https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/ en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:31:48 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/images/misc/R3V.jpg https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/ https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162945-itb-balancing Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:02:09 GMT Here is a video of it idling at 900rpm with Schrick 284 cam, my idle setting without AC (AC ON is 1000rpm). Cyl 2 and 3 TBs are off from each other by about 0.5-0.7 kgm or whatever this little tool shows? Should I leave it alone or mess with TB plate a little and hope it won't stick after?

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zqa09f7gc1z9mz6wswe3z/ITB-balance.MOV?rlkey=fccfjmg7x98zad9i151h5dpjb&st=ulz iogbx&dl=0]]> M20 zaq123 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162945-itb-balancing https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162872-blew-new-fuel-hose-cheap-hose-or-something-else Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:27:24 GMT
So I just rebuilt my M20 and have had it running for a couple of weeks. Been taking it out for short test rides around the neighborhood, mainly been focused on getting the air out of my coolant lines. I've brought it up to temp idling about 10-20 times, and have taken it out numerous times, probably like in total 5-10 miles.

Anyway on my drive yesterday, about a mile away from my house I started to smell a strong fuel smell so I pulled over immediately and popped the hood and saw that my supply fuel line into the rail split. 😳 Luckily I caught it as soon as it happened, that could have ended very badly. I had it towed back to my house.

The fuel hose I used was stupidly bought on amazon so I'm chalking the fuel hose split to just buying a crappy hose and bad luck (maybe I nicked it when I was adjusting the intake manifold)....but I wanted to double check with all you experts here.

Is there something else that I should be looking at that could have caused that or likely it was just the crappy hose and I should be good to go after replacing with a quality hose? I don't want to buy new hoses to have this happen again because of something obvious that I missed. The fuel pressure reg is new.

I'm going to buy the Gates brand 5/16" ID fuel hose at Autozone/Oreillys unless you all have a suggestion on specific fuel hose brand I should get?

Thank you all!!

]]> M20 eight-0-eight https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162872-blew-new-fuel-hose-cheap-hose-or-something-else https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162867-lets-see-your-valvecovers Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:06:25 GMT
I know the crinkle-black with the polished vanes is the go-to but wondering what other options are out there.

Pic for clicks (stolen from peteb3 )
]]> M20 2mAn https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162867-lets-see-your-valvecovers https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162333-oil-leak-by-cam-seal Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:43:27 GMT Bought this car a few months ago and have had a oil leak sense. Took it down to do a timing belt change and found attached in the photo. Does this look like a cam seal leak or a head gasket? It looks like the can seal is the highest point of the leak. Bought this car a few months ago and have had a oil leak sense. Took it down to do a timing belt change and found attached in the photo. Does this look like a cam seal leak or a head gasket? It looks like the can seal is the highest point of the leak. M20 3VOLV3R https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162333-oil-leak-by-cam-seal https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162240-s54-stock-headers-on-m20 Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:32:25 GMT
M20 exhaust port ramp is more upward facing, s54 has a flatter exit.

Won't fit at all with b25 oil cooler setup. Would require a short filter b27 mount style or oil filter relocation.

Couldn't find any info on it so I wanted to take a few photos while I had a set on hand.

Engine block tab hit the front most head flange so I couldn't get the front flat. This orientation was the closest fit.

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr


]]> M20 AWDBOB https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162240-s54-stock-headers-on-m20 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162151-has-this-885-head-had-3-angle-valve-seats-cut Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:56:48 GMT Put my 885 head in to get new exhaust valve guides and 3 angle valve seats cut. After picking it up I’ve found 3 of the intake valve sealing faces to be concave, and all the intake valve seats have grooves round them. Spoke to them and they say their cutter is a bit worn (think they use a Serdi), and are going to get a new one and recut them. I can’t see 3 angles on the valve seats, it just looks like one big angle to me? May be wrong as I have nothing to compare to.
After picking it up I’ve found 3 of the intake valve sealing faces to be concave, and all the intake valve seats have grooves round them.

Spoke to them and they say their cutter is a bit worn (think they use a Serdi), and are going to get a new one and recut them.

I can’t see 3 angles on the valve seats, it just looks like one big angle to me? May be wrong as I have nothing to compare to.
]]> M20 14thirty https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10162151-has-this-885-head-had-3-angle-valve-seats-cut https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10161907-m20-super-rich-help Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:05:20 GMT Hi, my winter project was renewing a 90 325 I cab. I deleted the cat, replaced the O2 sensor, replaced the original injectors with 19lb 4 pintle Ford 5.0 style, in anticipation of adding a Conforti chip soon. Starting it up, it is full rich, like the regulator is doing nothing. Fuel pressure out the return is 70-90 lbs! I ohmed the temp sensor, replaced the regulator, have good vacuum to the regulator…is my ecm not happy with the changes? Any feedback is appreciated Hi, my winter project was renewing a 90 325 I cab. I deleted the cat, replaced the O2 sensor, replaced the original injectors with 19lb 4 pintle Ford 5.0 style, in anticipation of adding a Conforti chip soon. Starting it up, it is full rich, like the regulator is doing nothing. Fuel pressure out the return is 70-90 lbs! I ohmed the temp sensor, replaced the regulator, have good vacuum to the regulator…is my ecm not happy with the changes? Any feedback is appreciated M20 Natman61 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10161907-m20-super-rich-help https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/transmission-driveline/10161853-87-325e-auto-to-manual-from-89-325is-donor-car Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:11:22 GMT Hi guys I’m a complete noob so bear with me please. I have an 1987 325e auto car that I’d like to manual swap. There’s a cheap 1989 325is manual car (blown engine) for sale near me and I’m considering buy it so I can pull what I need from it for the manual swap. I’ve read everywhere that late model transmissions won’t work in early model cars because of the CPS, that being said would there be any way for me to make this work considering I have a donor car with most everything I need? thanks in advance for any and all input!!
I have an 1987 325e auto car that I’d like to manual swap. There’s a cheap 1989 325is manual car (blown engine) for sale near me and I’m considering buy it so I can pull what I need from it for the manual swap.

I’ve read everywhere that late model transmissions won’t work in early model cars because of the CPS, that being said would there be any way for me to make this work considering I have a donor car with most everything I need?

thanks in advance for any and all input!! ]]> Jburd.e30 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/transmission-driveline/10161853-87-325e-auto-to-manual-from-89-325is-donor-car https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m30-other-swaps/10161608-m30-swap-drivetrain-bucking-issues Tue, 26 May 2026 15:57:46 GMT
Unfortunately, as the project has gone on, I've lost the time that I used to have to wrench and have had the car through two shops here in the Cleveland area that have got me to where I am today, but not all the way across the finish line.

Putting the car in gear and getting it going using just the clutch is relatively smooth, but putting it under any sort of additional load in any gear causes the entire car to buck violently (except for a slight smooth portion in the 2k-2,750 rpm range). It feels similar to if you were coming to a stop in 5th gear without the clutch in. I've fought the car through the gears (tried short shifting and making my way higher in the rev range) and encounter this issue in all forward gears. There aren't any grinding or whining noises that would lead me to believe this is an issue in the transmission or rear axle - so I'm thinking it's down to some sort of clutch issue.

Has anyone encountered similar issues in the past? Hoping to benefit from the collective knowledge and community that has been a mainstay through my time interacting with R3V.

Thanks,

Chris]]> chrisherrel https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m30-other-swaps/10161608-m30-swap-drivetrain-bucking-issues https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m42/10161553-m42-swap-crank-no-start Mon, 25 May 2026 18:50:08 GMT
CPS from a running M42
ECU from a running M42
New main and fuel pump relays
Checking all fuses
Checking continuity between CPS and ECU, Fuel Pump Relay and ECU, Main Relay and ECU, Main Relay and Fuel Pump relay.

I got a suggestion that it's possible the crank pulley slipped and now the cam position sensor and crank position sensor are feeding conflicting information to the ECU so this is what I am going to check next.

If anyone else has other ideas for what might be wrong please let me know because I am starting to run out of ideas.
Thanks in advance! ]]> M42 Claytr0n https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m42/10161553-m42-swap-crank-no-start https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10161441-waterpump-recommend Sat, 23 May 2026 14:01:33 GMT
i notice graf is available, they used to have a decent reputation. bmw brand is available but i'd like to duck the oem tax if possible.

if the pump doesn't fix it the last thing left is the radiator. ]]> M20 82eye https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10161441-waterpump-recommend https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10161439-m20-ix-getrag-vs-i-getrag Sat, 23 May 2026 12:33:46 GMT Looks like output shaft on IX and i are the same part number with IX being 23211224294 and realOEM say it's interchangeable/ superseded by 23211228297 which is a a part number for i Getrag. So basically i output flange should bolt up to IX Getrag
]]> M20 zaq123 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10161439-m20-ix-getrag-vs-i-getrag