Just bought me a proper E30... along with more hassle.

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

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marcp1987
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 130
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:00 pm

Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:53 pm

Just got a 1988 325, and below is the issues it currantly has.

1, Temp guage doesnt work, at all. Sensors?

2, Central locking doesnt work, you can hear the relay clicking sometimes but nothing happens.

3, No dash lights work at all, i mean the ones that come on with the lights. The dimmer is adjusted all the way up.

4, Lift off the accelerator, and the car violently jerks hard to the left... am I going to die soon?

5, Half a tanks lasted me just over 100 miles. Mix of heavy acceleration and gentle driving. Mostly being gentle with it tbh. Is this acccccceptable?

Anyway. I love this car, but please help me fix it :(
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Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:19 pm

1) Unlikely to be the sensor. Pull the rubber cover off of the back of the 20 pin C101 engine loom plug and socket, on the bulkhead, next to the fusebox, and use a piece of wire to connect the brown/purple wire on pin 4 to earth. Gauge should go to full hot with the ignition on.
2) Use the search function to look for "red AND black" and my username.
3) Take out the rear ashtray, pull out the bulb holder, and use a piece of wire to short the brown/white wire to earth.
Does this make the dash lights work, if they are turned on?
4) Not good, could well result in death. Check the rear subframe bushes as a start.
5) Bit on the heavy side, but the sort of thing you find with a typically neglected E30!
Could be (and probably is) many things. A matter of checking through everything and replacing/adjusting as required.
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