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

[Vincent Brick]

Zip tie the spring compressed and its a piece of cake.

But you still have to pull the intake though, right?

[jan318]

But mostly the fact that many seem wind up in the hands of some retard who was too cheap to fix things the right way.

and the M42 ?:

[slammin.e28]

But mostly the fact that many seem wind up in the hands of some retard who was too cheap to fix things the right way.

Like this??

[Kershaw]

The use of steel for brake lines and fuel lines instead of an alloy.

The design of the "bitch tube" on the M20 engine that requires massive effort to change the 50 cent rubber O-rings on it.

Zip tie the spring compressed and its a piece of cake.

Here's an ix specific fault. Really short suspension travel in the front.

[agent]

the fact that many seem wind up in the hands of some retard who was too cheap to fix things the right way.

/thread

[E30 Wagen]

Battery box rust in late models. Steering rack. Sport seats self-destructing. Dash cracking.

But mostly the fact that many seem wind up in the hands of some retard who was too cheap to fix things the right way.

[UlrichFennec]

The fact that when you take ownership of the car with the M20 motor, you have to do the Timing Belt/Water pump irrespective of what the PO says.

Well, that's just general preventative maintenance. Maybe I'm just anal, but I always try to get the most important things done to prevent a failure later on when I get a different car.

It's also a fun learning experience.

[Stanley Rockafella]

-Cracked Dash's (unless you live in Europe; they seem to survive there)

Come up here to the PNW, all the e30's I've ever seen all have uncracked dashes...esp those in the wrecking yards.

Heck, up here a crack free oem dash is usually the LAST thing pulled from a parts car, as nobody wants/needs one. As a result, they usually sell cheaper than elsewhere

[nando]

buzzers are annoying. I'd rather just pay attention. :p

[rzerob]

also, the headlights are supposed to shut off with the ignition. the parking lights will stay on. If yours stay on with the ignition off, then somebody has buggered up your wiring.

By head light warning I meant a warning buzzer to let you know the headlight switch is on(head light warning switch?). My head lights do go off when The ignition is off but the parking lights stay on. And it kills my battery if I forget about the switch being on. Sorry for the vague statement.

[nando]

I think the steering rack is the weakest point. Going back and forth between my E90 and the E30, the steering is the biggest difference. it's like driving a bus!

in 14 years I've never broken a RSM. Are people installing them wrong or something?

a DSSR makes a difference in shifter slop. the single shear rod tends to oval out the bushings in the shifter. the earlier cars tended to come with really long throws, but that's not a big deal really.

lack of cup holders is a highlight IMO. You're supposed to be driving, not giving yourself diabetes with super sized drinks and eating shitty food.

also, the headlights are supposed to shut off with the ignition. the parking lights will stay on. If yours stay on with the ignition off, then somebody has buggered up your wiring.

[marshallnoise]

i've heard some good ideas, and i'd add the lack of an adjustable steering column as well. All the mercs and audis at the time had this feature, e30s did not.

+1

[rzerob]

My headlights turn off when the ignition is shut off.

Did you switch your power source to the headlight switch from k30(Hot at all times) to k15(Hot in acc., run and start)?

[KIRIEIW]

-Cracked Dash's (unless you live in Europe; they seem to survive there)
-Rear Shock mounts
-Rear Convertible seat ripped up top
-Convertible Power Top
-m20 vacuum leaks (the best BMW engine built for the record)

[slammin.e28]

My headlights turn off when the ignition is shut off.

Tee hee.....;)