Messages

1

For Sale / M42 timing kit

« on: March 08, 2011, 06:16:54 AM »

Anyone looking for a timing kit?
One for sale here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260747607494&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

2

For Sale / 1991 E30 318is for sale

« on: March 02, 2011, 08:23:43 AM »

Hi,

My beloved 318is is now up for sale on Pistonheads.
Full details: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2551526.htm

Advertised at £1500, but I'm open to offers.

3

For Sale / 1991 E30 318is - Fife, Scotland

« on: February 11, 2011, 08:35:26 AM »

Considering the sale of my 1991 E30 318is in white.

130k on clock, but current engine has done 100k.
Original engine died due to timing chain failure. Swapped in an M42 from an E36 a couple of years ago.
Car runs great and is a daily driver.
Taxed and MOT until November 2011
Has 1 year old shocks, springs, discs, pads, front wishbones fitted.
All electrics work.
Complete tool set
Glove box lght is in place but needs a bulb
Front fogs fitted
Strut brace fitted
Car is de-locked (done by previous owner)
Comes with an extensive inventory of spare parts including:
- Wing mirrors
- spare windscreen (current one has a chip but never got round to replacing it)
- Spare set of front and rear lights/clusters
- Spare rear spoiler
- Loads of other bits and pieces. Trim, switches etc
I've also got the wiring loom, switch and motor to convert the manual sunroof. Never got round to doing it myself.
Still got the old M42 lump.

Body work:
Front wings need a bit of attention.
Some surface rust on sills as a result of poor repair work.

Interior:
Only issue is the obligatory wear on the drivers seat, door side lumber.
It's the checked fabric sports seats. All in blue (never seen this on any other E30).
Switches dials and lights all work...although I forgot to fit the front fog light bulb on the dash when I did the install.

non urgent sale due to loss of enthusiasm.
Open to offers

4

Electrical / Sunroof motor and loom

« on: May 25, 2010, 04:42:18 AM »

That's great advice. Thanks for the link to the full instructions.
Looks like I have everything I need to complete the job except the motor fixing plate, but managed to source one from ebay. Don't fancy slicing up the manual plate.

I'll post an update on my progress once I find the time to complete the job.

Thanks again

5

Electrical / Sunroof motor and loom

« on: April 16, 2010, 04:32:26 AM »

Hi,

I picked up a sunroof motor and loom for my 1991 E30 off ebay. Any advice on how this is fitted?

6

Electrical / Wiper problem

« on: March 08, 2010, 06:44:19 AM »

Hi, hope someone can help.

My wipers have died on my 1990 E30 318is
At first it seemed like they were just failing to auto park, but then they just failed (although they were kind enough to auto park before giving up).
The wash still works from the stalk.

Had a similar problem to this a few years ago and it turned out to be the relay. Have replaced the relay, but still no joy.

Not ruling out that the replacement is also faulty, but just wanted to see if there is something else I can look at before I buy another one. I thought it might be a fuse, but I think the washer runs off the same fuse as the wiper motor.

Is there a way of testing the relay to see if it works?

7

Exterior / Alpine White touch-up spray

« on: November 09, 2009, 05:22:15 AM »

Cheers. Figured out that it's Alpine II. Sourced another can of spray and it seems to match pretty well now.
It was fairly cold when I applied the paint from the original can, but I tried a test in room temperature and honestly it was so runny, even a fine coat would run on a relatively flat surface.
New tin seems to be doing the job, so happy now.

8

Exterior / Alpine White touch-up spray

« on: November 06, 2009, 10:18:04 AM »

I'm addressing some minor paintwork issues on my E30 1990 318is.
Purchased some touch-up spray entitled "BMW Alpine White" from the local Halfords (also known as "Halfarsed" in the UK).

I prepared a section of the drivers side wing for a test spray.
What came out was about as close to my car's colour as a thing that's not very close at all. Not only that, but the liquid seemed more like semi skimmed milk (yes I did shake the can vigorously before applying). It began to run almost as soon as it hit the metal. It seems to be even runnier than water.

Anyway, in my frustration the Halfarsed tin got drop-kicked out of my garage and in to a neighbours garden.

The internet must have the answer so I searched for "BMW Alpine White". It seems that there are various shades and versions of this. Alpine I, II & III.
One of these must be the colour on my car.
Does anyone know definitively which one it is?

9

Engine + Driveline / e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway

« on: December 14, 2007, 07:41:35 AM »

Thanks for all your help with this one.
It was a few months ago that the car broke down and my friend (duffusdipspinner) started this thread to help me get an early idea of what could have gone wrong.

It turned out to be a broken timing chain.
This came as a surprise at first, as I thought the chains were super reliable.
The car had only done 107k and was only cruising at about 3000 rpm when it died.
Reading some other threads, it seems that this could be a more common problem.

Anyway, the car is running again. Couldn't stand the thought of breaking her, so I invested £290 in an E36 M42 that had clocked 78k.

Seems to be running better than ever.

10

Engine + Driveline / M42 engine went south at 129K

« on: December 14, 2007, 07:31:28 AM »

This kind of problem seems to be more common than I thought before buying my '91 iS.
I had it for 2 months and it just died on me while doing about 3k rpm.
The engine had only done 107k.

car was in too good condition to give up on it.
Got an M42 from a '94 E36 that had clocked 78k.
I'm based in the UK and the engine cost me £290 including delivery...which seemed reasonable.

Swap was fairly easy to do, and I hadn't done anything like this in the past.
Basically just need to swap everything off the block except the head.
All manifolds, sensors, sump, crank pulley, hoses.
Took a weekend to do with an extra pair of hands. The car goes better than ever now.

11

Electrical / Temp gauge no worky....

« on: November 06, 2007, 04:09:58 PM »

Got the very same problem.
What was the solution?

12

Electrical / Engine swap almost complete, need advice/help

« on: October 24, 2007, 03:01:03 PM »

Thanks for that.
Getting 11.5 volts from the ignition cable, so it looks like the solenoid switch is indeed needing replaced.

13

Electrical / Engine swap almost complete, need advice/help

« on: October 24, 2007, 04:14:16 AM »

How exactly do you change the solenoid switch?

None of the cabling (apart from those attached directly to the engine) were disconnected during the swap. I initially had power from the key, so it seems as if something has burnt out.
Is there a relay for the starter motor?

14

Electrical / Engine swap almost complete, need advice/help

« on: October 23, 2007, 02:33:29 PM »

Thanks for that.
However, I tried another test.
I jumped the connections between the 10mm and 13mm terminals on the solenoid. As if by magic the engine cranked. After a bit of head scratching I tried it again with the key in the ignition to see if it would fire. I was back to the starter just spinning (with and without key).

Now leaning towards getting a replacement starter, but still have the problem of no power from the ignition key.
Is there a relay that governs the starter? Been trawling the web to find where it's located, but no joy. Service manual for the E30 doesn't have a relay diagram and the Bentley M42 manual only covers the E36!

I know I'm so close to getting the old girl fired up again.
This is doing my head in!

15

Electrical / Engine swap almost complete, need advice/help

« on: October 23, 2007, 08:20:41 AM »

Hi,

Looking for some help here.
Just swapped an E36 M42 in to my E30 318is. Everything is wired back up and ready to go...
Apart from the fact that there seems to be a problem with the starter motor.
When I first turned the key, the starter motor was spinning but not engaging the flywheel. Then suddenly, it even stopped spinning.

Checked the wiring, and there was a problem.
3 contacts but only two of them wired up. Sorted that out, but still nothing.
I did a test on the starter (jumped the connection with a screw driver) and the motor spins, but again no flywheel engagement.

Anyone got any ideas what's wrong?
Some research has suggested it might be "the fusible link". If it is, it seems strange that I could do the test.