dealers with access to a car data base.

[PSUEng]

I'd like to know how to check if the original engine is still present in the car. Buddy of mine is selling a car with a swapped motor and I'd like to help him disclose that. Is there an engine serial number plate with part of the chassis VIN in it, or is this confirmed another way?

[sbay]

I'm sure someone else who has done a headgasket will chime in, but I would not overthink this and you really can't go back and redo it. If you marked a line on the bolt, you can come back and check that it is still in the same position in a few hundred or thousand miles to satisfy the OCD. If the cams are in, even more incentive to keep going forward. You also used a techangle and it is hard to mess up with one of those.

Thank you, that’s a good idea…I’ll just monitor the line and send it.

[Slideways]

I was tightening the cylinder head bolts and one of them, number 12 in the diagram, was just a little easier on the resistance side than the rest of them. I was still able to get the 30nm+90+90 degrees, I used a snapon techangle, but it just was smooth unlike the rest had which had more of a tight/clamping feel. I cleaned the bolt holes and used compressed air beforehand but now I'm rethinking if somehow maybe there was residual brake clean or I lubed up the threads with too much oil (used an oil can and just went down the threads, not much imo). It could just be OCD. Any experiences with this/insight?

I'm sure someone else who has done a headgasket will chime in, but I would not overthink this and you really can't go back and redo it. If you marked a line on the bolt, you can come back and check that it is still in the same position in a few hundred or thousand miles to satisfy the OCD. If the cams are in, even more incentive to keep going forward. You also used a techangle and it is hard to mess up with one of those.