Hi guys
I've just bought a 1989 325i Touring, but I am not familiar with the ins and outs of this particular car. What are the general problems and faults that occur with BMW's, and 325i's?
So... firstly, what advice will you guys give me to upgrade my car? What are the top 5 purchases for a new owner?
I also require some parts if someone can point me in the right direction. I require 14" BBS Wheel Center Caps, rear window water jet direction thing, and probably more.
Have a few faults I have noticed. The lights do not change direction (up / down), should they? One of the front headlights pivots freely which it should not do, is there a catch or something that may be missing or broken?
Lastly, there is a slight tapping from engine, which may be either the rockers or an exhaust leak. I literally bought the car today, so I will need to check this over the weekend. Oil change will help, but I would appreciate the forum experts views!
325i Touring, new owner - advice required
Moderator: martauto
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gareth
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 11005
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: hastings, east sussex
hi mate and welcome to the zone. 
you've found the common problems already!
the height adjustable lights were lovely when new but seldom work after 10-20 years!!! they can be bypasses ns set manually. this is what i've done!
regarding the tapping, give it an oil change as a matter of course. E30's often get run into the ground due to lazy owners wanting to save money with a rugged car...
if the problem persists, look on the articles section and there's a guide on resetting valve clearances. if you're unlucky (common on here!) you'll have a worn camshaft, this can be checked easily with the rocker cover off. unfortunately a head-off job to do it right (though it can be done with the head in)
with a 2.5, be very careful not to overheat it. the heads crack between the water and oilways often if provoked. the giveaway is sludge in the coolant, then turning to chocolate custard! (been there... as have many!)
what else... oh yeah, with bits like the washer jet, just go to bmw and get a price. i've found that the parts prices are often vastly cheaper than the 205 gti i had previously! the rear washer jet jobbie is about Ԛ£4 iirc.
basically, they're very good cars and are easy to work on. with a little help from the zone you'll have her runnig as sweet as a nut in no time!
the most common problems often come up and can be found with a search
oh, chances are you're getting annoyed with the gearshift! in the articles section there's a guide on changing to a quickshift and rebuilding it. it can be made very nice, precise and tight for Ԛ£50ish on bits and an afternoons diy work.
you've found the common problems already!
the height adjustable lights were lovely when new but seldom work after 10-20 years!!! they can be bypasses ns set manually. this is what i've done!
regarding the tapping, give it an oil change as a matter of course. E30's often get run into the ground due to lazy owners wanting to save money with a rugged car...
if the problem persists, look on the articles section and there's a guide on resetting valve clearances. if you're unlucky (common on here!) you'll have a worn camshaft, this can be checked easily with the rocker cover off. unfortunately a head-off job to do it right (though it can be done with the head in)with a 2.5, be very careful not to overheat it. the heads crack between the water and oilways often if provoked. the giveaway is sludge in the coolant, then turning to chocolate custard! (been there... as have many!)
what else... oh yeah, with bits like the washer jet, just go to bmw and get a price. i've found that the parts prices are often vastly cheaper than the 205 gti i had previously! the rear washer jet jobbie is about Ԛ£4 iirc.
basically, they're very good cars and are easy to work on. with a little help from the zone you'll have her runnig as sweet as a nut in no time!
the most common problems often come up and can be found with a search
oh, chances are you're getting annoyed with the gearshift! in the articles section there's a guide on changing to a quickshift and rebuilding it. it can be made very nice, precise and tight for Ԛ£50ish on bits and an afternoons diy work.
Sole founder of Fe2O3-12V it's a lifestyle
LSD rebuilding / modification services provided, PM for details
LSD rebuilding / modification services provided, PM for details
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49359
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Congratulations, you've just bought the best practical car money can buy.
Everything as Gareth says.
The tapping from the top of the engine may just be the injectors which can be quite noisy on a M20
Floppy headlamp may just be one of the adjusters pulled out of it's cup, or the cup may be broken.
Every tiny little part seems to be still available from BMW at 24 hours notice, and suprisingly cheapely in most cases. Get yourself a copy of the ETK parts catalogue CD. (Someone on the zone sells them, or ebay).
Warm the car up and then let the engine run with the car parked and carefully watch the temperature gauge. If it climbs anywhere near the red, you have a dud viscous fan coupling, which needs sorting ASAP beforeyou crack the head.
Unless you have evidence that they have been done, then i would change the cambelt and idler as soon as possible.
Everything on your car should perform exactly as it did when it left the factory , with the exception of the headlamp levellers. There should be no squeaks and rattles.
Anything that isn't up to scratch is the result of shoddy maintenance or lazyness by a previous owner. Just ask, and someone on the zone can tell you how to fix it.
Everything as Gareth says.
The tapping from the top of the engine may just be the injectors which can be quite noisy on a M20
Floppy headlamp may just be one of the adjusters pulled out of it's cup, or the cup may be broken.
Every tiny little part seems to be still available from BMW at 24 hours notice, and suprisingly cheapely in most cases. Get yourself a copy of the ETK parts catalogue CD. (Someone on the zone sells them, or ebay).
Warm the car up and then let the engine run with the car parked and carefully watch the temperature gauge. If it climbs anywhere near the red, you have a dud viscous fan coupling, which needs sorting ASAP beforeyou crack the head.
Unless you have evidence that they have been done, then i would change the cambelt and idler as soon as possible.
Everything on your car should perform exactly as it did when it left the factory , with the exception of the headlamp levellers. There should be no squeaks and rattles.
Anything that isn't up to scratch is the result of shoddy maintenance or lazyness by a previous owner. Just ask, and someone on the zone can tell you how to fix it.