Got lucky.

[Jonny Cash]

Yesterday, I dove head first into my M42 318 in a desperate attempt to get it started. I picked it up for a good price in non-running condition, since the guy couldnt tell me what was wrong with it.

The fuel pump was inop, swapped it out with no luck. Pulled out the multimeter, I was getting nothing at the plug. Checked the fuse, that was good, what could be the problem? Pulled the relay/fuse box, no power at #11 terminal, and it seemed burnt out under the circuit board..

So I went down to the U-pull it not feeling very optomistic. All I could find was a 86 325. I lifted the box up, the circuit board was red instead of green, but the wire colors matched with the exception of a few. Went home, completely dimantled the harness, and pulled out the terminals one by one. Everything seemed to match up perfect.

Buttoned it all back up, gave it some fuel, fired right up. Went under the hood, TAP TAP TAP up top somewhere. I was so tired after 8 hours fighting with the car, I just cleaned up and called it a day.

But since the part numbers of the two boxes are completely different.. I feel I got really lucky. Everything works, Im amazed.

[Hick]

'tap tap tap' could be the hydrolic lifters. if the car has sat for a while they could have no oil in them and will tap until the oil pressure comes up.

Change the oil out, maybe with something light [5w30] and run it for a little while.

nice job!

[Jonny Cash]

Thanks.

That would make alot of sense. It sounds exactly like a lifter.

[240zs30]

Sounds interesting. I just heard this same thing this weekend from my gf's 318i we have not been driving it for awhile since I'm trying to sell it. You are giving me some hope that it will not be anything major with the oil. OP, did you go to the one in Davie? I have rarely seen just one car there. If it's the one in medley, I can understand why. Every time I go there I want my dollar back.

[Jonny Cash]

I went to Davie, I live right down the street.

Theres a few E30's there. But theyre all older model M20, M10. I inspected all of them, the M20's circuit board was the only one that was similar.

Let me check out that 318 someday, I know someone who wants an E30.

[240zs30]

Davie> medley upullit. I'm glad I did not go this last weekend. I live a ways from there. Great to hear you live right there. I'm sure you checked out M&L also. They are neighbors. The E30 vert is a 92 alpine white with navy blue top and interior. Let me know if your friend is interested.

[Jonny Cash]

ouch. No verts. good luck selling it though.