dingofour

i know this is a long shot but depending how loud the claking is it could be a extremely worn bigend bearing causing the piston to slap the head

As yet no word on the patient...........

Phil

Thank you all...... this is terrific information........I dont know why but this model is rare in Australia but more available in NZ.........over here it is insured as a private import as no dealer apparently bought this model in..............Thank you for the offer of the head.....but if it gets to that I will have to do the postage cost to Australia and see if it is cheaper then one over here........any more ideas are welcome before I print this sheet off and take it to my mechanic with a bit more confidence.......Thanks again

Phil

Terrific .........thanks for the reply....he has adjusted them .25 cold and it made no improvement........Apart from any other serious problem could there be something minor he has missed.......The clacking started about 3 months ago but I have always had a rough idle problem when hot and even though we adjusted the revs up this could have just masked an existing problem............any other clues..............thanks greatly for your help........

Thanks

Phil

Could be a very worn or broken rocker arm. Any decent mechanic would quickly be able to diagnose that for you. The Bentley Manual lists the correct valve clearance at 0.30mm (0.012in) with the engine hot, or 0.25mm (0.010in) with the engine cold. I tend to do mine on the tight side but others will argue this. Do them with the engine cold is best. It pays to go over them twice - once to adjust and once to check. You dont have to have one out by much for it to be quite tappety.

So... just to sum up - have your mechanic adjust them to the correct spec and if it still doesnt fix it, then suspect something a bit more involved like rocker arms, valves etc. You didnt say whether this problem started suddenly or over time. Others here will be able to add more hopefully.

I am sure this topic has been covered so I would be more then happy without taking up anyones time to be just pointed in the right direction.This information is relayed by my mechanic....I have an extremely load clacking noise coming from the tappet area.....apparently this model six does not have hydrolic lifters so the roller tappets have been more then once adjusted to specs and then some........the noise continues and idles like a hairy goat.....even though compression test come up fine........and all the normal tuning checks come up fine.....there is no hose or manifold leaks.........he has all the manuals but none shows a 320i 1985..........can he use the 318 manual or a later year 6cyl manual for reference....I have been ripped off on one occasion by a mechanic but in this case he is treating this as a personnel mission to find the fault.He is no dud having found hard to find problems in other friend cars.........the oil and filter has been changed.I am going crazy as no one can give me an answer...........but as I said the mechanic will just keep probing away in between him making a living.........Please help me.........any help would be appreciated............I'll even support the All Blacks.............any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated

Thanks Phil

It's simple really.

All 325 (and varients) are Motronic.

Pre FL 320s are L-Jet. FL 320s are Motronic./quote]

Wish I new what that meant.....here is a problem I would like help with if possible ...I have irratic idle sometime drops out all together and stalls.....only happens when car is warmed up ie auto choke has done it's bit...my mechanic ex bmw has checked solenoid,thermal valve, checked for air leaks,,,ducting and hoses and could not find fault....problem still exists....I didnt have time for him to do any further test as I need the car..............any ideas..

Thanks......any ideas would be appreciated

Could some one explain where the timing mark is on a 320 i 1985................a mate of mine is checking the timing and even though he has done other cars successfully cannot seem to find the mark to line up with his little light meter...

Thanks Phil

My Dad's Baur has the same speedo configuration and is a uk import as indicated by Spargo.

rare - not unless there is some particular point of difference - (cabrio, aftermarket well-known BMW tuning company has highly modified it etc.)

Maybe not many were imported to Australia...though this I grant would be strange if it is one of the most popular BMWs in NZ..were they reguarded as a private import in NZ or were they bought in by dealers.......were they made with duel speedos so ready them for the American market or for what reason.....thanks for your replys.........

320i 's regardless of year (83-1991) are probably 1st or 2nd most common E30 in NZ.

Probably england / uk.

is this here the same cluster? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/C.../p-22981933.htm

Looks same though mine has power windows and switches and tinting

Thanks

I purchased a while back a 1985 320i 6 cylinder sedan and innitially had some trouble insuring it because it was one of the models which was privatelly imported into Australia. There was no log books etc but the speedo is in miles per hour with ks on the inside of the dial...the trip meter is in miles .I have not seen another 320i of this model anywhere else( but there may be)There is a lot of 318 model look alikes but not a 320i.My question is where do you think the car originated( they dont to seem to have the model in the USA and if it came from Europe why the speedo etc in miles per hour.Great car though......

Many thanks

Phil