New here, finally an e30 for me!

[yyi]

Hey guys, yyi here checking in! After years of DDing my old reliable (honda) and having my friends (bimmer guys) utter the phrase "its no e30" non-stop I finally decided to pull the trigger on something fun, rwd and doesn't take a fortune to modify.

At first I was skeptical of a 250,000 mile car, but it ran 80 flawless miles to get home and made me a very happy man!! Albeit mechanically sound, I figured I should still service it. Here's a list I've made for things around the engine I should do:

1. Water Pump
2. Timing belt and power steering, alternator, AC belts
3. Valve adjustment
4. Tensioner
5. Radiator hoses
6. Head Gasket (small oil leak)
7. Distributor

Things already done:
Oil, air filter

So help me out here r3v!!! Being a nub and not knowing the ins and outs of these cars, I looked at the gasket kit from bavauto, which includes an extensive list of gaskets. Is it going to be a good idea to do all those things? Or would that be overkill?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is what are other things that generally go bad and needs some refurbishing?



here are some pics of my hooptie:

2nd day home:


Looking for rust:


Tear down:


Look at the lift it got:

[325ix]

You have a good plan of attack. Also flush the cooling system and change the oil. May want to do the air filter, plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor.

[yyi]

You have a good plan of attack. Also flush the cooling system and change the oil. May want to do the air filter, plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor.

I forgot to mention, i already changed the air filter and oil. But i should add plugs caps rotors to the list, thanks!

[kid325e]

Yes do the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, among all the obvious "piece of mind" stuff, I would replace the rubber boot connecting the throttle body to the AFM as well as the coolant plate on the Throttle body if it's leaking!

Looking good!

[//MPower]

I guess what I'm trying to ask is what are other things that generally go bad and needs some refurbishing?

Definitely add motor mounts to your list since you have the old style cooling system. If a motor mount fails your engine will shift laterally when turning and either the PS belt or the Alternator will chew a hole into the lower radiator hose and you'll be sitting on the side of the road. Look down there and you can see how close the hose is to destruction. Also make sure that you have the hook that holds the lower hose against the body.

The 88+ cars with the updated cooling system have the lower hose on the other side of the radiator out of harm's way, so It's not as imperative. On the older 325 it's a breakdown waiting to happen.

It wouldn't hurt to replace the Trans. mounts as well, although they are not critical.

Also check the conditions of your rear shock mounts. If they are worn, replace them with E46 Cabrio RSMs.

The Guibo/Flex Disk is a commonly worn item too, but I wouldn't worry about replacing it until it is causing a problem. It wouldn't hurt to inspect it though.