Low usage as bad as high miles?

[uofom3]

if your belt is worn it'll be pretty obvious once you get it out of there... but i'd replace it anyway... a new belt and instal costs nothing compared to having to rebuild... check hoses to see if there are getting squishy or brittle... i'd change the tranny and diff fluid to Redline as a preventative measure...things like the ebrake shoes or brakes in general may be on their way out, but replacing the brake fluid would be a good idea... then wash it, wax it, and drive the hell out of it

[uofom3]

forgot to add... the fuel filter

[parkerbink]

Break fluid & master cylinder were replaced two months ago when I got the 25mm 750 unit. Transfluid/oil, and all filters/belts/hoses/timingbelt were replaced at 53k when I brought he car here from L.A.

[AdironRider]

you guys take shit to literally. Any moron will tell you that a car thats 14 years old is going to break down more often than a brand new car. rwdrift got it right in that hes done pretty much all he can do, if theres nothing wrong with the car now, just replacing something to have piece of mind is a waste of money. The most he could do is fix everything that could possibly need, then just treat it right. Cars, especially e30's, are going to break, and arent cheap to fix. I say fix teh timing belt if you think its starting to wear down, make sure all the other belts, hoses and whatnot are still good, check for some oil leaks then be done with it.

[grapedrink]

Replace the belts, ratiator hoses, vacume hose, Fuel lines, filters, tires, c.v. joints, steering rack, timing belt, light bulbs in obc, tie rods, drive shaft coupler, shift linkage, tail light bulbs, head light bulbs, interior lights, all fluids flushed, shocks/ struts, and convert every electronic part to manual. :roll:

[mph]

Cars, especially e30's, are going to break, and arent cheap to fix.

I'm so sick of everyone saying e30's or worse, BMW's are expensive to repair. Thats complete horseshit. The labor rates on Fords, at least in my area, are the same as they are at the dealer. And as far as parts go, they are the same price as domestic parts. Yeah, there are the odds and end parts that have low stock and cost more, just as they do with a domestic car.

You have to know where to go.

Quit saying that shit all the time.

As far as preventative maintenance, I'll have to say from experience (4 e30's and several family members and friends who owned e30s) the water pump and thermostat seem to be the biggest problem. I own two low mileage BMW's, one at 60k, the other at 90k, and both, the first winter I started driving them, had the waterpump and thermostat go.

If you think the timing belt looks worn, replace it or have it replaced. They are fairly cheap, around $15 or so from the dealer and should be cheap to have replaced in a shop. Do the tensioner at the sametime.

Good luck with your e30.

[parkerbink]

Thanks MPH I appreciate that you answered without sarcasm. I have had many many vehicles in my life all maintaned above the recommended schedule, this car was my Mom's for 53k and she maintained it per the dealer recomendation so I am shocked things are breaking. The water pump has cost me over 1k so far (hotels, meals, planefare/etc) and I still do not have the car back. That is why I wanted to know what MIGHT fail so I can avoid this again.

The thermostat is being replaced now as well and even though it has 10k on it I am replacing the timing belt and tensioner.

[BMW BMXER]

My car has over 300 thousand here is my list of replacments since I have had it:
Thermostat
Driveshaft center bearing
Clutch Master
Clutch Slave
Brake Master
Timing belt
water pump
alternator
all nessecary belts
all hoses

If you don't have any of those done I would keep in mind that they might go. I know my cars been around more (mileage wise) than yours but I just thought I would give you a heads up

[parkerbink]

Thanks except for the clutch cylinder(auto) and the driveshaft bearing I have replaced all of those things.

I guess I just have to use the car less. This is the last trip it will be taking. I will use my 4Runner from now on. I was using the BMW because the border checkpoint sees it as too small to bother with and I don't get stopped hence I do not have to pay duties on the things I bring back.

[AdironRider]

are you kidding me? I dont believe you for a second that a ford part is the same price as a BMW part. Maybe if you searh the internet high and low for a BMW part and then compare it to the listed price at a garage for a Ford part. First, alot of garages, including the one I worked at for two years wont accept parts from the customer as its an easy way for the customer to blame the garage if it breaks. Second, and most will agree, not every run of the mill high school drop out mechanic is going to know what to do on a BMW. Theres a big difference between a small block chevy and a BMW. You pay to play, and its common knowledge that BMW's have a higher cost of ownership. Ill agree with you though that labor costs are the same, cause its by the hour! Im not trying to trash the guy, but its just something you have to accept, and old car is going to break, whether you like it or not.

[parkerbink]

Fifedog I did not ask for a cost of ownership or age of vehicle summary. I asked people that have e30 BMW's what MIGHT reasonably fail so I could avoid the nightmare I am enduring due to the premature failure of my waterpump.

You have given me no useful information. please just don't post if you don't have anything to add.

[AdironRider]

I have given you info man, you just refuse to listen to it. Others have said it to, it sounds like you've doen all you can to prevent future breakdowns. What do you want us to tell you? If you dont want to deal with breakdowns buy a new car with a warranty.

[parkerbink]

I have a new vehicle with a warranty Where did I ever complain that my 14 year old car broke? I simply asked a question answered by others than you long ago. I am done.

[uofom3]

not sure if this was mentioned... but i'd expect to replace the fuel pump. in my 318is and both of my 325is's.. this was the only part to ever leave me stranded. this might be for sure the case as your car was woman driven for a long time... it has been the experience for me that the women in my life tend to run the car until the fuel light comes on... which is extremely bad for the pump.... my mom is on her second or third in her 525i....

[nando]

are you kidding me? I dont believe you for a second that a ford part is the same price as a BMW part. Maybe if you searh the internet high and low for a BMW part and then compare it to the listed price at a garage for a Ford part. First, alot of garages, including the one I worked at for two years wont accept parts from the customer as its an easy way for the customer to blame the garage if it breaks. Second, and most will agree, not every run of the mill high school drop out mechanic is going to know what to do on a BMW. Theres a big difference between a small block chevy and a BMW. You pay to play, and its common knowledge that BMW's have a higher cost of ownership. Ill agree with you though that labor costs are the same, cause its by the hour! Im not trying to trash the guy, but its just something you have to accept, and old car is going to break, whether you like it or not.

shows what you know.. it depends on the specific car of course, but it's generally untrue that BMW parts (specifically E30s) are vastly more expensive. Hell, you guys driving standard E30s don't know how good you have it. ONE ix control arm is over $200, my steering rack costs $300 more, I have a $3,000 (new from dealer) transfer case to worry about, a $500 front driveshaft, and god knows what the front diff costs to repair. But most of the standard parts that I'd replace - timing belt, water pump, gaskets, etc, are cheap as hell.

Plus these cars are pretty solid - all the fords that have been in my family were ready to be junked with the same amount of miles my car has, or if they still ran almost everything was broken. That's another hidden cost of a Fix Or Repair Daily ;)