Euro E30 323i questions

[Jarvis]

This is mainly just a question for non-US E30 owners.

I know nothing about the '85 Euro 323i except that it has a 2.3L M20 that puts out 150hp and 151ft-lb stock (not that those numbers are important to me anyways), and likes to rev even more than the M20B25 (right?). My question is, does this particular E30 model have any specific common trouble spots that someone with a US 325is would not be used to?

I found an '85 4dr 323i for sale by the original owner (older guy) who personally imported it here from Germany when new 20 years ago. 5spd with cloth interior and Euro bumpers. It's got 175K miles and is driven in Arizona during the winter, so I'm pretty sure I won't have to deal with the usual Mass. car rust problems.

Anything I need to know before checking it out? Thanks ahead of time guys.

[schnitzer teil-jäger]

My question is, does this particular E30 model have any specific common trouble spots that someone with a US 325is would not be used to?

ECU is different
Injection is different
It has a distributer that is very hard to find or varies from 650 to 2500 from the dealer network
Ignition module
SMALL REAR DIFF
better sport seats if you are normal to small
LOTS OF BAD WIRING FROM THE CONVERSION.
euro istrument cluster modified with light strip?
maybe maybe not euro bumpers
Problems if you don't have the documentation when you have to smog the car.
some trouble transfering to some states
could have a close ratio 5 speed
weighs less than a US 325
w

[Jarvis]

My question is, does this particular E30 model have any specific common trouble spots that someone with a US 325is would not be used to?

ECU is different
Injection is different
It has a distributer that is very hard to find or varies from 650 to 2500 from the dealer network
Ignition module
SMALL REAR DIFF
better sport seats if you are normal to small
LOTS OF BAD WIRING FROM THE CONVERSION.
euro istrument cluster modified with light strip?
maybe maybe not euro bumpers
Problems if you don't have the documentation when you have to smog the car.
some trouble transfering to some states
could have a close ratio 5 speed
weighs less than a US 325
w

Wow. That was quick. Thanks for the reply

-I'm not worried about the ECU, since it's a running car in good condition
-By "injection is different", do you mean just different injectors than a US M20 or is there some extremely complicated and expensive different injection system?
-aplusparts.com lists the E30 Euro 323i distributor for $20
-what exactly is differnent about the injection module
-don't mind the small rear diff. If a large case was ever put in, it'd be because there'd be a more powerful engine to match it.
-don't know about any "bad wiring". This guy has had the car for it's entire existence. Will check out the hiring harness though.
-don't know about the instrument cluster yet.
-it does definitely have the euro bumpers.
-I'm not too worried about car inspections. I know a few people that'll just sell a sticker for the $29, no questions asked.
-It's already in my state.
-close ratio would be cool... but do normal Getrag 260s bolt up to the M20B23 just incase I ever needed one?
-less weight = me happy
Thanks again.

[E30-323ti]

The M20B23 uses the L-Jet EFI system (fuel only really), not Motronic (which also does your ignition timing).

My 323i had a MEDIUM case diff, Like your US 325's.

It will prolly have a Motometer instrument cluster, which may be difficult to source in the US if anything goes wrong with it.

My 2.3 did 183,000miles then died :( but it made way for more powerful things :)

I don't see why the wiring should be bad!?!?!

Good Luck.

[Digitalwave]

I've never heard of a medium case diff. What did large case diffs come in then?

And Motometer clusters are just as common as VDO over here.

[Jarvis]

The M20B23 uses the L-Jet EFI system (fuel only really), not Motronic (which also does your ignition timing).
My 323i had a MEDIUM case diff, Like your US 325's.
It will prolly have a Motometer instrument cluster, which may be difficult to source in the US if anything goes wrong with it.
My 2.3 did 183,000miles then died :( but it made way for more powerful things :)
I don't see why the wiring should be bad!?!?!
Good Luck.

Thanks for the reply.

-Dammit. I didn't know the 2.3 used L-Jet (like the M10, right?).
-The '87 325is that I currently own has a Motometer cluster, so I'm pretty sure there's a good amount of used ones in the US if I ever needed one.
-When you say your 2.3 "died", what do you mean? - anything that doesn't normally happen to other high mileage M20s anyways, like a broken timing belt?
Thanks again for the help.

[Charlie]

I've never heard of a medium case diff. What did large case diffs come in then?

And Motometer clusters are just as common as VDO over here.

The 4 bangers are small cases, the "Baby sixes" are mid cases, and the 7ers had large cases.

-Charlie

[schnitzer teil-jäger]

don't know about any "bad wiring".

anyone with a euro car can tell you that the wiring had to be brought to usa specs for seatbelt lights etc. most of the time they hacked it.
weird things like
the blinkers staying on (but stationary) if you turn the car off while the blinker was on.
other problems arise once you add a stereo to non factory connections
look under the drivers knee bolster at the wiring if all is neat and tidy you should be ok
if there are lots of free hanging wires and blue wire jumper clips you may or may not have problems depending on who actually did it.

aplusparts.com lists the E30 Euro 323i distributor for $20

if this is a real 323 distributer SOMEONE ON THIS BOARD SHOULD BUY IT. Street price is 150.00

w

[Jarvis]

don't know about any "bad wiring".

anyone with a euro car can tell you that the wiring had to be brought to usa specs for seatbelt lights etc. most of the time they hacked it. weird things like the blinkers staying on (but stationary) if you turn the car off while the blinker was on.
other problems arise once you add a stereo to non factory connections
look under the drivers knee bolster at the wiring if all is neat and tidy you should be ok
if there are lots of free hanging wires and blue wire jumper clips you may or may not have problems depending on who actually did it.

aplusparts.com lists the E30 Euro 323i distributor for $20

if this is a real 323 distributer SOMEONE ON THIS BOARD SHOULD BUY IT. Street price is 150.00w

The owner is an older guy who'd had the car since it was imported. I will find out for sure when I see it in person, but I'm not too worried about hack jobs. Thanks for the warning though.
I'm not positive if the distributor is legit. Aplusparts is just one of the many generic OEM parts sites that are all 99% the same. When you chose the make and model, there's an option for "European" BMWs. There aren't many parts available, and most of them are generic for the selective year, based on the same basic engine used in different models.

[Jarvis]

Also, it does have the Euro dogleg 5spd tranny. Anything unusual about these? I'm not sure, but IIRC they use a dual-mass flywheel. Correct?

What rear diff should I expect with that tranny, in a relatively low-optioned car? (The seller is an older guy and doesn't seem to know specifics like gear ratios and such)

[nando]

the dogleg tranny is close-ratio with a 1:1 5th gear

[riverdale21]

My ex's neighbor was selling a grey market E21 323i it was a real one too. What to look for:

-All info in doorjam plates and underhood plates are in German
-Rear disc brakes
-Guage cluster usually in metric unless it has been converted to US spec

I think there were a few other differences but I can't think of them off the top of my head. If you go to Carlynx.com you can see they have a few sites regarding real 323i's listed in the BMW>3series section. Check that out first.

[Jarvis]

riverdale21 -
I'm assuming the rear brakes are discs, since it's a 6-cylinder. The only E30s with drums are early 316i/318i's, right?
And I'm pretty sure that the gauges are US spec (part of the required conversion).

Thanks for the help

[riverdale21]

My apologies I thought we were talking about E21s. And the E21 323i I checked out still had the speedo in kilometers and gasoline in liters. And only your mother had drum brakes, as she wasn't worth the extra money.

[BavarianBimmer]

Euro 323i cars have the same case as the 325i (except 320i's)
wiring is the same as the early M10 wiring but more complicated
ditrubutor caps are the same from early six bangers (ECE version)