Penny: The whored-out '87 325is

[yodman]

So, alternator replaced, headlights converted, and shadowlined trim and bumpers really help the look of the car.

Don't mind the two tone gold. I will be fixing it here soon.

[E30NJ]

Bronzit!

[yodman]

I'll be thinking about whether I actually want to paint it bronzit in the future. BUT, I would like to experiment with Laguna Seca Blue, or something close to it. ;-)

I understand we all have E30s here and one is basically as good as the next (depending on condition), but every time I tell a non-member that I have an early-model IS, they get all excited and say 'THAT'S WORTH SAVING NO MATTER THE CONDITION!' Then I tell them I will drive it in winter and they almost lose it. The car will be fine. I know how to care for the exterior well enough to battle the elements.

I REALLY want to put the IS lip on, because I adore how it looks on your car E30NJ, but I don't want to bust it up this winter.

[yodman]

Been a while with no big updates...

Car is awesome in winter, I love every minute of it. Returns 24-28 MPG, so I am happy.

Today I replaced my burnt out OBC light bar and busted radio/HVAC bezel with a spare.

Also installed the rear parcel shelf properly and added a set of 6x9s for extra sound from the rear to complement the high end 5.25s in the front. Just need to add my sub now from my Jetta MK2.

Tomorrow, I hopefully pick up and install my carpet and replace my odometer gears and add my Alpina tachometer sticker.

[yodman]

So this is my progression for 2015 so far...

This was the starting point and the end of winter


Decided to paint he hood and trunk to try out a colour for this year






Tried out some new shoes for now, since bottle caps are not my thing...




Mounted new tires on those and had them balanced



'Mounted' the IS lip for now. One of my fogs is out...






Installed some HIDs the other night


Changed odometer gears and added the Alpina tach sweep sticker


Check engine light is for my failed IACV, but I have a new one on the way.

[yodman]

So I fixed the idle, but I have a new issue...

This happened once before, but this time the car didn't recover from it.

When I went to crank up the car warm last night after fixing a few things, it cranked and cranked, very quickly, as though it wasn't getting fuel.

Usually, I can put my foot into it and get it to go, and it'll break up for a few seconds, then smooth out and idle perfectly. Has been a problem as long as I've had the car.

However, this time it will not start the normal way. I smell fuel. No leaks that I see.

I also have two interesting symptoms. One, I hear a ticking from an injector after I stop cranking, which follows the normal speed of the starter. Two, the check engine light in the car is flickering at this same rate very dimly. I only saw it in the dark, obviously.

If I turn the key off and come back on, no injector tick and no CEL flicker. But once I crank over, it does it again and again, every time.

I will try the car again tonight after it has sat more than 12 hours.

Think my original 153 ECU could be toast? I feel it's a possibility.

Good thing I just bought a 173 so I can diagnose stuff this time around.

[yodman]

So, I did indeed manage to kill the old 153 DME. Dunno how, but it would just fire the injectors every time I tried to crank over. Installed my 173 and it fired up no problem.

I then tackled the injector swap this weekend to match the tune on the new chip. Fresh Gen3 19 lb/hrs Orange Tops.

Funny thing... At idle, the car runs on 5, sometimes 4 cylinders. But I touch the throttle and it runs all 6 no problem. Thoughts?

While in there, I cleaned up the IM and VC and painted them to brighten up the bay. Need to pull the hood liner now as it rubs the manifold. Going to also sand off the raised details, as I like them silver.



I decided on a final color for when I do decide to paint the car. It will go Laguna Seca Blue. Always enjoyed it, never seen it on an E30 until I found this picture just now.



Also installed my MTech stripes. Been missing for a LONG time.



This weekend I will be picking up a parts car and dismantling to get many of the parts and hardware I've been missing from the beginning. It's a complete '87 iS that is rotting away sitting in a parking garage since the rich kid who owns it has FOUR modern supercars to drive.

Parts I am definitely getting:
-3.73 LSD
-Cardinal Red door cards
-Nardi Wood steering wheel and hub
-All interior panel hardware
-fenders & hood
-trunklid and doors (if they fit in my carrying vehicle)
-all electric locking hardware and tumblers

[yodman]

SO, I took a break since my car did as well.

Clutch died after an inexperienced friend rode the crap out of it.

Replaced that and exchanged the 3.73 diff I had lying around. I love the powerband.

Car has been wonderful since. Still doesn't fire on all six at idle. Got new summer wheels on, and painted (read: spray bombed) the car some shade of E90 Laguna Seca Blue.

[2mAn]

Id probably figure out why its misfiring before doing anything else...

[ST1G]

Id probably figure out why its misfiring before doing anything else...

Nah, we need more body panels panted in green and gold first. Priorties man, priorities.

[yodman]

Fellas, with time and money tight, as well as balancing 8 cars, this one just needs to drive. I painted it all one color as I said so as to constitute it looking less like a beater. I accomplished that if you're more than 100 feet from it.

But honestly I can't quite diagnose the miss. The CEL comes on after it's idling for a few moments, but immediately goes out once I apply throttle. I did all new manifold and TB gaskets at the time of injector install, and the car has given me no qualms. Wondering if one of my injectors (which turned out to be 4-hole Gen2's) is sticky at idle. The car pulls hard as it should above 3k, even with 260k miles, all the way to 6900.

[lukem23]

My eyes!

[yodman]

I appreciate the support I get here... Just playing around what what I have lying around. Not a lot of money to spend right now.


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[2mAn]

I like the Le Castellites better. Sell the crap wheels that you put on there

[yodman]

Those are going back on this weekend. The 17's work well with the blue I think. But that's my taste.


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