Author Topic: intro and a couple questions (Read 3024 times)

jwlester · « **on:** March 23, 2010, 06:15:02 AM »

Hello. My name is Josh and I'm starting to wade into the M42 world. I've been into Porsches for the last 15 years and have recently fallen in love with BMW as a daily driver after buying my wife a low mileage mint e39 touring to use as a family truckster. Anyway, I work out of town 4 days a week, several months out of the year and keep a car and apartment where ever I'm working at that time. I've decided an m42 e30 would be a fun car to tinker on and keep out of town. So, I started looking and realized they aren't all that common these days. I guess gone are the days of the used market being flooded with e30s. Knew spec e30 and lemons would have an effect!!

So here comes the question. I've found a 4 door close to me that looks like it could be a good project. 147k. 2nd owner has owned it for 3 years. Its over heating and has a few things that need refurbished, but at the right price I think it could be a good project. Let me know what your recommendations are and what you think is a reasonable price. Below is the description the seller sent me:

"A/C never worked nor did radio. seats are torn up, sunroof is slightly ajar although it doesn't leak. I stopped cranking the sunroof handle when I saw it wasn't working right one day. 5 speed transmission and clutch never had a bit of problem. It always ran like a sewing machine until this. Shop thinks the head gasket is bad or that the head is cracked but they can't see where. It ran for about ten miles and would overheat. I didn't want to make it worse so I had it towed to the shop."

I figure at worst I throw a new motor or head into it. Probably needs to have chain/guides/etc. replaced anyway. Seats are easy to get or recover and the sunroof probably just needs cleaned, greased and adjusted. A/C can always get expensive but there is a good A/C shop locally.

Sorry its so long. I value any insight you can offer. Have a great day.

Josh

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2010, 07:34:58 AM »

Over heating could be caused by a lot of things.......
bad thermostat...... Not bled properly........bad radiator........Head gasket blown.....
and probably a few others.
With only 147K on the motor it is barely broken in .If you do purchase it eliminate the easy stuff first, but a compression test should tell you if the head gasket is gone I believe.If it is the head gasket pull the head and have it checked at a machine shop.When you pull the head you'll be able to look at the timing chain and gears to determine if they need replacing.
From the description of the rest of the car it sounds like it wasn't maintained and systems wear out eventually .You didn't say a price so we don't know if it's a good deal or not.
When you say the shop thinks its a head gasket or cracked head but not sure ... How did they come about this ,they should have done a compression test to see the health of the engine.
There are people on this forum who are alot smarter than me and I'm sure they will weigh in on their thoughts.
Good luck

DesktopDave · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2010, 09:58:33 AM »

I think you're onto a good thing. The e30 is a great driver's car, the M42 is well-paired with it. Happily, there are thousands of unwanted M42 engines out there; parts are still widely available.

I'm always tempted when the body is straight and clean of rust. The rest is just maintaining & updating. BMWs also have a wide availability of upgrade pieces that can really make a fun car sparkle.

Red is right about the motor & sunroof. The motor should be refreshed & the sunroof likely needs a new gearbox or the lift blocks are cracked. I was going to post my adventures in sunroof repair, but the pictures too few and nearly useless. If you have questions let me know.

The A/C might just need a recharge, early '90s BMWs might be R134 compatible with a flush & gaskets. Most people on the board eliminate it for weight savings. Regardless, any competent A/C shop should be able to handle it...I was quoted about $800 to do mine, but I'm thinking I'll try it myself. There are also aftermarket refrigerants that can make it work; do a search on the board & you'll find a few recommendations.

jwlester · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:40:46 AM »

I haven't talked to the shop. I don't hold much confidence in their opinion if they couldn't narrow things down more than they did for the guy. He says he shut things down when it heated up so I doubt the head is cracked but I figure I'll pull the head and have it pressure tested. No big deal. I"ll do a compression test when I get it back to the garage and decide from there. He "tried" a new water pump and thermo originally, and I'm wondering if he just didn't get it bled properly. You never know.

I'm not worried about the A/C. I've recently replaced all the seals on my 944 turbo and figure that is all that is needed here as well. A/C will be needed this summer though.

When it comes to the sun roof, that will be new territory but I'm sure it will be pretty straight forward. If a mechanical engineer can't figure out a hand crank sunroof, we're all in trouble.

The guy wants $900 but I will certain bargain with him on that. All depends on how good the body is. Keep the comments coming.

thanks again, Josh

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2010, 12:04:23 PM »

The bad rust spots I've seen are the same as all e30s. Front windshield seal, tail light seals, trunk welds & driver floor pan are annoying but not critical. Lower firewall, lower a-pillar, lateral frame rail, fuel tank & rear shock towers are (of course) all pretty bad. There are a lot of clean bodies floating 'round though. Don't walk away from the right car.

I'd agree with the bleeding, this car is more difficult than average. I've had good luck backfilling the system then bleeding it facing uphill. Aux fan, fan resistor or radiator thermo switch may also be at fault. We've also seen a few bad temp senders...the car has two...might not have overheated at all.

Have a few spare radiator/expansion tank bleed screws on hand in case you decide to bleed it out two miles from home. Ask me how I know.

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2010, 02:12:45 PM »

If the head is warped from overheating than I'd go 500.00 at the most depending on your mechanical ability. A used head can be had for not much money but the labor will be alot if you don't do it yourself.
But if you can get it for 500 it would be a good starting point.Things add up fast if it hasn't been maintained .
brakes and rotors
tires
fluid changes
misc. belts and hoses and you'll be up to 1500 before you know it.

jwlester · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2010, 07:29:11 AM »

I do all my own work including building porsche engines. I'm not worried about working on the m42. Depending on condition of interior/exterior I may be swayed to go more than $500. I have a sneaking feeling the over heating issue will be an easier fix than this guy thinks. I'm not worried about the misc consumables adding up. I figure I"ll have that on anything eventually and would rather have all that done now and know its done right. I'm not putting a limit on what I spend here. I just want a fun, classic daily driver that I don't worry about parking at the airport three days a week. I'm so tired of newer cars with no soul and no class. Thanks for all the advice.

Josh

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2010, 10:37:11 AM »

Well.........................

Gitter done..................

jwlester · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2010, 12:53:06 PM »

lol....going to look/trailer back on Friday. We'll see.

Josh

DesktopDave · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2010, 01:03:22 PM »

Good luck with the deal!!

jwlester · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2010, 08:47:20 AM »

Had to walk away. Drug a car hauler down there but it was in far worse shape than the pictures or the owner portrayed. Apparently rust isn't something worth mentioning when you grew up in New York. I specifically asked about rust and he sent me pictures of the front fender that had rust. No big deal, easy swap. Unfortunately, the left trunk cubbie and fender where rotted out, the sunroof was stuck half open, trim was missing down the passenger side, exhaust was shot, doors would not unlock at all, dash lit up like a christmas tree yet tach wouldn't work, rear door caved in, and the front end/air dam was mangled unspeakably. None of this was important enough to take pictures of. All fixable problems, at the right price. Unfortunately the owner thinks this is one sweet little car. I guess it is compared to the minivan he practically had to push to meet me. He wouldn't budge below $800, even with $20 bills layed out in front of him. Crazy.

I've learned I have to travel a little to find the perfect car. Hopefully, another '91 4 door will show up soon in the south east.

Josh