91 325i Touring - Some assistance please all!

[TouringTom]

Hi all - newbie requiring some knowledge from you guys if poss!

I have moved from a 635CSI Highline to a J plate 325i Touring Auto in Lagoon Green, BBS etc etc - its Looovely!

But - it has covered 137k and as such has a few things that are annoying me, hoping you can point me in the right direction?

1 - Steering feels a little vague and above 80mph the steering wheel / dash shakes like mad! Car has had tracking done and wheels balanced - no better, could this be the steering rack? Has this car got anti roll bars etc etc?

2 - Gearbox is OK, but pulling away isnt doing the engine justice, and gear changes are quite jerky, my 635 pulled and changed like a new car so I am guessing the autobox needs overhauling?? Any ideas?

3 - Car seems to have some small electrical gremlins, upon turning lights on the front fog light indicator on the dash lights up - although the switch isnt activated and they are not on, they dont work when you do switch them on so something odd going on? Occasionaly the check control will light up for rear number plate lights, and brake lights - upon turning the car off they disapear - not a problem as again they seem to work but its doing my head in!

I am also going to put new suspension on her as handling isnt as id like - any recemondations from fello touring owners?

Sorry for all the questions - but any input MUCH appreciated!

Cheers all.

Tom.

[dazleeds]

hi mate and welcome

front and rear anti roll bars

check bushes and link bars on fr/rear
front arb links Ԛ£9
rears Ԛ£6
think bushes on the arb about Ԛ£10

check filter and change oil in box worth atry before spending big cash

good luck with the electrics mine play up too just about given up on em

used to have a 6series miss it so much fookin awesokme motors hope i have helped a little if not sit tight and more advice will appear welcome to the mad e30zone

[TouringTom]

Thanks matey - I tnought as much, just worn parts needing replacing.

Anyone know of a good specialist in the South East? Last time I put my 6 into BMW I had to sell a kidney to pay for the bill.

Car doesnt appear to have an ISNP service for over 5 years - hence these little jobs have not been done.

Cheers DazLeeds!

[dazleeds]

eurocarparts or german and swedish they both got websites
parts are reasonable price and sometimes even bmw dealers will surprise you on certain parts

thats if you dnt mind diy fitting them?? none of its hard to do ive got to doall of my bushes very soon should only take a couple of hours if im lucky

not sure on where to get service done but you can also buy a reset tool for Ԛ£15 thatll get the lights sorted
i usually do my own servicing as i like to know whats been done good luck Daz leeds

[StuBeeDoo]

Car seems to have some small electrical gremlins, upon turning lights on the front fog light indicator on the dash lights up - although the switch isnt activated and they are not on, they dont work when you do switch them on so something odd going on?

Hi Tom, welcome to the 'Zone. My 320i Touring does something similar to this. Sometimes when I switch on the lights, or go from dipped to main, the low note horn comes on and the lights go on to dim-dip. I've never got to the bottom of it in 15 months of owning the car. Pressing on the horn button puts it right again. Sometimes it will play-up for days on end, other times it will go weeks and be totally normal. I've thought that I may change the indicator/dip/flash multifunction switch, but I haven't got 'round to it yet.
HTH
Stuart.

[Bharat]

Yup, a change of ATF and filter on the Auto box should be a start, but if you are willing to travel, I can recommend a BMW Specialist down in Havant, Portsmouth, who did A LOT of work on my car, and the results were excellent.

AND, I still have all my limbs and organs after paying his bills, so there you go.

Justin, at E-Tech Motorsport - 02392 478 300 / 07890 723 271.

As for suspension recommendations, well, there's loads of different options, depending on your preference of ride quality/comfort/sportiness, etc, etc.

Since it's a 325i, it 'should' have the M-Tech spec suspension with 51mm struts in front, so bear that in mind if buying bits, as you also get 45mm front dampers !

Do a search on 'suspension' and you'll have plenty to read, and that will help you understand the options a bit better...

[johnono]

hello Tom!

i had(post tense i hope) funny quirks with my lights and bits,

if i switched off the engine with the lights on, at a petrol station for ex. and then started the car again i would get a licence pl. check

if i switched off the car, off the lights, then start the car and then switch on lights it would be gone.. i had this down so well if i forgot i would do it while i was drivin

anothe one was if itake the battery off, then on again i get a oil check. tis one puzzles me but its good to know they work! (ish)

oh yeah, before i filled up my washer bottle, if i took a sharpish corner at speed, the washer would bling, but thats just coz it was runnig away off the sensor.. all sorted now!! so im a happy man.

Also adds a bit of personality to the car, like whats wrong with you now!?!

[TouringTom]

Cheers for all the feedback fella's - much appreciated!

I have her booked in next week for a check, I got the car cheap so have a few quid to spend on her getting it mint. Once I have had all the essesntials done like mounts / rubbers / autobox oil etc I will look at handling and I REALLY want the scorpian exshaust on her............oh dear the wallet will be getting bashed again!!!

Will post back when work is done, will also post pics when I giver her a clean at the weekend. This is my 14th BMW so not new to scene - but new to the site, as usual with BM owners a welcome reception - so many thanks!

Tom.

[E30BeemerLad]

sorry to chip in at the end here, but your wheel wobble may be due in part to track control arm bushes being worn.


sorry - had to get that in - nearly on my 500th post - newbie status gone forever!

[JazzMan]

I have found http://www.motormec.co.uk/ is pretty good for getting parts. My touring did the wheel wobble as well. Couldnt see anything obviously wrong with it. I did find after breaking it that 3 dampers were shot (2 rear, 1 front) and a rear spring had snapped. The rubber bushes for the anti roll bars and rear swing arms had seen better days too. Also found that one of the engine mounts bushes had broken.

[E30BeemerLad]

5 more posts

[E30BeemerLad]

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[E30BeemerLad]

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[E30BeemerLad]

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[E30BeemerLad]

I am a posting whore

[E30BeemerLad]

WOOHOO!!!

REGULAR NOW GUYS!!!!!

[SCOTT325SE]

thats officially cheating!

[dazleeds]

now that was blatent whoreing

[TouringTom]

lol - glad my post got you "whore" status E30 BeemerLad!!

Thanks for the unput JazzMan! I think that is the problem, the car has been well looked after engine wise but I feel the bushes etc have been neglected - Wil be sorted soon!

Also - I have had many 325i's, this one feels restrained when accelerating - is the K&N kit worthwhile? I saw the Wheeler Dealers with Mike Brewer who put one on - is it worth the money anyone??

Drove 130 miles today and she really is a sweet car, I will be keeping this as my daily runabout to keep the miles off my toy, I have put Ԛ£500 aside to get it proper - ohhhhh where to start!!!

[StuBeeDoo]

Also - I have had many 325i's, this one feels restrained when accelerating - is the K&N kit worthwhile? I saw the Wheeler Dealers with Mike Brewer who put one on - is it worth the money anyone??

From my own experience, I would say NO. Mine had a K&N (or something similar) on when I bought it, and it ran like a bag of poo. As soon as I reverted to original, it was absolutely fine. Nothing else was changed either.
HTH
Stuart.

[E30BeemerLad]

Just go for a K&N panel filter in the standard airbox mate

[SCOTT325SE]

K&N or Green - very similar breathing qualities.
Im going for the panel filter option too when my sport is all tricked out *read as "running"* lol