Anyone know anything about BMW E30s?

[engybenjy]

I dont 'spose any of you lot know much about E30's??

 

[Country Joe]

A fellow on here who goes by the name of drjim has a couple of them, if I remember correctly - uses them as track day cars.
I expect he'll see this soon enough, but if not, this is him!

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=2628

CJ

 

[daf45]

I had a couple "back in the day". What exactly did you want to know???
Rear wheel drive and a bit of a handful in the wet.
Six cylinder's were smooth - 323i's and 325i's but could be smokey or tapetty.
The fours were generally underpowered with exception of 318is which many thought was the best.
The rusty areas tended to be inner sills and boot floor near the inner arches.
There will be loads of stuff on the net - they have a strong following. If you want a mint one google old colonel cars.

 

[Sam]

Not had an E30 but had a couple of E36's what is the problem?
Picked up an E36 the end of January this year that had lay in a garden for three years intending to make a quick buck but ended up keeping it.
As stated the usual rust around the arches the last one i had the bottom or the door started to rot and the turrets in the rear were starting to go.
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9745

 

[michael1703]

just fixed a 325i for a customer, some basic parts were a bit pricey :0

 

[Sam]

I replaced the ball joint £9 four vented discs (Lockheed) and pads £87 was happy at that would have been treble that if it was for a bike. I think the newer models are more expensive for parts.

 

[drjim]

I have e21's which are the previous model. I do know a bit about 80's BMW's though.
http://www.e30zone.net is a good place for info.

What do you need to know?

 

[JayRS4]

I know nothing about them, but in the coming months i`ll be dropping a turbo`d M5 engine into one, if i can`t convince the owner a V8 would be better

 

[engybenjy]

I have e21's which are the previous model. I do know a bit about 80's BMW's though.
http://www.e30zone.net is a good place for info.

What do you need to know?

Ive been on there for quite a while now It was just a general post as I'm having fun with my speedo. i.e. Its not working !! Sounds like dry/broken solder joint. Will swap the unit out and see where that takes me.....
E21's rock 323 FTW

 

[drjim]

Have you checked the sensor on the diff? It's more exposed to road dirt etc than the speedo itself. What e30 is it, which OBC do you have, and is it the SI board battery - the speedo in my 635CSI died because the SI batteries were dead.

e21's rock but I mainly have 316es - one has the standard 1.8 one is a S14 throttle bodied 2L track car, and the third is a Baur with a dead 2L M20 - thinking of sticking an M42 in it to maintain my 4 pot collection (the 635CSI doesn't count, only 3 series should be 4 pots!)

Anyway back on topic, check the sensor first. You need to check that it gives pulses of current as you spin the wheels, same as an ABS sensor.

Jim

 

[Jackle]

I'll second drjim's suggestion. I had the same trouble on my previous E30 (325), the wires running from the plug in the diff had gone brittle and broken.

Ended up changing the plug and splicing on a new section of wiring.

Oh, and definately get on to http://www.e30zone.net, lots on information, and a very friendly helpful group of people!

 

[engybenjy]

a very friendly helpful group of people!

Hahahaha! Yeah some of them are! There's a lot of idiots as well though
Ive replaced a good section of cable but I believe its the speedo unit itself.
They do occasionally suffer from dry solder joints, this is typified by the odometer turning very slowly or occasionally.
Anywho, we'll see......

 

[engybenjy]

one is a S14 throttle bodied 2L track car,
Jim

Not a red one is it.......I seem to remember seeing one on the Zone a while back........
e24 635csi :drooooolll: