Messages

1

General Topics / Temp gauge question.

« on: December 20, 2011, 11:49:58 PM »

I have an E30 318is, usually my temp gauge is in this location.



Earlier this week i noticed that the gauge was reading hotter than normal, 1 needle past noon, i checked the fan clutch and it stopped with a newspaper.. The fan clutch was 1 year old!

So, now the car has a new fan clutch. However, the temp gauge is not rock solid like it use to be at the location that is in the picture, it is oscillating between that position and about one needle worth past the 12 oclock position (goes up at a stop light). Do any of you guys have a gauge that occelates? With the old fan clutch the temp needle was Rock solid.


A bit of history. Last year the entire motor was rebuilt, all the hoses, water pump, thermostat, radiator.. and the head went to the machine shop...

P.S. I am at a loss as to why i am having temp issues.. Everything is new.. And the system is bled, i verified this yesterday...

2

Engine + Driveline / Another ICV problem

« on: August 27, 2011, 01:07:20 AM »

I was able to get a used verified working ICV valve off of E30tech for around 35$.. a new one is around 140$ or so from what i found....

3

General Topics / C-101 pin out?

« on: August 27, 2011, 12:59:14 AM »

check e30tech, they might have something over there.

4

General Topics / Jack Points

« on: August 27, 2011, 12:38:29 AM »

you can put your jack stands on the pinch welds.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12099&page=2

5

General Topics / Half assed introduction/ I need help.

« on: August 27, 2011, 12:34:54 AM »

to check the fan clutch, you can get a newspaper, start the motor and attempt to stop the fan with the newspaper if the fan stops easily then your fan clutch is toast, and is probably a good culprit for your over heating issue. i think a fan clutch costs about 60 bucks.. It does require a 32MM open ended wrench. some bmw places sell a fan clutch wrench.

like dave said these heads are VERY prone to cracking if exposed to an over heating condition.. The design of the coolant channels is not that great....make sure you get your over heating issue resolved before you drive the car again.

Also you can check to see if your coolant system is maintaining level, or if something is consuming some coolant...

You can get a compression tester from harbor freight for pretty cheap, if your going to do a compression test you might as well get a leak down tester as well as they are not that expensive, however both of these items do require an air compressor.. This way to know the full condition of your head.

6

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / two s54 powerd e30's picstures

« on: August 19, 2011, 11:59:48 AM »

part of the problem with the S54 swap is that the harness has inputs for all kinds of sensors that only the E46 M3 has.. from my understanding anyhow.. like accelerometers, and the such.... The M54 has been done, i think the guy posts on R3limited. The S54 is even a pain in the ass when transplanting into another E46.

I think you can get a S54 set up for around 5k$ ish... depending on how patient you are and how well you comb the forums. I would agree though, go to copart.com and get a car that has been rear-ended take your required items for the swap, then part the rest out and put some cash in your pocket.

You can get an M54B30 for around 2200$ from car-part.com, they are pretty good motors, i have an E46 330, with a light weight flywheel the motor is a pretty fun motor... Just doesn't have the power or RPM's of the S54

7

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / two s54 powerd e30's picstures

« on: August 18, 2011, 03:17:54 PM »

i think if someone could bring a product to make the S54 either plug n play, or semi plug n play, they could make quite a bit of cash, I think there are quite a few people who are waiting for a solution to allow an S54 swap to be done in their own garage... I will NOT pay 3,000$ for this product though, an i think there are many others of the same opinion as my self.....

8

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / two s54 powerd e30's picstures

« on: August 18, 2011, 01:10:46 AM »

Do you guys plan on making a plug n play harness/ecu for sale? if so, what would the price point be?

9

General Topics / Just Picked Up 1994 318i with only 98,000

« on: July 25, 2011, 11:58:19 PM »

Right by Number 2 cylinder there is a large coolant channel that is very prone to cracking on the M42 head...

read this.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13442

Ran, is your fan clutch good? have you tested it?

did you have your head pressure checked after it was "repaired" ?

did you pressure check your coolant system before filling the system?

when you bled the system, did you have someone bring the car to around 1500rpm, to get the system up to close to full operating pressure?


I went though this same nightmare you are going though about 6 months ago.. My head had 2 cracks.. and i also had a bad fan clutch...

10

General Topics / A/C and MPG...

« on: July 25, 2011, 11:47:04 PM »

a930rocket, i was just about to make this EXACT same post....

My odo is not working right now, and i have NO clue what fuel consumption i am getting, here in dallas its 100+ every day. so i use the AC every time i drive the car now... Hopefully more people will chime in soon!

11

General Topics / what brake pads are you guys running?

« on: July 13, 2011, 09:39:21 PM »

Right now i have hawk hp sport pads.

I do NOT like the way the brakes feel on the 318...

i am thinking about getting some Satisfied grand sport pads.. I have them on my E46.. However the E46 has BBK both up front and in the rear...


I am wanting more bite than the HP sport pads are giving... I have though about getting a wilwood BBK from massivebrakes.com. However, i don't know if i want to spend that money.. if i can get more bite from changing the pad compound and retaining the stock calipers i would rather do that...


What pads have you guys found to give you good bite?

12

Exterior / Post your SINGLE best pic!

« on: July 12, 2011, 01:17:23 AM »

the E46..


The E30

I really like this shot also..

13

General Topics / Seat Repairs...Anyone Do Them?

« on: July 11, 2011, 10:10:09 PM »

i have a feeling that a good amount of us are going to be doing "seat maintenance" in the near future...

14

General Topics / Seat Repairs...Anyone Do Them?

« on: July 11, 2011, 09:47:16 PM »

I have a 140amp mig.. i just wanted to kind of know what i was getting into before i started taking things apart... i also have some spare steel around the garage, so if mine are too far gone, i will fab something up.. maybe out of 1/4" angle iron.. and a nut, like the factory but much thicker/stronger...

15

General Topics / BMW Dealer Asking 40K Over Sticker for the BMW 1M Coupe

« on: July 11, 2011, 12:32:25 AM »

One of my Facebook friends posted this photo... that Dealer is on freaking Crack... there are many Way more special limited run cars that weren't marked up that much... this mark up is stupid... if this dealership actually thinks someone is dumb enough to pay that, well...