My first post w/ Question

[MattBlack]

I recently picked up my first e30. I've been driving hondas for years and they and the community that goes with them are on my last nerve.

I picked up an 87 325e with a broken axle for cheap. Lots of good parts and motor but car is rough. Rust in trunk and under driver door and interior is completely ragged out.

I'm picking up an early 318 with a blown motor for super cheap but interior is near excellent and minimum rust issues. Plus its completely unmolested and its all there.

My question is what is different about these cars? I've read a little and found the suspension is different and brakes I think. Is it worth taking everything off the 325 and putting it on the the 318. What should I keep/use?

[mr.vang]

why don't you just sell both cars and get a decent one. maybe a 325 or 318is

[bernzpeed]

part them out both, sell parts and get a decent running one.

[Dj Buttchug]

i say take the two cars and build something. use whatever is good. i dont see why you cant make one decent running car out of two not so good ones...

[bmwm42]

They are both diving board cars is the 87 a 2 or four door. I already know the 318i is a couple, everything will cross over for the most part. but like the rest have suggested i am going to say to part both of the bitches out keep the good shit for your self. Sell the rest of here plenty of people on here ready and willing to buy your spare stuff.

[MattBlack]

Well the 318 is a good car. Its complete just needs a motor. The 325 (coupe) has a good motor, chipped ecu, exhaust, and lowering springs. But the body and interior is worked. So I figured swap the 318.

Trying to keep it at a budget and I definitely got these for good prices. I want to build a fast, clean looking, daily driver that handles like its on rails. My major concern was what suspension, brake, drivetrain stuff should I keep off of the 325?

I enjoy a good challenge and I'm not afraid to get dirty. BTW check out my page in my signature. If anybody needs any fabrication work done we build em from the ground up!

[MattBlack]

I took everybody's advice. Found a complete running 91 318is. Body is completely rust free, no sunroof. Black/grey cloth interior. It was swapped with an M20 but the guy I bought it from had no idea what it was. Still trying to figure out if its a 2.5 or 2.7. Car idles rough but drives out fine with a few stumbling spots in the rpm range (wrong ecu?)

Clock is flashing all kinds of weird numbers and the blower motor doesn't work. Other than that its a good straight car with a fairly clean interior that runs and drives. Electrical stuff is a bit baffling tho.

[Cabriolet]

you can tell if it is an 2.5 or 2.7 by the intake mainifold and water reservoir.

eta 2.7L:


I 2.5:

[!kid]

you can tell if it is an 2.5 or 2.7 by the intake mainifold and water reservoir.

my 87 325i had the water reservoir in the same spot as that 2.7

my opinion the best thing to go by is the valve cover

[!kid]

idles rough but drives out fine with a few stumbling spots in the rpm range (wrong ecu?)

Clock is flashing all kinds of weird numbers and the blower motor doesn't work. Electrical stuff is a bit baffling tho.

the rough idle could be from a vacume leak. blower could be blown fuse,bad relay, or the resistor thing (cant remember what its called) that is right under the blower motor from the engine bay panel. the electrical on an e30 is really somple once you start to know that car a bit more. if you dont have one already, order a Bentley service manuel you can order it from any major book store or from a BMW online parts dealer like Bavauto.com or Pelicanparts.com

[MattBlack]

Hey thanks for the ideas guys. Ill be ordering the manual ASAP. I'm tracking some wiring issues today and there is a hole in the intake behind the MAF so maybe a nice little junk yard visit today also.

[Kershaw]

it's not a MAF, its an AFM. there is a big difference.

a new intake boot is only $15-20 from bmw. i'd buy one new...

the valve cover and idle control valve are the 2 easiest to identify differences between an eta (2.7) and i (2.5) engine.

[MattBlack]

Yeah its definitely a 2.5. Thanks guys. I have recently discovered some major wiring issues. I'll probably start a new post after I get some pics.