i'm so happy :)

[kirils]

i bought e30 320i it's a real mint almost... it's drive is so solid like driving a new car ... but cause the car was standing for some time, it has a bit heat problems, it doesn't overheat but the temp is really high? any advice would be apreciated thanks mates .... the guy sold it cause he really needed money for his alpina b6

[Brianmoooore]

Can't see any connection between standing and overheating.
Is it really running hot, or does the gauge just say it is? Two completely different things.
First point to note is that the temp gauge scale is not linear, and anywhere in the black section, as long as it's well away from the blue or red, is fine.
First thing is to take out the instrument cluster and tighten the nut on the back behind the temp gauge.
Don't fix the cluster back completely, as, most likely, there will be a couple of other jobs to do in there.

[WerkdE30]

i think it should sit pretty much right int he middle. id be checkin the coolant level if thats fine and the nut on the back of the cluster is tight then id change the thermostat.

[e30bmlover]

mine sits bang in the middle.

[Widge]

Every E30 I have ever driven sits on the 1/4 mark when warm, unless in a traffic jam on a hot day, or thrashing it when it can go up to 1/2. There is only a few degrees between 1/4 and 3/4 so anywhere inbetween is fine.

[dazleeds]

in my experience

early e30s tend to sit at centre and later cars tend to sit at the qtr

[kirils]

it had a a leak from one hose and it's all fixed and it sits in the middle mabe just a bit more than middle but far from the red .
but i have only one more problem now, the fuel pump relley? if i wan't tp drive it i need to stuck a piece of metal in the relley cause it will not work... so i will try to change it tommorow. but i'm interested the way it's supposed to work. should it be on al the time while the car is running?

[Brianmoooore]

Fuel pump relay should be engaged all the time the ECU is getting pulses from the crank position sensor (i.e. the engine is turning).

[kirils]

it's like this. The relay is a bit damaged, it doesn't make a contact but but with adjusting it can make a contact so, when i put a contact key in the car it turns on than off, when i want to start the car the rellay is again on, but once ithe car strarts it releases the rellay and the car goes off...

do you think it's the rellay or when the car is running it doesn't give impulses to the rellay?

[Brianmoooore]

do you think it's the rellay or when the car is running it doesn't give impulses to the rellay?

Could be either, but the relay is the most obvious thing to try.
Any of the 4 pin relays will do as a temporary substitute. Or link pins 30 and 87 of the relay base together with a short piece of wire. This will make the pump run continuously for testing purposes.
Don't forget to remove the link after you stop the engine!

[kirils]

now i'm a bit worried. i was looking for a rellay and i only found one new really expenceive... so i will look for one tommorow, but in a mean time i managed to fix the old one, i'm not sure that it runs 100 % ok, cause when i turn the ignition the really reacts and the pump turns on and than stop when i try to start the car the rellay again works and the pump turns and the cars is starting and than i realese the key and the rellay turns off and disconnects the fuel pump and the engine turns off...
so i hope it's the rellay cause i will change it any way, but could it be something else ?

[kirils]

thhe car is now fixed and in perfect condition

[Brianmoooore]

So, was the relay the whole problem?

[kirils]

yep the realay was the problem i bought one from a wrecked 320i for
8 euro an the car run really nice now , now i would like to change the timing belt cause it haven't been changed for some time, he has really low miles but a lot years of standing... and spark plugs, wwhich one would you reccomend?


best Regards Kiril

[Brianmoooore]

Get that timing belt and idler changed as soon as possible!
M20s aren't fussy on plugs,. Bosch W8LCR are BMW recommended