E30 Zone

Hi guys

I'm trying to cure a slightly lumpy idle and I have a new ICV and boot to go on the throttle body but before I get them fitted i've seen loads of silicon surrounding the two rubber pipe ends going into the metal pipes on both sides of the throttle body - see picture. ( 9 and 3 o'clock on the body).

These silicon'd areas are remaining bodges from the previous owner who as obviously trying to sort the same thing I am. But I'm doing it properly.

As i tried to take the boot and the ICV off I could see the silicon flexing and cracking and this is my question - on a properly looking and functioning throttle body, how're these metal pipes secured to the body? Are they pinch fit or what?

Thanks in advance

Rich.

I'd assume both use hose clamps from my experience with my M40.

From having a brief look on realoem it seems the right one definitely did use a hose clamp originally so I assume the other one also calls for one.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=11_4344

Hope this helps.

Grepot wrote: ↑

Wed May 12, 2021 8:51 pm

I'd assume both use hose clamps from my experience with my M40.

From having a brief look on realoem it seems the right one definitely did use a hose clamp originally so I assume the other one also calls for one.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=11_4344

Hope this helps.

Thanks dude - I didn't think about looking on RealOEM.

You're right about where the rubber pipes go on to the metal pipes (i'll be adding jubilee clips to these now) - but it is silicon'd around the metal pipes ends into the body itself. My picture is not very clear. I'll go and take another if it is not raining and hopefully i can show the big better!

Right - a better picture showing a top down view with the bodged silicon areas in white. It's these metal pipes I'm concerned with how they attach to the throttle body.. or was the previous owner just applying silicon everywhere in blind hope?

What a feat by the previous owner. I didn't realize that you meant the actual metal before it even connects to the hose.



Video by a guy who does a lot of work on E30s and has a section on the zone. From the video it seems to me that these pieces shouldn't even be detachable.

I wonder if it's just that the silicone is spread over the metal or if the silicone is actually holding something together? Very strange either way.

Grepot wrote: ↑

Wed May 12, 2021 10:20 pm

What a feat by the previous owner. I didn't realize that you meant the actual metal before it even connects to the hose.



Video by a guy who does a lot of work on E30s and has a section on the zone. From the video it seems to me that these pieces shouldn't even be detachable.

I wonder if it's just that the silicone is spread over the metal or if the silicone is actually holding something together? Very strange either way.

That video is a great find, thank you.

Yeah, just so many shortcuts and bodges by the previous guy, is such a shame... but I'm working my way through them. These metal pieces are definitely loose as you can see the silicon moving. Might look at getting another throttle body if I can't fix this one properly.

Thanks dude.

No worries, hope it works out. Really curious about how that metal could've been broken though. If it makes you feel any better I've seen plenty of head scratching stuff while working on my E30 too.

Grepot wrote: ↑

Wed May 12, 2021 10:32 pm

No worries, hope it works out. Really curious about how that metal could've been broken though. If it makes you feel any better I've seen plenty of head scratching stuff while working on my E30 too.

I was sooooo hoping he showed those pipes being disconnected but they look like they are not removable. So I should get a better throttle body?

They are removable and are splined. I've seen a few where the splines wear out and the elbows become loose, hence the silicone. Either try and source new elbows with good splines or use some kind of adhesive to keep them tight.

Cloggy Saint wrote: ↑

Wed May 12, 2021 11:41 pm

They are removable and are splined. I've seen a few where the splines wear out and the elbows become loose, hence the silicone. Either try and source new elbows with good splines or use some kind of adhesive to keep them tight.

That's the info I needed, thanks Cloggy. I'll pull it all apart this weekend and seal it all back up, neatly

Yea unfortunately if your splines are worn even slightly you will get a vac leak. So most people seal that metal on metal connection with some sealer or glue.

I did see one guy who tapped it out and made a custom threaded elbow for it. Maybe a little over kill though