My first real built thread. 1990 325i UPDATE 8/2/12

[Link]

Also posted this in the project forum but I thought it should go here too.

Hello, I have been on R3V for awhile now. Bought my first daily e30 about 2 weeks ago. I bought it off another member. I had to trailer the car home, and I used this forum to get the car back on the road again. Well here are some pictures then I will tell you the problems I need help with yet again.

Pictures:

When I got the car:





After replacing:
Spark plugs
Plug wires
Cap/Rotor
CPS (dont think it was needed,but oh well)

Then the car was running good.
The car had already a Dinan chip, m50 injectors, and a cat back.

Then I switched the interior to all black leather, with sport seats.



After interior I purchased some e38 Style 5's 16x8's with a 195/50-16 Dunlop's. Using 20mm adapters.



The car came with "Ground Control" coils with eibach springs.

So me and my buddy cut off the spring perch and welded on a nice metal ring for them coil to sit on. Doing this to go a bit lower.



And thats where it is today. My head gasket is leaking oil so I'm ordering a a top end gasket set in the morning.

MY PROBLEMS: So yesterday I drove my car on a 100 mile round trip and on the end of the way to my destination my car started running poorly in the lower RPM's. I suspected spark. So when we got back to my house I hooked up a timing light to check just for a quick thing and it showed perfect spark. I then thought fuel, wishful thinking I had a fuel filter laying around so I put the new one in. That still didn't fix it. Now I'm thinking maybe injectors? Maybe go back to stock ones and ditch the chip so I can run 87 oct fuel again. What do you guys think?

And there is a high pitch whine coming from the engine bay while driving.. can decide what it might be.

Also tomorrow I will be installing a IS front lip and maybe order some 15mm adapters for the front so I can go a little bit lower.

UPDATE 8/2/12: Well today I went to do the head gasket and after removing the radiator and intake manifold. I noticed that the head gasket had in fact not been leaking and the crank case oil return was the source or half the leak, and the other half was when the previous owner replaced the intake gaskets he forgot to tighten all the bolts as most were finger tight. So new gaskets went in there, along with O rings and other necessary parts got replaced. Put it all back together. Painted my intake manifold and valve cover while they were off and they look very nice I think, will get pictures up tomorrow. Now onto the problem:

Then when I test drove it the car still had the same problem were between 1800 and 3500 rpm's the car would stumble as if not fuel. I took a buddy for a ride who is very motor talented and explained it to my brother, diesel tech, and they both say that it must be the fuel pump, injectors, or possibly the Dinan chip is failing.

Thoughts? ANd how do I figure out what fuel pump I need, online I see multiple styles.



New shift knob as well. I love it.

[Kvasi]

You got a blown headgasket and wonder whats wrong with the engine?

[milo1303s]

It's alright his nice (VW) Recaro's where race seats!!! LOL!!!
Nice car btw!

[lambo]

Your seats.

I want them.

[SpeicherBimmer]

Those Recaros were beautiful...why change them? Anyway...if you have a known bad HG attack that first and I'd imagine most of your problems will go away....

[Link]

Ill be doing the head gasket tomorrow. After a comp test so I can see before and after numbers. Also I like leather much more than those recaros. Also anyone know if this is a stock color and what the color code is if so..

[mbonanni]

Where did you get that picture?

I read his whole build thread and the color was definitely said one or more times. Beautiful color.
I love the mkII recaros. imagine if they were recovered with leather. mmm

Also, yes from what I remember that is a bmw color, and a stock e30 color form what I remember.

Edit: I think it was Malachite green or something.

[brianao34]

Ill be doing the head gasket tomorrow. After a comp test so I can see before and after numbers. Also I like leather much more than those recaros. Also anyone know if this is a stock color and what the color code is if so..

British Racing Green maybe?

[Bmwadkt]

British Racing Green? Seriously....... come on.

Lagunengrün Metallic

[Bmwadkt]

if its pre 85 its Akaziengrun

[evandael]

it's not any of those previously mentioned colors.

it's Achatgrün, BMW code 177. JamesE30's car is that color too.


good luck diagnosing everything. the HG should do the trick, while your at it do the timing belt and such. the whine might be one of the accessories.. p/s pump perhaps?

[Link]

P/S pump is a good guess, it was empty for a day of driving before I saw previous owner had it empty. And thanks for the color, I got the pic from his build thread a long time ago and couldn't seem to find it again. Timing belt is only 20k old, worth replacing? And you said timing belt and such.. what is the "such" you speak of?

Thanks everyone.

[nny403]

P/S pump is a good guess, it was empty for a day of driving before I saw previous owner had it empty. And thanks for the color, I got the pic from his build thread a long time ago and couldn't seem to find it again. Timing belt is only 20k old, worth replacing? And you said timing belt and such.. what is the "such" you speak of?

Thanks everyone.

Timing Belt, Water Pump, Gaskets, Tensioner. Suggest thermostat as well for grins. Yes, you must replace the timing belt when you take the head off anytime you relieve tension it should be changed regardless of mileage.

[Link]

UPDATE: Well today I went to do the head gasket and after removing the radiator and intake manifold. I noticed that the head gasket had in fact not been leaking and the crank case oil return was the source or half the leak, and the other half was when the previous owner replaced the intake gaskets he forgot to tighten all the bolts as most were finger tight. So new gaskets went in there, along with O rings and other necessary parts got replaced. Put it all back together.

Then when I test drove it the car still had the same problem were between 1800 and 3500 rpm's the car would stumble as if not fuel. I took a buddy for a ride who is very motor talented and explained it to my brother, diesel tech, and they both say that it must be the fuel pump, injectors, or possibly the Dinan chip is failing.

Thoughts?

[Link]

Bump, need some opinions.