Members with 323i,s.

[gooner1]

Trying to find out as much as possible re the above.
There seems to be a distinct lack of info on this model on here, have searched and looked in the Wlki.

I do know that they use the L-jetronic system but that.s about
the total sum of my knowledge.

Are there any differences to the later prefacelift or facelift
car as far as Suspension, Coolant system, etc, etc goes.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

TIA, Rob.

[capri_rob]

No Facelift car IIRC - they were only made for a relatively short time between '83 and '85 ( 325i launched in '86 on the C registration ? )

So all will have the earlier front valance.

A bit of an oddball now I guess but nice to find because of the rarity value

You bought one ?

This book
http://www.linwar.com/bmw_320_323_325_s ... 01526.html

Has lots of info if you can find a secondhand one - now appears to be out of print

[gooner1]

No Facelift car IIRC - they were only made for a relatively short time between '83 and '85 ( 325i launched in '86 on the C registration ? )

So all will have the earlier front valance.

A bit of an oddball now I guess but nice to find because of the rarity value

You bought one ?

This book
http://www.linwar.com/bmw_320_323_325_s ... 01526.html

Has lots of info if you can find a secondhand one - now appears to be out of print

Cheers for that Rob.

No Facelift car IIRC - they were only made for a relatively short time between '83 and '85 ( 325i launched in '86 on the C registration ? )

Sorry mate, meant any differences from the later E30.s in general. Did,nt know about the valance difference, so that,s a good start.

[capri_rob]

Think they all had the earlier seat design.

Some of the very early ones had the weird T-shaped steering wheel you sometimes see on E24's

Under the skin I dont think they were much different to the 320i apart from the engine of course.

[Andyboy]

323i's are rare now. My first E30 was a Y plate one in burgundy red metallic with Sport seats, bought it around 1994 with a cracked head. Didn't fix it, just drove it with the centre of the 'stat removed and the bleed screw very slightly loosened.

They're like a chromie 320i but with the 270 gearbox, big diff etc.

[Grrrmachine]

Gooner's got a point - Wiki has a completely blank page on the subject. If anyone wants to lend a helping hand, PM me.

[Jim320i]

From what I gather, the carpets are different too. They have an 2 piece main carpet. The carpet itself is just a thin bit, then the underlay underneath is the foam with a top of a rubber like material on top.

I can grab a picture for the Wiki when I pull the carpet out a 323 breaker I have.

Not sure if its all of them either but this one has matching front footwell speakers covers that are made of carpet too.

[jimmyspeed]

they have 51mm front struts too

[pacerpete]

All you need to know is that the 325 made the 323 redundant and apart from the novelty value, I would not bother.

[magpie]

i've got one .






and that's soon to be one less .

[gooner1]

All you need to know is that the 325 made the 323 redundant and apart from the novelty value, I would not bother.

Even if the shell is solid?

Re the early seat types, does that mean later type seats
would not fit in one?

Interesting stuff coming from Traders/breakers but would
ideally like to have owners, past and present, thoughts.
Negatives as well as, any, positives.

Keep it coming chaps.

[daimlerman]

A good guy to PM would 'hennabm',he has an achingly beautiful 323i that queens it up in a carpeted,heated garage.

[Rav335uk]

The front valance is a 2 piece affair Rob, and if damaged is hard to find.

[capri_rob]

All you need to know is that the 325 made the 323 redundant and apart from the novelty value, I would not bother.

Even if the shell is solid?

Re the early seat types, does that mean later type seats
would not fit in one?

Interesting stuff coming from Traders/breakers but would
ideally like to have owners, past and present, thoughts.
Negatives as well as, any, positives.

Keep it coming chaps.

Seats are interchangeable but IIRC the earlier seats have a line of piping on each side of the the base and back from the side bolsters

The actual seat mounting points are the same so you can put sports seats or leatherzzz in a car which came with comforts.

In my first '85 320i I had a later drivers seat and earlier passenger seat - didnt bloody notice until I'd had it a couple of weeks

[Kedge]

From what I gather, the carpets are different too. They have an 2 piece main carpet. The carpet itself is just a thin bit, then the underlay underneath is the foam with a top of a rubber like material on top.

Wonder how you found that out ;) All early cars have the two piece carpets!

The rear benchs are sprung rather than foam and rear seat belts mount differently and therefore they have a different rear parcel shelf. They have the larger struts and rear discs as well. As Rav says they have the hard to find 2 piece front valance.

The cooling system is slightly different to the prefacelift 325i's. They have a smaller rad and therefor a couple of different pipes, the parts number are listed on the M20 Wiki page.

Can't think of anything else that is different to the later prefacelift cars.

The 323i Auto I broke last year was quicker than I expected, only did a few miles in it though so never got a good experience of it.

[sweep]

I will have one for sale in henna red soon.

[pacerpete]

Most of these will have foooked ' idle valves' (£) and will have been bodged to get around it. Most will have incorrect ignition timing and a seized and foooked distributor. A combination of these factors is why most are slow. thirsty, pink their tits off and have no go.

Unless that red one in the classifieds can pass a ramp test with flying colours and is a really nice thing with NO running issues ( be sure it is stone cold if you view it) I would give it a swerve.
All things equal , a 325 is a FAR better car.

[gooner1]

The front valance is a 2 piece affair Rob, and if damaged is hard to find.

Realoem comes up with the same part No,s as a 320I and M10 316, 318 ,Rav.

[gooner1]

Most of these will have foooked ' idle valves' (£) and will have been bodged to get around it. Most will have incorrect ignition timing and a seized and foooked distributor. A combination of these factors is why most are slow. thirsty, pink their tits off and have no go.

Unless that red one in the classifieds can pass a ramp test with flying colours and is a really nice thing with NO running issues ( be sure it is stone cold if you view it) I would give it a swerve.
All things equal , a 325 is a FAR better car.

Cheers pete.

[Rav335uk]

This is the one for the 323 Rob.

[img][img]http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/NTA4NF9w.png[/img] Front panel - BMW parts catalog[/img]

[spook]

I had one one about 15 years ago, on a y plate, until the head went and i weighed it in.

[gooner1]

320i Rav, same as.

[Duke137]

Loads of differences I have found on but this is mainly down to the fact they are early and the 316 and 320 are also the same.

For example, VERY early rear benches mount differently with little "tabs" see this pic:



You can see the mirror plate type tab below the rear bench there.

The rear seat belts attach to the C-pillar and are mounted differently behind the rear bulkhead this also makes the parcel shelf different. The seat-belt clasps are also different on the early cars, I think later 86-87 pre face cars have the later more familiar belt clasps.

The front fogs are also different if you have them they have a strange bracket that mounts to the underside of the tray that links the the front inner arches to the slam panel.

The underside is similar to a 325i as stated by the above with 51mm struts and rear discs, you get some nice rare diff ratios in '188' size but they are generally all open.

The very early 323i UDP260Y car my brother owns had a small case diff though of 3.23 ratio which doesn't correspond to the wiki's suggestion of medium only.

Essentially it is a stroked 320i, I think the rarity/novelty of them is great.

Are the heads different to 320i/325i does anyone know?

I love 323i's I would own one over a 325i any day but I am weirdo

[daimlerman]

Someone like Pete or Andy will know for sure,but my feeling is that 323i used the same,720,head as 320i/520i.The 885 head was specific to the 325i and some M20 engined E34 525i cars.

It was typical of BMW at this time,indeed until into the '90's,to use the preceeding model's engines until the newer versions were fully developed.Just think early 4 cylinder E36 still used M40 on M plate cars.

[Grrrmachine]

Someone like Pete or Andy will know for sure,but my feeling is that 323i used the same,720,head as 320i/520i.The 885 head was specific to the 325i and some M20 engined E34 525i cars.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/M20#Head

[Duke137]

Nice one, I thought it was different!

[magpie]

can any of the 323 engine parts be used on 2.7,2.8 builds ?

[Andyboy]

Conrods. That's about it.

[magpie]

Conrods. That's about it.

i have some 320i rods to go .

bit of a bollock donk this 323i malarkey .even if i get it to fire up i bet the whole thing will struggle to sell cheaply .

the head holds the most value then ,takes up less room innit.

[Kedge]

I struggled to sell my B23 donk even with proof of a rebuild, no one wants them. I just had loads of enquires from people want to buy the distributor.

[gooner1]

Why the distributor, Dave?

[spook]

Why the distributor, Bob?

[gooner1]

Why the distributor, Bob?

You,ve been down the German, aint ya.

[magpie]

Why the distributor, Bob?

You,ve been down the German, aint ya.

drowning his sorrows !

[spook]

No i aint, i have no sorrows to drown coonts.