New Guy With E30 Woes...

[DaAznKnight]

Ya know, I hate to make my introduction to car forums with a laundry list of problems.

I just got my E30 last night. Paid $700 for a 1991 318is. It's got a whole list of problems, and is, by any yardstick, a piece of shit.

What's broken:

1. Car has been rear ended. Chassis is fine though.
2. Engine does not idle on cold.
3. Engine idle jumps up and down erratically when warmed.
4. Turn signals don't work.
5. Wipers don't work.
6. Blower motor doesn't work.
7. Missing radio.
8. It's a "start with screwdriver" special.
9. There's an electrical leak somewhere.
10. There's some horrific tint on the windows.
11. Exhaust leaks everywhere.
12. Catalytic converter is shot.
13. Brake lines are leaking.

It's my first E30, and I bought this car fully expecting trouble (it's a $700 BMW...). I hope to restore the car over time, get it working correctly, then convert it into a rally car.

First thing to fix: Electrical issues. Put a new battery in yesterday and it was fine. Found it dead this morning. Might be the cold, but a jump seems to work (although the cranking is so weak it won't turn over).

[CorvallisBMW]

Idle problems are probably a vacuum leak in the intake system somewhere. Check all the hoses around and under the intake manifold and check the large black coupler between the throttle body and AFM.

Lots of the electrical stuff is probably related. Start checking fuses and relays.

And definitely fix those brake lines...

[DaAznKnight]

Hazard relay is missing, so that's probably why the turn signals don't work. Getting one new in a bit.

I checked the intake boot (the L shaped plastic). Seemed fine, but maybe it's a micro leak, so I'll have to take a closer look in daylight.

Blower motor is shot. I've narrowed it down. So are the wiper motors. Shot. Fuses and relays are fine for both. It's the motors themselves that are toast.

I did mention that this 318is has 240,000+mi on it right? I didn't? Whoops.

[2002maniac]

there's a bunch of vacuum lines under the intake manifold that may be leaking. search for "mess under the intake" there's a diy thread somewhere.

[DaAznKnight]

Did that search and found the thread. It's interesting, and I will definitely be doing the DIY soon (whenever I find space in my garage).

For now, I will be doing a stopgap measure by unbolting the battery every time I bring it home, then charging it with a trickle charger. It's shitty, but I only need to do it for 2 weeks before school ends and I have time to go through everything.

[StereoInstaller1]

Hazard relay is missing, so that's probably why the turn signals don't work. Getting one new in a bit.

I checked the intake boot (the L shaped plastic). Seemed fine, but maybe it's a micro leak, so I'll have to take a closer look in daylight.

Blower motor is shot. I've narrowed it down. So are the wiper motors. Shot. Fuses and relays are fine for both. It's the motors themselves that are toast.

I did mention that this 318is has 240,000+mi on it right? I didn't? Whoops.

Have you downlaoded the electrical troubleshooting manual yet?

http://www.wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

Welcome to R3V!

Luke

[Ramgoat]

Solutions:

Car has been rear ended. - pm me for easy to ship parts
Engine does not idle on cold - check throttle position sensor
Engine idle jumps up and down erratically when warmed - vacuum leak or tps/clean your maf
Turn signals don't work - check fuses/stalks/relay
Wipers don't work - check fuses/stalks
Blower motor doesn't work - check resistor/fuses/relay/test motor (if bad buy one from me)
Missing radio - buy a new one?
It's a "start with screwdriver" special - buy ignition lock and key (from me?)
There's an electrical leak somewhere - buy a test light and get the searching
There's some horrific tint on the windows - ?
Exhaust leaks everywhere - mineke?
Catalytic converter is shot - mineke?
Brake lines are leaking - replace?

[KirkerBezerker]

Trust me, that list could be a lot more fucked up. You should be happy thats ALL you have to fix.

[jimmybean]

seems like a lot of problems but at least u didnt pay to much for it