WHAT ENGINE

[hsvnut]

Hi all
I'm new to this forum and just want to know some stuff about my car.
It's a 1988 325is manual and I was wondering how do you tell what engine is in it. I here people say m20 and m30. Is it in the engine number itself. I was also wondering what the common falts are with this model
thankyou

[gooner1]

Hi and welcome mate, youe engine is a M20.Dont feel qualified enough yet to comment on common faults but unless you know your cambelt has been changed ,think its every 40,000miles,then id get that done.Enjoy the site
and your car mate.

[hsvnut]

I brought the car a couple of weeks ago and was just wondering how to tell what engine it is. I've got a list of parts that I already have and was just wonderng what other comon faults are
I have cambelt, thermostate, top and bottom radiator hose's, both front wheel bearings, front control arms and joints(ball joints, connecting joints and caster bushes), drive shaft coupling, sway bar link joints, rear control arm bushes, diff mount and gearbox mounts.
My boss has told me that they have power steering problems so i'm gonna check that out

[GDBN]

If you want to make your steering feel better then buy some Powerflex eccentric control arm bushes.
I don't think they're prone to power steering problems ... just make sure there are no leaks in the system and that there's enough oil.
And your engine is an M20B25.

G

[orangecurry]

there are no problems with the engine... if the servicing has been done - you don't say if you have any history

make sure you change the coolant on schedule; every 2 years.
Otherwise you may get head gasket problems.

as GDBN says if the power steering fluid is low or black! get it changed

oh yes - welcome to the 'zone

[Martinaston]

If your changing the cambelt its worth doing the water pump as well, put some new anti-freeze in and give the radiator a good flush through while its off and the same with the heater matrix.
A new distributor cap and rotor arm wouldn't hurt either.
If its a 325 it should say 885 on the side of the head and have blue injectors on it.

[Brianmoooore]

The "weak points" of the M20B25 engine (weak in terms of BMWs standards, not weak compared with lesser manufactuers), are oil leaks from every conceivable place it could leak oil, and a nasty tendency to crack heads under the cam shaft bearings.
THere was a defective cam belt idler that should have been replaced a long time ago, and the radiator cap was the subject of a recall, and should have been changed, but many weren't.

[oze30]

hmm.. hsvnut.. you not an auissie by anychance are you?

[hsvnut]

why yes I am an aussie.
Just got a water pump today and I will get a dizzy cap and rotor botton tomorrow
I have the full servicing history