Another for the Collection - Mtech 2 Vert S50!!

[e30austin]

Sub'd. Looks like you are making some great progress. I hope to have mine back from the painter by the end of the year.

[Julien]

Damn, sounds like you've owned almost too many to count! I've had my share of e30's but no where even close to your number :D. You'll have to swing by one day so I can check out your e30.

My e30 is currently FWD

[KIRIEIW]

Alight guys well long time no update, I've been taking the extra time with this build rather then rushing into things like other's. First things first, the thermostat housing on this car was a little corroded (what e30's thermostat housing isn't actually) and it bugged me enough to take everything back apart and glass beed it clean at my training center. I figured at the same time why not do the manifolds, and the risky part.. I did the valve cover. I covered all the breather holes on the valve cover and rinsed it off at least 20 times, I think it should be good to go.

I plan on doing a valve adjustment and "while I'm in there" I decided I'll replace both coolant temp sensors on the thermostat housing. Also for future reference, everyone says you need to remove the fuel rail to remove the thermostat housing.. If you remove both coolant temp sensors before pulling the thermostat housing off it will clear with out having to remove the fuel rail.

Few pics bellow;




Broke my universal extension, already got it warrantied



And also broke a stud on the exhaust manifold..

[KIRIEIW]

So a few goodies arrived in the mail today, all new front suspension bits :D. I'll probably wait a few weeks until I install everything, I'm still debating on what springs/ shocks I should go with.. Leaning towards GC at the moment. I also bought a brand new never used Garagistic X Brace on Craigslist last week which I plan on installing at the same time. And lastly, a good buddy of mine gave me his US Plate filler he had installed on his last e30. I've looked on and off for a while now but was never able to successfully find one, might have a chance to get it on the car this weekend.

[KIRIEIW]

Oh nice, I work in hayward but live in SF so I drive by san mateo every day. If you ever need a hand I've owned about 25 e30s

Damn, sounds like you've owned almost too many to count! I've had my share of e30's but no where even close to your number :D. You'll have to swing by one day so I can check out your e30.

[Julien]

Thanks guys! I'm located over in San Mateo so pretty close to where I picked up the car. Ok so today I got a few things done, I stomp tested the car and got the code "1223" which decodes to saying the coolant temp sensor info the ECU is receiving is invalid. Looks like I'll be ordering a new one. I figured while I'm in there I'd check the c191 connector and while there was a little bit of water in the connection, it was all pretty clean. Very small amount of corrosion starting on one pin so I sprayed some contact cleaner on it and used a wire brush to clean it off, nothing horrible by any means I've seen much worse..

I also took the valve cover off and plan on bringing it to work tomorrow to clean it off in our hot tank.

Oh nice, I work in hayward but live in SF so I drive by san mateo every day. If you ever need a hand I've owned about 25 e30s

[bostonvert]

Good job, vert looks awesome! Only the shift lever just doesn't look right in one of these

[KIRIEIW]

Thanks guys! I'm located over in San Mateo so pretty close to where I picked up the car. Ok so today I got a few things done, I stomp tested the car and got the code "1223" which decodes to saying the coolant temp sensor info the ECU is receiving is invalid. Looks like I'll be ordering a new one. I figured while I'm in there I'd check the c191 connector and while there was a little bit of water in the connection, it was all pretty clean. Very small amount of corrosion starting on one pin so I sprayed some contact cleaner on it and used a wire brush to clean it off, nothing horrible by any means I've seen much worse..

I also took the valve cover off and plan on bringing it to work tomorrow to clean it off in our hot tank.

[KIRIEIW]

Good thing they provided a warning sign about removing the rubber band on the dist cap or who knows what might have happened :-)

Lol I know right, I got a laugh out of that one myself :D.

[Julien]

Nice, I love MTECHs.. where in the bay are you located?

[jeffnhiscars]

Good thing they provided a warning sign about removing the rubber band on the dist cap or who knows what might have happened :-)

[CorvallisBMW]

Great score! Nice to see another Mtech 'vert being restored :up:

[KIRIEIW]

Alright one more thing, I just took it for a spin for the first time to the gas station to put air in the tires. They where all between 15-20psi! And the more exciting news (to me anyways) the ODO still works which is a HUGE relief. I had my doubts it was still working but nope still ok!

[KIRIEIW]

Ok so I ended up flushing the cooling system two more times today with just pure water and now put in a 50/50 mix of BMW Blue. Should be good to go! I think I spoke too soon for the idle issue though, the car struggle's a bit until it's fully warmed up and then purrs like a kitten. Even the check engine light flashed a few times until the idle steadied out, not too worried though I'll get around to diagnosing that next week.

I also put in some new Bosch Spark plugs, plus changed the oil/ filter on it. I ended up stopping by my work to recycle all the old flushed coolant since I had no clue what to do with a few gallons of nasty stuff... Plus got rid of the old oil there. Lastly I found a OEM hose clamp there in my tool box since the car had a aftermarket one installed. Over all a successful day.







(Millage just for reference when all the services where done)

[KIRIEIW]

Alright so nearly 2 weeks later since buying the car I was finally able to get my hands on it and start getting some work done. Man I wish FCP would have got that delivery in last weekend so I could have had all this done but what are you going to do.

Tons of new parts now in the car, actually it was stalling when I first bought it and I found the intake boot was torn.. Since putting in the new boot it's been idling great now. Actually I still haven't taken it for a test spin yet since I still want to flush the cooling system one more time, I'm sure it hasn't been done in 15 years+ since the last timing belt service. Also interesting enough I found out the car still had the OEM water pump installed.

Quick run down of the work preformed yesterday;
-Timing belt/ Tensioner
-Water Pump
-Belts
-Mostly all new coolant hoses
-New Thermostat
-New Breather hose
-New Camshaft Seal
-New Tranny cooler O Rings
-Back flushed radiator
-Back flushed heater core
-Cleaned Expansion Tank
-Painted Coolant pipe
-New Cap/ Rotor
-New throttle body gasket and Coolant Gasket
-New Intake boot
-Cleaned ICV





























I was shocked how clean the throttle body was.. Barely any oil build up!





























The airfilter looked brand new so I ended up re using it.