Just Bought My First E30

[ClayW]

Hello All,

Last night, I picked up my first E30, a Red 1991 325i four-door five speed. The odometer logged 211K before grinding up it's gears. I ordered the gears already. So far the list of maladies includes:

- Non-operational odometer
- Finicky AC compressor - Two spares in the trunk
- Central locking doesn't work - I read the thread on that one.
- Driver's door lock doesn't lock
- Driver's side doors only engage the dome light up to 1/3 open - Weird.
- Brakes have a funny rattle under light braking - New discs and pads in the trunk
- Paint is faded - Working on that one.....






Better pictures and ham-fisted maintenance to follow.

[Nick_S]

Sounds a like a pretty typical E30. Looks to be a good clean start though. The rattling of brakes could be just an anti-rattle clip fell off. Mine did that. Basic maintenance goes a long way on these cars.

Also, that paint will clean up nicely. A good cut and polish will bring it back to life. You need to keep up on waxing it fairly regularly or it will haze over again.

Here was mine when I was working on it.

[iamsam]

Looks like a great start!

[BergerNJ]

nice start......make sure you get the tbelt, tbelt tensioner, and water pump changed before anything else if the previous owner hasn't.

[ClayW]

nice start......make sure you get the tbelt, tbelt tensioner, and water pump changed before anything else if the previous owner hasn't.

The PO had the timing belt and water pump replaced in the last 5K miles and the starter replaced within the last 1K miles.

I also have a line on a 50K-ish mile M20 for a spare.

The trunk also had a few OEM radios, presumably from E30s. Those are paperweights, right?

[BeemerRaised]

Yeah. That things sweet! Congrats

[2ndName]

Hells yes! Welcome and enjoy that sweet ride.

[Cronopoulos]

Welcome, nice job getting the paint back like that!

[ButtJuice]

The PO had the timing belt and water pump replaced in the last 5K miles and the starter replaced within the last 1K miles.

I also have a line on a 50K-ish mile M20 for a spare.

The trunk also had a few OEM radios, presumably from E30s. Those are paperweights, right?

No, some forum members want them. I believe someone is looking for one right now. (He has a totaled black e30/mint white e30 in his sig)

[ClayW]

I seem to be completing every common repair for E30s.

I ordered a driver door lock repair kit and assembled the new lock cylinder, keyed to match my existing key.

Old lock cylinder:



Assembly of the new lock cylinder:









I also installed a keyless entry system from German Engineering. Not bad for $65 shipped!









I also replaced this bad door lock actuator:



The locks are still sticky, so I might replace the mechanism, since it's the only thing left to replace.

Also, the passenger door got a new (used) window motor and regulator, since the old one was on its way out.



And, last but not least, new belts and a new power steering pump tensioner rod.





It looks like the local parts store sold me the wrong power steering belt, though. It was a little too wide, which meant that it was so tight that it broke and liberated itself on the test drive. That's what I get for not ordering OEM belts!

[pilotskillse30]

welcome

[illest318i]

Nice pick up man. Welcome to r3v!

[Turf1600]

How's your 02 doing?

I like that your car still has the lip on it. Welcome to r3v. It's way different than the FAQ.

[enigmaticdream]

What was the part number for the door lock repair kit?

[ClayW]

What was the part number for the door lock repair kit?

I'm not sure, but Steve at Blunttech.com (sales@blunttech.com) found it for me.