Bought a 87 325e; Need help modding.

[urbancynic]

So what parts do I need other than:

Timing belt
Timing Tensioner
Water pump

Any help would be appreacited!

I plan to do this next weekend.

Depends on your budget.

To do it right you should get the following:

Timing belt,
Tensioner,
Water pump,
Cap,
Rotor,
Tensioner spring,
Tensioner belt guide,
Cam shaft oil seals,
Valve cover gasket (for doing valve adjustment while youre there)


Check the condition of your coolant hoses and v belts before you order parts and replace as needed. Also may wish to do the thermostat and seal. Thats optional though. I did it just because. Look at the condition of the breather hose on the valve cover, replace as needed.

Be aware that the coolant hose coming off of the t-stat housing can ruin your alternator if it bursts. Ask me how I know.

You will need a 32mm wrench for the fan clutch. An adjustable wrench is a bit wide, so it doesn't quite work. I had to make a trip down to Sears for one. Also will need a 22 or 23 mm deep well socket, can't recall which offhand, but pretty sure it was 22mm. 3mm allen key for the rotor too (you need to remove it even if you dont replace it). Other than that everything else is pretty normal tools most people should have.

Check out the write up on pelicanparts.com. The pictures are very helpful.

EDIT:

Oh, and its not necessary, but it would probably help if you removed the hood too. From what I can see it isn't hard to do.

The timing belt isn't as formidable a job as it seems. In fact its pretty easy, just a lot you have to remove. Take your time though to make sure you do it right and you'll be set.

[gearheadE30]

If you want to do it cheap, then my advice would be to learn to do it yourself. There is a ton of information here and elsewhere on the internet, and it will save you loads of money.

[BUBBASGOPED]

What weight of oil does the ETA take?

[urbancynic]

I've used 10w40 and 20w50 in mine, but it was suggested to me to use 15w40 diesel oil. Apparently these cars love it?

[e30Hungry]

i have a 87 325e too, i put 20w50

[BUBBASGOPED]

i have a 87 325e too, i put 20w50

I went to 20W50.

I tucked my bumpers too this weekend! Any body that takes the bumper off to do this is crazy!

Rear Before:


Front after Tuck:


My Tuck spot:


Rear in the act:

[dreamchasin]

Stop pushing the guy to do a 24v, if he doesn't know how to do a timing belt a 24v would be a lot more than a challenge. I started off doing a head gasket and timing belt in my e30, then I went to 24v and still needed a little help.

Go buy a bentley manual, timing belts are cake work. Should take you a couple hours, but buy a kit from Blunt. It's very simple and a bentley manual tells you everything you need to know.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A TORQUE WRENCH!

http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-8-Inch-Foot-Pounds-Automatic-Torque/dp/B000MB53ZE/ref=sr_1_2?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1303134120&sr=1-2

[Kershaw]

buy a rotary and get rid of timing belts OR chains.

[lostatoll]

Timing belt! Yay!

Not to hijack your thread, but I'm also getting ready to do my first timing belt change on my '87 325e. The belt only has 30k on it, but it's 8 years old :\

Seems like it shouldn't be that hard a job. But i'm giving it a weekend just incase I find other things while in there. Exploratory maintenance. fun.

I just looked for the kit on blunt but all I see is the belt and tensioner together for 35$. I also plan on doing a few other things while I'm at it. I'm fairly new to bmws, but not to working on cars. All these parts are on amazon, if anyone has any suggestions as to other things I should get, or if I could get them cheaper, I'd be much appreciative!

Basically I'm doing a strong baselining, hoping it won't cost more then 4-500$, need some rotors too if you guys have suggestions. Otherwise I'm just going to go cheap.

Need suggestion on plugs.. people don't seem to like platinums?

Need to check out condition of coolant hoses still but the kit is effing expensive, 200$...



Timing belt job:

Heard these flat wrenches are great for the fan.

Grip On Tools 90122 - 9 PC SUPER THIN WRENCH SET MM - Grand Rapids Industrial Products
$20.99

Bosch 04156 Ignition Rotor - Bosch
Condition: New
$19.09

Victor Reinz Cam Guide O-Ring - Victor Reinz
$4.98

Gates KS14716 Camshaft Seal - Gates
$6.87

Beck Arnley 143-0700 Thermostat - Beck Arnley
$23.79

Graf Water Pump - Graf
$65.30

this has the belt and tensioner, do i need the spring separately?
ContiTech Timing Belt Kit - ContiTech
$41.77





Unrelated to timing belt:

Wix 46221 Air Filter, Pack of 1 - Wix
$10.11

need to adjust valves:

K-D Tools 163 Valve Tappet Feeler Gauge
$7.22

common problem huh -

2 rear shock mounts - FEQ Shock Mount - FEQ
2 @ $10.99

Shock doesn't hold up the hood any more -
StrongArm 4470 BMW 3 Series Hood Lift Support 1984-95, Pack of 1 -
$4.97

[BUBBASGOPED]

Not to hijack your thread, but I'm also getting ready to do my first timing belt change on my '87 325e. The belt only has 30k on it, but it's 8 years old :\

Seems like it shouldn't be that hard a job. But i'm giving it a weekend just incase I find other things while in there. Exploratory maintenance. fun.

I just looked for the kit on blunt but all I see is the belt and tensioner together for 35$. I also plan on doing a few other things while I'm at it. I'm fairly new to bmws, but not to working on cars. All these parts are on amazon, if anyone has any suggestions as to other things I should get, or if I could get them cheaper, I'd be much appreciative!

Basically I'm doing a strong baselining, hoping it won't cost more then 4-500$, need some rotors too if you guys have suggestions. Otherwise I'm just going to go cheap.

Need suggestion on plugs.. people don't seem to like platinums?

Need to check out condition of coolant hoses still but the kit is effing expensive, 200$...



Timing belt job:

Heard these flat wrenches are great for the fan.

Grip On Tools 90122 - 9 PC SUPER THIN WRENCH SET MM - Grand Rapids Industrial Products
$20.99

Bosch 04156 Ignition Rotor - Bosch
Condition: New
$19.09

Victor Reinz Cam Guide O-Ring - Victor Reinz
$4.98

Gates KS14716 Camshaft Seal - Gates
$6.87

Beck Arnley 143-0700 Thermostat - Beck Arnley
$23.79

Graf Water Pump - Graf
$65.30

this has the belt and tensioner, do i need the spring separately?
ContiTech Timing Belt Kit - ContiTech
$41.77





Unrelated to timing belt:

Wix 46221 Air Filter, Pack of 1 - Wix
$10.11

need to adjust valves:

K-D Tools 163 Valve Tappet Feeler Gauge
$7.22

common problem huh -

2 rear shock mounts - FEQ Shock Mount - FEQ
2 @ $10.99

Shock doesn't hold up the hood any more -
StrongArm 4470 BMW 3 Series Hood Lift Support 1984-95, Pack of 1 -
$4.97

Don't worry about a hi-jacking: All good info!

Valve adjustment? Is that something that should be done while I am doing this?

[lostatoll]

valves aren't something that one would do when doing the timing belt. How do your valves sound? are they loud? mine aren't bad yet but I figured why not since it's so easy, while i'm in there.

[BUBBASGOPED]

valves aren't something that one would do when doing the timing belt. How do your valves sound? are they loud? mine aren't bad yet but I figured why not since it's so easy, while i'm in there.

Wouldn't all the valves be loud on a vehicle of this age?

[lostatoll]

You know that when the valves get loud it means they're out of adjustment. They need to be done every 20-25k. Then she'll sound super smooth for about 15k :)

[Wh33lhop]

There is no real reason to adjust your valves when you're doing the timing belt besides maybe being able to turn over the motor in the middle of the job.

It sucks--the valve eccentrics actually develop recesses over time, so the valve lash you are measuring with a feeler gauge may not be the actual valve lash of the motor, and you may actually make your engine more noisy with a valve adjustment.

Very clean example of an E30, what'd you pick it up for?

[BUBBASGOPED]

There is no real reason to adjust your valves when you're doing the timing belt besides maybe being able to turn over the motor in the middle of the job.

It sucks--the valve eccentrics actually develop recesses over time, so the valve lash you are measuring with a feeler gauge may not be the actual valve lash of the motor, and you may actually make your engine more noisy with a valve adjustment.

Very clean example of an E30, what'd you pick it up for?

I over paid for it, but I have always wanted a sedan one! $1900. I buy and sell cars for a hobby (to make money). I have had one Jeep Compass, two Jeep Grand Cherokee's (zj), and a 2000 Civic Si this year.