Oh, Joy. Today's project....

Pilgrim · January 23, 2010, 10:10:04 AM

...is replacing the crankshaft position sensor and water pump on my wife's 1994 BMW 325i. It's dead in the garage and the sensor seems to be the problem.

Estimate in manual: 5 hours.

My rule for everything: figure out the longest it could take, then double it and add half.

1 hour job = 2.5 hours, minimum.

Dave W · January 23, 2010, 10:18:10 AM

And that's only if nothing goes wrong.

OldManC · January 23, 2010, 10:19:20 AM

Ouch! Good luck with that. You're not doing it out in the cold, are you? I even hated working on my car in Southern California winters. Pain from busted knuckles grows exponentially with the drop in temperatures below 70 degrees...

Highlander · January 23, 2010, 10:51:28 AM

I have some friends that have spent days working on some things that a garage would fix in an hour or so (because they "love" to do it), but at "shop" prices on Beemers...?

I... do... not... envy... you... one... little... bit...

Al, you have my deepest sympathy...

Pilgrim · January 23, 2010, 10:57:01 AM

Quote from: OldManC on January 23, 2010, 10:19:20 AM
Ouch! Good luck with that. You're not doing it out in the cold, are you? I even hated working on my car in Southern California winters. Pain from busted knuckles grows exponentially with the drop in temperatures below 70 degrees...

No, of course not. I'm in our garage and after the propane heater has run for an hour, it's nearly 40 degrees! I can hardly even see my breath. Practically tropical in there.....

And I'd rather a shop did this, but I don't want to pay $500 in labor to replace a $70 sensor.

Update: after 2 hours of the heater running, it's 45..and I haven't broken any parts yet.

Oh-oh, probably shouldn't have written that...

OldManC · January 23, 2010, 12:09:00 PM

Well, godspeed my friend!

Highlander · January 23, 2010, 12:56:00 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on January 23, 2010, 10:57:01 AM
Oh-oh, probably shouldn't have written that...

(I would probably make a gesture or two to your chosen Deity, and set a Gremlin trap, quick...)

Grog · January 23, 2010, 01:08:37 PM

Quote from: OldManC on January 23, 2010, 10:19:20 AM
Ouch! Good luck with that. You're not doing it out in the cold, are you? I even hated working on my car in Southern California winters. Pain from busted knuckles grows exponentially with the drop in temperatures below 70 degrees...

Working on cars on a cold winter day in Minnesota is a bit worse.

I don't think cold hand tools ever warm up some days, no mater how long you preheat the garage, at least you don't sweat much!

Pilgrim · January 23, 2010, 01:17:41 PM

Good news - the sensor I thought was bad did indeed test bad - took me around 2.5 hours just to figure out how to reach it. But now I'm headed out to pick up the replacement...and the garage is over 50. I think I can have it back together in less than 2 hours.

I will have earned a brew tonight.

Highlander · January 23, 2010, 01:21:16 PM

It's PILGRIM-TIME...

TBird1958 · January 23, 2010, 01:25:14 PM

B.M.W.

=

Break
My
Wallet

So says my brother

Pilgrim · January 23, 2010, 05:41:42 PM

Quote from: Kenny Five-O on January 23, 2010, 01:21:16 PM
It's PILGRIM-TIME...

HOO-WAH!

Done, car runs like a watch and all is well. Total elapsed time, about 7 hours...but much of that was spent learning my way around the motor. First time I've had to work on it. Actual time on sensor replacement, about 3-4 hours. Total cost: $70.

Now for a shower and Miller time!

Nocturnal · January 23, 2010, 09:50:37 PM

Job well done!

Pilgrim · January 23, 2010, 10:09:26 PM

Quote from: Kenny Five-O on January 23, 2010, 01:21:16 PM
It's PILGRIM-TIME...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrqlP6hzofE&feature=related

Dave W · January 23, 2010, 11:49:06 PM

(as Tom Doniphon): Pilgrim, hold it. I said you, Valance. You pick it up.