Messages

1

Electrical / Parking lights stay on when car turned off

« on: November 18, 2008, 05:45:55 PM »

Thanks. Finally found the time to look at it. It was the switch.

All the best.

2

Electrical / Parking lights stay on when car turned off

« on: November 10, 2008, 01:20:39 PM »

I gave the car to my visiting parents for the week - and now the car's parking lights will stay on even when I push the headlights switch all the way in and turn the car off.

Normally, I would suspect that this is maybe an issue with the switch itself - but maybe there is some button/option somewhere that they turned on or off without me knowing that leads to this situation?

I did not see anything obvious in the user manual copy I have - but it is old and missing parts.

If there is a simple solution that I do not know of - please tell me - I hope to avoid digging under the dashboard if I can avoid it...

Thanks.

3

General Topics / Considering an S2K engine swap

« on: April 19, 2008, 06:38:41 PM »

What is the difference between the Duratec and the Zetec? I know that the Duratec is based on the Mazda design and replaced the Zetec  - but is there somewhere I can see the specific design differences?

4

General Topics / Considering an S2K engine swap

« on: April 17, 2008, 04:07:49 PM »

I am not really sure how it compares to an M42 - but the F20c is a very tall engine - you need to consider what it takes to install one.

My experience is from Super-7s - and comparing this engine to an engine like a Zetec - can't be done in a standard Lotus 7 like chassis - you need to build something that is taller, for sure. In theory, should be possible in an E30 engine bay - but you might have to pay attention to where the mounts will go and your ride height - if you plan on keeping the stock hood.

As I said, no real experience with it in this application - but definitely something you need to look into.

5

Suspension / Manual steering rack - where to get?

« on: April 15, 2008, 09:53:18 PM »

Or the regular e36 at 3.2 turns is faster than e30 m3 (3.5) and with in a hair of the 95 m3 at 3.0 and z3 at 2.7. Either way all 3 e36 variants have the same ratio rack at 15:1. The only difference is where the stops are. Get the cheapest e36 rack you can find, cap the lines and you have manual steering. Why is everybody guessing about this? Its been discussed adnauseum. There are very detailed writeups on the subject. Search and you will be rewarded.

Thanks - this is good information. I will look into an E36 rack, I guess. Probably fast enough for me.

6

Engine + Driveline / Broken air? hose, Check engine no idle

« on: April 15, 2008, 08:04:16 PM »

Well, as I suspected - it was a crack that lead to a leak in the air intake hose/boot whatever you want to call it - going into the intake.

Despite my so called "rushed analysis" - it was right on the money...

A new part on order and she should be good to go.

7

Suspension / Manual steering rack - where to get?

« on: April 15, 2008, 07:21:46 PM »

I am guessing that there might be options to go to slightly quicker steering. I am not sure what the turn-to-turn is on my 318i - but the steering is a lot slower than my Miata - and I would not mind slightly quicker steering.

Just trying to figure out the options out there before I go out and decide what I want to do.

My BMW was mostly a drive around town car for me - but I am now ready to start adopting it to my tastes a little more - so I am trying to figure out all of my options...

8

Suspension / Manual steering rack - where to get?

« on: April 15, 2008, 06:55:16 PM »

I am thinking about removing the power steering rack from my car - I read some threads about options - but most of them end with "or just find a manual steering rack and install it instead".

Any pointers where to find these racks for sale?

9

Engine + Driveline / Broken air? hose, Check engine no idle

« on: April 13, 2008, 11:37:54 PM »

Well, the symptoms and analysis are the same as what I had for another car in the past, but not for this car which is pretty much a fun drive around car that I just starting taking to the rallycross - I never rallycrossed a BMW before and I have done very little work on this car - just had to get home before it was dark.

There has to be an air-flow sensor somewhere there? right?

I am sorry if the post was a little too short and un-clear, I tried to get it out quickly and it was not paraphrased or researched as well as it should.

Should teach me not to try and do something too fast, I guess.

Just ignore it, I guess. I will take the time to look at it properly tomorrow.

10

Engine + Driveline / Broken air? hose, Check engine no idle

« on: April 13, 2008, 10:30:21 PM »

I took my 318i rallycrossing again - and I think one of the big jumps broke what looks like an air-intake hose (did not have too much time to investigate, after the event I just wanted to get home).

Anyway, the car runs fine with some gas, but seems to lose idle and have the check-engine light comes on if you just let it idle for a little bit, until it dies.

I am guessing that there might be an air-sensor or something of that nature there, but as I said - no time to investigate further.

Any ideas?

11

Member Profiles / rloewy

« on: April 02, 2008, 12:49:01 PM »

I bought my 318i because it was the closest I could get to an early Miata, in feel, that had 4 doors/4 seats. Have been using it for over a year now as my co-daily driver with the Miata and love it.

I used to rallycross my wife's Subaru in the past, but we just bought her a brand new one and I did not think it was a good idea to get it all muddy and dirty before it passed the 2,000 miles mark. Miatas are not legal in rallycross (convertible) - so that pretty much left me with the BMW.

It is the wrong car for the event (open-diff RWD), I had the wrong tires (performance tires in the mud = no traction).

Still a lot of fun.

An image of the car going somewhat sideway...

http://shutterdriven.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=8888



Here is one where it is more or less pointed in the right direction

http://shutterdriven.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=8886

and also

http://shutterdriven.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=8938&&g2_statusId=x0765a9fb&g2_navId=xce7dcb8d

12

Interior / E30 M3 seats in a 318i

« on: March 10, 2008, 10:55:11 PM »

Thanks.

13

Interior / E30 M3 seats in a 318i

« on: March 10, 2008, 08:30:20 PM »

Any idea if the M3 seats will fit as is in a 1991 318i?

14

General Topics / E30 318is vs E36 318is

« on: February 26, 2008, 05:15:10 PM »

When all is said and done, I do prefer the e30. It feels more involving to drive, a little more sturdy (and some say it actually is), the electronics are somewhat less complicated and I just like boxy cars with upright seating positions. It just feels *right* for me as I'm sure an e36 feels to others.

Pretty much my opinion as well. Not a surprise looking at your cars sig, as I currently own a '91 318i a '93 Miata and has sold a '72 '02... spooky.

15

M42 Reference / m42 hate on bimmerforums

« on: February 12, 2008, 05:51:35 PM »

I own a M42 E30 and an early 1.6L Miata for the exact reason. Fantastic lightweight chassis with good suspension and steering and a happy to rev engine.

There is a saying in the Miata world that "if you can not drive a 90HP car fast, 900 will not help you". Pretty much sums the situation perfectly.