My E30 316i

jasonbaek · 08-14-2011, 04:44 PM

Hello, I picked this up week ago (posted couple questions on here as well) but haven't had a chance to take pictures until today.

It is 1991 316i with m40 engine(103 hp lol) and it was imported from germany by PO back in 2007. It's got some goodies like ski pass, rear headrests, euro grille, smooth bumper trim, euroweaves and smileys in the one side

..

The car was very dirty inside when I brought it home so I took it to the shop where I got full interior detail, wash, wax job.

Everything's good except slight vibration at idle (I'm guessing it's driveshaft), and front left side tire is mounted in the wrong direction..oh and I barely can shift to 3rd when I'm accelerating hard..but yeah I have no issue driving it daily so far

I also removed stock 3 spoke steering wheel and installed nardi wood classic... Next thing that I would do is repaint those wierd looking bumper trim and grilles to black, and putting small things that are missing such as fog delete, broken window crank, etc.

Majjic · 08-14-2011, 05:06 PM

sweet ride!
just remove that silver trim on the front grills =S

daveed · 08-14-2011, 09:12 PM

Very nice ride my friend, I've always wanted a euro spec base model.

Don't forget that that car has a timing belt and requires valve adjustments.

craz azn · 08-14-2011, 09:20 PM

Your driveshaft isn't moving at idle, so that isn't your vibration. Could be anything, from worn/broken motor mounts, to something as simple as the exhaust system touching the body ever so slightly.

jasonbaek · 08-14-2011, 10:05 PM

timing belt and water pump was changed on december 2007 @ bmw dealership and since then PO only put 7000 kmon it.. so timing belt still has some life left..I definately need to do valve adjustment..and maybe a coolant temp sensor and o2 sensor..as well as tranny and differential fluid.. hopefully after I sort all my budget in this month.

Right..I'm still very noob in terms of diagnosing problems -.- yes motor mount or exhaust sounds likely because po just replaced exhaust and I think that might cause vibration since I didn't feel any vibration when I test drove it last month..

E30M42cab · 08-14-2011, 11:47 PM

Hey, nice little coupe! the list of things "to do" will only get bigger!

jasonbaek · 08-15-2011, 04:43 PM

By the way, I just got a complete e30 service manual but in here it says that m40 has automatic valve adjusters therefore there is no need of checking valve clearance and adjust them? What do you guys think?

daveed · 08-15-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbaek

By the way, I just got a complete e30 service manual but in here it says that m40 has automatic valve adjusters therefore there is no need of checking valve clearance and adjust them? What do you guys think?

If that's what the manual says then it's right, I was speculating about the valve adjustments but I guess I remembered wrong. Enjoy the great gas mileage you must be getting!

E30M42cab · 08-15-2011, 05:17 PM

true on M42, quite possible on M40.

jasonbaek · 08-15-2011, 06:20 PM

http://www.e30.eu/tech/E30ManualHaynescomplete.pdf

This is the pdf version of manual that I got. It basically covers all e28, e30, and e34 models with detailed pictures and articles.. Also you can use keyword search for this so it's quite convinient compared to bentley manual..

lost · 08-26-2011, 09:48 AM

man that's a nice looking car.

thanks for the link also.

Roysneon · 08-27-2011, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveed

If that's what the manual says then it's right, I was speculating about the valve adjustments but I guess I remembered wrong. Enjoy the great gas mileage you must be getting!

M42 is supposed to get better milage because you have to pound on the M40 to get the car moving. I have the 1.8l in my touring and I hate it.

DYMO · 08-27-2011, 06:47 AM

haha strange, we both have 316's with nardi wooden classics. cept mine was just a 316 (with a carb'd m10) and RHD

jasonbaek · 08-27-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roysneon

M42 is supposed to get better milage because you have to pound on the M40 to get the car moving. I have the 1.8l in my touring and I hate it.

it's true..I have to floor it in 1st and 2nd in order to keep up with moving traffic from stoplight.. (I miss mini cooper s that I drove every summer for last 3 years) But I think 100 bhp in little e30 is more than enough to get around in the city + occasional highway driving.. what sort of mpg you get out of the touring? I haven't calculated my mpg yet but I'll check it out after I fill it up..

jasonbaek · 08-27-2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYMO

haha strange, we both have 316's with nardi wooden classics. cept mine was just a 316 (with a carb'd m10) and RHD

I love my wooden nardi

it's easy to clean and nice to grab with three fingers.. except when I'm doing parking..

I looked your thread while ago and you did s52 swap.. how is your e30? holding up nicely?