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Thread: 1987 BMW 325 (Total BMW noob, need help on build)

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    1987 BMW 325 (Total BMW noob, need help on build)

    Hello all I just bought my first BMW, a pretty nice 1987 325 coupe, I am a complete BMW noob, my brother has owned one and i have a friend who is an enthusiast who directed me here. Besides that i have no other experience with these beautiful machines. I would really like to build this one correctly, and nice. I have heard there is less you can do with the 2.7L but i am wiling to try, as of now i'm looking at bavauto to source many of the suspension and chassis parts. I would also at some point like to turbo or supercharge (not sure a kit exists). As I said I am a complete noob when it comes to BMW's and E30's, but I really want to learn while building a proper E30. Thank you in advance for any input or advice you may have.

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    richardodn's Avatar
    richardodn is offline Old Guy BMW CCA Member
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    Welcome! An 87 325 would be a 325e with an 'e' or 'eta' engine. Check out strictlyeta.net for some solid background info on what you have. Bavauto wouldn't be my first choice for general parts but they do carry some accessories worth buying. Get yourself familiar with realoem.com. This is a site with the BMW parts catalog online. It's great for part diagrams and part number lookups. Ignore the prices listed as they aren't accurate. My favorite part sites right now are thebmwpartstore.com and autohausaz.com. If your timing belt hasn't been done in the last 4 years/50k miles, plan on doing it ASAP. Belt failure leads to engine damage. Documents or it didn't happen.
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  3. #3
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    Thank you so much for the Info, I have documents from dealership that include timing belt in repair/parts list, can post more info if you guys tell me what to post, it's late here in Hawaii and I have work early so I have to log now, but I will respond ASAP in the morning. Thanks again.

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    Yes, my car is the base model : 1987 325 (with 2.7L eta engine). Can anyone please help, I am a complete noob and have no idea where to start... I'm thinking, Intake, Ignition, and suspension mods to start. any input is appreciated.

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    First step is to look away from BavAuto for ANYTHING. For replacement parts use somebody like BMA Parts, Guten parts, or Blunt Tech. For suspension parts and bushings go with Ireland Engineering or AKG.

    I've been at this a long time. The ONLY worthwhile mods to the 325/325e are a performance chip and swapping in a 3.25 limited slip diff. Otherwise you have to dig a lot deeper and do things like a head and engine management swap. It's common to swap the cylinder head, intake manifold, wiring, ECU, and other related accessories from the 325i/is cars on to the Eta.
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    Best thing to do, imo, is to go stock and figure out what you would like to change. How's everything on the car? I'm guessing it's stock already? If parts need replacing consider the advantages of going stock, for the meantime, in order to see what you'll want to change in the future, or jump in with some mods if you like. Timing belt should be a priority if it's old/high-mileage. Listen to the posts above, great sites, you'll find the diagrams extremely helpful. Good luck!

    Looking forward to see what you do to the e30!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quadrapodacone View Post
    Yes, my car is the base model : 1987 325 (with 2.7L eta engine). Can anyone please help, I am a complete noob and have no idea where to start... I'm thinking, Intake, Ignition, and suspension mods to start. any input is appreciated.
    Intakes do nothing for performance on E30's, and they really just change the sound of the engine. The stock air box is the best design you can get for these cars.
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    Thank you again guys for all your help; The car is completely stock, most relevant parts have been replaced by dealership in the last 7k miles.. I would like to eventually go turbo, after I get the suspension sorted if anyone, has advice or experience with that some input would be appreciated. By the way Is it true that intakes do, nothing on the E30...? How much and where would I find the 3.25 LSD for her? And is the 3.73 Diff. better?
    Last edited by Quadrapodacone; 06-19-2013 at 01:56 PM.

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    The 3.73 diff is better.
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    Aloha from Oahu...

    Best thing you can do right now is drive the car for a while and make sure everything is working as it should.

    IMHO, the best improvement you can do on a 325e is to sell it and buy a 325i, but I've never owned one.

    For performance the best bang:buck is probably going to be swapping the diff, assuming everything else is working good. A 3.73 or even a 4.11, it's not like your taking any 300 mile roadtrips in hawaii anyways.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quadrapodacone View Post
    By the way Is it true that intakes do, nothing on the E30...?
    What Peteclat said.
    If you get one of those pretty mushroom open intake cones, the sound will be fuller, but you'll be sucking in hot air from the engine if you don't fabricate a heatshield.
    Hot air = less dense = less O2 = bad.
    Not the end of the world, but it certainly doesn't improve performance.

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    But a intake with a heat shield will increase power though?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quadrapodacone View Post
    But a intake with a heat shield will increase power though?
    If it does, it adds minimal gains.
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    I See... Any advice on turbo's?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quadrapodacone View Post
    I See... Any advice on turbo's?
    You really just have to do some research. Most of the time, it's better to just build your own kit piece by piece instead of buying an ebay kit. Although, there are some kits on the cx racing site too. YOu really just have to read about it, look at sites like e30tech too.
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  16. #16
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    Awesome thank you all so much, I'm going to start working on it, before anything big i'll check in and see what you all think. 2nd build and this one seems like a lot easier to work on so I am very excited.

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    Keep us updated.
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    Well I think i am going to go with an intake upgrade, even if there is no gain, it will look/sound better. Going to get an pre-made heat shield since i am not set up for fabrication at the moment. http://www.signaturemotoring.com/ this is what i found.. Before i order one does anyone know of any better system?

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    Yes, definitely keep us updated! Be sure to take pictures!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quadrapodacone View Post
    Well I think i am going to go with an intake upgrade, even if there is no gain, it will look/sound better. Going to get an pre-made heat shield since i am not set up for fabrication at the moment. http://www.signaturemotoring.com/ this is what i found.. Before i order one does anyone know of any better system?
    Looking pretty good imo.
    The difference in sound will be really noticeable in the high revs.
    I'm all stock nowadays, but I have really enjoyed the sound of those some years back on my 2nd E30. Never noticed any performance gain though, like said before.
    Good luck and post pics indeed!

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    +1 on autohausaz.com my only beef with them is that I can see the place outta my living room window but have to have stuff delivered lol.

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    Quote Originally Posted by peteclat View Post
    The 3.73 diff is better.
    No a 3.73 diff is NOT better. Please don't go giving advice with no logic to back it. The Eta is a low revving torque engine. Anything shorter than a 3.25 ratio rear end is just going to be stupid. Revs on the highway will be ridiculous and gas mileage will be reduced for no good reason.

    Quote Originally Posted by Quadrapodacone View Post
    I See... Any advice on turbo's?
    My advice has been given. If you want to get real power out of this engine you MUST do a cylinder head and engine management swap. Once that's all done you can consider boosting the car.
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  23. #23
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    [QUOTE=MR 325;26530398]No a 3.73 diff is NOT better. Please don't go giving advice with no logic to back it. The Eta is a low revving torque engine. Anything shorter than a 3.25 ratio rear end is just going to be stupid. Revs on the highway will be ridiculous and gas mileage will be reduced for no good reason.

    Didn't know he had an eta...
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  24. #24
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    Thank you, after I get the suspension sorted that is my goal. Any other useful info you have would be more than helpful since I am have zero experience with this.

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    - - - Updated - - -

    Ok Haven't done anything to her yet.. Sorry for the delay i have been super busy over here.. So she runs great so far, only three things seem to be bothering me; I'm getting belt sequel in pretty much every gear starting at 2500rpm... also the idle seems inconstant sometimes 900 sometimes as low as 600... and she requires me to give her some gas at the start (have to pump the gas couple of times on most starts) she seems to start a little rough but runs smooth after. Thanks for the help in advance..

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