NOR-CAL General Chat.

[Cabriolet]

But see, there's the problem. Some people don't know the difference. Sure, they can read the badge that says "M3" on the bootlid, and they probably refer to their car as their "old BMW", but they have no idea they own a homolgation special that was winning all the things when it was new.

hell, my wife doesn't know much about cars but she takes pics of nearly every e30 and txt it to me to see if i know the car.

[e30vert]

[QUOTE=Cabriolet;3694985]Seen this before?
Great time lapse ! Gives some perspective on how large and populated this world and universe is.

[e30vert]

hell, my wife doesn't know much about cars but she takes pics of nearly every e30 and txt it to me to see if i know the car.

Shared interests are great for bonding!

When I roll up to some youngster in their ballin e30 and Im not in mine and if I comment or snap a quick pic most of the time their countenance changes to a look that conveys " back off buddy" from beneath their flat hat and gangster shades.

[Cabriolet]

Bruce, you are a nut

[YosemiteSam]

So my dad and I are going to go look at a 325 on saturday, but the owner does not know when the timing belt was last done. I know that it should be changed asap, I am just wondering if there is a good way to check the condition of the timing belt when checking out a car.

[e30vert]

You would need to visually check the belt itself for wear. Anything short of that is a guess and may or may not be accurate. Use this fact as a point of "leverage" when negotiating the sale. If the current owner cannot prove when the timing belt was done then thats neglect and failure to do required maintainence. That means the buyer is taking a risk driving the car a foot down the road. That risk drops the value of the vehicle as one may wind up with an expensive "boat anchor" if things go south.

[e30vert]

Bruce, you are a nut

Thanks bud! I take that as a compliment!

[YosemiteSam]

You would need to visually check the belt itself for wear. Anything short of that is a guess and may or may not be accurate. Use this fact as a point of "leverage" when negotiating the sale. If the current owner cannot prove when the timing belt was done then thats neglect and failure to do required maintainence. That means the buyer is taking a risk driving the car a foot down the road. That risk drops the value of the vehicle as one may wind up with an expensive "boat anchor" if things go south.

I figured I'd need to look at the belt, where is the easiest place to see the belt and what should I look for as signs of wear? As for leverage in the sale, we should have plenty between the unknown timing belt age and the fact that the car is advertized as an i but is actually an e.

Edit: Nevermind. Just got a text from the guy, car already sold.

[ohthejosh]

I hate driving on college ave.

[Cabriolet]

ticket?

[ohthejosh]

No, canakami's car. I get mad jelly driving by it LOL

[e30vert]

I figured I'd need to look at the belt, where is the easiest place to see the belt and what should I look for as signs of wear? As for leverage in the sale, we should have plenty between the unknown timing belt age and the fact that the car is advertized as an i but is actually an e.

You would need to do some tear down to get a good look at the belt. Consult the Bentley Manual Section 4 Begin Page 13 and end page 15. The bentley indicates one has to drain coolant and remove radiator as well as the distributor cap and wires from the spark plugs, etc. This would not be something a typical seller would endorse I imagine.

Wear on the belt is obvious most times. Anything ranging from simple cracks that are horizontal on the belt to vertical ripping and shredding of the sides of the belt. Perhaps Eric will post one of the timing belt he just changed right before it was going to shred. It looked pretty scary.

BMW suggests the belt be changed every 60 Thousand miles ,every four years, or any time belt tension is relieved.

One should not reuse a belt either as it can cause stretching which causes premature wear. Its all covered in the Bentley.

[YosemiteSam]

You would need to do some tear down to get a good look at the belt. Consult the Bentley Manual Section 4 Begin Page 13 and end page 15. The bentley indicates one has to drain coolant and remove radiator as well as the distributor cap and wires from the spark plugs, etc. This would not be something a typical seller would endorse I imagine.

Wear on the belt is obvious most times. Anything ranging from simple cracks that are horizontal on the belt to vertical ripping and shredding of the sides of the belt. Perhaps Eric will post one of the timing belt he just changed right before it was going to shred. It looked pretty scary.

BMW suggests the belt be changed every 60 Thousand miles ,every four years, or any time belt tension is relieved.

One should not reuse a belt either as it can cause stretching which causes premature wear. Its all covered in the Bentley.

Thanks. Good to know for future reference. I really need to get a Bently, I've owned my car for 2 years now and I still don't have one.

[canakami]

No, canakami's car. I get mad jelly driving by it LOL

Bahaha, It's honestly not that nice. If it wasn't for the (also kinda beat-up) euro bumpers it would just be another faded Delphin eta.

I do appreciate it though 8-)

[mbonanni]

Your dad looking for a car? What is your budget? What model you looking for?

Anyways, I'm super nervous to choose a college guys. I got denied at SDSU, Cal, Air force and merchanr marine academy, santa barbara and one other.

My choices are Cal Meritime, Sac State, or community college. I don't really wsnt to attend cal meritime or sac state, so I am really considering going to Mesa Community College in San Diego and teansferring into UCSD or SDSU after.

Hardest decision I've been faced with.