A few problems to sort???

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

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
puggy2051900gti
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 11:57 am

Hi, ive just bought myself a b reg bmw convertible but as expected it has a few problems which im not to sure how to sort???

1.) The engine doesn't tick over properly,i can keep it at 1500rpm but if i let it do its own thing it sits at about 250rpm for a minute or so then cuts out :( Is this the afm? if not what else can it be?

2.) Theres also a tapping noise coming from the top of the engine when its running? is this easy to sort?could it just be low oil level?

3.) When im driving the car theres a tapping kind of noise coming from where i think the speedo cable goes to,any ideas?

4.) A stupid one this but i cant find reverse, the gearstick has lots of movement in it anyway,so is it just a case of new gear linkages?

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers
Simon13
The longest resto in the world !
Posts: 22697
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Camberley, Surrey don't u know

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:41 pm

R 1 3 5

2 4

reverse is across and up if you get my little diagram. It's usually the rubber knuckle that wears and makes the shifts sloppy
jmc330i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6621
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Somerset

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:50 pm

The idle problem could be an air leak some where.

Reverse is to the left of 1st, but its through a gate that can be quite stiff. When I first drove my brothers E30 I couldnt find it either, you might need to push harder to get it through the gate.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
User avatar
puggy2051900gti
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 7:45 pm

well it definatly doesnt go into reverse :( il check it,i think il just change all the linkages and get a quickshift to help it out a bit.

when you say there could be an air leak what exactly am i looking for?
i know it sounds stupid but am i just looking for a split pipe of something worse?

cheers
User avatar
puggy2051900gti
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:37 pm

anyone have any ideas???
Guest

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:32 pm

hi
is the e30 a 4 or 6 cyl because if its a 4 cyl and a b reg then it shud b an m10 these engine can b quite ticky but not as much as the later ones sually just ajusting the tappets can prove usefull this also applies to the sixs as well , i wud try that before worrying about more serious things

the other noise i am not sure about because i thought all e30s had electronic speedos , any body care to clarify that???

air leaks can b anything so yes check all the pipes gaskets etc for ware, if its a carb engine then the carb mayb need a bit of work
Karan
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8004
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 4:26 pm

the ticking is the injectors- they all do it
jmc330i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6621
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Somerset

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:30 am

You might be surprised by the stiffness of the reverse gate. I thought I was going to break my brothers gearstick when i first tried to select reverse.
If your going to change the linkages then that might free it up a bit.

As for the quickshift, I would go for the Z3 short shift conversion. Parts are about Ԛ£55 compared to around Ԛ£200 for a kit.

The conversion guide with part numbers and prices can be found on the Zone here- Click Me

I think everyone on here who has the Z3 short shift will tell you its worth it.

As Bob said, the air leak can be anywhere, just check for any obvious worn pipes etc.

As Karan said, all injectors tick, some louder than others.
The ticking could also be a blowing exhaust manifold gasket or even a cracked exhaust manifold.
Last edited by jmc330i on Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:10 am, edited 4 times in total.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
Guest

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:44 am

see thats true as jmc said injectors are louder especially on a b reg, my brothers 2.7 were very loud didnt really affect performace went like hell !! just old car sindrome i wud deffo get the rocker clearence set up though dead easy to check theres a acticle on it on the main web site , really good!!
User avatar
puggy2051900gti
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:20 am

thats a cool guide, it doesnt say where he bought the parts though :( theres also a guide to sorting valve clearances,is this what makes the tapping noise at the top end of my engine? if not what exactly are the tappets? ive worked on many peugeot 205's so throw me in at the deep end if you want im not to good on the technical jargon though.
cheers
Jhonno
Homo Hair
Posts: 20362
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: FLAT, FLAT, FLAT!!

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:22 am

parts are from BMW..
User avatar
puggy2051900gti
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:22 pm

oh right, so are they actaul z3 parts?
jmc330i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6621
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Somerset

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:53 pm

Yup, Z3 parts, I think from the 2.8ltr.

I think its only the shift lever thats Z3 specific tho, but Im not 100% on that, I havent done this conversion cause i dont need to.

You only actually need the parts highlighted in blue on the diagram to do the conversion.
If your renewing the linkages anyway you will probably buy the other parts as well.

Just take the part numbers to your local bmw dealership and order them.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v