Newbie from Colorado, US - 1992 325ic

[SuperSloth]

Hello e30 folks, I am a new owner of a 325iC late bumper car. I have owned two e30s in the past, a 91 ix and a 90 ix. I also have had a few e28s over the years.

I had been BMW-free for about 4 years, but I just relapsed and bought this convertible. It seems in decent shape. PO had zero maintenance history apart from a timing belt job done 20k miles ago, but the body is nice, interior is ok, and there is an almost completely crack free dash (see pic... I will have to find a way to nip that in the bud). It is an automatic, but that's probably what saved it from being abused so that will have to do.

The guy said it was a manual roof, but I found that it was just a disabled auto roof. I was trying to do the whole re-timing thing and I managed to bend the metal link between the main motor and the top mechanism pretty horribly... but the motor is still good, hopefully nothing has weakened inside it too horribly from what I just subjected the poor thing to. I will try to find a new link and... do this without bending metal next time

I was going to take some pictures of the bent metal, thought that might be interesting/cringe inducing, but had to run off to a zoom meeting. Such is life these days.

For now it is manual, and I have not even gotten it to have a working auto tonneau cover. Here is the state of the car now:

[Tzantushka]

Welcome! Looks pretty tidy.

Might be cheap insurance to check the age of the timing belt. If in doubt swap it out!

[SuperSloth]

Ah, do you mean the actual chronological age rather than mileage? I believe the slip from the timing belt change has a date on it, but I will check that. Being that the PO only had a single 'record' of maintenance, I am glad of all things it was a timing belt job. How old do you think is too old for a timing belt in years then?

Thanks

[Satan]

Ah, do you mean the actual chronological age rather than mileage? I believe the slip from the timing belt change has a date on it, but I will check that. Being that the PO only had a single 'record' of maintenance, I am glad of all things it was a timing belt job. How old do you think is too old for a timing belt in years then?

Thanks

Just change the timing belt, tensioner and water pump for peace of mind. roof wise do a search for Gert as he got his electric roof working, from what I have read there is a repair plate available as well as something called the "drumstick" that breaks/bends, I have no problems as my roof is a manual one, oh and welcome.

Photo added just to show off ;o))))

IMG_0562.jpg

[Tzantushka]

Ah, do you mean the actual chronological age rather than mileage? I believe the slip from the timing belt change has a date on it, but I will check that. Being that the PO only had a single 'record' of maintenance, I am glad of all things it was a timing belt job. How old do you think is too old for a timing belt in years then?

Thanks

Funnily enough I have my car's original service book from 1988 in the study and it says:
Renew toothed belt every second Inspection II or once every four years.

If unsure - I'd personally err on the side of caution.
Good advice from Satan - when in doubt change it out.

The E30 wiki is a good starting point.

[martauto]

Welcome to the zone mate, nice car
I am loving the steering wheel and especially the boot (trunk) brake light

And as what has been said, check out the WIKI, it`s bloody great !!!

Mart.