So here's the dilemma, and also, hello!

[AntiScope]

Wait for the car you want. I scoured the interwebs for like 4 months before I found mine.

[deac0n]

So the vert price keeps dropping. He REALLY wants to sell it. I'm almost wondering if he would take 2K for it.

To vert, or not to vert? That is the question.

[BamaE30]

Well there's nothing like a warm Texas night cervesa and flying with the top down.

[deac0n]

Well, I passed on both the convertible, and the 88, and I'm so glad I did.

Say hello to my 90 325IS!

[ky0u]

Great looking car!

[MT325is]

Nice man, much better looking then the 2 of the other ones
details??

[deac0n]

It's 1990 325IS, Alpine White. Automatic (need to fix that ASAP) and all black sport interior. Power everything. It even has a nice sound system in it.

The clear coat is pretty much gone on the hood, but other than that, it's the normal chips and dents one sees in a 23 year old car.

I REALLY need to tweak the headlights, they are basically point at the ground. I might pick up one of the smoked/HID sets to replace it.

The dash lights are CRAZY dim, even with the knob turned to full brightness. I'm trying to figure out how to fix that.

And it's got bottle caps. The PO had this one, and a red vert, and he switched the wheels. Oh well, I want to get some new wheels anyway.

I'm pretty excited. Now all I have to do is figure out what project to tackle first. I think it will be having it checked out by someone who knows E30s, so I can see if there are any pressing issues I should take care of ASAP.

[Bimmerista]

Nice buy!

Was that the car for sale in Austin?

[deac0n]

No, it was in Waco. He didn't have it on CL, he responded to WTB add I had in Dallas.

[mechdonald]

Get new wheels and use the bottlecaps for winter... oh, wait... :)

[ky0u]

The dash lights are CRAZY dim, even with the knob turned to full brightness. I'm trying to figure out how to fix that.

I'm having this problem too. Someone said a possible cause might be the bulb in the cluster was replaced with the wrong wattage. 5w instead of the correct 3w. Melts the orange shroud around the bulb and causes dim lighting

[e30vert]

Mileage? Address timing belt if not done in the last 70 K miles or that beautiful example of e30 will become a boat anchor with a blown M20 engine in it overnight. There is a sticker that is applied to the top of the engine by reputable mechanics that shows a picture of a timing belt on it and the mechanic will write in the mileage at which the timing belt was changed. The M20 uses a belt and not a chain so they need to be changed every 60-70 K miles . Some say 80 K but safe is better - right?

While you are there its a good idea to think about changing the water pump and possibly the timing belt tensioner. Since the water pump is right next to the timing belt and its a pain to just tear down the M20 for the water pump at some point in the future. I go with GRAF water pumps and they have been great thus far.

Does the headlight switch change the intensity of the cluster AND dash illumination when rotated or does it appear to just stay dim and not change? Static low light illumination? Does the dash lighting change intensity but not the instrument cluster lighting or do they change in unison?

Since there is a potentiometer (adjustable resistor) that is built into the headlight switch that alters the amount of current that is allowed to flow towards the instrument cluster lighting and dash lighting then if that potentiometer has developed a defect in the winding or wiper within it then that would potentially cause the dash and cluster lights to be stuck at a particular illumination level.

Hit the breakers (Pick and Pull, etc) and find an identical headlight switch and plug it in to test if this is the issue. There are 2 different styles (one for early models and one for late models) not sure of the exact year cut off when BMW started using the later style. Take the one you have on the car with you to match up or take a picture on your phone of the reverse side so you can match it up when you are at the yard.

Let me / us know if this was the issue. I like to feel gratified when I diagnose issues for some nameless faceless new e30 owner that is a thousand miles away.

[deac0n]

The mileage is almost 150K. There's no note on the belt image, so I'm guessing that should be my first task. I'll also look at the water pump.

The switch changes the intensity, but at it's highest setting, it's still SUPER dim.

[deac0n]

For whatever reason, when I got in the car last night, the console was normal brightness. Not sure what happened, but I'm pretty sure there's a short behind the dash.

I took the car to a shop today and had it checked out. He said overall it looks good, he just had this to say:

• Fan shroud is broken on the bottom
• Front sway bar link is busted and bushing is worn out
• Middle exhaust mount is missing
• Oil pan has been bottomed out, but not leaking
• Oil pan seal is leaking
• Valve cover leaking
• Crank seal is leaking
• Reverse lights don't work
• Power steering fluid is low, line & cap are leaking
• Drive belt is cracked
• He mentioned when I did the valve cover that I might want to have the valves checked. I forgot exactly what he said, and now it's bugging me.

So it looks like my first task is the belts/water pump. Just got to get a parts list for that. I'm wondering if a sort of mechanically inclined nooby like myself should tackle an engine refresh too...

I did buy these:

So that should help/

Also, I hit the hazards today, and heard a pop in the stereo. The stereo still "works" but I'm going to yank it today. My guess is there is some wiring behind it that is having issues.

[e30trooper]

Very nice! I hope you got it for a fair deal!

I just picked up a 89 AWII 325i Auto with mint black int. I made the choice to get a auto do to e30 demands in Socal and the price was right.

Theres plenty of DIY for these cars. Easy to work on also.

Might as well spend a weekend knocking out a few things. Such as Timing belt , water pump , drive belts. Valve cover and valve adjustment. Might as well get new spark plugs ( bosch super plus ) Get an oil change ( dont use syn oil )

Just clean up the car save moneys for other mods or such. GL!