1987 325is Engine Bay: Take a look at mine please!

[KHTRNAK]

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies. I took my cluster apart (motometer) the other day and found a bunch of issues so that's my first plan of attack. Looks like I will need a new SI board or at least have it rebuilt. I'm in talks with a couple guys that offer these services so I think I'm headed in the right direction. I'm also trying to source a main cluster board as mine has some issues. I'll post pics!

Unfortunately it'll have to sit until I get the funds in order! At this point I'm just trying to get more familiar in this engine bay since my TL has been the only car I've actually done work on under the hood.

[KHTRNAK]

Hey guys,

I have a few more pics since I got a chance to take another look under the hood and since I removed the cluster from the car.

First of all, I see now why the cruise control is disabled under the hood. It looks like I'm missing the whole cruise control knob on the steering column. Is there any easy way of replacing this?



Also, I noticed the wire with the inline fuse is going to something on the radiator/cooling fan. I have a switch inside the car that was installed (see pics) and I think the PO put it in the run the fan on the switch. I'm not sure why though.

Here's the switch on the cluster garnish (behind)



I think the wire comes out of this grommet in the engine bay below the fuse box:


And here is the previous picture where I thought it was going to the headlight, but it goes to the sensor in the second picture:




Then, I found this part broken in the hood for the washer fluid; not sure where I can find it.



How can I tell what diff this is?


Here is a view of the exhaust from the driver's side (seen exciting the passenger's side). It looks like the welded the first midmuffler/resonater to the two pipes coming from the headers and then added the whole bent section exiting the rear driver's side. I hope this isn't too hard to return to stock.

[Bimmer_man]

On the diff there is a metal tag on the passenger side that states what it is. If it has an "S" before the number than you have a LSD. My car just has a 2.93 on the tag do i have an open diff.

[CHIF8008]

side exit exhaust?

[Earendil]

On the diff there is a metal tag on the passenger side that states what it is. If it has an "S" before the number than you have a LSD. My car just has a 2.93 on the tag do i have an open diff.

That's an easy way to tell the ratio. I find the easier way to tell if you have an LSD, especially a working one, is to jack both rear wheels off the ground, release the E-brake, and put the car in neutral. Then spin one of the rear tires by hand. If the opposite wheel turns in the same direction, you have LSD. If it turns in the opposite direction, you don't.

On my car the tag was pretty worn off. And on other diffs the tag might be gone or replaced during the life of the diff.

[agent]

...the tag might be gone or replaced during the life of the diff.

Truth. Of the six diffs I own, one of them still has the tag.

The final drive ratio can also be determined by the number of driveshaft rotations compared to a single rotation of the output flange (wheel).

[KHTRNAK]

Any idea what u should expect an 87 352is to have under there? Just curious as to what "should be there"

[agent]

Good chance it's a 3.73 LSD if it's original.

[KHTRNAK]

Thanks guys! Any more info on anything else?

[TurboJake]

Ok. Here we go.

Cruise control stalk is an easy peasy replacement. Cheap as chips too, check for someone parting out a car in the sale forums. There is a difference between early model and late model. So take that into mind.

The part that is broken on the washer fluid hose is a one way anti drainback valve, part number 61661374978. Only a couple bucks to replace.

Now, the ABS light. Yes, what you pointed at is the module. But 9 times out of 10 it's the ABS relay under the steering column. When these cars get jump stated, they have a tendency to blow an internal fuse on them. You can either replace it, or take it out, take it apart, and solder a new fuse in. Not too difficult.

A dancing temp gauge can also be a loose or bad ground on the cluster. There's two little nuts on the back of it that you can clearly see, for some people just tightening them a little helps them. In my case I needed to pull them off and do a little sanding on on the nut and the washer, then it was right as rain. Because other things don't work, it's probably the SI board, but check those grounds first.

[KHTRNAK]

Awesome response! Thanks so much.

Believe it or not guys I AM learning :)