New Here with my first E30... a lot of crap going on in this car

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Well I just purchased my first E30 got it very.. I mean very cheap. Never really thought I'd get one let alone a coupe and manual. I've been doing a lot of research here and there. I'm trying to narrow all my findings and figure out exactly what was going on here.

Note: the previous owner I got he carfrom didn't know or gave the car too long to know anything on it. On to the pics

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Here's is a few pics of all the crap I'm dealing with. To my surprise it has a lot of upgrades many of which I have no clue wtf they are lol. From my understanding the head has a 2.5/2.7 stamp which is an I head? And apparently had turbo upgraded Metric Blue bolts? Idk what else was done to it.

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Currently car was running like crap and hard to keep idle. I'm guessing it was due to the turbo chip.

[VitalkaE30]

Congrats on your first e30. Looks like if was turbo'ed at some point. Might wanna do something about that wiring

[Mortification]

Congrats on your first e30. Looks like if was turbo'ed at some point. Might wanna do something about that wiring

Yeah.... I'm guessing they converted the wiring from Jetronic to Motronic I believe? That square plug to round plug conversion. Not sure what those extra plugs on ecu side are for. I'm guessing a FMU?

[squidmaster]

What injectors are in it? What injectors is the tune made for? RacingPros is an ebay brand so take that tune for what its worth.

The car looks like it was starting to get turbod, but they gave up. The manifold is tapped for a MAP sensor or boost gauge, and the oil pan is tapped for return. Both look to be blocked off, which is good.

The wiring is an absolute mess. It looks like someone also started to wire the C101 for a swap (M50 or something) but also gave up on that and tried to put stuff back. Looks like this has been a project car for about 5 different people haha.

It looks like an 88+ i/is model. The head markings agree.

[Mortification]

What injectors are in it? What injectors is the tune made for? RacingPros is an ebay brand so take that tune for what its worth.

The car looks like it was starting to get turbod, but they gave up. The manifold is tapped for a MAP sensor or boost gauge, and the oil pan is tapped for return. Both look to be blocked off, which is good.

The wiring is an absolute mess. It looks like someone also started to wire the C101 for a swap (M50 or something) but also gave up on that and tried to put stuff back. Looks like this has been a project car for about 5 different people haha.

It looks like an 88+ i/is model. The head markings agree.

Yeah the head might or is a I/Is.. who knows about the block. The wiring was converted for the 88+ model. From what I know it's a different plug. Doubt any M50 wiring is involved. And yeah the chip is a eBay turbo tune thing. I'm working on getting a stock ecu today. And will re verify the wiring that was done. But from my understanding that's the wiring conversion done from jetronic to motronic. Correct me if I'm wrong. My car is a 84 by the way. First model with the old C101 plug that was squared from what I've researched.

As far as injectors or what tune is on chipni have no freaking idea lol. And theninjectors look like a light blue color. I'm guessing stock I/Is injectors?

[squidmaster]

No, the head definitely is from an M20B25, there's no doubt about that.
I'm not saying there is any wiring from an M50 in there now.... I'm saying the only good reason to chop up the C101 is to do an engine swap.... ""It looks like someone also started to wire the C101 for a swap (M50 or something) but also gave up on that and tried to put stuff back.""

Jetronic wasn't used on the 325i ever, at any point. What year is your car, because it looks to be an 88+ and has M1.3 wiring and hardware.

You have a stock ECU already, just put the stock chip in. Those you can usually find for free.

Using a stock chip might be useless until you find out what injectors you are running....

[Mortification]

No, the head definitely is from an M20B25, there's no doubt about that.
I'm not saying there is any wiring from an M50 in there now.... I'm saying the only good reason to chop up the C101 is to do an engine swap.... ""It looks like someone also started to wire the C101 for a swap (M50 or something) but also gave up on that and tried to put stuff back.""

Jetronic wasn't used on the 325i ever, at any point. What year is your car, because it looks to be an 88+ and has M1.3 wiring and hardware.

You have a stock ECU already, just put the stock chip in. Those you can usually find for free.

Using a stock chip might be useless until you find out what injectors you are running....

Car is 84 325 . I'm guessing or hoping a whole Is engine was swapped over hence the C101 conversion? Injectors are light blue from what I researched they the stock Is ones. Where can I get a stock ecu chip? Lol

[squidmaster]

Well, at least you got the facelift bumper, too, however incomplete it look hah.

Just post a wanted thread, the LA/CA e30 crowd is huge and helpful. Definitely would be the first thing you should do. If you can't find one I have a bunch-- I could send one for like $10 regular or $15 2-day.

The injectors are the big, fat, metal body ones, right?


Because there are blue plastic-body injectors that are 24lb and a popular upgrade for many E30s

[Mortification]

Well, at least you got the facelift bumper, too, however incomplete it look hah.

Just post a wanted thread, the LA/CA e30 crowd is huge and helpful. Definitely would be the first thing you should do. If you can't find one I have a bunch-- I could send one for like $10 regular or $15 2-day.

The injectors are the big, fat, metal body ones, right?


Because there are blue plastic-body injectors that are 24lb and a popular upgrade for many E30s

Well as far as injectors go I believe those are the exact ones on there. But I'll double make sure tonight. I'm down to get a chip from you if that's cool. That'll save me quite some $$. I'm trying to just get it running right so I can go over everything else, cooling and timing belt. I heard they notorious. I also noticed that I have no oil cooler on my car too. And yeah there's a lot of stuff done to car. The front valance and I apparently have stainless steel lines too. And upgraded suspension . Bilstein with some red springs. Don't know what exact springs. Lol. I'm trying to just drive it stock for time being so I can stop riding my bike daily. I need to park that crap. I put like 12k in les than a year smh.

And I'm not about to drive my e46 M3 nor my E66 as a daily. Too much gas and commute is long lol.

Lmk where I can send a payment for the chip. I rarely have time to search or work on car cuz I'm always at work. 6 days a week and out for like 14hrs.

[TobyB]

Do you have disc brakes in back?
84 shell could have started life as a 318...
you have a late ECU with an early cooling system, for what that's worth...

t

[Stanley Rockafella]

Wow, OP owns an e66 and an e46 m3 yet he buys this pos.

dude, dump this heap. I'm sure you can find nicer in Cali for a few grand.

[Mortification]

Wow, OP owns an e66 and an e46 m3 yet he buys this pos.

dude, dump this heap. I'm sure you can find nicer in Cali for a few grand.

I don't understand the hate honestly. Unless you have something more productive to say you best not say it. I got this car for $500 and I don't mind investing in it. I have plenty of vehicles and motorcycles... it's jut a hobby man. Relax

[Mortification]

Do you have disc brakes in back?
84 shell could have started life as a 318...
you have a late ECU with an early cooling system, for what that's worth...

t

Haven't checked that yet. Thanks I'll check it out