So you love your E30.....

Post Tue May 10, 2005 8:13 am

but how much???

I cherish mine so much I start her in the morning and then stand next to her idling for 5 minutes whilst I smoke my first of 20 Benson and Hedges of the day whilst she warms up a bit so as not to damage then engine.
(someone's probably going to tell me its pointless on such an old car)

What lengths do you go to inorder to keep your car in pristine condition..... dazleeds, we all know about what you do with the exhaust pipe mate so no need to tell us again!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:31 am

I dont go as far as standing next to it for 5 minutes after i've started it :lol:

But i will never riev it over 3000rpm, until it gets near the middle of the temp guage.

And as with most M40 engines that are noisy and tap, mine doesnt

Adam

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:34 am

i also start it and leave it for a while till its warm, ill also never drive fast until it has been running for a good ten minutes,

i clean it all the time too......... im anal about it i think,

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:38 am

Daryll wrote:I start her in the morning and then stand next to her idling for 5 minutes.....its pointless on such an old car

You said it! :lol:

Mine never goes over 2250rpm until it's fully warmed up, and never under 1500rpm to avoid straining the engine.

Get's garaged all the time in the summer to save the paint, washed once or twice a week and waxed when needed.

Not excessive I don't think but still looking after it

Adam how many miles has your 1.8 done not to tap? Mine only started well into 6 figure mileage....

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:38 am

I walk out my house and just seeing it brings a smile to my face and fills my heart with joy (read my most recent post on the ace cafe thread too and you'll see!)

Reading the manual today it says you shouldn't get it up to temp by just idleing it though. Not sure of the rational for it but that's what says.

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:43 am

hoshy wrote:Reading the manual today it says you shouldn't get it up to temp by just idleing it though. Not sure of the rational for it but that's what says.

I think the E36 manual explains that at under 1000rpm it takes a long time to warm anyway, and it's "harmful to the environment".

If you don't watch it while it's warming up someone'll nick it too!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:43 am

Zayyan, mines done 91,000 and had been serviced its whole life at a BMW garage at the right intervals using the service lights.

So its pretty damn quite

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:44 am

i cant see how it makes any difference how the car is warmed up as on engines this old the tolerences cant be that tight,

letting it idle makes me feel better though!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 11:45 am

Adam318i wrote:Zayyan, mines done 91,000 and had been serviced its whole life at a BMW garage at the right intervals using the service lights.

So its pretty damn quite

Ah right, I've got a little over double your mileage then!

I don't think mine started being noisy until about 130k.....was always serviced when the service lights said as well

Keep looking after it though and I'm sure you'll keep it quiet

Post Tue May 10, 2005 12:06 pm

Mine doesnt tap.It's got 113k miles on it!!I meake sure mines always clean!!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 1:38 pm

I love mine so much that I consder a whole weekend spent in the dark under the car, to be more fun than bbq with the mates and tons of beer

sometimes I wash it, but not doing it too often as I'm gonna do the front wings (first real 'bodywork' adventure)

put it this way, My girlfriend calls the touring 'the mistress'

Post Tue May 10, 2005 1:53 pm

5 mins idling is doing more harm to your engine than good...castrol (oils)published an article to advise as such just recently

give it a minute or so and drive away

Post Tue May 10, 2005 1:55 pm

bryang wrote:5 mins idling is doing more harm to your engine than good...castrol (oils)published an article to advise as such just recently

give it a minute or so and drive away

Oh crap?? So in an attempt to look after my baby I have infact been hurting her?? How can I live with myself??? To make a mends I can sense some exhaust loving planned for tonight and a coat of autoglyms....I feel terrible now.

Taken on board Bryan thanks, I'll have to smoke quicker from now on.

Post Tue May 10, 2005 1:58 pm

I just get in and drive

and when once its warmed up i give it death

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:09 pm

Daryll wrote:
bryang wrote:5 mins idling is doing more harm to your engine than good...castrol (oils)published an article to advise as such just recently

give it a minute or so and drive away
Oh crap?? So in an attempt to look after my baby I have infact been hurting her?? How can I live with myself??? To make a mends I can sense some exhaust loving planned for tonight and a coat of autoglyms....I feel terrible now.

Taken on board Bryan thanks, I'll have to smoke quicker from now on.

i reckon castrol are probably trying to promote one of there new super oils or something, whenever a car is running its doing it harm and idling is when your cars components are under the least strain so surely the least damage is being done? its probably best to leave it on idle until only the oil is warm not the coolent?

ill ask me dad and hell give me the engineers answer....

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:11 pm

at idle the oil pump is genereating less pressure so I'd imagine the oil spray thing isn't as effective.

I'm really just guessin here

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:13 pm

They do normally say 'Drive off immediately' with newer cars.

I don't think you need to 'warm it up' before driving off.

I let mine warm up before driving hard.

I do regular servicing and fix any problems as soon as.

I also wash my touring/sport regularly (often!) when in use

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:16 pm

bennyp wrote:
Daryll wrote:
bryang wrote:5 mins idling is doing more harm to your engine than good...castrol (oils)published an article to advise as such just recently

give it a minute or so and drive away
Oh crap?? So in an attempt to look after my baby I have infact been hurting her?? How can I live with myself??? To make a mends I can sense some exhaust loving planned for tonight and a coat of autoglyms....I feel terrible now.

Taken on board Bryan thanks, I'll have to smoke quicker from now on.
i reckon castrol are probably trying to promote one of there new super oils or something, whenever a car is running its doing it harm and idling is when your cars components are under the least strain so surely the least damage is being done? its probably best to leave it on idle until only the oil is warm not the coolent?

ill ask me dad and hell give me the engineers answer....

Its actually(nearly)common knowledge, more so in the bike world where generally the engines are quite high tech,its just that people dont easily believe it, hence I mentioned the Castrol article, which was published just a few weeks ago.

Not all the pots will "run" to the same temprature and extremes of localised heat built up thru idling can be damaging..

Plus ive had a moto x bike seize on me whilst being left to run for just a few minutes!

Ask your Dad about cold seizures!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:18 pm

davetouring wrote:They do normally say 'Drive off immediately' with newer cars.

Dave, im sure it says that in my e34 handbook, ill check..If thats the case, it may even say it in the e30 handbook??

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:22 pm

Have a look, my books are up in Cambridge!!

I have seen this in a couple of handbooks, I would think it says 'No need to let the engine warm being driving off'.....

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:23 pm

I just jump in mine rev the arse out of it select 1st spin it up then into 2nd fish tailing it down the road normally getting to 70 within about a min of it being started never done it any halm

.

Only joking i like to keep mine at about 2000 rpm not to low and not to high, but i never let it just idle until its got to temp doesnt do cars any favours as said already. I think it will state in most owners manuals not to just let your sit and idle i know it says it in the VW and in the BMW one so i assume its something to do with it getting a bit choaked up sort of like a 2 stroke they dont like it when there just idled.

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:25 pm

Wow, you learn something new every day!!!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:26 pm

i think if your crosser was 2 stroke you are likely to be prone to cold seizures if i reme,ber right.

New bikes have such high tolerances and are in a much higher state of tune that that may have some bearing on it.

i just sold my husqvarna SMR 610 and i always warmed that up before riding it and it never went pop on me ( amazing as it was italian )

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:41 pm

Since doing the rings on a brand new radio controlled car (23cc), by just letting it idle and burning out the spark plug on my motorbike by doing the same thing i like to let the revs varry (doesnt look right?

) as for it seizing ive only ever managed to heat seize one but once cooled down run again (not always though

). But this hasnt got much to do with the E30's but ive always been lead to believe that varrying the revs (either hot or cold) isnt a bad thing obviously not being silly.

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:47 pm

mmm, i reckon its down to what makes you feel better!

i like warming mine up and it makes me think im not harming my ickle baby too much. god i am sad......

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:50 pm

jamie325isport wrote:varry (doesnt look right? )

Vary?

From the E36 user manual under "Operating Hints" (yeah I know it's not the E30 one but it's still an 80s car at least

):

Happy to say I follow all of these

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:54 pm

me too, esp. the "deep breathing" bit

Post Tue May 10, 2005 2:55 pm

interesting.

ive been doing it wrong for over 13 years!!!!!!!!

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:09 pm

Yep, 2 strokes are more critical/tempramental but idling for too long is not a good thing, 2 or 4 stroke. . .

Good post and a good topic..

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:11 pm

agreed, cracking topic.

still upset that ive been doing it wrong, but then no car or m/cycle (as yet, touch wood) has gone bang on me so it cant be too wrong

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:16 pm

Wow, thanks guys tomorrows 'Daryll's Topic of the Day' entitled

'Is it wrong to love your E30 with your trousers round your ankles and with a can of lubricant in one hand and an eye for the exhaust pipe'

will hopefully be a corker as well.

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:21 pm

Daryll wrote:Wow, thanks guys tomorrows 'Daryll's Topic of the Day' entitled

'Is it wrong to love your E30 with your trousers round your ankles and with a can of lubricant in one hand and an eye for the exhaust pipe'

will hopefully be a corker as well.

ill be submitting my experiences onto that one as well if you start it! just dont tell my mum and/or missus

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:29 pm

Daryll wrote:Wow, thanks guys tomorrows 'Daryll's Topic of the Day' entitled

'Is it wrong to love your E30 with your trousers round your ankles and with a can of lubricant in one hand and an eye for the exhaust pipe'

will hopefully be a corker as well.

see, i just have a standard zorst on the touring-need a big bore 5 for me to do any of that

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:31 pm

Post Tue May 10, 2005 3:37 pm

Daryll wrote:Wow, thanks guys tomorrows 'Daryll's Topic of the Day' entitled

'Is it wrong to love your E30 with your trousers round your ankles and with a can of lubricant in one hand and an eye for the exhaust pipe'

will hopefully be a corker as well.

BMW approved lubricant only please Daryll, consult owners handbook or face a real painful dry seizure....