ducatiss

If you don't mind me asking - what costs were involved in the engine swop?

I put some tips on mine for the same reason - price! What was unexpected was the change in sound going to two outlets from one. I really didnt think just tips would make a difference but its quite noticeable.

The only really big difference you will notice is if you ditch the auto and go to a manual. The 320 is what it is - by that I mean it will never be a fast car though with sorted suspension, tyres, etc, it can be made to go round corners really well and they are a nice drive They will still cruise happily at license losing speeds. The biggest disappointment I think is that their 0-100 time is lethargic to say the best ( though better than a 318). Again though, a manual conversion and perhaps a change in diff ratio would help there. The 325 is an altogether faster car (though in the big scheme of things, isnt really that fast either). As a 320 owner the biggest differences I have noticed is freeing up the intake and exhaust and making sure everything is in tune - ie plugs, leads, timing, fueling, valve clearances etc. personally I think you are playing with fire in advancing the timing any more than standard as these engines can pre-ignite under load quite badly if the timing is advanced much above standard even on 96.

My air con doesn't work, nor has it ever worked while I have had my e30 and to be honest it hasn't really bothered me. I have a sunroof that I use in the summer that I enjoy. My question is: are there any issues with removing the air con compressor? The system already appears completely discharged. It seems a shame to be lugging the weight of an unused compressor around. Also any advantage to removing the condenser as well? Any comments either saying its worth while or just a stupid idea welcome.

Much appreciated - Thanks

Easy question for someone - is the center console for the e30 the same for auto and manual?

It could also be a resonance passed down from the engine itself. Every engine has periods of resonance or vibration, and sometimes these will be amplified by the exhaust system. Its a longshot but I have seen it happen. Check that all mounts on the system are ok and that no part of the system is rubbing against the body of the car. However it is more likely to be in one of the mufflers and they should be checked. How loud is it? You could also take your car to someone else for a second opinion.

I know in the States you can get a very strong adhesive window film that will protect your windows from ppl getting in. Its so strong it will take a hit from an axe but havent seen it available here - has anyone seen anything of the like here in NZ?

Thanks for that - I need one to fit my 1987 (Pre face lift) E30 320i. Its a SA import whether that makes any difference. All help or offers considered but am basically looking for a uable 5 speed box with all the bits required to convert.

Need 5 speed gear box and rest of bits to convert auto in E30 Auto. Am happy to also pay freight also to Central Otago. Gearbox needs to be in good nick.

Found this on Ebay - someone selling a square headlight conversion kit Ya just got to wonder eh - though it was for the US market!!

I remember a few years back that I ruined a perfectly good Audi engine at a genuine 150,000 km's. I bought it 100 K and it had perfectly good compressions etc. At 120 I used Slick50 and by 150 the engine was ruined. Now I cant say for sure that it was slick50 that did it but the damage was consistant with the bottom end starving for oil despite the engine being clean internally clean. Since that I have run my jap vehicles on Mobil One (which I am not completely convinced on) and my E30 on good quality mineral oil. Frequent changes and not flogging the engine while cold seem to be the bset one can do to prolong its life.

Yeah - put in some cooling system flush and drive around for half an hour before draining and flushing your system. Dont use stop leak remedies unless as a get you home thing as you are better off fixing an issue rather than glugging up your colling system with that stuff. Dont let your guage go over the three quater mark tho - if the fan hasnt kicked in by then in aint going to.

If its creeping up in traffic it is most likely the viscous clutch assembly attached to your fan. At the half way mark or a little over it allowing for variations in senders and guages etc your fan should lock in and start turning at the same speed as your engine rather than free wheeling along. The best way of testing this is with a rolled up newspaper - you will be able to bring the fan to a stop when its free wheeling but when its being driven be the engine, it will chop up the news paper!!. You will note that you can really feel it blowing air when its turning with the engine. Replacement is not a major - you will need a large open ended spanner (32mm from memory) - Put it on the big nut then give the end of the spanner a few taps with a large hammer as this allow you to loosen the nut - I think its a reverse thread as well. You could buy a new assembly from trade me or a wrecker like I did and strike it luck that it will be a good one - or simply buy a new one. In case this isnt the issue - try bleedng your system properly, the try flushing out the radiator so that it runs clean of all the brown crap that builds up in there.

What can one say - a brilliant example - absolutely stunning!! I prefer the original steering wheel best. Well done though - best I have seen and sure to be worth a bit now that all the work is done. Have you any pics of the engine bay?

Agree - much better - also I bet your handling will be much better as well. What springs did you use? The drop looks about 40mm.

Ya gota love those wheels eh - what are they?

Nope from what I can see in your pics they are the BMW sports seats not recaro. There is nothing wrong with the BMW sports seats in Leather - they are a fine comfortable and supportive seat and seem to last well if cared for with leather conditioners.

On a different note I have the same seats in my own car. But they are not Recaro seats, rather BMW's own sports seats. Recaro seats were slightly different again. I am not 100 percent on this and someone may well correct me. That said, they are a bloody good and comfortable seat.

Fair comment and a good idea - will keep a lookout, Cheers for the advice.

Thanks for the comments - yeah you could be right re the indicator lenses might look ito that. The car is only a std 2litre 6 and it really could do with a 2.5. If I found a good Ljet 2.5 I would seriously look into it. As for the M Badges yeah each to their own.

Tuapeka which is along the Clutha River in South Otago

Hopeless? They are probably counting on getting a photo of it on Speed Camera - much less resource intensive that way.

Here are some pics I took on a trip I did today of my E30. I took about a half doz of the sights and about 30 of my car. Friends think I'm weird!

I have the D&L guide as well and if one believed everything in it a bicycle would be the order of the day. That said, while Jap cars imo dont have character, they on the whole are more reliable than German cars. Having owned Audi's, and BMW's including a BMW bike, I am always left wondering whats going to go wrong next. The same cannot be said for the Jap car where it gets filled with fuel and an oil change every now and again and keeps going and going. Dont get me wrong, driving and owning a BMW is an experience that is truely worthwhile where I see my Jappa as no more than an applicance. But yeah, the D&L guide seems to take things to the extreme where it lists the worst case scenario's of all vehicles.