Today's question: Mileage.
What kind of mileage should I expect from a tank of fuel in my '89 740 GLE
16V?
Thought so. I am not getting there. I am just about through the third tank
since getting this car a few weeks ago, and I am getting something like
maybe 350 KM for 50 litres. Not good enough, I should think.
What would be the likely culprits for poor mileage? The car drives very
well otherwise. Nice and smooth, and somehow I am not tempted to drive like
a speed demon in this car.
* * * * *
On another note, replaced the radius arm and sway bar link bushings
yesterday. The originals (I think they must have been originals) were SO
done. It took quite a bit of effort to remove the old radius arm bushings.
14 years had turned them into something like carbon concrete. I took a
dremel to the control arm afterward to get them cleaned up. I found it
impossible to get the replacement urethane bushings seated and compressed
well enough to get the original bolt back in place, so went out and got a
couple more bolts a little longer so I could get the system back together.
As I imagine the new bolts are not as hardened, I will put the originals
back in a few days when the bushings are really seated.
Quite a wonderful difference in the car. Before, every expansion joint and
crack was felt right up through the car, now the front end feels quite nice
and tight, and a little forgiving on those cracks.
I had also bought the pivot-end bushings for the radius arms, but found that
no amount of banging was going to get the old ones loose from their rusty
home. They actually looked okay, and all the writing on the web suggests
they would probably not need replacing, I just left them there.
Similarly, I also bought the bushing for the insde end of the control arm,
but could not see how you could get the end of the control arm free, because
the steering rack is in the way of removing the large bolt. Anyone have
some advice for that one, other than leave things be?
Now there is only a little of the 14 year old looseness to the front end. I
think in the spring I may do some front struts on the car, and will get at
the strut mount bearing then.
I love this car.
Cheers
RF
