Hello everybody! New to the forum

[srotaG adirolF]

I bought it from a friend for $200 and it's in good condition considering the age.
There isn't any "cancer cells" on the bodywork. I have to borrow a friend's lift to check out the undercarriage for any rust areas. The front spoiler along with the fog lamps fell off the car a few years ago on the freeway. He didn't replace it, so I'll find the part from the junkyard and replace it.
There's some parts that have dry rotted (like the tag light cover), the valves need to be adjusted, and when the car is in motion, there's like a "skip" or a "lunge" in the engine. Somebody told him it's the transmission slipping, but I've never heard of problems in the AT of an E-30 going bad, especially when you change your Automatic Transmission oil regularly.
The questions I have for the forum is 1)is there any special instructions on how to change the timing belt? 2)the temp gauge works for a little while, then goes haywire, then quits. How do you fix that problem? Is it just a broken weld or wire that's connected to that thing? 3)the odometer quit working. The components that are monitored by the onboard computer that ties into the odometer (trip distance, mpg) don't work. How do I solve this problem?
What is the valve clearance set for the eta motor? How do I "bump" the motor and set the valves at the same time?
I'll be hanging around the forum; looks like it's a very informative. Hopefully i can contribute some things to the forum.
Thanks in advance.

[Gulelin]

Can't help with your questions though, I could only guess at the easy stuff, and the other stuff is over my head=)

[srotaG adirolF]

Originally posted by Gulelin@Aug 25 2004, 02:36 PM

Can't help with your questions though, I could only guess at the easy stuff, and the other stuff is over my head=)

LOL...thanks for the welcome.

BTW, I'll be doing the work myself. The more complicated stuff I'll send to the shop.

[spiff325is]

welcome aboard my good friend.

[seandaly]

No good answers for you, but I asked a similar question about intermittent gauges (temp, odo, etc) in this thread: http://www.bmw-forums.com/forum/topic20011.html
So check there too for responses. Seems that changing the Li batt and checking connections on backside of cluster seems to be the starting point.

I just bought my '86 325 a few days ago myself and plan to do considerable repair to it. I've already ordered, and anxiously await my deliveries from Bav Auto and Turner for a bunch of stuff, including new timing belt (and accessory belts), valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, etc. Just ordered the RB service manual for the E30 too. So, I should be able to provide better information next week when everything arrives. My plan is to do a thorough engine inspection when I change these belts and gaskets, and adjust the valves, and depending on what I find, I may just pull the motor and rebuild it. Motor is still strong, but it's weeping oil like mad, and burning some too (not much, but small poofs of smoke occasionally on hard accel--prob. rings). May just do whole top-end rebuild since the head prob. needs new guides, etc. too. Will perform leakdown test first to confirm.

If the skipping is most noticeable at steady speed in 1st or 2nd gear, maybe the motor's surging a bit and just needs a valve adjust.

[witeshark]

Welcome to the forum! The timing belt is a fairly big job, but that's about all I know on it Hope it works out all good for ya! B)

[dubes1982bmw320i]

BMW-Forums is the best thing ever. And that the best 200 you probably ever spent. BMW's are like wine, it only gets better with age.

[gotKRAUT]

welcome to our lil nook of the forums feel free to look around and ask anything you want. :P

[e30devo]

YES!!! another 86 325es. welcome!

[gotKRAUT]

Originally posted by e30devo@Aug 26 2004, 12:59 AM
YES!!! another 86 325es. welcome!

dude shuttup yours is a wolf in sheeps clothing you damn sleeper...

[e30devo]

wont be a sleeper for long with your mouth runnin all the time!

[gotKRAUT]

its posted on your freaking info MR M20-B25 inside.....

[e30devo]

shut up...

[gotKRAUT]

Originally posted by e30devo@Aug 26 2004, 01:08 AM
shut up...

:nana

[ldsbeaker]

Welcome. I have had my '86 325es since april... a grand total of 4 months... but yeah, i've already put bout 6000 miles on it... I did the whole tune up thing.. figured I might as well do it while I was doing the timing belt.. cost about 400 in parts and about 12 hours... (yeah, I'm slow, but she started up first time) Anyways, that timing belt is not that hard, I don't consider myself a gear head or anything, and I did it... however, as soon as I took the belt off... the temp went up about 20 degrees... Last thing I wanted to do was mess it up... anyways, one thing I would definitely do is make sure you have that 32mm wrench or some kind of substitute.. that can definitely bring your project to a screeching halt.... , oh and by all means.. take that hood off!! That makes things a thousand times easier to get to. I haven't done the valve adjustment, but definitely need it... If you search this site, you'll find plenty of helpful tips. Or you can just use a Haynes or better yet, the Bentley Manual. I have both, and the BMW Enthusiast's Companion... The Bentley can definitely stand alone, it has EVERYTHING, but I have all three, and it's nice to have that much literature... I've got that surging/stumbling too.. I'm thinking it's a combination of maybe a couple vacuum leaks, Temp sensor/switch, O2 Sensor, and probably a plugged catalytic converter. I'm working on getting this stuff fixed, and I'll let you know if it works.... I love my car, and drive it like it's supposed to be driven..... LIKE IT'S STOLEN!! Anyways, two heads are better than one, so if you have any problems, I check this forum fairly often. You probably have some knowledge I don't have either, so it can work both ways....


p.s. this forum is great, but you can also sign up for the r3vlimited.com board. I think this forum is a lot more mature, mostly they talk shit on that board (sorry to anyone that offends, if the shoe fits, wear it) There is a fairly large following for e30 BMWs, so information is more than available.

sorry for the novel


Drive on, Bimmerheads.