THE STEREOTYPICAL E30

[Royalratch]

Funny thread.

Only problem I've had in 7 years of H-Reg iS ownership are dash bulbs going monthly and indicator on triple speed every now and again.

Everything else has just been wear and replace (bushes, backbox etc).

No rust yet and no engine probs.

Everyone knows that M20 E30's have horrific electrical problems, rust really badly and go wrong all the time.

[DrBen]

few quirks for me in 4 years:

dash lights have faulty connection that needs poking to work sometimes but other times is fine (very annoying!)
leaking boot
reverse light switch
cracked dash (was there when i bought the car )
I too used to get the brake light warning coming on when i indicated right. (seems ok now)
temp gauge has recently started jumping around a bit
alternator

Has been a very good car and can't complain. easy to work on too

[Brianmoooore]

few quirks for me in 4 years:

dash lights have faulty connection that needs poking to work sometimes but other times is fine (very annoying!)
leaking boot
reverse light switch
cracked dash (was there when i bought the car )
I too used to get the brake light warning coming on when i indicated right. (seems ok now)
temp gauge has recently started jumping around a bit
alternator

Has been a very good car and can't complain. easy to work on too

Dash lights are simply failed bulbs. If the ends of the filament actually touch each other and current flows, they will be held together magnetically until the light is switched off.
Brake warning light is the connector (earth pin) on the rear right light cluster assembly, and temp gauge is a small brass nut that is loose on the back of the instrument cluster.

[Royalratch]

Failed bulbs - but why they always failing?

Cos of some impending electrical disaster usually...

[wiledw]

1. Rusty brake pipes

[brian325i]

eratic fuel gauge
outer balljoints
rear shock mounts
lack of power->m50
no rust yet..no crack in dash yet
aerial is broke
camber is ridiculous when lowered
powersteering rack leek
accelerator gets stuck down
other than that she's going very well nice cars to fix yourself.and i not a mechanic so it not hard

[kuSt]

Perished fuel hoses/vacuum hoses.
Rusty rear arches.
Rusty sils.
Leaking boot.
Water leaking into engine compartment.
Kangarooing with low revs.

oh yeah,

Control arm bushes and rear mount bushes...and a nice new knocking on my steering column. (and lovely specs of rust all over the shop)

[michael24m]

here one from a 24 year old e30

after seeing the threads, i think i'm furtunate with only the headlight connections oxidizing once in a while.
and ofcourse the damp boot.

an oil leak by the engines head, but it seems it's common for the m20
and the rust, yes the rust. but not as much as you would expect. just the rear right arch. but i've seen 5year old other model cars that have been eaten away by rust.

[tailoutcharlie]

i feel a lot happier about my beasty now,

not that the c/locking works or the rust or...................................


oh crap! that was short lived.

[Cotty]

clutch slave cylinder goes.
then the master goes a week later

Yep had both on my 316 no probs on the 325i (touches wood)

[1993E30]

Drivers seat frame breaing so it sits wonky
Cracked springs.

[virginfrank]

-Window catching on the roof when shutting door (cab)
-slight leak in boot

Okay, I found our boot damp (once), where's it leak from? How did you cure it? As we have a cab I thought it might com in from a a bad lid seal?

Also the window on our drivers side is catching on the roof. Glass seems loose and the door card looks like it has been off and bodged back on. How did you sort it? Take door card off and reposition glass?

If anyone has any thoughts would be appreciated. PM me if you think this is the wrong place to answer!.

Cheers

Frank

325i Cab, soon to be back from Service 2, bushes, timing belt. Can't wait...

[tristan325]

RUST - Fixed it

More RUST - Fixed it again

Yet MORE RUST - Fixed it yet again

Oh look there's some more RUST - F@ck it!

Swimming pool keeps appearing in the boot! Solution? Stopped putting it through the car wash!

Also fixed central locking. Plug between the door and chassis on the drivers side had corroded. Ripped it out and hard wired it! No problems since.

Rear subframe bushes and trailing arm bushes are being replaced today. Might actually get to give it some grief around corners now, without the fear of clunking noises!

[tristan325]

eratic fuel gauge

I have the same thing. I fill up, go for a drive and low behold the Fecker keeps going down! It's a constant battle, I'm making at least two trips a week to the petrol station, but the bugger just wont stay FULL! I think I'll take it BMW and tell them about it.

[brian325i]

eratic fuel gauge

I have the same thing. I fill up, go for a drive and low behold the Fecker keeps going down! It's a constant battle, I'm making at least two trips a week to the petrol station, but the bugger just wont stay FULL! I think I'll take it BMW and tell them about it.

PMSL...very good

thats exactly the opposite of my problem..its always full..or at least thats what its tellin me..then i hit a bump and oh look..its on the red...its dacent sham but i do be freaked like ..d'ya know like..ha ha..ya know what i mean feene

[89-325isport]

I have the same thing. I fill up, go for a drive and low behold the Fecker keeps going down! It's a constant battle, I'm making at least two trips a week to the petrol station, but the bugger just wont stay FULL! I think I'll take it BMW and tell them about it.

[Brianmoooore]

thats exactly the opposite of my problem..its always full..or at least thats what its tellin me..then i hit a bump and oh look..its on the red...

Easily cured - change the level sensor.
Lift the back seat cushion, unscrew four nuts, pull off one connector. Reverse the process to install new. Job done.