Author Topic: A new member... (Read 2918 times)

E30/318is · « **on:** June 25, 2009, 05:31:17 PM »

...to the BMW club. E30 in particular.

I've always enjoyed the body lines & the one time i got to drive one years ago, i thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast forward nearly a quarter century from that test drive i now own a '91 318is.

Picked it up for a pittance as it needs work both under the hood & above it. Its black metallic but the paint is "dead" & the engine has an issue. It does run be it rough, because of a problem either in the timing chain area or possibly the valve train. Haven't had a chance to narrow it down yet but plan to do a compression test to start this weekend.

Just wanted to say hello & make myself known as i plan on perusing the site & posting on the board. Mostly inquiries at first i'm sure, but hopefully a contributor in the longrun.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2009, 05:38:46 PM »

Welcome to the board!

Drop the lower oil pan and be sure the upper pan bolts are tight. The front ones have a habit of working themselves out and letting air into the main oil gallery going up the front of the block. You should also clean out the bits of timing chain sitting in there.

Don't run it too much until you check that out...well worth your time.

E30/318is · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2009, 06:33:08 PM »

Thank you for the welcome & the advice Dave. Much appreciated.

It runs so rough & is so noisy, it isn't driveable. I trailered it from the p.o.'s house about an hour away. Looking forward to cooler temps so i can work on it. It'll be serviced in my driveway, w/o air tools, & w/o cover. Roughing it oldschool but i aint complaining.

b.t.w. i like your sig. Imola '94 still makes me sad when i think of it. Ayrton was THE best ever.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:36:53 PM »

Yeah, crazy and good. I loved that time he took out Prost in Japan.

Anyway, you might want to check the spark plug leads...they take a beating. The Bosch system runs well but depends on it's sensors very much. If one is wrong it'll run but not well. Think of it as multimeter practice...