Messages

1

Engine + Driveline / How bullet proof are the M42 engines?

« on: March 11, 2008, 10:07:12 AM »

Mine is just about to hit 210k.  I've had the intake manifold gasket replaced once, valve cover gasket, water pump twice (2nd time was preventative maintenance), an alternator, and an AC compressor.  I'll probably be replacing the chain tensioner soon, but otherwise it just runs and runs.  Burns about a quart between oil changes, but that's about it.

2

Engine + Driveline / Check engine light

« on: March 11, 2008, 09:49:49 AM »

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.  Strange thing is that it seemed fine this morning.  I'll still go ahead and replace the plugs, and I'll check to see if the CPU throws a code at me.

3

Suspension / E30 cabriolets thicker sway bar on 318is? any experience

« on: March 10, 2008, 11:48:41 AM »

I paid about $50 for mine used and I purchased new sway bar links to go along with it.  Honestly I didn't notice a huge difference, but would have had I added a larger front sway bar.

The front M3 sway bar is 19mm which is smaller than the stock coupe (20mm) or cabrio (21mm) sway bars.  This is because the end link is located on the strut tube and because of this the M3 doesn't require as large a bar.  My friend Dave Adams had the best of both worlds with his 325i cabrio.  He welded an M3 sway bar mount to his strut tubes but kept his stock cabrio front sway bar and added the M3 rear sway bar.  According to him, the improvement was dramatic.

4

Engine + Driveline / Check engine light

« on: March 10, 2008, 11:41:12 AM »

So, on Saturday I replaced my ICV and valve cover gaskets (they were leaking oil onto the first two spark plugs).  I cleaned up the old plugs and plug boots before reassembling everything.  It fired up, it smoked for a minute or two as it burned off the oil that had seeped into the cylinder head when I extracted the plugs, but then everything seemed just fine.  Yesterday when I pulled into my sloped driveway, the car died.  At first I suspected that I simply missed the shift and stalled it... but then it wouldn't start at all.  I popped the hood and found that one of the battery terminals had corroded over, so I pulled the battery cable, and cleaned it all up.  After doing that it sook a few seconds then fired up and I was able to pull in just fine.  This morning, she fired right up, idled fine, but when I would idle at a traffic light for about 45 seconds or so, the check engine light would come on.  If I bliped the throttle, even just a tiny bit, the light would go out for another 45 seconds or so.  The car has a brand new O2 sensor, a reasonably new rebuilt alternator, the battery is about 3 or 4 years old, the plugs, NGK's are about a year and a half to two years old, and the plug wires are originals with 210k.  Any thoughts as to what's going on?  I was thinking about trying new plugs first to see if these ones got fouled.

5

How-To's / Change the timing chain tensioner the easy way

« on: March 07, 2008, 06:40:27 PM »

Would it make sense to soak the tensioner in fresh motor oil before installing it?

6

How-To's / DIY M20 flywheel conversion

« on: March 06, 2008, 02:05:41 PM »

I'm not sure how to answer that.  What I do know is that there was no noticeable increase in vibration, even with the solid M30 motor mounts.  That being said, it was recommended that I not lighten up the stock M20 flywheel, probably for that very reason.

7

How-To's / DIY M20 flywheel conversion

« on: March 05, 2008, 09:56:33 PM »

Picked it up this afternoon, and wow, I am impressed.  The motor spins up faster and the car has more pull in 1st gear.  Awesome mod, highly recommended!!  Combined with the Z3 1.9 shift lever, the joy of driving stick has returned.

8

How-To's / Deleting throttle body heater plate.

« on: March 05, 2008, 09:53:33 PM »

Wow, I should have read this thread sooner.  I just got my cabrio back from the shop where I had them refresh the cooling system... they replaced almost all of the pieces you guys have removed for this mod.  Oh well.

9

Member Profiles / Roadsterd

« on: March 05, 2008, 01:10:56 PM »

I really need to get a 4-door 318i as a DD.  Seeing your car makes me want one even more.  Too bad I blew my budget on repairs to my cabrio.

10

Suspension / E30 cabriolets thicker sway bar on 318is? any experience

« on: March 05, 2008, 01:03:27 PM »

If you run the 21mm cabrio bar up front, then consider an E30 M3 rear swaybar.  It's 14.5mm.  That's the setup I run, and several folks I've met have had success on their hardtops.

11

How-To's / DIY M20 flywheel conversion

« on: March 05, 2008, 12:36:43 AM »

A quick update... car should be finished tomorrow.

It's also getting a CSB, guibo, rebuilt shifter bits along with a Z3 1.9 lever, new tranny mounts and E28 motor mounts.


After they pulled everything out, they found that pretty much all of the seals were leaking, the rear main and the input/output on the tranny.

12

General Topics / Are there (2) E30 Bentley manuals, or only one?

« on: March 03, 2008, 06:22:39 PM »

What's really funny is that they've updated the cover... with a pic of a 318ic, a model not specifically covered by the manual... I love it!!

13

General Topics / Reinstalling rear view mirror - what glue/adhesive?

« on: March 03, 2008, 06:16:26 PM »

I had the same problem with my last windshield, it fell off several times even with the stuff they sell at Pep Boyz.  When it got replaced two years ago I asked for German glass instead of the crappy US glass.  My replacement had the mount pre-attached from the factory so it hasn't been a problem since.

14

Engine + Driveline / Really Odd Issues...Vacuum Leaks?

« on: March 03, 2008, 06:13:05 PM »

When I first got my 318iC back in '99 I developed a vacuum leak that ended up fouling my O2 sensor.  Turns out it was a leak in the intake manifold gasket (I can't recall which specific gasket as it's a two-piece manifold).  Hope this helps.

15

How-To's / DIY M20 flywheel conversion

« on: February 27, 2008, 04:15:01 PM »

Car goes under the knife on Monday morning.