Mark Babb

if you can source 4.1 diffs for E30 and 240 manual gearboxes for E30 320, i reckon you could get 10 plus orders immediatly... assuming the price was right.

Thanks, however it appears the link has now gone. Mark

What is the best E30 handbook/repair guide for an E30 FL 320. Heard ther name Bentley's refered to but it appears this only covers the 318 and 325 not the 320. Any suggestions ? Mark

FL 320, 2 door wanted. Auto or manual. No sunroof. Prefer tidy/straight car. Mark

Thank you Dave for taking the time to look this up, really appreciatedMark

Started discusing this subject elsewhere, however i still need a little help in clarifying a couple of points. I need to source a manual 240 Gertrag for a FL 320. Cannot use the 260 box due to incorrect ratios.(race series) I assumed a 240 box was the same whether it was fitted to a 318/320 or Pre FL or FL, however it has been indicated that this may not necessarily be correct. Therefore what should i look for or how can i tell which 240 box will fit a FL 320? I am aware that some of the earlier boxes had holes for the sensor however i believe this is irrelevant as the sensor on my car is on the engine ? Any advise is really appreciated as manual boxes seem to be $500 plus these days and i do not wish to waste money in getting the wrong type. Thanks Mark

Thanks Dave, Will post a seperate forum asking for clarication on part number to look for or how i can tell the difference. Your assistance is really appreciated.

Dave, am i wrong to believe a Getrag 240 box is different in spec between a 318 and 320? I thought it was just because some 320 had the 260 box which is not allowed. Crikey i guess i need to confirm as they are asking $500 plus these days for a manual box. Thanks for the help all Mark

Are you saying that a pre FL box will not fit into a FL model? Just wondering as i'm trying to source a spare 240 box for my FL 320. Also any idea which model had the alloy carrier for the lever as opposed to the metal plate carrier (think i saw one at Andrew's when you were their). Thanks Mark

BMW_E30_3.bmp Hmm....Not much Gossip on the forums, so i thought i would start my own. E30 series BMW 320 leading 2002 turbo and Works M3.......Ok i was just about to be lapped, but hey it looks good in the photo.

Dave, I,ve caught your bug....going to build another race car...hopefully a little better this time. in your opinion is there much involved in changing a 318 to an m20 engine? as there appears to be plenty of 318's around at present. Main concerns as wiring and ecu's. Thanks Mark ps how is your rebulid going?

Assuming the car is not for the E30 race series then all of the above would be as great idea. Would be interesting to know though if these do make any difference to performance. Let us knowThanks Mark

Sorry got back last night from Nelson, . around all week. will call you in morning on mobil.Thanks Mark

Would anybody be aware of a local company able to supply Poly/uprated engine bushes for the M20 engine on an E30? I am aware of companies in the states, just thought someone may be aware of a NZ company. Thanks Mark

Hi Gus, Happy to pay you the $70 for the bush. Not sure if you are local or not. Live on the north shore. Thanks Mark Tel 021 511116

How much are you looking for ?

Hi Andrew, Im still figuring my around these gearboxes and i am sure someone more knowledglable will put me right if i have this wrong, However here goes: the 2 Getrag boxes that i know of 240 and 260 have identical 3rd/4th and 5th gear ratio's however 1st and 2nd are slightly different. I believe the 316/318 and some 320's use the Getrag 240. I assume the Getrag 260 was used on 325 etc. I run a 320 and was going to use the Getrag 260 on my conversion as i assumed it was a stronger box being for a 325, however at the time i could not find one so had to use a 240. The ratio's on the Getrag 260 would give slightly better acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear. I guess a ZF Gertrag would be the best option which would also mean top speed would be achieved in 5th Gaer as it has a direct 1:1 Ratio in 5th, whereas the 240 and 260 box both have 5th gear as an overdrive. Dont know if this helps, but maybe a little more info will assist in whatever decision you make. Regards Mark

Hi Antony, The Getrag 240 has the ratio's listed in number 2. I did the same excersise a few days ago as i have the same Gearbox. Thanks Mark

So If both 240 and 260 fit a 320 engine..Whats the difference? I recently fitted a manual conversion kit to my FL320 and didn't bother to check which number it had as i did not know there were 2 types. Had heaps of issues trying to source the correct length driveshaft. Anyway was just wondering if one model was better suited for a FL 320? Thanks Mark

Thanks Conrad for the contact. Gavin Bellars found the problem within 30 mins (Jerry Claytons had the car for 2 days and still could not find the fault) Faulty ignition coil and one spark plug cap corroded. Thank you everyone for advise given. Mark

Thank you for the kind comments. The car was prepared by Race FX in Henderson. It only went into for a roll cage....$20,000 later....Mind you everything underneath the car is just as clean as i had every component detailed before reassembly. Just a little frustrating that it went in with a smooth running engine and has come away with this problem. Hopefully the guys at Jerry Clayton will find the problem on weds otherwise it will take it to Hi Velocity just up the road later in the day. I am sure with all the kind assistance offered by everyone on this forum i will find the problem Thanks Mark

Hi, Can anyone please advise which year they changed to the motronic engine, looking at 1988 FL 320, and wanted to make sure it was the later version. Any easy visible ways to tell? Thanks Mark

Thanks Will/Hove and others. Your assistance is really appreciated. The car started off in excellent order, low km's, Lady owner etc etc. Paid top money for the car as i wanted to start with a good foundation. Whilst they were building the car i obtained new Cam belt, plugs, dist cap etc and had these fitted whilst engine was out of vehicle. Car currently with Jerry Clayton BMW who confirmed yesterday that the timing was correct. They will check valve gaps on weds when they reopen. First question they asked was the replacement head from a 325? European Auto's certainly supplied it to me as a fully recond head for FL 320, so no reason to think differently. Whilst engine was out the race builders did steam clean engine so i suppose water could have got in somewhere, but then again plugs, dist cap have all been replaced. Will check HT Leads, and rotor on weds and go hunting for this plug under manifold. One other question concerning this recon head i was sold...are the heads different from FL 320 to earlier models, could compression difference be a cause of erratic idle, misfire midrange and lack of bottom end power? Hove, would you have a contact number for Bob Homewood in Auckland as i have not heard of him. It would be a great help to find someone local in Auckland (north shore) that i can use to assist me with the car. Nothing against Jerry Clayton's but i'm dreading the invoice. Thanks Again Mark

Thank you for all the advice. Will check as mentioned and keep you posted. Mark

Hi All, Hopefully someone might be able to shed some light on a problem after collecting race car last week. 1990 E30 320 110,000km. after driving the car for the first time this weekend, it has a misfire around 3,000rpm and then clears further up the revs, however it has a distinct lack of low down power. Took Car to Jerry Clayton (only people open this week), checked timing all ok. They have suggested it could be many things faulty ECU, EMS, Crank sensor, and so on. The car was a one lady owner low milage that drove perfectly before spending 3 months in race car preperation.(Auto to Manual conversion aswell) Was talked into purchasing a recon head complete from European Auto, although i had no problem with existing head. (it was suggested to me that 320's have a problem with heads and when they showed me a nice freshly recon head that they have done next door seemed liked a sensible thing to do) Options i see at present...swap heads back, but cannot see why a different head would make the difference. Replace ECU, EMS and everything else BMW have suggested, but this would cost a fortune new, and bit concerned second hand may also have a fault. So sitting here pulling out my hair and now wondering if i will be able to get the car fixed for the meeting end of January. Just wondered if anybody else has experienced anything similar and may be able to pass on some advice. Thanks Mark