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!
By the way, what does it take to get an account in firstfives forum?
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.
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?
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.
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!
Well, I have submitted a registration weeks (months?) ago at firstfives and it still doesn't work.
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
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
Where is a 'my cars' entry?
I own an E21. I want an E12.
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
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.
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
New to the forums and recently acquired a 1981 528i e12
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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
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
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
I just want to confirm that these 15a breakers are for Windows in my 1981 528i?
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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
Where do I find my turn signal fuses and/or relay
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