friend/roommate just bought an e30 (i think)

[alltypesvw]

ok, so I was thinking about posting in the bmw newbie section, but hey I'm just helping out a friend so it's not like I'm the newbie, right? anyway... he just bought an 84 318.. it's ok but the paint is a cheap respray and the interior is rough, but other wise runs well enough to drive and has potential. is there anything we should check out, any problem areas? what I do know is that it's sluggish in first and second, and the guages don't work, not even the speedo, I was going to check all the fuses tomorrowish, and see if the speedo cable was hooked up at both ends. I'm just looking to get filled in on some basics so I know what I'm looking at.

thanks
thom

 

[junglestylz]

Check the fuse and any possible grounding points for the guage problem. I hope it is that easy because the actual cluster can be somewhat expensive. It is an electronic speedometer so t6here won't be a "cable" so to speak. It will have a couple of wiring connectors on the back of the speedo that should be checked and sprayed with contact cleaner if possible. It is easiest to get the guages out if you pull off the steering wheel first. For that, all you need is a 22mm socket. Other problem areas would be the vacuum hoses, control arm bushings (located at the end of the control arms under the driver and passenger seats, and the engine mounts (very easy to change, took me about twenty minutes for each one) If it develops idle issues, it would either be the idle control valve, Throttle position sensor, temp time switch, or the air flow sensor. It would be a good idea to get some air intake cleaner as well and take off all the hoses and the ICV/AFS and spray them down just to clean them out. Also do the timing and check all the other normal stuff. The control arms bushings probably aren't that bad as they have probably been changed somewhat recently. But if they do need to be changed, get the offset E30 M3 bushings and install them. They should be pressed on. Also buy a Bentley manual, as the haynes is pretty useless. If you have any more questions about this car drop me a line. I have an '85 and have done pretty much everything from the mounts, bushings, intake rebuild, interior, and complete suspension. It is a great little car, but you won't get very much power out of the M10 engine. I had a 90 GLI. Wonderful little car. Still wouldn't keep up with my old Corrado though. Good luck.

 

[alltypesvw]

. I had a 90 GLI. Wonderful little car. Still wouldn't keep up with my old Corrado though. Good luck.

my name on forums isn't allypesvw for nothing, I have a 90 corrado g60 too, and a few other golfs, jettas, microbusses, type 3, beetles... about 11 vs (if you count a porsche 914 as a vw it really is!)

and the official factory service manuals for vw's are bentleys too, great books, I have about 9 of them allready... I had to get the one for the dasher, just to be prepared you know.

i havent even seen him drive the car for more than 20 feet, but I know that he drove it home.

it's got the worst respray I've ever seen, and some wierd fabric over the back seats, but for 700.00 I would still consider this car a bargain.

thanks, didn't know about the speedo, I'm used to mechanical ones.

thanks for all the help allready
thom

 

[AndrewBall]

how many miles, anything over 120k id replace all the suspension bushings, maybe even the shocks. New Quebo, Trans Mounts, Motor Mounts, New Coolant hoses, fuel hoses, oil filter, fuel filter, Change the oil of course, drain the coolant and change that. check the wheel hubs for wear, and listen for any Differential Noise. Also Halfshafts Ive heard of a few coming loose on the cars with alot of miles so check that. make sure everything is tight, not leaking, and anything dry rotted, cracked, or just old looking, replace, also a new water pump might be good i know my was corroded real bad. If your real concerened check the head and black, make sure the bore is still in good shape and all the pistons dont look too horrible. Run it hard a few times see if anything happens, shakes possibly a wheel balance problem, or no power in the upper RPM, stock ECU limits i think 5400. so make sure its not running bad before that if it is maybe replace the fuel injectors. also even though the OEM ECU does not require 92 or higher octane fuel no higher than 100. i recommend 92-94, the old car runs smoother on it, and its not so high it will damage the engine. as if you were to put 110 into it. so run higher octane fuel if cash permits. and make sure its running fine, also check the the body, and suspension work or the car, make sure the chassis and everything is straight, if you suspect its been hit, its possible it was. Thats the las tthing you want to have to try and fix, is bent crooked car.

 

[junglestylz]

Actually the stock redline on the car is 6000. Once you hit that it completely dies out. If you friend wants, I can get a number for a guy that makes an aftermarket non-electronic idle control valve. It works great and is made for the 84-85 318i. It also allows you to disconnect the oxygen sensor and boost up the mixture. I have owned the GLI, a 1997 GLX VR6, and the 1990 SLC Corrado. I am a recent transfer from VW.

 

[AndrewBall]

hmm, 6000? thats alot more than i thought the stock ECU was. oh well, if you want to get a better fuel/air ratio, for maximum power and better fuel milage, get an new ECU, I recommend the Dinan Performance ECU, although its not cheap. but there are alternatives that are good as well

 

[alltypesvw]

This is the bloke who's friend alltypesvw, posted about my car, the 84 318. Anyway, I have no idea what the fuse allocations are and was wondering whether anyone had a schematic for the fuse box, so that I could see if that was the reason for the lack of spedo and fuel guage. I'll get a bentley manual when I next get paid, but after having just bought the car outright, I'm brassic at the moment, so any advice would be helpful. Anyway, cheers, let me know what's what.

 

[mrferg]

my name on forums isn't allypesvw for nothing, I have a 90 corrado g60 too, and a few other golfs, jettas, microbusses, type 3, beetles... about 11 vs (if you count a porsche 914 as a vw it really is!)

and the official factory service manuals for vw's are bentleys too, great books, I have about 9 of them allready... I had to get the one for the dasher, just to be prepared you know.

i havent even seen him drive the car for more than 20 feet, but I know that he drove it home.

it's got the worst respray I've ever seen, and some wierd fabric over the back seats, but for 700.00 I would still consider this car a bargain.

thanks, didn't know about the speedo, I'm used to mechanical ones.

thanks for all the help allready
thom

Wow I had a microbus too, it rusted out on me though... I sorta miss it But the Bimmer is ALOT more fun![fake]

 

[junglestylz]

This is the bloke who's friend alltypesvw, posted about my car, the 84 318. Anyway, I have no idea what the fuse allocations are and was wondering whether anyone had a schematic for the fuse box, so that I could see if that was the reason for the lack of spedo and fuel guage. I'll get a bentley manual when I next get paid, but after having just bought the car outright, I'm brassic at the moment, so any advice would be helpful. Anyway, cheers, let me know what's what.

As you are looking from the drivers side over the ngine bay at the fuse box, you will look atthe row of fuses furthest in the engine bay. They are numbered from 1 up going from the left to the right. It is fuse number ten that controls the power for the instruments cluster. You are actually pretty much shit out of luck if you want to get a chip for it. Since the L-Jetronic ECU is analog, they don't make a chip for it. If somebody doesn't believe me, go ahead and call conforti and they will tell you the exact same thing. Sort of pissed me off when I found out.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

and the official factory service manuals for vw's are bentleys too, great books, I have about 9 of them allready... I had to get the one for the dasher, just to be prepared you know.

Wow, I've only ever come across one other person who even knew what a Dasher was! Even my VW-enthusiast friends haven't heard of them. My first car was a Dasher hatchback (79, I believe), and the only other owner I've met was a previous employer who owned a Dasher wagon. It was relatively fun to drive while it lasted, but it didn't last long. By the end there was absolutely no horsehair left in the seats, just piles on the carpeting, and it was running half-compression on two cylinders (post-engine seizure). It certainly had character. I really don't see very many of them.

 

[mrferg]

I know what a Dasher is. I'm an ex-VW enthusiast, I still like 'em though.

 

[alltypesvw]

Wow, I've only ever come across one other person who even knew what a Dasher was! Even my VW-enthusiast friends haven't heard of them.

that's rad, I really kinda want a dasher, they have really interesting lines and I think that with a little work could make an excelent euro style sports coupe. the wierd thing is that it was made at a time when vw was still trying to appeal to the us market with "cute" names... if it was the B1 chassis Passat, like it was everywhere else on the planet, people would have a better idea about what the car was. as it is tho I just have a bentley manual for it, and about 10 other cars I don't own.

latah
thom

oh and as an asside, theres a thread going on that you guys would love
"what's the difference between an E30 and a jetta?" http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?&id=1103830&postid=10465951#10465951

 

[mrferg]

If I wasn't so adament about getting an E34 I might consider a MkII Golf Gti, but oh well I AM getting this 5 series


Post some pics of your Jetta!