https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/ R3VLimited Forums en Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:20:01 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/m20/10167846-help-breaking-in-new-build-3-1l-stroker Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:42:34 GMT
Ive been off of here for quite some time dealing with the depressing sight of my dead e30 Alpina Tribute. I was running RHD's ITB setup on my original m20b25 and was having fun with it running around town, dropping kids off at school and playing with autotune over time. Unfortunately for me I neglected one of the cardinal rules of vehicle ownership in checking fluids over time and unfortunately for me I blew my engine after I ran it with basically no oil going home after dropping kids off at school. Long story short, all that playing around with tuning and such and running rich basically burned off my engine oil and my idiot light wiring was broken (unbenownst to me and only found out after tearing everything down) and overheated the motor and seized it up. Basically, I was an idiot.

2 years later I thought I was close to firing up a brand new 3.1L build with the following spec sheet and have been having some issues.
Stock block, bored to 86mm
Ross 9.5:1 pistons, with the optional deflection rings for oil control ring
Forged H-beam rods from ireland engineering 135mm
S52 crankshaft with the front main seal adapter
ARP rod and head bolts
Camshaft is a new 288/280
stock valves/springs
HD rockers with new rocker shafts
Nuke performance adjustable cam gear
Windage Tray in oil pan
Cylinder head has been welded at failure point on coolant ports
Cometic MLS headgasket of stock height

The engine was built 5 years ago or so and has sat up until last month. Got the accessories put on and engine dropped into engine bay and things were looking good. I am not a MS expert by any stretch, maybe barely a rookie but thats all I will claim. My hope was that I could use the factory intake system (intake manifold, AFM, etc) along with my 19# matched injectors and stock ecu to just break the engine in and then go back to the awesome ITB's from RHD and enjoy from there.

The issue I have been having is that the motor will not turn over at all (or at least longer than 5-10 seconds). I was at my wits end so had the car towed to a local BMW independent who has gone thru the whole car and cant find anything amiss besides it not running off this current setup. Meaning spark, fuel, timing, engine harness etc are all in good working order.

My question is this: how do I go about breaking this engine in properly/safely? My take at this point is to go back to the ITB's and MS and see if it will run well enough to break the motor in, dump the Gibbs break in oil and put in the new oil and begin syncing the ITB's and getting it tuned up. My concern is that it wont run well enough with a new build that has sat and hasnt been broken in and might do more harm than good.

What do the experts that have dealt with this think is the best course of action is?
]]> M20 firemanory https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10167846-help-breaking-in-new-build-3-1l-stroker https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/general-discussion/10167825-value-of-rebuilt-ate-brakes Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:16:18 GMT
The 4-pot Wilwood setup from Silvermine has caught my eye. I'm tempted, but would want to get value out of the ATE setup and rotors (which were $400 by themselves). My idea is to finish the rebuild, paint them nicely and maybe sell it as a kit. But I'd really want to get as much of the value of the rotos back as possible.

The problem is I'm not sure someone would pay... $600? more? ...for them, even as a very-fresh set.

Any thoughts appreciated! (this is legit not intended as a shadow FS ad - I might very well finish them and put them on the car)]]> General Discussion iXBeater https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/general-discussion/10167825-value-of-rebuilt-ate-brakes https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/parts-wanted/10167790-wtb-continental-am-fm-cd-player-model-cd-7416ub-or Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:19:49 GMT Continental has discontinued this model, In case anyone has upgraded and has this model gathering dust on a shelf. Continental has discontinued this model, In case anyone has upgraded and has this model gathering dust on a shelf. Parts Wanted G-Man https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/parts-wanted/10167790-wtb-continental-am-fm-cd-player-model-cd-7416ub-or https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/10167753-immaculate-original-325i-sedan-f-s Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:17:57 GMT Cars For Sale/Wanted Don Stevens https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/10167753-immaculate-original-325i-sedan-f-s https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/appearance-cosmetic/body-paint/10167743-seam-sealer-in-cowl-drains Sat, 03 Oct 2026 05:58:55 GMT ckrock946 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/appearance-cosmetic/body-paint/10167743-seam-sealer-in-cowl-drains https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10167737-1989-325is-m20-5-speed-–-high-idle-~1-750–2-000-rpm-with-cel Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:18:19 GMT
What I've checked so far:

- Intake boot: inspected, no cracks. All vacuum hoses traced by hand, nothing obvious except the following.
- Brake booster elbow at the throttle body is loose (press-fit, can move it with a finger). Sprayed carb cleaner on it with the engine running: no rpm change. Same with the ICV line into the throttle body: it's loose and I can push it with a finger or two, but spraying carb cleaner there didn't change the idle either. I assume these have been loose for a while and are not the cause of this newfound high idle.
- ICV: removed, it was gummy. Cleaned it and bench-tested with a battery; it snaps fully open and fully closed. Reinstalled, no change in idle.
- DME coolant temp sensor: ~1.63k ohms on a mostly cool engine, 4.89V at the plug with key on. Unplugging the sensor makes no noticeable change.
- Throttle: moves freely and closes fully. Idle switch clicks; both idle and WOT contacts show continuity on a meter.
- Charging: steady 13.7–13.9V running. Engine-to-body ground voltage drop is ~30–37 mV.
- Fault codes: I've read you can turn the key on and press the pedal 5x to get a CEL flash code readout, but doing so results in no flashing. No access to a scanner.

Questions:
1. I'm not a mechanic, and my experience beyond the basics is what I've learned working on this E30 over the last couple of decades. Are there obvious ideas here that I'm missing? Again, the last time I drove it a couple of months ago it was fine. It sat in the garage until I tried to start it on Wednesday, and replacing the cap and rotor today didn't fix the idle.
2. Any reason the pedal code readout wouldn't work on a 1989 US 325is?
3. Anything specific I should also check to get a better idea of what is causing this?

Thanks for any ideas.]]> M20 wilburb https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/engine-drivetrain/m20/10167737-1989-325is-m20-5-speed-–-high-idle-~1-750–2-000-rpm-with-cel https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/10167688-highly-modified-e28-1985-535i-in-eastern-nc-8000-obo Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:26:52 GMT
This is kind of a feeler for now, so I actually do invite feedback from the community on this. Thinking about selling this, as I kind of want to move on to other things. I really have no idea what to ask for it, as E28s are so rare and hard to find now, but this one has been worked over quite a bit, and not necessarily in the direction of restoration.

Anyway, below is a pic just to pique your curiosity, but please refer to my build thread for a full backstory and a lot more pics: viewtopic.php?t=164553

There is a lot of spares that come with the car, including:

- Complete spare M30B35 engine in great shape, about 114k miles on it
- Full set of BBS RS026 wheels (i haven’t put the fronts back together yet, the rears are on the car)
- Full set of 16x8 wheels from a 3rd gen trans am gta (the fronts are still on the car)
- Full set of new autometer gauges (old school style)
- Custom aluminum dash panel, not installed

]]> Cars For Sale/Wanted iamsam https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/10167688-highly-modified-e28-1985-535i-in-eastern-nc-8000-obo https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/10167662-1998-bmw-528i-metallic-burgundy-in-ca-51-611-miles-clean-title-10-000-obo Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:07:42 GMT
Selling a genuinely low-mile, 51,611 single-owner E39 528i — assembled in Germany.

The numbers:

• 51,611 original miles (documented, one owner from new)
• VIN: WBADD*****90634
• Clean title, no accidents reported, never smoked in
• Just passed California smog with zero issues
• New fuel pump recently installed — receipt available
• M52 2.8L inline-six — no leaks anywhere on the engine or underneath, runs and drives smoothly with no hesitation, rattles, or warning lights
• Garaged for most of its life — paint, interior, and engine bay all show it

Condition:

• Tan leather interior is clean, supple, and odor-free — no rips, no sagging bolsters, no sun-faded dash
• Factory basket-weave alloy wheels, tires are like-new with plenty of tread left
• Exterior is straight and glossy with two honest, disclosed imperfections: Needs new windshield wipers. Light rubbing marks on the front driver's side bumper and a few small scratches on the rear bumper — otherwise no dents, no rust, no accidents
• Everything electrical and mechanical works as it should

This isn't a parts-chasing project car, it's a driver asking $10,000 . At this mileage and condition, these are getting hard to find — most E39s on the road today are well past 150k. This is a sound, honest car for someone who wants to actually enjoy one rather than restore one. Happy to share full VIN for a history check, send more photos/videos


Located in [Diamond Bar, CA]. Cash or verified funds only, no trades.


Other Features:

• Power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors
• Heated power mirrors with reverse auto-tilt curb assist
• Power sunroof
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Cruise control
• Burl walnut wood trim throughout
• Tan leather seating, 10-way power adjustable front seats
• Onboard trip computer
• 3 individual memory seat/mirror presets
• Traction control, 4-wheel ABS, dual front + side airbags
• A/C & HEATER

Thanks for your interest!]]> Cars For Sale/Wanted beammbimm https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/10167662-1998-bmw-528i-metallic-burgundy-in-ca-51-611-miles-clean-title-10-000-obo https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/the-project-forum/10167618-alpine-redemption Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:49:14 GMT
A few weeks ago a buddy in southern IN reached out saying his brother's Alpine over Cardinal '87 325iS might be available soon, and that I should come down and take a look.

He sent a few photos and I did just that.

It has been sitting for a while after the engine mounts failed and oil pan cracked being loaded onto the transport truck, so it's desperate for a detail.

I'm going to put the correct transmission in the car and clean it up over winter to see what we might have.

The car is rust free and has mostly original paint as far as I can tell. I looked it over pretty extensively for accident damage and found nothing.

They already did Konis/H&Rs, staggered Alpina wheels, and generally looked after the car pretty well.

Pretty excited to get this project underway! I figured this one deserved its own thread.

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr]]> The Project Forum AWDBOB https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/the-project-forum/10167618-alpine-redemption