My Dirty E30 Slut Project...

[Whitie]

Ok... Heres the story behind this lovely lady... I bought it from a crap-o-lot car dealer for 1200 (they saw me coming... ) and it was running for 4 days then quit. During the 4 days it was running i fixed everything that i could find and was easily fixed. Changed the oil, checked the fuses, un-stuck the drivers side window... You know... the little things.

Well, day 4 i got a little excited about finally driving an E30 instead of my old german tank (E23 733i) so i dropped the clutch and swung the rear out coming out of my friends driveway.... Stupid move. I got the car back home, and as i pull in, it just dies. Right there on the spot... nothing. So i get it started again to find that it wont idle at all. So i pull the spark plugs and 5 out of 6 werent bad... a little dirty but nothing i couldnt fix with some WD-40 and a rag. Well... cylinder #1's plug was missing something... What was it missing you ask? It was missing the electrode from the center of the plug... Fantastic. I eventually got the broken electrode out of my cylinder since my mechanic is an ass, but the car still wouldnt idle. I went through EVERYTHING... From thinking it was the timing, then to thinking it was a vacuum leak, and so on. After 2 hours of going threw the list of, "WTFs" i checked the air filter... Dirty as could be. So i swapped it out for a new one and in the process of putting everything back together the cover from the air flow valve in the intake popped off. Hmmm... WTF is this? So i look it up in my Haynes manual which lead me nowhere... But i had my step-dad start the car while i messed with it... And i realized i could bring the car to a perfect idle by adjusting it with my fingers. So i loosened the retaining bolt, adjusted it... And bam... it would idle, run, shut off, start again... I was happy as could be.

But the bad news is, it was leaking coolant when i bought it... I figured it was a cracked hose (cause the hose under the air filter was cracked and such) But i was wrong... Water pump is leaking like a fish tank with a bullet hole. But thats getting replaced in a couple of days so ill be back on the road... YAY!

But enough with the chatter... PICS!



Oh no... faded paint.




Interior is almost mint




And this was my first actually modification of the car... The factory boot was torn to shreds and the knob was falling apart. So i cheaply upgraded it to something that wasnt too rediculous and the knob is quite nice in the hand.

[witeshark]

Very cool!

[325isBMW1988]

Maybe thats what is going on with mine! Mine also came with a "small coolant leak". It was also fine when i bought the car (85mph average on the highway home) then out of no where, fuel pump dies. replace it and it runs fine. now i have a strange starting problem. used an ohm meter on a few sensors, fuel injection coolant temperature didnt have the right reading. replaced it and now my check engine light comes on and my overhead display is highlighting "Coolant". perhaps its a combo of the timing belt and the water pump? hmmm tax money should take car of that.

[k.sidlosky]

very similiar to mine witht the exception of two extra doors and my paint is faded on the roof and trunk deck that hood is mint though good luck with her mine just started nickel and diming me

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

I love it your is like my old e30 not so pretty on the out side with a mint interior and thats all you see when your driving!

[denyo77]

what's that exhaust doing on a six cylinder?

[Whitie]

Originally Posted by denyo77

what's that exhaust doing on a six cylinder?

Im not sure... I asked myself the same thing.

[marti5]

Looks good to me , a quick respray on the faded bits and nice exhaust and your there!!

[denyo77]

Whitie, you better swap it out for a 6-cylinder exhaust, the 4-banger exhausts are restrictive if I remember right
btw is it a 325i or 325e?

[Whitie]

Originally Posted by denyo77

Whitie, you better swap it out for a 6-cylinder exhaust, the 4-banger exhausts are restrictive if I remember right
btw is it a 325i or 325e?

That exhaust isnt a factory BMW exhaust, its actually an exhaust that a local shop put together... I found the receipt for it when i got my glove box off.

And as for the model... Im lost in the woods. It has a 4500 redline so i thought it was a E model... But the engine has been swapped, ECU and everything so i have no idea what it is now.

[FCPGroton]

We have a lot of parts for the E30 that may help with your project:

FCP Groton – Discount Car Parts & Auto Parts- Low Prices | Free Shipping

Best of Luck!

-Max

[Teh Prof]

Very interesting. Good job on sorting out that issue you had.

[silversled]

so that's the base eta engine model. that's the entry level 325, the one without any post designation. I believe it actually has a 2.7 eta motor in it right? As far as I know the designations are as follows; 325 - base, eta motor, base interior (no leather, power, s/r so on and so forth) 325e - same the base 325 but with luxuary items...325es...325e with firmer suspension, and stuff like that. Next came the 325i, that was offered at the same time for a period, yet more expensive....so the base 325 was the least expensive E30 you could buy new.....easiest way to tell is see if the redline is like 4800 RPM....that's an eta engine there....

[silversled]

actually I think I'd rather have the 325 base, less weight, less hassle, better economy and the E engine was tuned for greater low end torque with less horsepower...the result being quicker 0-40 times than a 325i but eventually the i catches up and outruns the e. for everyday urban driving i'd take the e
every time, for flat out desert driving at 90+ mph i'd take the i. the E was a short stoke design intended for the low end grunt...Eta is the greek symbol for efficiency. BMW made the E engine in response to the fuel crisis of the late 70s/early 80s, if you're old enough to remember..... CAFE and stuff like that there.....

[denyo77]

the eta is a formidable engine, you can either leave it stock atnd it will have great mileage for a six-cylinder or tune it and get 210hp + out of it