E30 Zone

I've always learnt by doing, whatever book you're reading it's never that simple unfortunately.

...is my guess. Every now and again when I go to start the car the starter is refusing to disengage. The key returns in the ignition and when I turn it back to the off position the starter is still whirring away making a mess of my flywheel. Given the ignition barrel seems fine is this likely to be ...

K9 is the rear wash wipe relay? Is that for estates? I'm just going off the handbook that came with my car, and there's something about K9 being to do with fogs and I don't have K9. Front and rear don't work and nothing on my instrument cluster which makes me think it may be the switch.

Having an MOT repair session and my rear fog doesn't work. There's no light at the back and no tell tale in the instrument cluster, fuse 15 is fine but relay K9 is missing. According to the handbook this has something to do with the rear fog, can someone check their E30 and see if K9 is there? Thank...

318i of course, why would I type 318 if it was a 316? Please don't be a pedant.

Oh it's a BMW, by the way

Sorry, it's an M10.

Worn distributor cap? This is my first 'old' car so a bit lost really.

Thought this was because it was low on fuel but I've stuck £50 and it's still doing the same thing. If I leave it for 24 hours it's very difficult to start, 48 hours gets harder etc. It's nothing to do with the starter or the battery as it turns over fine. Once fired it splutters a little then stick...

And by dismantle I mean cut.

What a letdown. Guess I could always dismantle them myself.

I've had splits in the past and can't really be bothered with them! 18mm might be OK, I'd feel safer with those than redrilling.

Quick Q:

Are the cloth inserts removable so easily retrimmed?

Mike.

RSs are three piece so the dishes are just changed out.

I thought adaptors but E34 offsets will already be pretty low without having them spaced out another 25mm. I want to keep chunky tyres to keep it OEM so running stretch isn't an option.

I drive my E30 40 miles a day, an '87 auto 318 that cost £800. It's had a new battery and an alt mount that fell to bits in my hand when I was changing drive belts, but honestly the rest is rock solid. I get so many comments on it it's unreal, at least one a week, but I do think I've been a bit luck...

Thought the title might get some attention for people telling me to use the search bar! HOWEVER, I know the work involved with this and frankly it's far too much to justify. I really want to keep my E30 stock-looking, but the BBS wheels from E30s are a bit weak, I'd like something with a bit of dish...

Well, this has certainly gone off topic. I appreciate what you're all saying, but like I said I can price up brakes myself because it's something I'm familiar with. Engine conversions not so much, but we've all got to start somewhere, only about 2 answers relate to my question! I never said I couldn...

^ Considered an M30 but (although the E30 is lighter) my mate's E24 CSI manages no more than 17mpg, whereas my old E36 hit 40 quite easily so around the same economy as I get now, and this is my one and only car.

How much heavier is an M52 over an M10? Not a problem.

Very insightful, thanks fellas. As for throwing a car about, don't think I've ever come close to aggressive driving; I drive like a total pensioner, I just like slinging it in 5th and being lazy! The vast majority of my driving is at 70mph on the A1 :) I intend on keeping my E30 for many moons so re...

If its an M10 car you will have poverty suspension and brakes, your exhaust system will also be useless, if you want to do it cheap you will need at least 2k It's on Bilstein shocks and springs currently, and I like my povvo brakes :) I want it done it for overtaking power not for burning round cou...

Probably a bit personal, but on average I'd like an idea of what this costs from start to finish if you do the vast majority if it yourself. I mainly ask because I'm about to apply for student loans to start my Masters degree and because I'm so reckless I'll just add this amount onto my living costs...

You're not kidding. Having a read around then it seems a bit redundant to get a complete 328 if it's really only the engine and exhaust manifold I can use. Finding/paying for an M3 diff may be more of a challenge than just finding a different gearbox to the E36 unit. Could I just get a 3.46:1 open d...

Ha yeah, saw the sticky right after I posted this actually. If I can use the 328 prop can I use the diff and driveshafts as well? I liked the gearing in my 328, which also cracked 40mpg on a run which was nice. Gearbox option number 3 in the sticky mentions using an E30 clutch and flywheel, and star...

I've been reading a few threads regarding M52 swaps and it's something I'm interested in coming from 328 ownership myself and enjoying it very much. However I'm not sure I can be bothered getting the whole trial and error affair of buying random engines and bits and whacking them together. I'd like ...

It's not even a little bit V though, pretty much flat. Just wonderin' because my brain and the above picture would suggest it's solid. That does make sense also though.

Was going to put this in the M10 section but it doesn't seem to get much traffic. Anyway, car was a bit squeaky this morning so I thought I'd change the cheapest thing first - the fan belt. The old one currently on my car, and the new one I've been given, are both belts with teeth in them. However, ...

Oh doesn't have to be grey - green, or even E30 seats, just anything so I can see what it looks like.

Painted my grilles Satin Black this week, worked a charm. Did it on the slats of my E36 and that lasted 12 months/10k before I sold it and still looked mint if you were worried about longevity. No lacquer here though, would've turned it too gloss for my liking and turned out it didn't really need th...

Never used any water with a machine polish, bit of spray on the pad before you start and job done.

Hey, I have some Pine Green seats in the E30 at the minute and the driver's seat base and bolster is completely FUBAR. Since green interiors in good condition are far and few between, I am thinking I can just buy a grey one, which are ten a penny, and then dye it dark green. That way the interior wi...

Search found 30 matches

Re: Books for learning about car mechanics

Sticky starter motor solenoid

Re: Quick favour - relay check

Quick favour - relay check

Re: 318 cutting out when cold

Re: 318 cutting out when cold

Re: 318 cutting out when cold

318 cutting out when cold

Re: Door cards with cloth inserts

Re: Door cards with cloth inserts

Re: 5 x 120 conversion?

Door cards with cloth inserts

Re: Deep BBS

Re: 5 x 120 conversion?

Re: E30 as a daily driver?.

5 x 120 conversion?

Re: How much did your M52 cost you?

Re: How much did your M52 cost you?

Re: How much did your M52 cost you?

Re: How much did your M52 cost you?

How much did your M52 cost you?

Re: M52 swap with an E36 donor

Re: M52 swap with an E36 donor

M52 swap with an E36 donor

Re: M10 fan belt

M10 fan belt

Re: Fabric seat dye

Re:

Re: polishing

Fabric seat dye