What did you do to your E30 today?

[burkey001]

Replaced the big end bearings in S54.
Bit of an overkill precaution, as the ones in the engine were only 1500km old, but am a bit gun shy about big ends letting go in M motors, so I wanted a little piece of mind on this swap after all the tuning has been bedded in etc etc.

Because of dry sump plumbing it's a major chore to pull the motor out the car, so I wanted to do this with the engine in the car. So had to make up a jig to hold the engine up as I dropped out the subframe. So I made up this wood jig out some F17 hardwood that I laminated and tenoned together with 40 Dominos and some russian birch ply. For something I made on the fly, I think this turned out pretty good. The fact it didnt drop the motor on my head was another bonus!






so with that out the way time to pull bits off etc..


before (already had ARP bolts and WPC treated shells from Lang Racing


tolerances on the new bearings were all in spec, though closer to tight than loose. Most were right on 0.040mm. Journal 6 had a slight taper from 0.040 to 0.045mm


So the good thing was this was largely a 'waste of time' as the shells were all fine. However havent ventilated a few S50B30s this was cheap piece of mind ;)

and all back together again

and then i ran out of TWS... 17l aint fun


also changed from WIX Racing (51222R) to FRAM Racing (HP6a) filters for the tank filter. No real science there, just wanted to try a new brand I guess. Thanks Summit

[scotty_mac]

hi all, I've been lurking for a few months since I've bought my 1991 318is. never had the need to post except today was a great day for me and my car. I finished a almost complete rear restoration of the suspension and driveline...I know this don't seem like much to some but, the conditions I worked in and the ups and downs of the project I am a happy dude and I'm one more step closer to enjoying what this car is all about.

let's make a long story short. I drive 100+ miles a day for work and needed a better more fuel efficient car (other rides are 96 jeep Cherokee and a Harley Davidson Road King) I found this car on CL after weeks of searching for the types of cars I was looking for. (sorry no pics yet) the car looked great in the pics and in person, no so much, the body is about 80% interior 50%, torn seats cracked dash, stained carpets. the test drive was typical 25 yr old neglected maintenance. weird vibrations, bald tires, oh and a welded differential. I guess this clown thought that the littles 4 banging car with 205 tires would make for a good drift car? I should have just walked away but I didn't there was nothing I was really concerned about as I am a tech for the national guard and work on tactical vehicles mon-fri and one weekend a month, lol.

this was actually round two of major work on this car. the first round was fixing the red necked suspension and replacing the oil pan on the m42. yeah, this dude cut a set of HR springs in half to lower the car oh and the exhaust this guy had on the car! big box auto parts store with bubble gum welds! is it bad that when you take your car to a reputable shop you feel the need to disclose that is not your handy work?

back to what I got accomplished, all the bushings were replaced with akg poly bushings sub frame, rear control arms, except for sway bar, thinking about updating this with something else. new wheel bearings and parking brakes. the subframe got akg camber caster kit. all the components were sand blasted and painted. even polished a stainless exhaust I had built while waiting on funds and parts. a new to me LSD diff was installed. like I said don't seem like much. all the work was performed in my back yard in fairly sketchy conditions.

going to get some new tires and a fresh alignment in the next few days then ill move on to another aspect of my E30 recuse. the more I dig the more I find...

thanks for reading this

[car_gal_jenni]

Hoping you get her back on the road sooner or later! [emoji1360]


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Oh she's still on the road. Just need to sort out the wiring gremlins so that everything works as it should. It's a headache. Oh, and most the sap is all gone now too. Only have a little bit left. Can't wait to get her all shiny again!

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[elDizzle]

dove mine for the first time in a long time. felt great. hate keeping her cooped up in the garage, but she needed to stretch her legs. just in time for her to be parked & completely stripped while i try to sort out wiring bugs... uuuggghhh....

Hoping you get her back on the road sooner or later! [emoji1360]


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[car_gal_jenni]

dove mine for the first time in a long time. felt great. hate keeping her cooped up in the garage, but she needed to stretch her legs. just in time for her to be parked & completely stripped while i try to sort out wiring bugs... uuuggghhh....

[IceWhite]

In pre-electronic ignition days, most cars had points distributors... anything BMW built in the 70's or earlier had points too :D It's basically a mechanical switch driven by a cam inside the distributor that sets your timing. They were very much a wear part, and pretty unreliable, so they needed to be swapped each time you swapped your plugs (unless you happened to have a points file, and filed them flat again, in which case you could keep them going for a couple of sets of plugs!) Cars became much more reliable with electronic ignition systems.

Anyway - enough of a history lesson

Haha, Thanks for the lesson. :D I know what they are, and I know the E30s don't use them that's why I asked.

[lukeADE335i]

What are points?

distributor cap and rotor...
not sure why i called them points... an old term from my vw bug days...
thanks for busting me on that...

In pre-electronic ignition days, most cars had points distributors... anything BMW built in the 70's or earlier had points too :D It's basically a mechanical switch driven by a cam inside the distributor that sets your timing. They were very much a wear part, and pretty unreliable, so they needed to be swapped each time you swapped your plugs (unless you happened to have a points file, and filed them flat again, in which case you could keep them going for a couple of sets of plugs!) Cars became much more reliable with electronic ignition systems.



Anyway - enough of a history lesson :D Replaced my sway bar links hoping to solve a weird sound in the front end when reversing, and a bottoming out issue on the right side of the car (since the right sway bar link was pretty ratty). Did partly solve the problem, but seems I need to replace the right control arm to completely solve the issue.

Ah well - did get 8 years of daily driving out of the control arms, and they're relatively cheap.

[burkey001]

Did valve clearances on the S54.
Purchased a shim set from Wiseco, which was only $70 unlike the OE BMW shim set which is about $700.
They still mic'd up the same so away we go.

4 valves slightly out. Happy days.



Fiddling with brake bias this afternoon with ABS turned off. Was running too much rear bias, car now brakes good again (even when boosterless)

Also some more minor software tweaks, car really running pretty great. Pretty stoke ;) ;)

[jgilber0]

Got towed home from Cars & Coffee! Only my second tow of shame in over 25 years of owning and maintaining classic cars. The culprit: broken radiator hose. Fortunately no damage. Full hose kit already on order from Bavauto.com, should be back on the road soon.

[bradmer]

The kids 1987 325e auto

Previous weekend it was oil and filter, air filter and intake boot. Replaced every coolant hose and flushed the coolant last Saturday. Replaced the low pressure power steering lines, fluid and p.s. reservoir on Sunday. Then replaced the automatic transmission lines and fluid today, along with the 3 drive belts. Fuel and brake lines next, car turns 30 next month!

[E30speed6]

[cheffy30]

distributor cap and rotor...
not sure why i called them points... an old term from my vw bug days...
thanks for busting me on that...

[IceWhite]

i put 4k into the engine and suspension. including, water pump, timing belt, points, plugs, fuel filter, air filter, oil filter, several new hoses. new control arms and bushings all around and more... struts in front and shocks in back... not to mention a valve job and power steering fluid flush...
(i was lucky to have won the free paint job in 2015 at the e30 picnic in washington) so then i put 3k into the body, with not a ding on it now and then had it re painted the original glacier blue at haury's and then added all new exterior trim.
just had transmission serviced, nothing in the pan!

she's looking pretty now...feeling very good... with 243,000 miles... i have had it for 15 years. my daily driver.

more to come.

What are "Points"?

[Streichholzschächtelchen]

Just got an 05 mr2 spyder EHPS pump for $40 so I can have power steering and a supercharger lol. Also just got a custom hood bra from germany, and a tre-340 fuel pump

Edit: Was made an offer I can't refuse on a heckblende, now I gotta figure out where to put my plate lol.

[cheffy30]

i put 4k into the engine and suspension. including, water pump, timing belt, points, plugs, fuel filter, air filter, oil filter, several new hoses. new control arms and bushings all around and more... struts in front and shocks in back... not to mention a valve job and power steering fluid flush...
(i was lucky to have won the free paint job in 2015 at the e30 picnic in washington) so then i put 3k into the body, with not a ding on it now and then had it re painted the original glacier blue at haury's and then added all new exterior trim.
just had transmission serviced, nothing in the pan!

she's looking pretty now...feeling very good... with 243,000 miles... i have had it for 15 years. my daily driver.

more to come.