Project Land Yacht (BMW 5-series EV conversion)

[jackbauer]

Actually the sound is the 12v power steering pump. The controller switches at 8khz. Barely audible.

[jackbauer]

So I got the cable into the fuel flap for the charge port and installed a 50mm steel reinforced conduit under the car to carry the power and signal cables fore and aft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncgGnydLv_c

[deejaaa]

love the project, from start to now.

[puddleglum]

jackbauer, this is a little off topic to this thread, but would you recommend a 328i as a donor for a conversion?

[jtgh]

the best car for EV is , the lightest.
(and good brakes)

basic physics. work = energy through a distance.
one of the best ever was the old 914
or the old Pontiac Fiero

a 2000 lb steel car, is possible to find. and a great goal. (a Samurai or 2 door Sidekick?)
Shelby Cobra at 2k, lots of old British sports cars, in the day.

even better is a dune buggy. .convert.
better than that is built from scratch, like a home built air craft. (tube frame,alum. etc)
Fill all the frame tubes with helium. (funny, and if ballsy, Hydrogen)

and this question, is the #1 questions. Congrats on , finding it. Under 2k.(before bats)

[puddleglum]

Originally Posted by jtgh

the best car for EV is , the lightest.
(and good brakes)

I really don't want to hijack this wonderful thread. I only posted this here because I had a specific question about BMW's. I will say this though. While your comment may be generally true, it is not true for all. I appreciate your reply, but some of us, like me, would find a two passenger car totally useless. I absolutely MUST have a 4 door car that will hold three adults and has a strong enough driveline, and a large enough engine bay to house an 11" motor with a 23" shaft length. That is why I wondered about a BMW. I think it is about as small and light as I can possibly go, and it may be too small.

[jtgh]

most wasted fuel is 1 passenger drivers, but as in all things in life. there are exceptions...
towing a boat? etc. etc.
for sure there are light 4 passenger cars.
what kills the final joy of any EV, is the short range. (and worst , long charge times)
if that is not an issue (range), then you can EV anything.

a side issue is , keep the RAV4 for weekends and commute in a EV . (light)
good luck on your build.

[jackbauer]

Sorry for the lack of updates folks I've been busy getting settled into a new job and with some more spare money around I've re evaluated some of the design decisions I had been working out. For example instead of spending a week making a coolant header tank out of a blowtorch propane bottle and some hose tails I picked up a nice shiny ali tank on ebay. So it has put a delay on things just waiting for bits to arrive but will pickup pace. Two weeks ago I took a trip up to Northern Ireland to visit a specialist BMW breaker and picked up some nice bits very cheaply. On an impulse I bought a complete leather interior out of a just arrived 530i. There was some logic behind this as the cloth interior was quite faded and the previous owner's baby had vomited in the back and I never could get rid of that smell

So here is my ham fisted attempt at a leather seat swap in an E39 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13wQq_et6bY

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jackbauer

On an impulse I bought a complete leather interior out of a just arrived 530i. There was some logic behind this as the cloth interior was quite faded and the previous owner's baby had vomited in the back and I never could get rid of that smell

No wonder I like vinyl interiors, the easiest ones to clean. BTW have you never tried either Lysol or Creoline to remove the vomit smell? Or some products specific to clean odors from pets?

[jackbauer]

I tried a few car upholstery cleaners with some success but the smell always came back! Gone for good now though. Got the controller liquid cooling system installed and running :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8h9oro4hVQ