It has box flares

[kronus]

I picked up a new project.



11/89 Brilliantrot M3. Thoroughly used, but a nice one would be too easy. High miles, misfire at low RPM, it's been parked since 2007 or so after the PO overheated it.

We're going to have a head rebuild adventure together.

[mjweimer]

Awesome - Congrats!

Should be a fun project and a great experience, look forward to the project updates.

[e30m3s54turbo]

Sweet red e30. I’m a sucker for red e30’.

[82eye]

very very cool

[McGyver]

Cool toy! Still s14 powered?

[kronus]

it is! thankfully no 24v here.

I had the valve cover off the S14 yesterday and it looks reasonably tidy in there. Gets up to temperature and has good power. No blown HG symptoms so far, so I'm suspecting the misfire is a burned valve.

[reelizmpro]

The S14 cap and rotor are a common cause of misfires, so much so that many people carry spares, especially trackcars. Start with the simple stuff.

[AWDBOB]

Congrats!! This is similar to my car's story. Bought after sitting due to a bad HG. Except mine was actually bad. Very bad.

[kronus]

Thanks folks! I'll have a look at the cap/rotor and meter out the plug wires for sure. One really obvious existing problem is that the plug wires are intended for ball-end plugs, but whoever changed the plugs last didn't screw the ball ends on. Probably doesn't help.

I did some digging through existing M3 documentation, and found that the car had previously been added to the M registry - https://bmwmregistry.com/detail.php?id=3228

The modifications are still all present: >

GIAC chip, GSP ignition wires, short shift kit, H&R springs + Bilstien shocks, Sparco front strut brace, stainless steel brake lines

Anyone know what GIAC is or how to find out more? The shop recommended here as a dealer is long defunct. I see Barry in that thread from 17 years ago already :)

[Panici]

Brilliantrot has got to be my favourite colour for an E30 M3.

Following for updates!

[reelizmpro]

Yes, the plugs need to have caps on them. Some plugs require you to screw on the caps based on application. That is a rookie mistake and should be obvious when the wire doesn't clip onto the plug. From what I remember GIAC offered custom dyno tuned chips at a time when off the shelf chips were common and standalones were crazy expensive.

[2mAn]

Does this mean you are selling the white car? If so text me lol

[kronus]

^^ yes, the white car is on the chopping block.


Julien and I have spent a couple days diagnosing this thing and wrenching on it. There's some good news and some bad news.

bad news: compression is 190# 40# 180# 180#
good news: we now have the top end disassembled and fully out of the car
bad news: big ass hole in one of the cyl 2 exhaust valves
good news: a lot of everything else looks pretty healthy, especially for the mileage
bad news for my wallet but good news otherwise: I have all new valves, valve springs, and a ton of other refresh parts on the way now
medium news: I decided to go with a mostly-stock 2.3 top end rebuild instead of having a wilder sort of adventure


this is what it looks like when a Belgian fixes your car for you:



carnage a la valve:



everything else seems to have survived. pretty even wear everywhere. bores are nice.





Timing components are worn, but frankly way less badly than I would expect out of a 240k mile motor. Unfortunately, the lower S14 chain guide is NLA. I'm ordering up an S38B35 one in the name of science and will find out if I'll need to take an angle grinder to it to make it work. I have not seen documentation of this being done before...

[Panici]

Oof not so great about the NLA lower chain guide.
Hopefully the S38 one fits the bill.

[82eye]

great work. i wonder how long the chain guide has been nla, always thought bmw supported the m engines pretty intently.