My first e30, finally. Latest Update: The Restoration Begins

[Click]

Yeah, I kinda miss them chrome a bit too, it was starting to flake and for whatever reason there was a decent little ding on the one that I filled when I painted it. When you're far away it just looks like something is missing, but when your up close and can actually see the kidneys it looks good. I think I may paint it satin white eventually or something.

I picked up a spare 260 several months ago for cheap (and was made fun of for buying parts for cars I dont own haha) and was told it was in good working order. If the fluid doesn't help I'll just drive it as long as I can. 4th gear is fine right now.

Clean car. I'll likely see you round since your in my neck of the woods.

Where in pa are you located?

[Galactodactyl]

Clean car. I'll likely see you round since your in my neck of the woods.

[jw 325ic]

That gear grinding problem is most likely the syncros, as mine are doing the same to the point where 4th gear is un-shiftable...lol

its usually 2nd and 4th gear that crap out

this is the truth. time for a tranny rebuild or replacement. otherwise nice car man. i think the chrome kidneys looked better, but to each their own. get an iS lip and lower that thing, itll look nice.

[Sputnik]

That gear grinding problem is most likely the syncros, as mine are doing the same to the point where 4th gear is un-shiftable...lol

its usually 2nd and 4th gear that crap out

[Holland]

Definitely taking the right steps, except for the black kidneys, but I think the car is in good hands.

[Click]

Edited the original post to put the rest of the pics in.

Grilles looked faded so they got a fresh coat of paint. Blacked out the kids as well.











Lookin bad ass now, minus that massive wheel to fender gap haha.

I had the car jacked up earlier this week and inspected it real well. Front brakes are toast. I ordered Hawk HPS pads and Brembo slotted rotors. Pads come tomorrow and the rotors are back ordered so they should come in a couple weeks.

[freeride53]

nice

[10Toes]

I had the car up on jack stands yesterday and inspected the car pretty well and gave it an oil change. I noticed the guibo is starting to crack, the diff bushing has a small crack in the rubber underneath the metal center, and the ground cable that goes from the oil pan to the frame has lost nearly all its insulation. The front pads are completely shot (one is like 2.5mm), Front rotors are 0.2-0.4 mm out of spec, rear brakes look like they were done recently. I figured on doing the csb since I got to do the guibo and ill change the oil in the trans and diff and puta new diff bushing in. How much oil to the diff and trans take, < 2 quarts or more?

Looks like a clean car. Good call on the CSB, every E30 I have seen has needed a fresh one installed. 2 quarts should be enough to fill the diff, you just fill it tell the fluid is level with the fill bolt.

[nightwing66]

The clunking is the your diff man, its going bad. Same thing happened to me. When im reving high in 1st my car kinda makes a whining noise, i think its just the tranny though(trannys fine btw). My gears are a little hard to shift at time, especially downshifting. Im pretty sure its your drive line needing attention. Go in there and change all the fluids and than make a observation. Also see if it was originally an auto car because if it was than someone may have something mixed up in the early year and later year models(driveshaft mainly). GL and nice find

[Click]

I had the car up on jack stands yesterday and inspected the car pretty well and gave it an oil change. I noticed the guibo is starting to crack, the diff bushing has a small crack in the rubber underneath the metal center, and the ground cable that goes from the oil pan to the frame has lost nearly all its insulation. The front pads are completely shot (one is like 2.5mm), Front rotors are 0.2-0.4 mm out of spec, rear brakes look like they were done recently. I figured on doing the csb since I got to do the guibo and ill change the oil in the trans and diff and puta new diff bushing in. How much oil to the diff and trans take, < 2 quarts or more?

[Vtec?lol]

that clunking in the rear means you need new sub frame bushings or somewhere in that area. Big job. The diff whine at high speeds means it's time to replace and fill it with new fluid. That tach Dependant noise could be the fan clutch, open the hood and r3v it at the TB. clean car.

[DREWHALL]

Typically the temp gauge sits in the middle, could be the sensor going bad.

Looks pretty clean. have fun with it!

[Marcos]

ps, Use high quality fluids, they are the only thing keeping your car alive.

[Marcos]

Stop Leak?

That looks like "Stop Leak" but I could be wrong (In the PS Fluid). No I don't think it's supposed to be grey but it's a common thing to do as the rack often leaks after so many years. I bet your rack is soaked and grimy.

Cool car though, I would be a bit concerned about the gear grinding, you may be on to something with the syncros...

Otherwise, change every fluid known to man including the tranny fluid and dif, but maybe not the ps fluid, that may actually help the grindy'ness. and don't downshift so hard... ;)

[Click]

After taxes, title & registration etc it was about 4k. I've noticed one other thing, I noticed if I'm driving fairly fast, like 40, and downshift to second I've found that if I don't rev-match the gears grind, is this a trait of 260s or are the synchros going bad? Also my coolant gauge usually lives at the first white line after the blue, is that too cold or normal?