What would you consider a major fault with the E30's

[VanBimmerhead]

Sounds like a pretty fun drive, im going to be taking a long one myself here in a few days bringing a e30 up from San Diego. I live in Fairbanks. We need more BMW freaks up here!

Yeah the 4 pots do vibrate a bit, My s14 never did bust the subframe but I could have just gotten lucky.

[Ether-D]

Just my .02

Engines in the E30s are all fun in their own way when maintained properly. They all give a different feel to a great car. Which is better? Depends on who is driving it.

I agree that the E30 was wonderfully engineered and most "pattern failures" are now age related. Having said that There are a few more I can think of.

But really, in any trim, any engine. The E30, accept no substitute :-D

Yeah, I like how you think.

I drove my first e30 to AK from TN in 2000. I lived in Girdwood for a few years around that time. Where are you? I still have a real good buddy that is a freak for e30's living in Bird. He doesn't currently have one, but he should.

I also think the m42 may vibrate the subframes to death.

[VanBimmerhead]

Just my .02

Engines in the E30s are all fun in their own way when maintained properly. They all give a different feel to a great car. Which is better? Depends on who is driving it.

The standard rack is slow but the feel is still great. The rack in the e30 M3 is around 3.5 turns and feels good to me personally.

I agree that the E30 was wonderfully engineered and most "pattern failures" are now age related. Having said that There are a few more I can think of.

Sometimes people removing and installing the gauge cluster will use screws that are too long causing a circuit trace on one of the boards to be broken. This causes a general gauge freak out depending on the trace broken.

The ground post for the temp gauge will become loose and cause you to smack the dash.

On manuals the reverse light switch wires will sometimes wear through and short, this blows a fuse shared with the gauge cluster and is hard to track down when the only symptom is dead gauges.

Rust around windshield. Clogging water drains near sun roof can cause water to leak down kick panel and pool under carpet, causing rust.

Plastic ends on radiators tend to break, replacements break faster.

Brackets on AC like to break.

Older style flapper valve air meters get gummed up and stick, causing the engine to run horrible unless at the exact throttle angle normally associated with the position the sensor is stuck at ( sometimes intermittently ). This causes a lot of mechanics to advise the replacement of expensive component after component when a can of sensor safe cleaner and a rag will do.

But really, in any trim, any engine. The E30, accept no substitute :-D

[pandaboo911]

True 4 bangers vibrate a lot compared to a straight 6


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[glucklich21]

Very possible, but the M42 has those liquid filled mounts and when good, I never really noticed the buzziness. Dunno

[DER E30]

This happened on my old M42 car as well. Stress fractures are a bitch!

Could it be that the m42 is much more buzzy than the m20 and other I6's?? Like that it doesn't break them with shear power, it just vibrates on there till she gives?

[glucklich21]

I don't think I drive that hard, I don't even drop the clutch or anything, but this happened with an M42!!!

This happened on my old M42 car as well. Stress fractures are a bitch!

[Massimo]

That is wild man. Makes me concerned about putting an m30 on a stock cross member.

lol mine were not even attached anymore

[Das Delfin]

My '87 325i gets around 250/tank before the light comes on, with 100% city driving. The most I've gotten was around 340 on a trip with all highway miles. But something is wrong with my idle and there may be more economy to be had!

And my headlights shut off with the ignition, like the wiring diagram shows.

The steering rack is annoying but if I was allowed one mod only, it would be +2 cup holders.

[rzerob]

Weird. I've had my s52 mounted on a non reinforced subframe for a couple years now. Maybe I should check for cracks


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Ditto.

[pandaboo911]

Weird. I've had my s52 mounted on a non reinforced subframe for a couple years now. Maybe I should check for cracks


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[marshallnoise]

I don't think I drive that hard, I don't even drop the clutch or anything, but this happened with an M42!!!

What I did to fix it... That's .110 steel plate, as thick as I could use while still having full engagement on the engine mount stud.

That is wild man. Makes me concerned about putting an m30 on a stock cross member.

[DER E30]

How so? Never heard this before.

I don't think I drive that hard, I don't even drop the clutch or anything, but this happened with an M42!!!

What I did to fix it... That's .110 steel plate, as thick as I could use while still having full engagement on the engine mount stud.

[marshallnoise]

BMW messed up on the subframe tabs that the engine mounts bolt to.

How so? Never heard this before.

[DER E30]

I shake my head at my Jeep any time i work on it.

Right?!?!?!?

I have a 93 Grand Cherokee wheeling rig, the wiring is a total joke! All the insulation on the wiring is failing and making it short and BS. Should ask chrysler "why you no put real wire in it!?!?!?"
That and its alarm is CONTINUALLY going off! Like WTF jeep!?



BMW messed up on the subframe tabs that the engine mounts bolt to.

My E30's been good to me otherwise. wish it was 5x120 though...