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Thread: 1972-1981 (E12) knowledge base

  1. #126
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    Thanks for the info, e12Euro. I will definitely take your advice. Seems like last year there were three e12s on BAT - too bad I missed them. Then a couple years back several were sold in my neighborhood by a guy named Evan. I will be on the lookout. Can find tons online but it looks like there's a lot of fake 'for sale' websites that have expired listings.

    There's a gold one on the east coast, but looks like there's a bad rust spot, the wood is seriously damaged, and I would guess other problems. Can't afford to buy another car that will fall apart on me before I even register it!

  2. #127
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    By the way, what does it take to get an account in firstfives forum?

  3. #128
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    60
    My Cars
    1975 530i 4 speed
    In the last couple of years firstfives members came across a couple of interesting cars. One was a 1980 528i beige automatic, this was a very low mile car that had been owned by an elderly couple its whole life. The other was a very pristine 1977 530i automatic. Both time capsule cars. Obviously you are going to save a lot of time and money with something like that. I can imagine on cars like this with a/c (standard from 1978), with access to R12 gas you could just replace a few hoses and seals and it would work again.

    10-20 years ago you would automatically get rid of thermal reactors on a 530i. My thinking now is if you find a great condition car and it still has them, well it has got this far in its life and it still works. I know I saw this 1978 733i 4 speed excellent condition car with the thermal reactors, and couldn't imagine how it survived this long with them.

    First Fives has been online in some form since 1997. If you click "Bulletin Board" top left of the screen that should take you to the main forum, and there should be somewhere to click and register an account.

    Classic example with 1960s to 1980s BMWs is an e24 M6 I saw, nice car but a really worn steering box. You could turn the wheel 90 degrees and nothing happened, and you can't get a new box, and there is no recon kit except for the gasket. So, you would have to go to a steering box specialist to rebuild it. This is where it really pays to find say an 80,000 miler in sound shape from Arizona.

    I had an e21 320i myself years ago. These are all relatively simple cars by today's standards. The K-jet and L-jet Bosch injection are good, but in general any problems you have are just related to cars being 40 years old, which applies to any make of car that age. Definitely, dry state cars save you money.

  4. #129
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Lebanon
    Posts
    40
    My Cars
    1980 bmw 520/e12/6cylind
    Hello i have a 1980 bmw e12 520/6 i was just wondering if there are anyways to increase engine power like bigger valve shafts...etc...is it possible to modify the engine? M20b20?

  5. #130
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    In the Darkness, where fear and knowing are one
    Posts
    700
    My Cars
    1987 Fiero GT
    M30 was also built in E12's. That's where I'd look for meaningful power increases. I have an E34 M30 engine, but shipping it from Virginia to Lebanon would be a bit much.
    Last edited by DarkSideofWill; 03-31-2019 at 08:29 PM.

  6. #131
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    60
    My Cars
    1975 530i 4 speed
    Quote Originally Posted by Bibiguy97 View Post
    Hello i have a 1980 bmw e12 520/6 i was just wondering if there are anyways to increase engine power like bigger valve shafts...etc...is it possible to modify the engine? M20b20?
    You have the European spec 520 with the baby six and Solex 4A1 carb. The easiest swap would be to either the 2 valve 2.3 (e21,e30 323i), or the 2 valve 2.5 liter (e30 325i, early pre 24 valve e34 525i).

    I am afraid the above mentioned bolt in swaps are the easiest, where you can re-attach all your ancillaries onto the new 2.3/2.5 block, which also being baby sixes can use the existing engine mounts. It isn't worth hotting up the existing 2 liter in your car. There are so many larger capacity baby sixes around from e30s and e34s, that the engine swap is the easiest path.

    Swapping the M30 big six into your car is harder work, and will be more costly, and you will need more parts from a donor car. Plus, unlike all M30 powered e12s, your car has rear drum brakes. I would stick with the baby six to keep things balanced. Go look online in Lebanon for people selling M20 2.3 and 2.5 motors from e21/e30s and e34s. Good luck!

  7. #132
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    In the Darkness, where fear and knowing are one
    Posts
    700
    My Cars
    1987 Fiero GT
    Quote Originally Posted by e12Euro View Post
    You have the European spec 520 with the baby six and Solex 4A1 carb. The easiest swap would be to either the 2 valve 2.3 (e21,e30 323i), or the 2 valve 2.5 liter (e30 325i, early pre 24 valve e34 525i).

    I am afraid the above mentioned bolt in swaps are the easiest, where you can re-attach all your ancillaries onto the new 2.3/2.5 block, which also being baby sixes can use the existing engine mounts. It isn't worth hotting up the existing 2 liter in your car. There are so many larger capacity baby sixes around from e30s and e34s, that the engine swap is the easiest path.

    Swapping the M30 big six into your car is harder work, and will be more costly, and you will need more parts from a donor car. Plus, unlike all M30 powered e12s, your car has rear drum brakes. I would stick with the baby six to keep things balanced. Go look online in Lebanon for people selling M20 2.3 and 2.5 motors from e21/e30s and e34s. Good luck!
    Oh, I didn't realize that this 520 has an M20 engine... I guess that's why OP was asking about an M20b25.

    An M54 would bolt in... just not quite sit at the right angle.

  8. #133
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    Well, I have submitted a registration weeks (months?) ago at firstfives and it still doesn't work.

  9. #134
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    It's nice to see so much activity here. Looks like there's hope for these great cars...


    Anyway, an M54 (as DarkSideofWill mentioned) would make very nice power with good economy to boot, but I don't know if Bibiguy97 wants to have something so out of place in the engine bay.

    If you want to have that stock appearance, I've heard that these old engines can respond very well to a gasflow. Also look into exhaust mods, as that's one of the easiest ways to make power on a carbed engine.
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  10. #135
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    Quote Originally Posted by mcgee View Post
    Well, I have submitted a registration weeks (months?) ago at firstfives and it still doesn't work.
    HEY, I'm IN!

  11. #136
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    By the way mcgee, what's with that entry under "my cars"? E12 320i? Don't you mean E21, also considering your profile pic?
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  12. #137
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    Where is a 'my cars' entry?

    I own an E21. I want an E12.

  13. #138
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    mcgee post.JPG
    Note that it says "My cars: '81 E12 320i".
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  14. #139
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    Ah over there. I looked at my profile page but didn't see anywhere to fix it. I'll look around again.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Fixed it - thanks.

  15. #140
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    No problem. I just tend to notice such small details.
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  16. #141
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    West Warwick
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 528i
    New to the forums and recently acquired a 1981 528i e12

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

  17. #142
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    Nice! Just a pity aobut those ugly indicators (we had bumper-mounted indicators), and that dent. But I'm sure you'll enjoy the car.
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  18. #143
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    West Warwick
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 528i
    Quote Originally Posted by JKuhn View Post
    Nice! Just a pity aobut those ugly indicators (we had bumper-mounted indicators), and that dent. But I'm sure you'll enjoy the car.
    I know the price of the car outweighed the eyesores so I couldn't pass it up! Hopefully all body issues will be fixed within the next year.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

  19. #144
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    I've obviously only seen that one picture, but it doesn't look like a bad car. How is it mechanically? Because that's where things might get a bit problematic, due to the age of the car and scarcity of parts. The body looks good overall.
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  20. #145
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    West Warwick
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 528i
    Quote Originally Posted by JKuhn View Post
    I've obviously only seen that one picture, but it doesn't look like a bad car. How is it mechanically? Because that's where things might get a bit problematic, due to the age of the car and scarcity of parts. The body looks good overall.
    It runs, drives and stops. I have a tune up kit on order and we'll go from there. I believe the car was partially resprayed and the seats are in rough shape but the car is 98% there.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

  21. #146
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    Ugh. I forgot about those USDM coffee tables at the front and back...



    That said, the car sure needs some love. But nothing that can't be fixed. I'd say give it a good cleaning (look up ChrisFix on Youtube for an engine cleaning turorial), and then you can see which cosmetic issues are the most pressing. It'll also make working on the car much more pleasant. And I do hope you'll keep us posted. The site needs more active E12 love.
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  22. #147
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    West Warwick
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 528i
    Quote Originally Posted by JKuhn View Post
    Ugh. I forgot about those USDM coffee tables at the front and back...



    That said, the car sure needs some love. But nothing that can't be fixed. I'd say give it a good cleaning (look up ChrisFix on Youtube for an engine cleaning turorial), and then you can see which cosmetic issues are the most pressing. It'll also make working on the car much more pleasant. And I do hope you'll keep us posted. The site needs more active E12 love.
    I'll look into this! You'll definitely see this in the New England area!

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

  23. #148
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    West Warwick
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 528i
    I just want to confirm that these 15a breakers are for Windows in my 1981 528i?

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

  24. #149
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Vanderbijlpark, ZA
    Posts
    246
    My Cars
    '99 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    Don't know. My E12/8 didn't have that.
    1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
    1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
    1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
    1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car

  25. #150
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1977 BMW 530i
    Where do I find my turn signal fuses and/or relay

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