Difference between e and i. WTF...

[e30crazie]

I just installed the new head on my 89 325i. So when I picked up the head from the shop I was told that the valves needed to be adjusted. I did the install and because I've never done a valve adjustment, I took it to a local mechanic that I was told was a German car mechanic for a quote.
Here is the kicker...
So I drive up in a noisy e30 and ask the cost of a valve adjustment. He looks at my car and say;s "oh its an e30", he said that if I was not aware that these cars had noisy engines. So he asked if it was an e or an i. I told him it was an i then he scratched his head and said no... this is an e . I told him nooooo, this is an i . After a mild discussion, he told me that all 4 door e30's were i's and all 2 door e30's were e. After I giggled internally, I told him "ah... Its ok, I'll just adjust them myself.

I tried to explain the difference between ETA and i cars but he did'nt want any part of my explanation LOL.

Again, needless to say that I walked away from this job. Someone that knows the model because its popular but doesn't know the true difference is not worthy of touching my m20.

[lambo]

If you can do a head swap you can do a valve adjustment. It's super easy.

[CarsonE30]

I giggled internally

C'mon, you lol'd, I would've lost it, props to you for keeping it together!

[YosemiteSam]

Wow, where did he even get that idea?

[e30crazie]

If you can do a head swap you can do a valve adjustment. It's super easy.

I'm doing it tomorrow. I saw some pretty in depth vids on you tube and feel comfortable enough to do it.
I just never done it so I figured I'd take it to the experts.

[papag1234]

I'm doing it tomorrow. I saw some pretty in depth vids on you tube and feel comfortable enough to do it.
I just never done it so I figured I'd take it to the experts.

I did a valve adjustment like a month or two ago for the first time. Put the car in 5th and push it to turn to TDC each time since I have LSD. It was fairly easy. Just make sure you have the right feeler gauge because I did it without and that was a bitch.

[ttrousdell]

what was the quote for the valve adjustment?

[modernist]

Put the car in 5th and push it to turn

Or just jump pins 11 and 14 in the diagnostic connector to bump the starter.

[AndrewBird]

I like to pull the spark plugs and then just use a ratchet on the front of the crank.

[modernist]

but then you have to go through the trouble of pulling the plugs and reaching the crank bolt with a ratchet.

[ELVA164]

Put the car in 5th and push it to turn to TDC each time since I have LSD. It was fairly easy.

The gearbox is the important part of the equation (being a manual), not the differential. Open diffs can use this method. Unless one were to roll the car with one wheel in the air/missing, I suppose.

[e30crazie]

I ended up pulling off the radiator and turning the crank with my 1/2 inch socket to make the adjustments. I bought a feeler set and used that to gauge my valves. I installed the radiator back and installed all of the stuff I pulled to get to access. Vioala... My engine feels tight and silent. Mission accomplished.
On a side note... When I installed my head and timing belt I forgot to put in the hook bracket behind the timing belt cover. I didn't think it mattered to much but it actually does. When I pulled the radiator off, I thought what the hell, I might as well install it as I had access to the dist cap. I noticed that I had some ground rubber on the timing belt cover, as I looked further, I saw that the brand new belt had been rubbing on a groove inside the cover. I pulled it off a little and installed the hook and noticed a huge difference in the clearance. I didn't think it mattered too much until my belt started to rub. Thank god I took the long route and found out before more damage occurred.

[e30crazie]

what was the quote for the valve adjustment?

He quoted me 150.00, I don't know if that cheap or not but just the fact that our debate was about, I was not going to let him touch my car.

[ahrensNW]

He quoted me 150.00, I don't know if that cheap or not but just the fact that our debate was about, I was not going to let him touch my car.

That seems fair if the parts are included. The parts being the head gasket and rtv lol.

[TobyB]

My father in law is convinced that his 325e had a 4- banger.

Some things are just not worth arguing about.

t