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Thread: Oh, what to do?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    San Diego, California, US
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    My Cars
    1987 BMW 325e

    Lightbulb Oh, what to do?

    After driving Jeeps since I learned to drive, I have finally picked up my first BMW. It's a 1987 BMW 325e with 144,000 miles on it and is in decent mechanical shape. My goal isn't to necessarily make it pretty (as I think that a little paint scuffing and wear makes it look its age), but rather make it stable and able to literally drive from San Diego to San Francisco by June. Below is a list of things that I have started to do on it but would like more opinions on what else I should do in order to make it as stable as possible for a decent price. I'm not trying to do "BMW Certified" parts but rather parts that are effective. This is my very first car that I saved for and purchased outright on my own at a fairly young age. I bought the car for $1,000 and with parts I'm at about $750 (my dad is a mechanic with access to a lift and wholesale parts). Ultimate goal is to get it to be a stable daily driver. Thanks

    - All fluids have been flushed/replaced
    - New brakes & rotors
    - Electrical inspected (in good shape)
    - All belts have been replaced
    - Center support bearing (will be replaced soon)
    - All hoses replaced with new ones

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    corpus christi, texas
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    6,738
    My Cars
    No e30s, again :(
    Timing belt, asap.

    Check the control arm mount bushings, up front. If they are bad, put some e30 m3 ones in place instead of regular e30 ones

    Keep up the oil and fluids and she will last
    No e30s again.

  3. #3
    richardodn's Avatar
    richardodn is offline Old Guy BMW CCA Member
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    Nov 2008
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    9,942
    My Cars
    20 440ix cab, 12 X3 35ix
    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    Timing belt, asap.

    Check the control arm mount bushings, up front. If they are bad, put some e30 m3 ones in place instead of regular e30 ones

    Keep up the oil and fluids and she will last
    +100 on the timing belt

    Personally, I'm not a fan of the e30 M3 control arm bushings (CABs) in a daily driver. I'd go with the late e36 M3 centered bushings, PN 31129069035. Here's a good discussion of CAB options

    http://www.rtsauto.com/e30-control-a...-arm-bushings/
    "Howdy, Folks!"

    1986 Delphin 528e - Roof rack equipped lumber hauler.
    1989 Zinnoberrot 325iX Sedan - I miss this car. (Deceased)
    1998 Avus Blau 328iC - Someone else's project now
    2008 Platinum-Beige X3 3.0si - Current project
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    2020 Estoril Blue 440i xDrive cabrio - This car is a blast to drive.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    parker tx
    Posts
    57
    My Cars
    2008 528i 1986 BMW 325ES
    with Richard on the bushings and unless you know the timing belt and water pump have been done in the past 50K miles...I would investigate doing those at the same time ... SD to SF is not the place to have that issue have you sitting on the hway...if all looks good - ENJOY

    my 86 325 had 200k before i swapped the motor ...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,498
    My Cars
    E21 323i, E36 M3
    Replace the rubber guibo / driveshaft flex disk if it's original when you do the CSB. Some preventative maintenance could probably be done on the thermostat, fan clutch, and clutch cylinders if you don't know how old those are, but those aren't as important. Check to make sure the aux fan actually works so it doesn't overheat in traffic.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    canada
    Posts
    193
    My Cars
    2001 740i
    San Diego to San Francisco won't be a problem. Just bring a AAA card.
    1991 318is
    2001 740i

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    KS
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    e24e30e36e39e90
    Might as well replace the transmission mounts while you have the drive shaft out, and if it’s a manual, it’s also a good time to refresh shifter components. Inspect brake hoses for cracking if you haven’t, not clear which hoses were replaced. Fuel filter probably needs replacing.

    Clean out the idle control valve (ICV). I did that the other day after having the car for a couple of years and it made a tremendous improvement in the general drivability and low end torque in higher gears. Wish it was one of the first things I’d done, easy as it is.
    Last edited by sienayr; 04-04-2018 at 08:56 PM.

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