aaargh! oil pressure light - anyone got a 320i M20 engine?

[baurscoot]

Well, the cold weather is playing merry hell with the electrics, in the last few days the following:
oil pressure light, takes a good 3 minutes to go out
Econo meter packed in after I was buggering about with the stereo which has also packed in
The SI batteries are borked and the brake pad lights are on so the solder must be screwed
On top of this the brake lights are also proving to be unreliable

The oil light is definately electrical as there is pressure I tested it with a gauge

Im going to strip down the dash and replace the ICE, whilst I do it I will go through every circuit and connection and test, clean and replace when needed

[TPS]

What car it is?

[Grrrmachine]

SI batteries are the first place to start.

[daimlerman]

What car it is?

I guessing,but,an E30 Baur...

[TPS]

What car it is?

I guessing,but,an E30 Baur...

I meant What Engine, I've had similar problems with an M40.

[baurscoot]

320I auto Bait TC2

Off to maplins today! Will report back

[Brianmoooore]

First thing to do is replace fuse 21 which you have probably blown while messing with the radio wiring. This will restore power to the SI board batteries, but they may not recover if, as is likely, they were just hanging on by a thread before.
Brake lights are likely to be the brake pull rod across the car in need of adjustment to raise the brake pedal rest position. If it's been left too long, a new brake light switch will be needed as well.
For the oil pressure light, disconnect the plug from the pressure switch very carefully, without disturbing the wiring around the front of the engine, and check whether the oil comes on at all. If it does, the wiring around the front of the engine has probably been damaged by heat and is shorting out. If the light doesn't come on, the problem is likely to be the switch.

[baurscoot]

Thanks Brian, hugely appreciated, am plumbing in a period Panasonic stereo tonight so will address other issues, si batteries will have to wait.
Mysteriously enough, the econometer started working again this morning.

[baurscoot]

OK,
update.
Driving back from work this evening I gave the car an italian tune up on the M8, as I joined the city bypass (Edinburgh) the oil pressure light comes on and this whining noice starts from up front. I hot the anchors to bring the speed down and at 40mp the car stalls, I pull over into the hardshoulder thinking - uh oh...new engine. Sure enough the car didn't want to start.

I popped the bonnet, gave it a few minutes and this time the car started but with a rattle from the tappets which coincided with the oil pressure light coming on again, the moment the oil pressure light went off the tappet noise stopped. I put the can into drive and it stalled again.

This time it wouldn't start, so I put the auto box in reverse, took the hand brake off and coasted back a few feet,

I then put it back into park and this time the engine started, I let it run till the oil light went out - no noises and then drove home, gently but at traffic speed for 10 miles.

I suspect that if the condition of the air filter is anything to go on, we have some issues with the oil lines in the engine, I have already changed the oil but I think my italian tune up might have dislodged some gunk which is what is causing the intermittent oil pressure issue....

Strangely enough, the car is running at normal temperature and doesn't seem to be showing the symtoms again - I have just driven round to the garage to buy some more oil.

any ideas?

[baurscoot]

hmm..
knackered oil pump?
plugged oil pickup screen in crankcase?
blocked oil filter?

I don't think it is a worn bearing, car has onlydone 80k

The more I drive this car the more I realise it hasn't been properly serviced for some considerable time, if the oil system has some serious sludge then all the above is a possibility,

I need the car this week but have renewed my RAC and will be very gentle with the throttle, carry full tool kit and oil. I will change the oil and filter again at the weekend.

I now doubt that I have an oil pressure sensor problem. There are no leaks as the oil level sensor is ok and the oil level is ok, somewhere there is an issue that is causing the oil pressure to intermittently drop

looks like I might be putting the Triumph on the road next week, this Baur needs some diagnosis!

[baurscoot]

removed the oil filter, it was thick with stodge, sump off - the same, every oil passage is full of thick oily gunk.
The oil pump is knackered and the top end of the engine has been starved for some time. Very annoying, I have only had the car for a few months and only done a few hundred miles. annoyingly enough I got it serviced when I got it but it looks like too many years of abuse and cheap skate running have caught up.
The engine is now running poorly and will have to be rebuilt.

anyone got a 320i engine for sale?

[Morat]

for the difference in price... surely a 2.5?

[baurscoot]

Call me strange but I quite like the 320 auto in a baur, the quintessential hairdressers car.

There is a spares and repair 320baur on eBay just now.

Having said that the 2.5 seems easier to find but I would need to upgrade the antiroll etc. Goes from being a straight engine replacement to being a major rebuild

[Rtaylor2208]

Wanted add on here and Boyd at Bavarian retro in Hamilton will have a good choice on engines as well. 2.0 ones are not hugely desirable and can be had very cheap through the zone.

[baurscoot]

Brilliant, thanks this is very helpful. Hopefully I can source a good un it would be nice to get the car back on the road if and when we get a summer! I did briefly consider breaking this and finding another, there is a mint baur on eBay at the moment but the bodywork is so good on my one it would be a crime to break it up.

[baurscoot]

Had a good email chat with Boyd, we've decided the best route will be to drop on a 2.5, Boyd has one and will hive it a good going over, replace pumps, plugs etc. So, each this space. Better start a project thread although I am going to ask Boyd to do the swap, or else the car is at risk of becoming another hopelessly optimistic project like the triumph....or the Lancia....or the DS...or the jag....or themorris...etc,etc......

[Rtaylor2208]

Boyd will keep you right. He does know his E30's well.

[baurscoot]

Thanks for the advice greatly appreciated