Your most hated BMW engineering

[Kershaw]

Something else is the rear brake line tee being hidden above the subframe. It makes it a bitch to replace in the same spot, but most cars I see just leave the old one and throw a new one somewhere else.

Holy shit. Why didn't I think of that? A friend and I spent 14 hours dropping my subframe and replacing my rear brake lines because they cracked. I thought putting it behind the rear subframe was the most asinine design decision ever, but I didn't think to relocate it myself. :???:

Hopefully I don't have to do it again.

[Porthos]

My fucking exhaust broke and fell off on the freeway last night. How dare BMW not test exhaust pipe out till the end of time. I mean it was only 25 years old it should have lasted like 100 more years.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

E36 blower and wiper motors. Fuck those things. Also the exhaust manifold bolts. Them are no fun either.

[Northern]

Removing the differential, especially the top mount bolts.
I hate those bolts with a f#cking passion

Studs. Seriously.

-having to separate the ball joints to replace shocks/springs

Only true on stock springs, and maybe like H&R OE sport.

I hate that my wheels are held on by lug bolts and not lug nuts.

100% better to buy thread in studs than have OE studs that are splined and have to remove the hub to install longer studs or replace damaged ones.

Oh, and they used 7mm exhaust studs. Why? There is no reason 8mm wouldn't have fit, and they're a lot easier to get.

The only thing that really bugs me about the E30 itself is why they didn't use anti-seize when installing the aluminum subframe bushing dowel in the steel mounting boss. Whoever was responsible for this design choice must have been sleeping in class when galvanic corrosion came up. Sure, the steel mounting boss is cathodic relative to the aluminum dowel, so the steel doesn't corrode, but the assembly corrodes itself together and when the soft, corroded aluminum breaks off in the chassis you're in for some real fun.

Both of these. I've never broken an M20 exhaust stud, but I've broken dozens and dozens of damn 7mm 24v studs. Plus a 7mm nut is like hen's teeth to find to weld onto a snapped stud.

The Al on Steel bushing sleeve has always bugged me as well.

Solution: don't wear gloves. Seems to work for the grease monkeys at the local hoist-em-up and rip-em-off.

I've been doing it wrong all along. If I take my clothes off, I should be able to fit through the skipass to open my trunk too?

I actually 100% agree with the M20 oil filter being a bitch. I've burned my arms so many times on the headers, plus the "screwdriver method" that a lot of people use is because of the location. Easy way out is flipping the filter housing, but I guess there are other issues with that.

Something else is the rear brake line tee being hidden above the subframe. It makes it a bitch to replace in the same spot, but most cars I see just leave the old one and throw a new one somewhere else.

[digger]

oil filter is easy even with a set of headers, get a huge pair of pliers to get it started then get a rag or glove to stop yourself getting burnt and youre done. rear wheel bearing is not a job id ever do myself.

there are too many hated things with the engineering design to list.

[jhaurimn]

Not really a pita, more of an inconvenience. It was always annoying replacing the oil filter on a hot m20.

[Jon325i]

It's been a while since I last wrenched on an E30, but past experience brings back these knuckle busting memories....

The top two (forward end) bolts of the diff mount
Rear wheels bearings
Starter bolts
M20B25 oil filter location (always had to wait for the car to cool)

For the most part, I found the E30 to be a simple car to work on....just these few issues I pointed out were a pain for me.


Jon

[Exodus_2pt0]

Because race car!

[nando]

it's like those guys who say it's no big deal that a rotary needs rebuilding every 40,000 miles because they've had to take it apart so many times when it's broken that they can do it in their sleep.

[Exodus_2pt0]

That did make me laugh.

Actually I cheated and didn't even touch the timing belt. Ended up doing it a couple weeks later when my starter took a shit. Only had to halfway pull the engine for the starter though lol. It's sad how quickly you can take the entire front end apart on these cars after a year of ownership.

B5 life. The e30 was a cake walk!

[nando]

are you changing the timing belt or just the thermostat in that picture? :p

[Exodus_2pt0]

No, you do not have to remove any of that to replace the wiper linkage. Someone posted that misinformation on here when I did my first one in 2004 and I'm still pissed about it. I stopped halfway as I was pulling the dash and realized it could all be done from the outside. I wanted to reach through my 56k modem and strangle that SOB.

This is pretty funny

When I got my sedan with a snapped belt from my brother in 2011, I did a motor swap and replaced the linkage the same night..... I never even considered pulling the dash.


I know this is a hard concept for some people, but sometimes, its better to go inspect things yourself before asking the internet. (Not a jab at anyone, just an honest opinion.)

One thing I've learned, is that 90% of the people who give technical automotive information on the internet have no idea what they are talking about.


When I went stage 3, EVERYONE said so much easier to pull the engine and transmission together. I went out and looked at it, and there is more clearance between the bellhousing bolts and the firewall than anything else I've worked on.

So, I did it my way:


3.5 hours later (while focusing on drinking beer as much as my tools. I don't get many days to myself, so I enjoyed myself and took my time.)


People actually will tell you that removing the axles, driveshaft, clutch slave, then trans with the engine. Separate on the ground, reassemble, then install is easier than just the damn engine.

Because they are inexperienced people giving advise.

/rant.

[E30_Pare]

This, very much. You guys have no idea what an actually tough job is until you've worked on British cars.

holy crap this^

Have any of you guys ever worked on a Interceptor? What a nightmare.

Anyways worst part of a BMW? The one piece exhaust.

[lukeADE335i]

I'd say on an A/C M20, the oil filter is in a pretty crap spot.

The M30 & M50 are much easier to service.

Might be harder because your car is RHD? On a LHD E30, it's not that difficult.

\

Yes - RHD is a factor I'd say... it's pretty congested on the exhaust side with the steering linkage, engine mount, exhaust manifold, AC Compressor and the oil filter!

Viva la M30 and it's oil filter well away from all that :D

[E30SPDFRK]

You guys have no idea what an actually tough job is until you've worked on British cars.

MGB clutch master comes to mind... and oil cooler lines on a V8 Esprit



Anyone ever done a heater core on a B5 Passat? Or a TDi turbo on a mk5? Or a fuel pump on an evo 9?