3-Series (E21, E30)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1975-1983 and 1984-1991 line. Specific models: BMW 315, BMW 316, BMW 318, BMW 318i, BMW 320/4, BMW 320i, BMW 320/6, BMW 323i, BMW 320i. E30 Family models include: BMW 325e, BMW 325i, BMW 325is, BMW 325ix.
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I just bought a 1981 320i as a project car and dd. I have a few questions.
1. I am located in Atlanta. Is there any good salvage yards for this car? I am trying to convert the interior to leather down the road. I am also want to put some disc brakes on it and it need a new dash since mine is cracked. One specific piece I am looking for is the face plate to the AC/heat controls. If any one has that piece or knows where I can find it that would be awesome.
2. When ever I start the car on a cold start the engine RPMs will fluttery up and down. I have even had the car stall. However once the temp crosses above the blue it sits perfectly at 1000. Anyone have any ideas what it could be?
Thank you guys so much here are some pics of my ride.
It cuold be your warm up regulator,auxiliary air regulator. But i think it is your thermo timing valve it reads temp of the coolant.The cold start valve wk in conjunction w the heat/time switch to provide extra fuel when motor is cold.Depending on the coolant temp the motor will idle up and down until the coolant is warm. I know it only does it on the frist start of the day after that it is good. Until it has been sitting over night happens again.Heat time switch is cheap and is located at coolant twin branch assembly at the front of the head were the hoses go to the rad and water pump. Looks like a brass spark plug. Good luck!
It cuold be your warm up regulator,auxiliary air regulator. But i think it is your thermo timing valve it reads temp of the coolant.The cold start valve wk in conjunction w the heat/time switch to provide extra fuel when motor is cold.Depending on the coolant temp the motor will idle up and down until the coolant is warm. I know it only does it on the frist start of the day after that it is good. Until it has been sitting over night happens again.Heat time switch is cheap and is located at coolant twin branch assembly at the front of the head were the hoses go to the rad and water pump. Looks like a brass spark plug. Good luck!
Cool I will look for heat time switch. Is install pretty easy?
It should spin all the time it is not a clutch fan, when the motor is turning it should also be turning.As for the thermo unit it comes out 1 2 3 ez as that. I have owned 7 of these cars and I love them because they r the under dog. I know these cars inside and out. I run a 40,40 down draft carb on 83 320i that auto x with.Sway bars H&R springs Bils shocks header and some other goodies. With the carb set up the car pulls like a pit bull on crack! there is so much u can do with this car keep your mind open.
Yea I looked at the fan infront of the radiator and it wasnt moving so I got to get that checked out. Your car sounds sick man got any pics? I want to do something like that to mine but first I want to bring it back to perfect condition. It needs paint and new carpet. I also think there might be some water leakage because the carpet on the driver side is a little discolored. What would you recommend doing first as far as performance? I have been looking for after market parts like exhaust and headers but I dont know where to look.
I would go w a K&N air filter so the car can get more air. Korman autoworks has headers for that car last i looked it was about $135 uesd great price,new $450. do the math.I use a magna flow muff,sounds sick!Bavarian autosport is the place 2 go a lot of 320i stuff. try also Top-end performance, very hard core. U stated u looked in front of the rad that fan is for cooling the motor while the ac is on. The fan I am talking about is the one that is on the water pump,it should have 4 blades. I make a lot of the stuff 4 my car cool air intake was the one thing that made a big change in the cars perfor.since i hav a carb now i do not use it and i have other little tricks.If u need anything let me know, it will cost u nothing if i have and i am not using it u can have. Iamnot about the $$$$$ Iam about the BMW!!!!!!! BABY
Good to see someone else fell into the restoration hobby. I have a 1981 320i and I noticed that someone decided to make yours look like the euro version by putting a model emblem on your grille. I had a 318i and literally went through every mechanical part/ electrical part known in that car. I sold it the day the idle control module went, again! That was the first part I replaced. This car is really a good one if you do your own work: the parts are not expensive and the complexity is not that high. Looking forward to swapping repair/restoration stories with you!!
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