my first e30, and the learning curve

[macdadmorgan]

well i'm a vw nut, or was, i have a 76 scirocco that i'm redoing, and a 92 16v turbo that i built myself, so i do know a little bit about cars, but since this is my first e30 i have to relearn everything again.

my question are i just picked up a 87 325is with 130k on it. the waterpump, o2 sensor, and timing belt were jsut done. now what i have in mind is doing a simple tune up, plugs wire cap and rotors. i have heard something about doing distributer O-rings? wondering what size they are, or if i should even mess with 'em?

what should i be running for oil in this engine, i live in the norheast so this oil change the car will see temps ranging from -10 degrees, to 50 degrees.

it also has a famous leaky steering rack, what is everyones solution for that? just add fluid every week ,

anyway thanks for the help.
morgan

[macdadmorgan]

so you can see my work and see i'm a serious tuner.

[e9nine]

Welcome..nice dub you got there...how much power are you pushing? Care to show some other pics and post a summarized mod list.

For your oil, its a matter of pref. I used to use 10w30 and 20w50 dep. on the season when I had m20s.

Try trace the leak in the rack, sometimes its simply the one of the lines from the canister that is leaking due to a weak clamp. Clean up all the lines as much as you can and try detect the source better.

If you do have to get another rack, used ones can be had or you can do a conversion :twisted:

..ne pics of the 'rocco and the e30 too?

[Jarvis]

For MA winters 10W-40 should be alright.

Besides possibly just the lines, the power steering leak could be a torn/punctured boot. While watching the boots on either end of the steering rack, have someone in the car cut the wheel lock to lock. If you do it fast enough, and there is a leak there, fluid with ooze out rather easily. Or just grab and squeeze the boots with your hand.
Seems like you already heard that eaky power steering components are common on E30s.

Any more specifics on the car? Like interior/exterior condition? How you found it and how much you paid for it?

[Charlie]

Re: my first e30, and the learning curve

well i'm a vw nut, or was, i have a 76 scirocco that i'm redoing, and a 92 16v turbo that i built myself, so i do know a little bit about cars, but since this is my first e30 i have to relearn everything again.

my question are i just picked up a 87 325is with 130k on it. the waterpump, o2 sensor, and timing belt were jsut done. now what i have in mind is doing a simple tune up, plugs wire cap and rotors. i have heard something about doing distributer O-rings? wondering what size they are, or if i should even mess with 'em?

what should i be running for oil in this engine, i live in the norheast so this oil change the car will see temps ranging from -10 degrees, to 50 degrees.

it also has a famous leaky steering rack, what is everyones solution for that? just add fluid every week ,

anyway thanks for the help.
morgan

Don't even worry about the O-rings at that mileage. Cap, rotor, plugs & a valve adjustment will be good for now. As for oil, if you're not leaking, I'd just run 15w50 Synth year round, it'll handle winters just fine.

As for the PS leak, are you sure it's from the rack and not from the lines going to the resevoir? That's fairly common on these cars at that mileage.

-Charlie

[nando]

For MA winters 10W-40 should be alright.

Besides possibly just the lines, the power steering leak could be a torn/punctured boot. While watching the boots on either end of the steering rack, have someone in the car cut the wheel lock to lock. If you do it fast enough, and there is a leak there, fluid with ooze out rather easily. Or just grab and squeeze the boots with your hand.
Seems like you already heard that eaky power steering components are common on E30s.

actually, there isn't supposed to be anything in the boot, it's a dust sheild not a seal. if you have PS fluid in the boots then your seals are shot, the rack needs rebuilt. otherwise, check for leaks from the hoses too, maybe replace the crush washers on the pressure line.

[e30m3power]

Re: my first e30, and the learning curve

well i'm a vw nut, or was, i have a 76 scirocco that i'm redoing, and a 92 16v turbo that i built myself, so i do know a little bit about cars, but since this is my first e30 i have to relearn everything again.

my question are i just picked up a 87 325is with 130k on it. the waterpump, o2 sensor, and timing belt were jsut done. now what i have in mind is doing a simple tune up, plugs wire cap and rotors. i have heard something about doing distributer O-rings? wondering what size they are, or if i should even mess with 'em?

what should i be running for oil in this engine, i live in the norheast so this oil change the car will see temps ranging from -10 degrees, to 50 degrees.

it also has a famous leaky steering rack, what is everyones solution for that? just add fluid every week ,


hey whats up morgan . where in western mass are you ?....im in Ludlow.....
good job getting an E30 , they rock!!!!!! we should meet up sometime....


anyway thanks for the help.
morgan

[Jarvis]

actually, there isn't supposed to be anything in the boot, it's a dust sheild not a seal. if you have PS fluid in the boots then your seals are shot, the rack needs rebuilt. otherwise, check for leaks from the hoses too, maybe replace the crush washers on the pressure line.

Good to know. I didn't seem right that it was leaking from there...

[macdadmorgan]

Re: my first e30, and the learning curve

hey whats up morgan . where in western mass are you ?....im in Ludlow.....
good job getting an E30 , they rock!!!!!! we should meet up sometime....

i'm up here in ashield, lmk if there is a gtg in the area, i would like to get aquainted with the local bmw crowd. and if you know any one in the area that has a set of plastic bumpers that they'd part with lmk.

-morgan