New Here, 87 325is.

[David325e]

Well guys, after a couple years of pining, I'm finally back in the E30 world. I had one when I was thirteen and when I first joined bimmerforums (username) but sold it to sink money into E34s. I've got a 94 540 that I'm tired of, looking to sell it outright or as a parts car. On to the E30:

A friend of mine bought this car in 9/08 "running but rough" for $700. Paid me to teach him how to replace HG, rockers, adjust [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]valves[/COLOR][/COLOR], wpump, belts, most of the hoses. Cars sat since then. Currently has a lit [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]ABS [COLOR=blue ! important]light[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and soft pedal. Either got some air into the brakes or its time for a master/booster. Ran the car through some work traffic and about 30 highway miles coming home. Engine/brakes/car were fine. Ran so that I could just see the mid mark (cold side) on the highway and spot on on the side roads. Turns well, little squeak from the susp making 90deg right turns. Slight shimmy in the [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]wheel[/COLOR][/COLOR] but no wonder with hands off, alignment seems true. Car has a rough interior/exterior but its mechanically sound, just the opposite of my 540. Heater works, windows work (pass switch is out, get a new one at the yard tomorrow) Air works. Comp is hooked up and light illuminates, air feels chilled. I'll find out when it gets hotter if its natural air or conditioned.

The Bad:

• Brake issue
• No radio
• Seats need conditioning, driver's has typical bolster hole
• [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Engine[/COLOR][/COLOR] is noisy. Got quieter when I added a couple QTs oil. Needs oil change and tune-up, possible dizzy.
• Odo broken at 217, estimated 230 from PO
• Auto. Auto still feels better than my old M20 525. When it does go I've got a tranny laid around in the shop.

The Good:

• Engines been freshly opened and gone through by me
• IS goodies all present
• Solid body, rust free other than dents pictured
• New tires
• Dry carpet, fired right up after sitting 12months

As for the history of the car: Car was owned by a tuner kids somewhere in the early 00s. Guy knew his stuff, theres a poorly-partially removed stereo wired in. Car is set up to wire/mount an amp and sub. The guy my friend bought it from is an ass. Seems he was only worried about going fast in a straight line. I mean, who snaps a rocker when they're in their 50s? Car has some body dents pictured on the photobucket.

Short term I plan to put the M-tech wheel back on, wire up a later BMW headunit and put a cd player in the trunk, tune the car, have the paint detailed and get it registered/inspected. Put the E30 things I have leftover (like kidneys) back on. Long term I'll put in a CD-43 and maybe get some wheels/little upgrade goodies. As for the body, I'll likely treat the rust, maybe replace the hood, and leave it as is. A backup car to keep at the shop for when another breaks, drive while I do an M50/E30 this summer, etc etc.

Couple questions: Do E30 OBCs stay on while the car is off? How many turns lock-lock is a good working IS rack? Someone have a link to [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]stock[/COLOR][/COLOR] radio [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]wiring [COLOR=blue ! important]harness[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] colors?




Can someone Identify these wheels? The car has three (yes, only 3) of these in it. Two tires are toast. Depending on their value they'll either become apartment furniture or for sale:




Rest of the pics of the interior/exterior are here:
http://s382.photobucket.com/albums/o...5e/87%20325is/

Thanks for looking,
Dave

P.S- I know the car is rocking bottle caps. Annoying, but I assume PO got them on the cheap when he wrecked the fourth one of those wheels.

[trackjunkie21]

those are bmw style 10's i believe

[jeffw]

swap to plastic bumpers and your good to go lol nice looking car

[David325e]

Hah, I wish. I was under the impression that a plastic swap on the rear requires some body work?

And another question while people are stopping by, is a 173 ECU a direct swap?

[ainadude]

Yeah, -173 ECU is a direct swap. I've been running one in my '87 "i" for more than a decade.

[TexasTerp]

For an early model, yes, the rear needs to be shaved down to fit correctly.

The 173 is a direct swap, nothing else needed. I had one in my 87, ran so much better after getting rid of the 153!

[e30turboboy]

yup weels are style10's love em

[threlevenguy]

Hey man where in Chesterfield are ya at?

[David325e]

Turboguy, thanks for the pics man! They look better than I thought on the car, and better than they do solo. So being stock BMW, what would a set of 3 go for, $100?

Leven, I live down at 288/Courthouse. Went to math/sci but I'm in school at Radford now.

And anyone have ideas on an OBC that stays on? I'll check into the hacked radio wiring tomorrow but I'd like to get this figured out, car sits for medium periods while I'll be at school.

[jeffw]

Turboguy, thanks for the pics man! They look better than I thought on the car, and better than they do solo. So being stock BMW, what would a set of 3 go for, $100?

Leven, I live down at 288/Courthouse. Went to math/sci but I'm in school at Radford now.

And anyone have ideas on an OBC that stays on? I'll check into the hacked radio wiring tomorrow but I'd like to get this figured out, car sits for medium periods while I'll be at school.

it doesn't dim when you turn the car off? you are probably on the right track with the radio wiring. but another idea may be to see if you can get your hand behind the obc and move some wires around. when i put my deck in I hit a clump of wires and had some issues wth the blinkers. so try that

[e34croak]

Hey David, good looking e30. Man, I feel as though I know you from somewhere! :pimp:

[David325e]

it doesn't dim when you turn the car off? you are probably on the right track with the radio wiring. but another idea may be to see if you can get your hand behind the obc and move some wires around. when i put my deck in I hit a clump of wires and had some issues wth the blinkers. so try that

Thanks for the tip, I'm used to E34s where it goes off completely. The OBC does dim enough I have to search to see it but its still flashing (time isn't set). Now that the car is being driven (more than every 12 mos haha) I'll keep an eye on the battery for drain. Already made sure the neg and pos cable look clean in the trunk. If nothing else I'll be checking current draw and ripping fuses.

Hey David, good looking e30. Man, I feel as though I know you from somewhere! :pimp:

Hahah hey man. Yea its hilarious to have online buds. I've been to a couple local meets where people I knew well online were there and we never even knew it. You ever coming out east to visit us E34 kids?

[David325e]

Car made it back to school successfully. 200.7 miles in 2:45 with a gas/food stop. Got 27.2 mpg as well. Pleased with the way the car ran on the highway. Purrs like a champ at speed, so I'm guessing my idle issue is vacuum related and not electrical. Only thing that doesn't work is the washer fluid. Not sure if its a dirty line or a pump.

[David325e]

Well, been driving the car for awhile and getting into cleaning it up a bit now.
Cleaned ICV, AFM, plugs and checked the cap. Car still has a stumble at idle thats gone at speed. I'll spray it down tomorrow and see if I can find a leak. Otherwise cars been purring around without a hitch. Wired up an old head unit I have now with a broken cd player. Antenna on the car is broken, but I hardwired an FM modulator for XM and Ipod input. Cleaned out the pass window switch with compressed air and its working now. Spent some time at the pressure wash and got the years for cat prints and sap/dirt off. Actually had a guy offer me 1500 for it as I was leaving the wash . But all in all happy to be back in hte E30 world.

[619E30]

first e30 at 13? sweet