First Bimmer, not that impressed.

[OllieB]

I've bought my first BM, been lusting after one since i was a small boy. It is a '89 325i sport in Dolphin Grey, full leather, looks/sounds the part etc. The major issue I have is that it is not nearly fast enough, or half as fast as I expected it to be. It is completely standard apart from a scorpion but my mates Mk2 Golf GTI 16v is quicker and last night some bloke in a new shape focus nearly made me look stupid. I'm not a racer but I'm a bit miserable now. My last car was a R5 GTT which is maybe part of the reason but my mums Audi A3 TDI doesn't feel far off the pace of my Bimmer. I don't really want to modify the engine too much as I'd rather spend any available cash on keeping it in A1 cond. Sorry to be a whinger, any thoughts? Ollie

[Karan]

hmm car sounds like it aint running right

in a straight it should slowly but wurely pull from a mk2

[OllieB]

Seems to running fine, the geezer who is replacing my axle carrier bushes has a bmw masters and he's been driving it round, said it seems fine. The golf is mildly tweaked, cam and polished head but the new shape focus made me mad....

[dobbie82]

I agree with Karan.. summats up with it, Ive driven a standard MK2 gti and although its quick, my 318i would beat it let alone a 325. As for the focus, you sure it wasnt a top spec one? may have similar bhp but is a lot lighter?

Sorry. im being female now and out of my depth... i'll go back to my station in the kitchen...

HAnnah

[JAMZ]

does sound wierd..

ollie..these cars arnt the quickest from stand still m8...they really shine after 2.5-3000 RPM's unless youve got Performance MODS one of which you have being your exaust..

Alot of e30 owners look for that lil extra grunt on LOW end revs...as most are happy with the perfomance after that

there are alot of Mods you can do which arnt that expensive..

you can get a ZONE chip which will give you a better low end pull-away and even out your accelertaion curve abit..it worked for me

Pipercross/K&N etc Induction Airfilters work well on these lumps..not to sure which is better though...ive got a P'Cross is mine

youve got the exaust...Cat back? or straight through

Do the usual stuff m8...check yer plugs amke sure there firing ok,dis'r cap etc etc..

I cleaned my Air-Flow meter and TB with some carb cleaner..it was filthy..11 yrs of deposit bulid up by the way it looked...runs alot smoother now

get some Inject cleaner in there too...cheap and SOMETIMES works

WELCOME to the Zone BTW

[OllieB]

Don't know about the focus, just badged as a zetec which could be anything. Appreciate the reply's, will do all the basic checks. About the induction kits, I thought these engines ran quite hot under the bonnet, normally people urge you to go for the panel filter drilled airbox route (although I'd much rather a pipercross cone...) Another thing, the engine seems torquey but very, very flat until you get up to 4k then it comes alive. Is this normal....?

[OllieB]

Scorpion is straight thru BTW.... sounds awesome

[SCOTT325SE]

first port of call is to get it on a rolling road and get a torque and bhp printout. dont forget that you want a fuelling plot too.

if the rolling road shows shes down, then start cleaning things out and service it, clean all the contacts you can get your mitts on, and check the TPS (Throttle Position Switch) as they can creep over time, which means that the car doesnt get the 'wide open throttle' signal, which means you'll never be going flat out.

[e30_Turbo]

Def not running as it should, you should ask Wilson about his 325, he had a race against e30-320 and he stayed up his arse all the way!!
His engine seemed fine, sounded ok but was not running right. These things need to kept up to date with plugs, caps, belts, fluids etc. TLC and knowing your car inside out really helps too.

I can assure you a midly tuned 325i will outdrag a std R5turbo all the way to top out and I've stuffed a Focus 170 on more than one occasion.

Best advise is use search function on the site, try searching for info on big bore TB's, chips, cams, exhausts etc. Should find some usefull info and tips on how to get the best out of your new ride.

And I hope you enjoy the thrills that 6 pots and rwd give you!!!

I mean..ever tried drifting a R5?

[OllieB]

[quote="fozzymonster"]
I mean..ever tried drifting a R5?[/quote

Too true my man, am loving the steer from the rear. Gonna book a diagnostic session, get her running right. Appreciate your help guys, was a bit down in the dumps about it, u perked me right up!!

[jmc330i]

About the induction kits, I thought these engines ran quite hot under the bonnet, normally people urge you to go for the panel filter drilled airbox route (although I'd much rather a pipercross cone...)

Yeah Id stay a way from an induction kit, unless its one of those BMC air box things
Keep the original airbox and drill a few holes, on the front or side nearest the wing and replace the panel filter.

As has been said, its does sound like yours aint running right. I too havent had any problems against a Focus ST170. Bring on the 325i/ST170 debate again.

Oh, and welcome to the zone and enjoy the RWD fun

[SCOTT325SE]

ollie, thats what the zone is here for!

[OllieB]

BTW Jams, live just down the road from you in Chandlers Ford, do a lot of work in Portsmouth. Are there many peeps from this area on the Forum?

[e30_Turbo]

Bring on the 325i/ST170 debate again.

Was there one?

Bring it on, I'll do the e30 part, I have a few I pass on the way home, they've ALL had a go, now they just leave me be.

My car share mate drives a 2.0 zetec focus and even he was impressed that a 17yr old 171bhp car stuffed a brand new 170bhp focus!!

Good old german engineering.....with a few UK mods to help things along a little

[JAMZ]

Hmm good call about the TBS..

anyone got any advice when i check this on my CAB

cheers

[jmc330i]

Bring on the 325i/ST170 debate again.

Was there one?

Bring it on, I'll do the e30 part, I have a few I pass on the way home, they've ALL had a go, now they just leave me be.

I think it started out about the 325i-v-ST170 and then went off to the Corrado VR6. Cant find the thread now.

My car share mate drives a 2.0 zetec focus and even he was impressed that a 17yr old 171bhp car stuffed a brand new 170bhp focus!!

That 1bhp makes all the difference

[Splondike]

Deffo not running right mate - should put a GTI 16v and an ST170 in their place, and you will kill them off the line as you will find it soooo much easier to get the power down with your rwd and lsd.

As someone said, best get it on a rolling road and see what sort of bhp she's putting out.

[SCOTT325SE]

As someone said, best get it on a rolling road and see what sort of bhp she's putting out.

i said. lol. shame on u mark. lol.

[Lordschleife]

BTW Jams, live just down the road from you in Chandlers Ford, do a lot of work in Portsmouth. Are there many peeps from this area on the Forum?

I'm just down the road in Romsey

I'm with everone else on this, the 325i should beat a MKII golf gti.
I used to whip Mk II golfs all the time in my crx, and I know my 325i was about the same speed wise as the crx

[Simon13]

same here wasted golfs gti's and and st170's out the lights on my local drag strip!

[Davenotouring]

Definately worth getting it all checked out.

On full bore a GTi 16v wouldn't be far off a 325i at all, with some good mods it'd be pretty damn close.

Can't beat the RWD though!

[Splondike]

As someone said, best get it on a rolling road and see what sort of bhp she's putting out.

i said. lol. shame on u mark. lol.

Sorry Scotty - slap my wrist

[Martinaston]

Welcome to the zone ollie

If you check the distributor cap for wear and clean the plugs then open the drivers door and put your fingertips on the top of the door furthest from the car you should be able to feel any small misfires.
If you can feel it running rough then the injectors probably need cleaning to even out the fuel flow to each cylinder.

Also try running it without the air filter if you don't have a new one in there and see if it improves the acceleration.

[Martinaston]

As an afterthought if you have an aftermarket exhaust did the car have any other mods that were removed before you bought the car ?

[Chaos]

I agree with Karan.. summats up with it, Ive driven a standard MK2 gti and although its quick, my 318i would beat it let alone a 325.

no chance.

an 8v golf mk2 gti wud piss all over a 318i let alone a 16v


i agree tho with karan that a 325i sport shud pull on a 16v golf

My car share mate drives a 2.0 zetec focus and even he was impressed that a 17yr old 171bhp car stuffed a brand new 170bhp focus!!

more like 160bhp from the 325i if its a phase 2 - which makes it even better

[Adammcf]

I was the same when I bought my Sport. I had a CRX vtec and a Astra GSI before the BM and both of them pulled really hard and the Astra pulled like a train right off the clock.
The BMW was a good 10mph slower to a certain point on a little straight bit of test road.
After changing the head though the car is ten times better. Its still lumpy when idling but the engine pulls alot harder than before and doesnt die off in the top end like it did with the old head.

My Astra could destroy Golf GTIs. In fact there is a Mk2 with a VR6 engine here and I raced it 4 times and both cars were neck and neck until 120 and then we ran out of road. Now the BM isnt too far off that pace.

[Chaos]

My Astra could destroy Golf GTIs. In fact there is a Mk2 with a VR6 engine here and I raced it 4 times and both cars were neck and neck until 120 and then we ran out of road. Now the BM isnt too far off that pace.

my corrado vr6 kills 325i's
in fact i reckon for an e30 that wud even match it i reckon ud need an alpina 2.7

[Artis]

frist ollie check the engine numbers to the ones on the log book my mate has just bought a 325i he had the same problem he said it was slow , i took it down the road and i agreed with him it was slow so i checked the engine againts my 325i and it looked smaller checked the engine numbers and they were differnt to the ones on the log book, so we took it to a bmw place and the confermed that someone had put a 320i engine in it but the boot lid and log book said 325i, this is a common thing some rats do . if its not this there is something wrong with your car mine eats golfs and focous.

[astondg]

I was the same when I bought my Sport. I had a CRX vtec and a Astra GSI before the BM and both of them pulled really hard and the Astra pulled like a train right off the clock.

My 323i can only very slightly pull ahead of a standard Barina GSi (I think maybe Vauxhall Corsa over there?) but I think it was the older model with a 1.6. It was on the track though and the driver had waved me through so he mightn't have even been trying. The Barina does weigh a bit less but it is also well down on power and I have a full exhaust, 6 branch, and 4.1LSD. I don't think E30's are about straight line speed, through the corners I can keep up with most things though.

Aston

[Lordschleife]

My Astra could destroy Golf GTIs. In fact there is a Mk2 with a VR6 engine here and I raced it 4 times and both cars were neck and neck until 120 and then we ran out of road. Now the BM isnt too far off that pace.

my corrado vr6 kills 325i's
in fact i reckon for an e30 that wud even match it i reckon ud need an alpina 2.7

Err yeah well a corrado vr6 is a different story!

[Artis]

no chance my old 2.7 alpina (may it RIP} was slower than the vr6 i raced one up the A602 and again on the A505 both times he beat me and i was off the clock

[beavis2k4]

well i had a small race in edinburgh city centre with a vectra gsi (i was in my 320) we started of equal......1st......2nd.......then i hesitated and he started to pull away in 3rd but i basically backed off as the road got very narrow i slipped in behind him put the car into fourth past the 3500 mark and started to gain on him then all of a sudden i went past him like a bullet.... i then saw why..... police van coming up on opposite side of road i must have went passed it at at least 90mph in a 30 zone!!

probably the best time i have spent in the 320!!

[320Touring]

so you bought a 1989 car, and were surprised when a car 16 years younger passed you?

dont be too ashamed mate -the e30 takes a bit of getting used to!the m20 is like a jeckyll and hyde engine-low down (700-2500rpm) its a nice relaxed cruiser of an engine, higher up (3000-6250rpm) its a bit of a screamer

the new Ford Fukit is actually not a bad car, handles well for a FWD ,is fairly light, and rapid with the 2.0 zetec or 2.0 TDCI diesel in it. Both these engines are fairly torquey (the TDCI is RAPID from 30-70mph!!!!)

like the guys say, car needs some care and attention-give it new oil, new sparks, new rotorcap/rotor and new airfilter.

check for any air leaks on the hose between the airbox and the throttle body.

car should then be fit as a fiddle, and a bit more responsive

your car (cos its the sport) has the benefit of an LSD and close ratio gearbox-so getting the power down and keeping it in the 'zone' shouldnt be a problem.