Messages

1

General Topics / Definitive Cruise control Thread

« on: July 15, 2012, 05:57:30 PM »

HI GUYS!  Umembuh me?!?  

Anyway, to answer thedguy, I think the jerkiness is due to the short gears and type of engine that is in there.  A buddy with an E30 M3 verified this a long time ago and mine always worked, but it was never as smooth as in the M20 powered E30s I had...

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Member Profiles / longtallsally

« on: October 02, 2011, 01:22:44 PM »

Thanks guys.

The G is really as cool as I could ever ask for.  It's a very rare animal even for over here.  They actually are built in Graz, Austria by Puch and have from day one all been hand built.  Originally they were designed as a military vehicle and this is that variety, not the tarted up gas guzzlers built today.  Based on it being a diesel, it is very highly sought after in the states and we could sell it as is for a good bit more than we paid for it as is.

Part go from mild to wild.  A steering box is over $1k and the previous owner just paid 1800 euro to have the injection pump rebuilt.  The hard top we just got is 3500 euro (not including all hardware) new!!!!  However, other parts are really on par with a typical 4x4, so not too horrible.

The drive train on the one we got is really in pretty good shape, and the rust is really all that needs to be tended to.  So the 318 was my adventure in learning AC systems, and it seems this one will be my venture in learning body work- which I guess is good based on all the straight edges on the vehicle.

Working on a car here in Germany sucks b/c it's actually illegal unless you are in a shop.  And the shop where I get access to a lift gets expensive quick as I get charged by the hour.  That and shlepping my tools back and forth really takes the fun out of it.  Honestly, I really dislike Germany and living here after this experience and can't wait to go home and have true freedom and not an overly regulated borg-like, oppressive existence.

So when space and time allow in the future, I may get another E30 and sort it out as my love for them has not died, but for right now I'm getting back to my roots and will be ordering a new Wrangler Rubicon (Unlimited, 'natch) once we decide when we'll be back home.  I'll try to stop back from time to time...

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Member Profiles / longtallsally

« on: September 25, 2011, 02:03:17 AM »

Well guys and gals, my time is coming to an end with this E30.  A number of factors have come into play, but I've decided to sell it.  Basically, it is too much of a PITA to work on a car in Germany, it will be too expensive to ship home, we have a new toy to work on as a project, and most importantly my wife and I are expecting a baby.

There are a number of stipulations with us living here, one of which is that we are only aloud to register 3 cars here.  With the baby on the way the third car needs to be family oriented.

Also, the new toy is about as cool as I've ever seen:





We just got a new hard top for it as well (IMPOSSIBLE to find and $$$$$$$$).







Here is how it currently sits.  I've stripped a bunch of parts to uncover how bad the rust is (pretty bad) but already have a line on panels that should be pretty easy to replace.



Many may not even know what it is.  Specifically, it is a 1985 Mercedes 300GD Cabrio.  4 speed n/a 5 cyl diesel, selectable front and rear lockers, solid axles, and a massive top speed of maybe 70 mph.  We don't know the total history of it, but are pretty sure it was initially sold in Italy and then ended up here in Germany at some point.

I knew NOTHING of them until my wife found it and wanted it.  I've since started a bunch of research (you guys know me) and it is ultra rare even for Germany.  It is over 25 years old so we get to bring it back without the federalization nightmare.  The end goal is to be able to run on straight vegetable oil, biodiesel, or straight diesel.  Fuel economy is incredible at 22mpg and we've not a clue as to how many miles are on it since the odometer turns over 100k km (we think it's around 280k- with 80k showing currently).

The list of cool things about it are too long to list, but it is the complete antithesis of modern machines and is the quintessential example of simplicity and functionality; there is even a little hand pump on the fuel pump to prime the system if for some reason you remove a fuel line or the like.

Bottom line, I might be back some day as my love for E30s has not dwindled.  I may post a FS ad here as a matter of course as I think you can get a car shipped to the east coast for under $1k, but it may not be worth it as the car is not totally perfect cosmetically and I expect a fairly simple and quick sale here.

Take care everyone!

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Engine + Driveline / I need some Serious $#%@#$in Help seriously

« on: February 27, 2011, 12:13:34 PM »

I gotta say, you are turning me against going to the COP conversion...

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Engine + Driveline / I need some Serious $#%@#$in Help seriously

« on: February 23, 2011, 02:28:36 PM »

Also, why would the computer start misfiring after a little bit of driving then? or cruising, then when it's reset its good again for a little?

You got me on that one.  Like I said, perhaps the tensioner is wonky and the computer takes a sec to get the readings?  I'm grabbing at straws now and really don't know my way around this motor like Colin, so I'll bow out...

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Engine + Driveline / I need some Serious $#%@#$in Help seriously

« on: February 22, 2011, 02:08:29 PM »

You are seriously going to punch me through the Internets, but I still think you should disassemble the entire front of the car and inspect all things timing related.

All your codes seem to me to be point back to timing and since you just did the chain and such.  Maybe the CPS wire is frayed somewhere along the path and arcs or grounds out somewhere?  I dunno, but I still just think it has to be this.

So back in my M20 days I did the timing belt, tensioner, etc as part of some regular maintenance.  As I should have, I turned the motor over by hand a few times to make sure I had the timing right which I swore I did.

Sure enough, I turned it over and it ran- like butt.  It was a merry christmas and I got lucky and didn't blow the head.  I took the whole thing apart and re-checked.  The second time, it was perfect.  So this is why I think it is totally possible that this is the issue for you...

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Engine + Driveline / wheres the leak

« on: February 18, 2011, 08:14:44 AM »

I hope while you were under there that you deleted all of that mess and got rid of the ridiculous TB heater, yes?

Can't delete it in CA.  Plus it might be helping with economy.

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Engine + Driveline / Profile gasket? No.

« on: February 18, 2011, 08:10:24 AM »

I've been fortunate and not had any leaks, but a good number of hoses (both coolant and intake) are cracked, so I'm planning on replacing them all.

The nice part is that not including the plastic part under the intake, I think it was a total of only $143 from Tischer, so not too expensive for some pretty important parts.

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Engine + Driveline / I need some Serious $#%@#$in Help seriously

« on: February 18, 2011, 07:56:07 AM »

When you did the test with the lights getting brighter, did you have the COP or OEM coil in there?

I ask b/c that points back to a degree to some of what Dave is saying.  That's a bit thin, but a possibility nonetheless.

I'm going to stick with timing, though.  How about the tensioner, or a link in the chain that is a bit wonky?  I've not had a chance to read your other thread to check your method, but here is my logic:

- Seems like you have good fuel
- Seems like you have good spark
- Since those are the only 2 things technically you need to run, in order for it to run correctly, the above to must happen at the right time, and based on everything you are mentioning in terms of codes; too lean, misfire, etc., that all leads to incorrect timing.

I could be way off base, but it doesn't seem that avenue has been exhausted just yet, and all the parts swapping is more or less chasing you tail.  Personally, I'd pull the timing cover off and do some inspecting, but I dunno if you can if it's not somewhere you can work on it.

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Engine + Driveline / I need some Serious $#%@#$in Help seriously

« on: February 17, 2011, 05:03:58 AM »

OK, I'm going to take a totally different tack on this, and I might be crazy off base.

What about timing?  How much have you driven it since the timing chain swap?  Is it possible that you are off one tooth or a tooth is missing or something crazy like the tensioner not always providing tension?

Ignore me if you've been driving it for a while, but I was just giving a bit of input b/c based on what I've read here, all this started after you did the timing refresh and logically that tells me something is wrong there...

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Suspension / Will a non-airbag steering column fit?

« on: February 06, 2011, 12:28:28 PM »

I buggered the splines in mine and can't get them to line up and work properly no matter how much I dremel or file.  I got a free one from another 4 cyl car, but it is a non-airbag one.

Will it fit?

thanks,

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Electrical / Overhead Check Panel install...

« on: January 30, 2011, 03:33:49 AM »

Looking into the Power Sunroof mod, I don't use the sunroof that often but that would enhance the value a bit and I could still go with the map light mirror too, correct? Thanks for all the help...

For the mirror:

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12759&highlight=map+light+mirror

For the sunroof:

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44036&highlight=power+sunroof

Go to page 3 and read my findings as all the prior was just learning.

And DO NOT believe anyone who says, "I wanna save weight and that's why I don't want the power sunroof."  That person is WRONG.  The weight difference is negligible if at all between power and non-power.  If you get the whole setup from a yard including the harness, you can even have a straight plug and play setup.

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Electrical / Overhead Check Panel install...

« on: January 28, 2011, 05:00:15 PM »

A couple things to help you along:

- the map light rear view mirror from the 325is is popular to put in.  If you get the whole harness it is plug and play with zero splicing which is nice.

- the power sunroof is a full on conversion that has nor needs to have anything to do with the check panel.  In entails the whole overhead console, the tubes for the sunroof cables, and of course the motor and relay with the bracket, in order to be done.  This is a killer swap to do IMO.

I've done both of these conversions and they are pretty cool and very nice to have if you are a luxury and gadget nut like me.

Now for the check panel in particular.  This 318is is my 4th E30 with the last 3 being 325is' that all had all of this stuff out of the box.

The 318is does not.  So in terms of retrofitting, why you wouldn't want to is b/c you'd have to run wiring to:
- tail lights
- license plate lights
- head lights
- oil level sender
- washer fluid tank
- and a few other places

There might be a central set of repositories in the harness that you could splice into, but I'm fairly certain this is the one option that is not plug and play.

So what to do with the space?  I saw someone who found that a Chevy truck's lamps went in there perfect and he modified the check panel.  I am debating find a GPS that will fit up there and trying to go for an OEMish look.  I've seen boost gauges up there for guys running turbos.  Pick your poison.

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Member Profiles / monty23psk

« on: January 10, 2011, 03:58:28 PM »

Wow. That guy will last long. Hey Matt!

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Member Profiles / trackjunkie21

« on: November 23, 2010, 03:44:05 PM »

Also decided that I'm going 24v pretty soon, while all the lunatics will be out shopping on friday, this lunatic will be at the PnP looking for an m50:D

Tsk tsk...