My new E21

[capnmchl]

Shit, is it an expensive cure? Could just buy a new chain and see how that goes?

~£35 for a febi sprocket and ~£30 for the tensioner piston from BMW. It probably won't cure your engine problems though, it'll just get rid of a lot of chain noise. Unless its really work and causing the timing to be out. Most of your problems probably result from the carb and vacuum system. If you wanna sort that out, get a weber.

They use coilovers all round so you don't get any problems with springs falling out with shorter springs and standard shocks but it would be most advisable to change both.

[FinalD]

I'd certainly look at (even if you literally just look at and inspect) all of the bushes before you start lowering it. With it being an old car its highly likely that just changing the springs won't make a huge amount of difference aside from potentially looking like the suspension has failed.
You'd be best off replacing the struts, springs, bushes and all ball joints etc. to make it better.

[verde]

This is all very very expensive considering my contract ends on the 28th and i am unemployed again til september unless something crops up. How much would a weber be? I just want it running smoothly

[Gert_8]

I told you to save your money....! Your E30's not far from being ready, just waiting for the weather to warm up, but you're a typical teen, and the money is burning a hole in your pocket.

Take advice from your good uncle gert..

[capnmchl]

This is all very very expensive considering my contract ends on the 28th and i am unemployed again til september unless something crops up. How much would a weber be? I just want it running smoothly

I don't know much about how the manifolds fit on the older engines, but a 32/34DMTL will cost about £400, a 32/36DGV around £500 (although it's easier on the older twin barrel solex carbs some E21's came with, which makes it cheaper) and probably around a grand for a set of twin 40's.

It could be worth dismantling your carb and cleaning the jets and rebuilding it with new gaskets. Definitely worth checking all your vacuum pipes and breather pipes though. Getting the valve clearances and ignition timing will help as well.

Have you tried adjusting the throttle cable? I can't imagine the butterfly valve on the carb is worn or the throttle pedal so it must be in the cable somewhere.

As I said, the chain will only affect engine performance as such if it's so worn that it has thrown the valve timing. Otherwise you're doing it to get rid of noise and for peace of mind and engine longevity.

The price of existence eh?

[verde]

I told you to save your money....! Your E30's not far from being ready, just waiting for the weather to warm up, but you're a typical teen, and the money is burning a hole in your pocket.

Take advice from your good uncle gert..

If i didnt buy a car I wouldnt have had a car to get to work and would have been fired

[verde]

This is all very very expensive considering my contract ends on the 28th and i am unemployed again til september unless something crops up. How much would a weber be? I just want it running smoothly

I don't know much about how the manifolds fit on the older engines, but a 32/34DMTL will cost about £400, a 32/36DGV around £500 (although it's easier on the older twin barrel solex carbs some E21's came with, which makes it cheaper) and probably around a grand for a set of twin 40's.

It could be worth dismantling your carb and cleaning the jets and rebuilding it with new gaskets. Definitely worth checking all your vacuum pipes and breather pipes though. Getting the valve clearances and ignition timing will help as well.

Have you tried adjusting the throttle cable? I can't imagine the butterfly valve on the carb is worn or the throttle pedal so it must be in the cable somewhere.

As I said, the chain will only affect engine performance as such if it's so worn that it has thrown the valve timing. Otherwise you're doing it to get rid of noise and for peace of mind and engine longevity.

The price of existence eh?

The clearances are spot on, theyv been recently done which is a fair bonus

The timing chain I will look at because it is VERY Very slac, il get todd to have a proper look at the carb and get the oil done. I also will put a new throttle cable on so I can actually acheive 3/4 throttle and see how it goes. Will also check again for air leaks

[kangman]

How much is a new engine? or has your engine just got a few teething problems

[verde]

How much is a new engine? or has your engine just got a few teething problems

Well iv owned it since saturday and done almost 300 miles without fail. The engine is fine. Its just been say for a few months and poorly maintained. Since bought its improved by 70%

That juddering just needs sorted and as mentioned it must be a vacuum issue. Its just basic service work thats not been done for a while. Il get a video to demonstrate

[capnmchl]

Change the fuel filter as well. Should be a little clear plastic thing floating around in the engine bay somewhere on the passengers side.

[verde]

Change the fuel filter as well. Should be a little clear plastic thing floating around in the engine bay somewhere on the passengers side.

Il get one ordered. Its deffo vacuum. Its got too much petrol and hardly any air by the smell and sound

[pacerpete]

If the timing chain and top sprocket (common) are worn , you are wasting your time messing about with all the other variables. Sort the chain THEN , check and adjust the timing/carb etc.
Tappets are manually adjusted like an M20. If the turd is a poorly maintained sh1tter, they will undoubtably be all over the place . Loose tappets will at worst make lots of racket, tight tappets will cause all sorts of running issues .

I admire and indeed encourage your enthusiasm BUT you already have one project car. An E36 would have made much more sense as a daily sh1tter that you would not have to be permanently fixing and spending on.

PS Where are the rust / bodge pics ?

[gooner1]

verde, a lot of the knowledge, you are gleaning from this, would be
a useful addition to the Wicki M10 page, when and if you get the time.

[Speedtouch]

Check and adjust the throttle cable so that you're getting full butterfly opening with the throttle pedal floored - I've been surprised at how many cars I've had where the butterfly only opened half the amount it should!

And yes, if you can't stretch to a Weber, just strip and rebuild the Solex, ensuring all the jets and passages are cleaned out with carb cleaner - they tend to accumulate lots of silt and varnish over the years.

You could try the old motorcyclists' trick of removing the carb and boiling it in lemon juice. I did this once on a Fiat twin-cam Weber and it came up pretty well.

[daimlerman]

And yes, if you can't stretch to a Weber, just strip and rebuild the Solex, ensuring all the jets and passages are cleaned out with carb cleaner - they tend to accumulate lots of silt and varnish over the years

DO NOT poke out the jets with a piece of wire!

An air line is the best tool here.

[ross_jsy]

Well, a jet sizing tool is the best tool here.

I would just rebuild the carb back to factory spec Euan. Going to be worn out by now.

There must be rebuild kits available?

[pacerpete]

You are wasting time and money touching anything if you have timing chain issues. FIX THAT ISSUE FIRST BEFORE TOUCHING ANYTHING !!!!!!

The carburettor is the LAST thing to play with when EVERYTHING else is set up correctly.

[capnmchl]

verde, a lot of the knowledge, you are gleaning from this, would be
a useful addition to the Wicki M10 page, when and if you get the time.

Once I actually get my cam sprocket and fit it, I'll do an article on that and use that to make my tensioner replacement article better. Got an oil spray bar to do as well.

I can do one about putting a 32/36DGV on one, but it probably ain't worth it. Definitely hasn't been worth my time over just a DMTL.

[verde]

Daily shitter? A daily shitter that is doing 30+ miles a day, starting from cold every time, idling perfectly at idle speed, then accelerates reasonably well through the whole range and stops well without knocking from bushes or bearings and has very tight wheel bearings. It may burn a bit extra fuel but it is by no means a shitter

[verde]

Im going to follow Petes advice. The timing is number one priority. Oil filter fuel filter and throttle cable have been put on order from autoparts. This weekend im going to see about getting the chain replaced. Also Iv already mentioned the tappets have been done probably last year, theyr perfect. We check it.

Whats involved in doing the chain? Bonnet off....Radiator off....what else needs to be taken out the way?

[nickso]

Mims - What they like Nick and how much. A friend is selling me the E21 turbine wheels with tyres for 80 quid? Im in Aberdoom on Saturday could come see the car if you wish?

Google MIM 1900. The turbines might be a better option though.

Would take a ton for mine. Come round and have a look at them on Saturday if you want.

[capnmchl]

Im going to follow Petes advice. The timing is number one priority. Oil filter fuel filter and throttle cable have been put on order from autoparts. This weekend im going to see about getting the chain replaced. Also Iv already mentioned the tappets have been done probably last year, theyr perfect. We check it.

Whats involved in doing the chain? Bonnet off....Radiator off....what else needs to be taken out the way?

Oil out
Bonnet
Radiator
Fan
Water pump
Lower sump
Rocker cover
Upper chain cover
Chain tensioner
Lower chain cover
Cam sprocket

Plus whatever you have to take off to get to those things.

[ross_jsy]

Surely you will want to change the crank sprocket while you are at it since you are putting on a new chain?

[BATTS91]

I dont know but . Would it be easy to just drop m40/42 in one of these ?? That would surely be a good decision on reliability for the future ? And a tad more piwer too .

Cracking car Euan ;) got to slightly agree with pete in saying an e36 with no issues would be a better choice seeming as youve got the e30 to finish . But i disagree with the shitter part lol

[FinalD]

A sub £1k E36 will also have issues too really, they are getting on quite a bit now and most of the lower powered ones have been abused by young folk because 'BMW innit'. To be honest, any sub £1k car is going to need some work either initially or in a few months after buying usually so this is as good a buy as any really.

[Gert_8]

Where's the video you've promised us, Verde?!

[Andyboy]

Changing the chain on an M10 is fairly involved. I would replace the upper sprocket first, or at least take the cam cover off to examine the old one. You're looking for a badly worn tooth on every other tooth, i.e good one, bad one, good one, bad one etc etc. The chain eats down into the sprocket.

First job: remove the chain tensioner plunger and sping. Stick a couple of fat washers behind the spring and refit. If that quietens the chain down, that's the problem. M10 chains are very high quality and last 200'000+ so there's little point in changing it. To change the sprocket, cam cover off, front upper cover off (get new gaskets in), set engine to TDC, slacken the four 10mm sprocket bolts, remove the tensioner, remove the four bolts and remove the sprocket. Fit the new one and two new lockwashers, tighten the 10mm bolts and knock over the lockwashers.
Chances are, the chain may still be noisy due to some wear on the crank sprocket so I would fit a new tensioner spring as well - you may even need those washers.

To replace the chain is a pretty big job - getting the crank pulley nut undone can be a bastard. To replace the lower sprocket is a sump off job because the crank sprocket also drives the oil pump chain. I can do the whole lot in a day including replacing the oil feed pipe O rings, but I've done them before.

So:

Cil and filter
Set tappets cold
Try a couple of washers in the tensioner

If that makes it quiet, replace the sprocket.

[verde]

All this advice is absolutely cracking, thank you very much. Video was going to be filmed yesterday in daylight but had to drop charlie off at the airport. Il phone Will and see if hel film it for me tonight, cos i want it filmed so i can drive too ( that way you get an idea of how its running and not just sitting )

I did consider doing the engine transplant but that again is insurance. Which is the full reason I didnt buy an E36. The insurance is expensive. Andy that big paragraph is excellent thank you. The cam isnt too bad, its not new but its fine, the tappets have been done and theyr really quite tight. The noise ( im not 100% is even that bad ) must be the timing. I dont think Todds ever heard a chain driven car so it could be that? But i shall try your advice with the washer and see if that shuts it up a bit

[ross_jsy]

Check the tappets, just because they are tight doesn't mean the are set properly. Not a big job

[verde]

Check the tappets, just because they are tight doesn't mean the are set properly. Not a big job

Set? wev measured the gaps at the top and bottom of the stroke and theyr fine

[ross_jsy]

Ah sound, thought you had assumed they were good

[Grrrmachine]

I never did the Wiki M10 Chain guide because I was told it's 10x easier just to swap in a new lump if the chain on the old one lets go.

Wondering if it's worth doing that or converting to fuel injection at the same time to liven the engine up a bit.

[verde]

I never did the Wiki M10 Chain guide because I was told it's 10x easier just to swap in a new lump if the chain on the old one lets go.

Wondering if it's worth doing that or converting to fuel injection at the same time to liven the engine up a bit.

Theres nout wrong with the engine, its just been sat for a bit and needs serviced and tightened. I did consider a swap but remember insurance costs. I was slated and ripped into for putting an M20 into my 316, now the same folks are suggesting M52s and M42s. As for more power - 4 branch and GSXR1100 bike carbs can be done for like 300 pounds

[Gert_8]

Just go with your plan, Verd. All you're after is a good running car, which is cheap to insure. Get the lump sorted, in the order Pete has advised.