glamis, what does bmw charge? the online places I found are about $4 for the kawi ones.

Bat

 

bat, you shouldn't have wasted your money on the manual, it contains no info on how to adjust the valves. just the items you need for adjustment and what you have to remove to get to the cams--- big deal!!!! i do have the step by step instuctions on my website.

 

i got mine for $3.00, like i said though the local shops both charged $10.00 a shim. i guess they don't want to lose the maintenance money.

 

I am very mechanical, done just about everything mechanical at one time or another. I do like to have a diagram in front of me though. That is the main reason for the manual. I buy one for every vehicle I buy. It usually comes in handy at one time or another.

I have read your website and it looks good to me. You just did the install of a piston and cams not too long ago didnt you. Do you have any tips for me.

Thanks
Bat

 

Bat,
I get my shims from BMW,$2.50 a pop and normally in stock.
The old shims are fun to get out,a strong magnet works good or a quick blast with an air gun.
The hole job can be done in 3 hrs,but normally 4. Not counting the time going to get the shims[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
Pay attn.to the torque specs,once snapped a head bolt(too many beers and friends around during the install)
Jeff

 

Thanks for the info guys.

I don't have a local source that I have found yet. So, if you were going to try and have some on hand what sizes would you get. I know that it could be anywhere in the range, but what are the most popular sizes?

Or I may just wait until I get the everything installed and measure and then order, but I would rather have them on hand and be able to install everything and get it up and running again.

Thanks
Bat

 

Bat,
If you dont mind waiting,install the cams....check your clearances then see if you can swap some shims.Then order or pick up the ones you really need.
When I did my first RW stage 2 I was able to swap around the shims and only had to go buy 2 shims [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
Who knows maybe you will get lucky!
Jeff

 

Jeff, thanks, but luck does not run in my family. I am usually the one that if something can go wrong it usually does.

I was installing a ring and pinion in my jeep and had read that on occasion the pinion gear could be very hard to get out of the housing. Most all said that it had not happened to them, but of course for me it would not budge. I used all the tricks and finally had to resort to packing the diff housing with dry ice. After about 5 minutes, I got all the ice out and the pinion slid right out. What a pain, I spent about 2 hours trying to get the thing out and after 5 minutes it came right out.

That was a couple years ago, but as you can see I am usually not lucky. But I may still just wait and order what I need, it will save me a few bucks also.

Bat

 

You may already know this but the shims can be taken from one position, and put in another. For instance, the left intake can be installed in the right exhaust if its the correct size need. All shims can be reused as long as its not worn or damaged by the cam. I was lucky when I did mine, after taking from here and puting there I only had to buy one shim to complete the job. In fact the shim I got from the BMW dealer was used because they didn't have the correct size in new.

The cams should be torqued in place before you check valve clearance.
Just my .02

 

Js, I knew that I could reuse them, but with my luck, I will need all 4. I am going to start thinking positive and then maybe I will be lucky and they will all work.

Bat