First test drive

[_JohnnyD_]

After about 3 years (2 in my ownership) my E30 finally drove under its own power. V8 M60 power!

I've test run the car on jack stands in my garage at least 10 times so I thought I had worked out most of the bugs. No big deal right!

F**k no, what a shitty first drive which turned into a miserable Saturday.

The car drove reasonably well on my first trip around the block (less then 1/2 mile), but the power steering was jerky, as the wheel was turned the power would kick in and out. Not the end of the world.

I parked the car put in 3 gal of gas and was ready to head out again. I made it down the street in second gear and around the corner to a steep hill and was ready to enjoy the V8 power up the hill but I had no throttle response for 20 secs and then it died.

It wouldn't crank at all. I checked the battery, it was completely dead. I replaced the battery with a spare and puttered the car back in the garage feeling pretty sheepish.

After some investigation I found out the alternator was only charging at idle. I did have a batt warning light but I thought it was just a slow drain due to an interior light short, I had to fix.

I went to the local alternator rebuilder who luckly had a spare ready to go.

When I got home my wife was freakin out cause the house reeked like gasoline. I opened the garage there was about 2 gal of gas on the floor.
*** F**K ***

I turns out there was a leak at weld between the fill spout and the tank. I cleaned up the gas and tried to seal the leak with JB weld and then 2 coats of rubber "Stop Leak" spray paint. Its all I could do at 5pm on a Saturday.

I started the chore of trying to replace my alternator. Anyone that thinks maintain a E30 with an M60 is no big deal, should try replacing the alternator. Again *** F**K ***

I removed the rad and pwr steering pump (and I found my pwr steering issue, a kinked line) all to find that it still wouldn't come out, so I removed the subframe bolts to lower the engine and that did it.

At 12am I have everything back together and I'm just checking the subframe bolt torques and snap. Double *** F**K ***

I broke one of the subframe bolts. 3 hrs later of drilling, and tapping the car is back together.

What a shitty first drive!

Moral of the story, not everybody gets to posts epic first V8 powered drive videos.
(BTW my wife was waiting in the driveway with her phone ready to shoot the first drive video when the car died)

Especially if your shitty hack mechanic, like me.

Hopefully today I'll have a second drive video to share. I just need to pick up fluids and hope my tank leak is solved.

[fronton]

So sorry man, that really sucks. It could have been MUCH worse though. I'm sure you have figured out by now that initial test drives need to be taken very cautiously to troubleshoot all the drivability issues. I just kept going around my block for about the first 6 months and had something to work on every time.

[Jean]

Sorry man! I guess one way to avoid many of these issues is to replaced all the little things that can go wrong or you have no idea if they are good or bad ahead of time when the engine is not in the car, less issues later when it's all installed :)

[_JohnnyD_]

A couple of hours later and I'm in a much better mood.

I'll admit, I did take it for a quick spin and the car did not explod.

to avoid many of these issues is to replaced all the little things that can go wrong or you have no idea if they are good or bad ahead of time when the engine is not in the car, less issues later when it's all installed

That works but it gets very pricy, quick.

[_JohnnyD_]

Well, its official she has a significant gas leak.



There she sits pissy gas all over my driveway, like an incontinent lame dog, just wanting to go play. :puppy:

Now I know what I'm doing next weekend.

[Exodus_2pt0]

initial test drives need to be taken very cautiously to troubleshoot all the drivability issues.

I was going to do this, but when the camera came out and I hit asphalt, I couldn't resist the urge to mash the pedal.

That said, I inspected the crap out of the car on the lift, and ran it through the gears in the air first.

Sorry for the luck Johnny... When you get it right though, it will all be worth it.

[bongo78]

It's a pretty complex swap, it is normal for things to go wrong. But you obviously got the short straw here :( . My first drive with little to no exhaust was fun as well died on my first intersection :), good that we own E30s so my quick gap analysis and problem was found battery terminal not on the battery :) . Good to hear that all was sorted :) . And of course always fix the alternator before the engine goes in, saves lots of hassle :)

[_JohnnyD_]

Update

I finally got the car back on the road this weekend and it was a much better test drive.

I found an issue with the throttle sticking at about 1/4 throttle. It looks like the throttle body is working fine so I think it is in the cable.

I'm using a brand new E34 M60 cable, which I think is the cable most people are using. Can someone post some pictures of their cable routing?

Below, a little update shot.

[fanboi]

So are things still running good on this car?

[jalopi]

Holy crap dude.... that is a REALLY terrible 'first drive' story. At least it didn't start knocking... best of luck on working out all the bugs!

[evandael]

if it's any consolation, your wheel/tire setup looks amazing.

[_JohnnyD_]

finally on the road

I finally got the car on the road just in time for Bimmercruise.

It was the first time the car drove further than 10km at a time and above 90 km/hr in at least 4 years. Other than a wheel vibration issue and very slow overheating when in traffic (turning the heater on got it under control) it was a good drive.

It was great to represent and be the only M60 E30 there!

Some pics...

[fanboi]

Car looks amazing! love that color and wheel/tire setup

I looked at all the threads you have created and didnt find a full build thread. Was there ever one?

[driftingminor913]

I wana see ya threadzzz

[_JohnnyD_]

Sorry no build thread. It took way too long and I wasn't smart enough to take pictures every step of the way.

Let me know if you have some specific questions.