Gene in NC
07-05-2006, 11:01 PM
A month ago I posted prev experience, and carring both spares in one car.
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/printthread.php?t=22471
Guess what? Didn't put spare in and had failure in the other '89 525. This time 95 deg f, with ac on and fan on full. Same conditions as prev experience.
Everything shut down except a Battery icon on the dash (change frm 12/88 to 4/'89 model). Don't undestand how the icon can be displayed if everything else is shut down.
Anyway, felt lucky to avoid wreck in getting from center lane of six lane freeway to exit lane and off. No turn signals, stop lights, nothing. The batt icon distracted me a bit and slowed reaction to get off at full speed. Traffic flying by on the inside lane nearly took me out.
But, I'm experienced, right?. Popped open the fusible link cover (front top of right strut tower) and there it was in all its oxidized, cracked glory. Holy feces, didn't move the spare to this car. Luckily wifey was available with the spare in her car so disaster was minimized. Note: couldn't get the link to fuse back by pressing it down. Multiple cracks and very fragile at 186k mi.
Take away:
Link will fail. Potential danger even to get off the road. Timing awful and dealer w/o spare.
There is a better way. Carrying spare minimum, replacing and carrying a spare better. If link appears to be oxidized and or is warped from heating cooling cycles, time to replace before it fails.
Here's my offer to make amends. Send me $1.00 and a SASE and I'll send you the most cost effective spare that you may ever own. My actual cost, exclusive of ordering, trip to dealer to pick up, etc is $0.86 each. Would give em away but then everyone would take one, especially if the SASE not required. Also, I'm so far behind on my "honey dos" that need to show that time and effort being minimized.
Take a tip from a two time loser. Lightning can strike twice in the same place.
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/printthread.php?t=22471
Guess what? Didn't put spare in and had failure in the other '89 525. This time 95 deg f, with ac on and fan on full. Same conditions as prev experience.
Everything shut down except a Battery icon on the dash (change frm 12/88 to 4/'89 model). Don't undestand how the icon can be displayed if everything else is shut down.
Anyway, felt lucky to avoid wreck in getting from center lane of six lane freeway to exit lane and off. No turn signals, stop lights, nothing. The batt icon distracted me a bit and slowed reaction to get off at full speed. Traffic flying by on the inside lane nearly took me out.
But, I'm experienced, right?. Popped open the fusible link cover (front top of right strut tower) and there it was in all its oxidized, cracked glory. Holy feces, didn't move the spare to this car. Luckily wifey was available with the spare in her car so disaster was minimized. Note: couldn't get the link to fuse back by pressing it down. Multiple cracks and very fragile at 186k mi.
Take away:
Link will fail. Potential danger even to get off the road. Timing awful and dealer w/o spare.
There is a better way. Carrying spare minimum, replacing and carrying a spare better. If link appears to be oxidized and or is warped from heating cooling cycles, time to replace before it fails.
Here's my offer to make amends. Send me $1.00 and a SASE and I'll send you the most cost effective spare that you may ever own. My actual cost, exclusive of ordering, trip to dealer to pick up, etc is $0.86 each. Would give em away but then everyone would take one, especially if the SASE not required. Also, I'm so far behind on my "honey dos" that need to show that time and effort being minimized.
Take a tip from a two time loser. Lightning can strike twice in the same place.