New, just purchased First E30 (need a little help)

[Badabing86]

Just wanted to say hello to the forum members. Just bought my first E30 1988 325. Bought it off a friend for 500, needed a new starter and he didn't want to deal with it. So took it off his hands. And finally got the starter removed. Went the manifold removal route and dropped a washer into the engine block by a hole in the middle of the bottom of the block. Tried fishing it out with a magnet and couldn't get it. I'm guessing I'll have to drop the oil pan and get it this route?

[BobombETA]

Drop the pan and turn the engine by hand. That's what I'd do.

[Badabing86]

Does the E30 pan have the magnet like some cars?

[R1dd1ck913]

No. Most cars don't have magnets in the oil pan. Magnets are usually in the transmission pan.

[Kershaw]

You can buy an oil drain magnet though. http://www.amazon.com/11131273093-Ma.../dp/B0099RH3OG or at turner motorsports if you want it blue for 2x the price. I have the turner one. rofl.

and lol dude, this project isn't going so well for you.

[101]

Put the positive spin on it - you'll now have the chance to replace the oil pan gasket which was probably seeping anyway!

[Badabing86]

I swear this car leaks from everywhere. But when I took some gaskets off it looked like they were the original gaskets so I'm sure they are bound to give in after a bit

[Badabing86]

You can buy an oil drain magnet though. http://www.amazon.com/11131273093-Ma.../dp/B0099RH3OG or at turner motorsports if you want it blue for 2x the price. I have the turner one. rofl.

and lol dude, this project isn't going so well for you.

Hahaha I'm being hopeful of this project and trying to be mindful of my spending but the more I look at it and see the potential it can have the more I want to throw my wallet at it

[e30crazie]

I too just bought an 88 2 door 325i for $500.00. Has a salvage title but the damage was minimal and the car is straight. I think my valance and fog lights are straighter than some daily runners on here. Anyhow... I just towed my car home from San Francisco area and now the wrenching begins. Ordered all the gaskets including the oil pan and timing belt with water pump and thermostat. Cant wait for Saturday so I can start the refreshing process. Congrats on our purchase and good luck on removing and finding that washer. Try getting a heavy magnet like from an old speaker break it in small pieces, drill a small hole in it and tie some fishing string to it and start the extraction process. Good luck bro.

[Badabing86]

I too just bought an 88 2 door 325i for $500.00. Has a salvage title but the damage was minimal and the car is straight. I think my valance and fog lights are straighter than some daily runners on here. Anyhow... I just towed my car home from San Francisco area and now the wrenching begins. Ordered all the gaskets including the oil pan and timing belt with water pump and thermostat. Cant wait for Saturday so I can start the refreshing process. Congrats on our purchase and good luck on removing and finding that washer. Try getting a heavy magnet like from an old speaker break it in small pieces, drill a small hole in it and tie some fishing string to it and start the extraction process. Good luck bro.

These cars are a whole lot of car for 500 bucks. I got one with a straight body, and luckily Arizona we don't have to worry about much rust so this body and frame is straight and rust free. When you get around to that Oil pan let me know how that goes, I read about it having some trouble coming out. Ha thanks man, going to do as was said and drop the pan and hopefully its sitting in the pan. Yeah since the hole that it fell into instantly slants to the bottom end of the motor I wasn't able to get too deep into the engine with my magnet tool. Might just take the oil pan off anyways to freshen up these old gaskets lol