Quick E36 Compact question

[Zerotonine]

Hi
I am maybe looking at one for a daily hack, I have had a quick look before and it is all straight, but the gear stick has a lot of play in it. Is it difficult to make it more steady or is it buggered?

[jone325isport]

hi
sounds like it may just need a new bush they are only a couple of ££ or worse case a new linkage which isnt the end of the world either

hope this helps

[Zerotonine]

I wondered if it was just a bush. Is it an easy job to do?

[jone325isport]

yeah its not bad at all it may just be a case of it needing to be recliped back were it lives as they can come out, common after a front end smash so look round the car with a keen eye

[Zerotonine]

Well I have got the car, pretty rapid! But there is one thing that bugs me. The temp gauge when in traffic goes right up to just before the red, and seems to sit there. Once its on the move and going above 40 it comes back to the middle. My previous 316 just sat in middle all day long, is there anything wrong or do all compacts do this?

[darkchild]

Possible viscous fan coupling on the way out.

What engine is it as when my old M43 powered 316i done this, it was the head gasket about to let go!

[Zerotonine]

I am not sure, i know its the 1.9 engine. The oil isn't chocolate milkshake, and its only done 99k with bmw service history to about 80k, I hope it isn't head gasket on way out! It isn't possible its the thermostat or something? I am a bit of a layman when it comes to cars.

[djk]

Is it a 318ti? If so then the engine is an M44. Don't know if they have the same arrangement as e30s regarding the viscous fan, but if if it does, it's the first thing to check.

[Zerotonine]

It is a 318 ti. Newspaper test?

[djk]

It is a 318 ti. Newspaper test?

I reckon that's the plan. Not had cause to do it myself, just made myself aware of quite a lot of e30 problem solving info over the past year!

[darkchild]

I am not sure, i know its the 1.9 engine. The oil isn't chocolate milkshake, and its only done 99k with bmw service history to about 80k, I hope it isn't head gasket on way out! It isn't possible its the thermostat or something? I am a bit of a layman when it comes to cars.

If its the M42/M44 hopefully you're OK. The 8v M43 is known for doing its head gasket around 95K (ask any BMW mechanic - a friend of mine reckons they used to do 7-8 per week!). It must be a design fault with the M43 as mine was serviced every 6K and it still went!

Viscous fan is your most likely culprit and I don't think the 16v lump is as head gasket prone.

[town325i]

i will 95% say its you fan clutch that needs changing i have a 318ti compact and that was the same and also you need to becarful not to let it get that hot to often.

[Zerotonine]

How much is it to replace? I'm 99% certain its the viscous fan. Is it a long job to do? As it is my daily hack I can't be without a car for long at all.

[Zerotonine]

Just a quick update, all sorted now, new fan coupling, and had to bleed the radiator as it had one mother of an airlock. Now running fine. Thanks for all the help people. It has taken a lot of worries off my plate.

[jone325isport]

I am not sure, i know its the 1.9 engine. The oil isn't chocolate milkshake, and its only done 99k with bmw service history to about 80k, I hope it isn't head gasket on way out! It isn't possible its the thermostat or something? I am a bit of a layman when it comes to cars.

If its the M42/M44 hopefully you're OK. The 8v M43 is known for doing its head gasket around 95K (ask any BMW mechanic - a friend of mine reckons they used to do 7-8 per week!). It must be a design fault with the M43 as mine was serviced every 6K and it still went!

Viscous fan is your most likely culprit and I don't think the 16v lump is as head gasket prone.

yep we were doing that many at one point not a bad job though
glad its all sorted, i run a 318ti myself its a erlyer m42(1. cant fault it and its done 135k and still pulling strong

[Zerotonine]

Another quick question, the throttle is a bit sticky, how do I adjust it?