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

[TheEightAlpha]

Regardless of engines i love how I can feel the road. And that is worth all the negatives. Cars like that are dying


,Diego Ochoa

[slammin.e28]

Both my e30s do this. I don't think they have been modified.

Ya, every BMW I've owned shuts the headlamps off when you cut the ignition. Parking lamps stay on, but main beams go off.

[UlrichFennec]

Ya, every BMW I've owned shuts the headlamps off when you cut the ignition. Parking lamps stay on, but main beams go off.

That was exactly my problem. Apparently, the reason mine did that was because the previous owner wired the headlights to the stereo's power and gave the car a wonderful short to ground. That's getting fixed right now, actually. I'll have a electrical bug-free E30 soon, especially with the new wiring harness I ordered.

[KVF]

Bunch of minor faults that have all been mentioned, but truth be told, there aren't any major faults. It's just that simple...

[estoguy]

I've owned my E30 for 2.5 years. Prior, I was a hardcore VW guy having owned 3 MkIIIs and a MkIV. Seriously, the E30 is better. (But I'll always love my first MKIII - '97 Golf TD - because she was the first... but the E30 is a hair behind).

I've got a barebones '86 325 (Eta) - and to be honest, I love it. I've had minor frustrations working on it, but all in all, it's been a great ride so far.

One thing: The rear brake plates that the E-brake components attach to - having to remove the rear bearing to replace. Stupid. I haven't had my e-brake for almost a year because of it.

[rzerob]

Ya, every BMW I've owned shuts the headlamps off when you cut the ignition. Parking lamps stay on, but main beams go off.

This is what mine does. But it still kills my battery if the switch is left on. I plan on either switching source power or adding a warning buzzer. I remember 99% of the time but that one percent I forget.

No head light warning. How many times have you left your headlights on and come back to a dead battery?

I am going to edit my original post because it was to vague.

No head light SWITCH warning. How many times have you left your headlights SWITCH on and come back to a dead battery?

Sorry for the confusion.

[totheredline]

A lot of the problems people are mentioning are due to old age and PO neglect. Compared to other cars of the era they are extremely well put together. There's no arguing that the e30 is a very sound design. I work at a Chrysler jeep dodge dealership. You wouldn't believe the number of recalls we do. There's one out on jeep wranglers where a connector in the door gets hot due from excessive amp draw and the insulation catches on fire. XD

[ravenlord89]

If I was only allowed to do one mod to the E30 and nothing else it would be the steering rack. Everything else is nit picking. The steering rack is the only poor design choice.

[flyboyx]

it sucks the fuel tank is only about 13 gallons and not closer to 20. already mentioned but the odo gears always go bad.

[varg]

There's one out on jeep wranglers where a connector in the door gets hot due from excessive amp draw and the insulation catches on fire. XD

How does that even happen? Did bean-counters design Chrysler vehicles literally on their own or something? That is BASIC engineering, something one would be expected to know in a sophomore level class.

If I was only allowed to do one mod to the E30 and nothing else it would be the steering rack. Everything else is nit picking. The steering rack is the only poor design choice.

I don't find it that bad, honestly. I'd love to swap a quicker rack in and think it would be a good improvement but I don't have the funds and it doesn't seem that bad to me anyway. Heck, it's a 24 year old car, I haven't driven many cars as old as mine that handle as well or feel as good. The only old car I've ever driven that felt better was a Porsche.

[rturbo 930]

it sucks the fuel tank is only about 13 gallons and not closer to 20. already mentioned but the odo gears always go bad.

Where did you hear they're only 13 gallons?

DIMENSIONS
Fuel capacity: 14.5 gallons (1987, 1989-1990)
16.4 gallons ( 1988 )


From here: http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical...ications2.html

[Red_liner740]

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

I mean, honestly, who puts a steel tank, in a steel enclosure and designs so the back corner of said enclosure sits open to the rear wheel well?

Only reason i own a Chrysler product is that it has a Mercedes diesel in it.

How does that even happen? Did bean-counters design Chrysler vehicles literally on their own or something? That is BASIC engineering, something one would be expected to know in a sophomore level class.



I don't find it that bad, honestly. I'd love to swap a quicker rack in and think it would be a good improvement but I don't have the funds and it doesn't seem that bad to me anyway. Heck, it's a 24 year old car, I haven't driven many cars as old as mine that handle as well or feel as good. The only old car I've ever driven that felt better was a Porsche.

[flyboyx]

Where did you hear they're only 13 gallons?

DIMENSIONS
Fuel capacity: 14.5 gallons (1987, 1989-1990)
16.4 gallons ( 1988 )


From here: http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical...ications2.html

i checked real oem. it says that all cars after 7/87 (88 ) had a 63 liter fuel tank. ( didn't check 318i's).

63 liters = 16.64 gallons.


good to know but i still wish it was a little bigger.

[slammin.e28]

i checked real oem. it says that all cars after 7/87 (88 ) had a 63 liter fuel tank. ( didn't check 318i's).

63 liters = 16.64 gallons.


good to know but i still wish it was a little bigger.

That M3 aux fuel tank is still available from the dealer....and it's not really expensive either.....

[dnguyen1963]

i checked real oem. it says that all cars after 7/87 (88 ) had a 63 liter fuel tank. ( didn't check 318i's).

63 liters = 16.64 gallons.


good to know but i still wish it was a little bigger.

Why? You can drive more than 400 miles per fill up.