325i Sport - Few issues need seen to.

[Bigbenstrikes]

Hey guys,

A few things really that I could do with a hand with,

1. My fuel level is always showing full and then tells the truth about an hour into a long journey, will I need a new sender or is it something a bit more simple?

2. Temperature is sitting at 1/4 whilst driving on a run but when I'm in traffic will sit half way and slightly over, the fan kicks in no problem. Is this a thermostat problem?

3. I just recently fitted an E46 Clubsport rack, of which I purchased off Ebay complete with piping etc. Fitting was a pain and the guy who did it for me said the connectors of which you need to bend were't too good, It has transformed the car's steering but now I'm starting to feel a lot of resistance when I start the car and it almost clunks as I turn for the first time then it's fine after that. Yesterday though whilst approaching a roundabout as I braked and turned left into it, it felt like there was no power steering but then it was fine after 3 seconds. Any ideas?

[Kos]

1- dodgy level sender unit
2- deffo sounds like a stat problem to me
3- not too sure, but it needs investigating ASAP

[Speedtouch]

2. Sounds like perfectly normal behaviour to me. You only really need to worry if it creeps up towards the red mark.

[jimbom30cab]

3. Sounds like a fluid flow restriction.

[BenHar]

2 sounds like a tired fan viscous coupling.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ooling#Fan

Ben

[Kos]

2. Sounds like perfectly normal behaviour to me. You only really need to worry if it creeps up towards the red mark.

Over cooling on the motorway isn't ideal. Car will be using more fuel

Regarding point 3, I have seen this before and more recently on my e24. The PAS pump must be matched in pressure to the rack.
E30 pumps vary between 100bar and 120bar

[Bigbenstrikes]

Thanks Guys,

I had a bit of a leak and turned out to be one of the pipes joining the rack wasn't tight enough, half a turn and the leak stopped and the problem of the clunking etc has gone.. for now!

Think I'm going to just put a new thermostat in it, anyone got one for sale? And some rear shocks and top mounts for a 325i Sport?

[Kos]

Get a new OEM stat from the dealers

[Mitchen]

New genuine stat is like £20 from BMW.. get some bilstein B4 shock's for around £35 each side... and meyle HD E36 rear top mounts are like £12 for both sides. All from ebay.. No need to buy any of it second hand.

[Bigbenstrikes]

Nice one! I was looking at getting some B6's but they aren't cheap! Think I will stick to the B4s for now.

The standard shocks produce a slight drop on the Sports or is that just the springs?

[Speedtouch]

The stock Sport M-Tech springs are -15mm lower than standard 325i ones.

[Bigbenstrikes]

So just standard 325i shocks are the same as the Sports yah? a˜Š

[Bigbenstrikes]

These ones good guys? http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 85&alt=web

[Speedtouch]

No, I gather the Tech 1 Sports had Bilstein dampers, while Tech 2s had Boge M Technic shock absorbers.

[Bigbenstrikes]

I see, mines a tech 2. What should I go for, don't want them sitting a mile high and being soft as poop.. haha

[Mitchen]

Not too sure.. never had an m-tech.. someone will pipe up soon though

[Speedtouch]

Quote from the Zone Wiki:

"The Zone recommends fitting Bilstein B4 or Boge turbo shocks."

[Bigbenstrikes]

Also in the WiKi..

"The rear shock absorbers are one of the few suspension components that are standard on all E30s. They are all the same length and damping force."

Woop woop! Cheers guys!