Lee Parkes' E30 Alpina B10.

[Rav335uk]

Mine is alot easier, and pipework is easily accessable.

[Bristol_Jer]

What rad have you got on yours Lee?

[leeparkes]

E28 535i.

[Bristol_Jer]

Same as me then, how have you fixed it? I've got 2 bolts holding mine in, with clips similar to speaker/trim c-clips but threaded. Hard to describe, but means the rad is easy to remove. I'll try and find a pic of what I used on mine as you can't seem them once it is all bolted together

[E30BeemerLad]

Nice to hear she's behaving Lee.

It puts a right grin on your face when they suddenly wake up & behave. I remember when I fitted a new crank sensor to my old touring turd and the difference was staggering. Until then I had been wondering what all the fuss was about with the 24v donks

[Bristol_Jer]

This is what I did with my radiator, the clips I said about are m6 chimney lug nuts, just fitted to the holes already in the front panel

[leeparkes]

^^^ Thats how mine is fixed but stupidly ive got a nut on the back of the bolt (and its behind the headlights )

Lee, its like ive got a new engine mate

[gareth]

clip-in panel nut thingys on mine with self tappers, makes pulling the rad a 5 minute job Glad it's all running properly now though

[leeparkes]

Cheers, i havent really been using it though since the pod but ive a bit of an update

Sent these babys off on Tuesday to Injectortune for a refurb...



They came back this morning.



They even sent back a bag full of my old grotty bits.



And here's my test results.




Cant wait to get them back in to see what the crack is.

[gareth]

Ooh, will be nice to see that.

[leeparkes]

Me too, there still in cupboard in the kitchen Im using the pact again as its a bit more refined than the E30 for a daily driver, need to plumb the aircon in though as a black car with black head lining and leather isnt amusing in the hot weather.


Anyway im strongly concidering pulling the head off this engine to give it a spruce up, well' rebuild it up to new spec. Also im curious to see what Alpina Hemi chambers look like.

Ive done plenty head swaps on M20's but what is it like on an M30? is there enough room to lift the head easily, im thinking pos 2 would make it easier.
What is the best way to seperate the top and bottom of the engine, ie the timing chain, is the sprocket just unbolted from the cam?

[walinsky]

The neighbors had a pretty good writeup:
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=209885

[gareth]

I pulled the head off mine with the manifolds on. deffo 2-man job!!!!

[leeparkes]

Thats a cracking guide, thank you very much

Dont suppose there's an M30 head rebuild guide knocking about is there?

[walinsky]

Haven't found anything more specific than (at the other neighbors):
http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f3/ ... guide-t76/

[leeparkes]

Im back to square one


I dropped my new injectors in and while the engine was in bits i spunked out on a new dizzy & rotor. All back together i couldnt wait to take it out but when i did the running problem is back
It feels like its misfiring and and doesnt rev cleanly like a 6 cyl BMW should,its like somethings holding it back! plus it smells like its running rich (or fuel isnt burning as it should)
I put the old dizzy/rotor back on thinking id bought a duff one but problems still there.

I dont know where to look now

Here's whats what...

Compression test good with no issues
New dizzy & rotor
Leads tested with multimeter and all in spec, inc the pulse sensor on lead 6
Injectors, reconditioned (injectortune)
AFM tested (good)
Blue temp sensor tested (good)
CPS tested (passable)
Valves set at 0.30mm then at 0.35 (boat anchors run better when noisey) didnt make any difference so set back to 0.30
TPS tested (good)
TB set perfect
Zero air leaks (tested with a butane burner)
ICV cleaned/tested (good)
Ive tried 3 sets of plugs, Bosch w8lpr, NGK zgr5a and now back on new NGK bpr6es.
New paper air filter
New fuel filter.
New engine earth strap

Once i find the fault ill probably have the best running M30 on the planet

Any idea's boys??

Would getting it on the rollers show up a fault?

[leeparkes]

Walinsky, thanks for the links

[walinsky]

How's your fuel pressure at the rail?

[leeparkes]

No idea, not sure how i would test that?

[walinsky]

Easiest way is to replace your fuel pressure regulator with a known working one (late e30's have the same FPRs).
I assume you are 100% sure your vacuum lines are all ok!?

[e30topless]

do you have another ECU to try ?

[Rav335uk]

Lee, I have an M30 FPR you could try.

[leeparkes]

Cheers,
Ive got another FPR somwhere that i could try, iirc M30's run 3 bar M20's 2.5.
All vacuum lines are new.

I do have an original Standard M30 ECU and i tried running it on that then tried running the Alpina chip in the standard ECU with still no joy.

Ive just been outside with it running looking for stray sparks around the leads etc but all is good

Im swaying towards the loom having a break/short somewhere. and im shit with electrics

[leeparkes]

Changed the FPR today for the other one i had knocking about but its still running rough

Now before i kill myself, is it safe for me to run my hands across the plug leads tugging etc while its running?
ie, will i get a shock up to my neck or just a tingle

[Rav335uk]

Use a pair of insulated pliers, or you'll get a lovely tingle up your arm

[leeparkes]

Im thinking this problem is dizzy/lead/plug related as the engine woke up when i swapped the dizzy over a few weeks ago so if i get a shock up my arm in a way it will be a bonus.

Just need to know how strong the shock will be, ie will it just be a tingle or will it throw me off my feet?

[Speedtouch]

Why chance it? Just use a pair of rubber gloves! The ignition system on BMWs is pretty strong, so yes, it may hurt.

I'd try a new dizzy cap, seeing as that's what it was the last time. Check and replace the rotor arm as well if necessary.

[leeparkes]

I'd try a new dizzy cap, seeing as that's what it was the last time. Check and replace the rotor arm as well if necessary.

Dizzy and rotor are brand fire new, both Bremi items.

[zaust]

Simple test for the electrical system, take out all plugs, connect leads and turn the motor, Watch out for sparking plugs. simple systems on these lumps/

My guess though is it would be a good idea to take the fuel rail out with the injectors all still hooked up, Put a peice of carboard infront of them and turn the engine over, You may have a dogey dribbiling injector or more. I found a few times when people have had there injectors cleaned they come back dead.

[walinsky]

Try checking your dizzy cap - Martijn76 had a similar problem after installing a new one:
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 19#2223019

[leeparkes]

Im off for a few days next week so ill get cracking on it then.

Thanks for all your input

[zaust]

also worth making sure there is a good contact for the electrical connector before taking the rail out.

[leeparkes]

also worth making sure there is a good contact for the electrical connector before taking the rail out.

Which electrical connector,the ones that go on the injectors?

[zaust]

Yes mate.

[leeparkes]

Ive had the dizzy back off and all looks fine, no cracks etc... tested resistance on all the leads and there all between 5500-6000 ohm.

But check out mans tool for testing the plugs



Plugs zip tied tight to it.



And fitted...



Ive run another earth strap to it as its just bolted to the rocker, ive also put the leads on in the firing order sequence so when i test it later when its dark it'l be like some knight rider business