On June 8, 2024, the BMW Car Club of America New Mexico Chapter rolled up their collective sleeves and got hands dirty learning about the basics of maintaining our classic BMWs, led by chapter President Phil Undercuffler. First up was demystifying what could easily be perceived as the arcane art of valve adjustments, diving under the valve covers to play with the eccentric rockers of the M10 (and M30) motors used in many BMWs from the early ‘60s to late 90s, as well as the bucket and shim adjusters used on S38 and S54 engines. Few mechanics working under a clock will care as much about your car as you do, and valve adjustments are one of the best ways to take full ownership of the health and performance of your car.
We had many hands to help demonstrate tasks such as rotating the engine by hand, but really underestimated how many people could fit around an engine bay in a small garage space. Fortunately, Curtis Holloway stepped in and started an impromptu live stream of the session, so folks in the back could better see the details. We talked through the process of performing oil changes and brake fluid flushes, then hightailed it down the scenic backroads of the Paseo Real through old La Cienega, and across Bonanza Creek to catch up with the Z Club for lunch and beers at Beer Creek Brewing.