'82 BMW 320i Turbo - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

nifu · 12-15-2003, 10:57 PM

Hi!
I just bought an '82 BMW 320i which has has been Turbo'ed.
I don't know much about cars, this is my first one.
The car hasn't been run for about 15 years! I haven't been able to talk to the previous owner (he is very far away), so I don't know all of the exact changes he has made to it (he is trustworthy, we are related). I think he put a sound system in it in 1985 :/

Anyways, we have to put in a new battery, change sparkplugs, and change two fuel pumps to make it work, so says the mechanic.
One more problem with it, is that the left side speakers aren't working, not sure what to do.
Another question is that, inside the glove box, there is an added metal switch which has two options, either Valet or Passive. I have no idea what these do or mean, neither does the mechanic. Anyone help? I think he raced this car (it's bright red

)
Thank you for your help, bye

-nifu

PS: Does anyone know any good car sites where I could get more help/info? Either specifically for my BMW or more general? Thanks.

CS733t · 12-15-2003, 11:09 PM

Sounds like an alarm switch...just leave it on passive

castex · 12-16-2003, 04:54 AM

Wow, sounds like it'll be fun, fun, fun to drive. BMW make, and made the best straight sixes in the business. Not only should your engine be smooth as silk and sound fabulous, but it should also have some serious welly.

Be careful in this car! If your driving experience is limited you absolutely must make sure that you go into corners slowly enough, and you don't floor the throttle with the steering wheel at any sort of angle. There will be turbo lag. When the power comes in it will all be at once, and transmitted to the rear wheels. These will then spin, in all likelihood.

I feel I ought to advise you to sell it and get something less, um, vivacious. It's a BM, however; small, fun and built like a tank.
Have fun and please be careful!

For the left speaker, start by checking the wire connection at the back of the stereo unit itself, before proceeding to check the connection on the speaker cone which should be unscrewable from behind the grill.

www.pistonheads.co.uk is a great site with a separate BMW section and lots of chaps who are an awful lot more knowledgeable than I.

Also try www.bmwboard.com and www.bimmerforums.com

stingc · 12-16-2003, 09:36 AM

It sounds like it will be a fun car once you get it working. Good luck with that. I doubt that only the things you mentioned are broken after sitting for 15 years (tires, bushings, exhaust, maybe shocks, ....).

Peryn · 12-16-2003, 09:45 AM

Well, if it has been sitting for that long, before you even start it up, you need to do a bunch of work. Flush ALL the fluids. Change the plugs, cap, and rotor. Change the air filter, oil filter, and , while not necessary, it might help to have a fuel filter handy. Also, drain the gas tank and put new, good gas into it. Who knows what you'll do to your engine with 15 yr old gas...

Depending on where it has been sitting, you will probably end up having to replace most of the wear items on the car shortly. Expect to haveta replace in the future : Balljoints (maybe) , control arm bushings, shocks, springs, possibly mounts (engine and tranny and whatever else), absolutely 100% get a change of tires. After sitting for 15 years, your tires are shot...i dont care if they were inflated and still look good or not.

Thats a long time for a car to be sitting....but that also means it probably didn't live a very long useful life. It probably will be good and reliable for quite some time. Give it a wash and all....but be prepared for all the wearable parts to wear very quickly.

nifu · 12-16-2003, 04:43 PM

Hey, thank you all for your replies

castex, what do you mean by best straight sixes? welly?
Sell it? No way!

Why is it so hard to drive? I am 'inexperienced' but I WILL be careful. I will spend a lot of time getting used to it before normal usage.
Peryn, it has been sitting for 15 years, but it hasn't been sitting because it didn't live a very useful life. My cousin had to move away and thought he would come back to it, but never did :P
I hope that most of the parts don't wear quickly ;(
About how much do you think all this will cost?
I got the car for a pretty low amount, but still, I don't want to be spending a fortune on it to fix!
Thanks again all,

-nifu

DEI37 · 12-16-2003, 04:56 PM

When he talks about a straight six, he means that instead of a V6 like we're used to, all six cylinders are in one row...like a four cylinder. BMW makes great Inline-6's. That's an old one, so who knows exactly what kind of condition things are in. Even with the turbocharger, performance won't be up to the level of a brand new M3 engine. That said...do a complete oil change, but instead of just starting the motor, take the spark plugs out, put some oil...not a lot...in each cylinder. DO NOT REINSTALL THE SPARK PLUGS!!!!! Turn the motor over by hand a few times to lube up the cylinder walls. If this isn't possible, go ahead and use the starter motor to crank it over in three second intervals. Do this several times. Maybe 15-20 times. At this point, you should be OK to reinstall the spark plugs. At this point, go ahead and start the engine. Let it idle to get warmed up, and then drive it carefully. Treat it like a new car. You'll have to "break in" the motor again. I would recommend another oil change at 500 miles, 1500 miles, and then every 3000 miles after that.

nifu · 12-16-2003, 07:11 PM

ahh, why do not reinstall spark splugs?
can you tell me what exactly the difference between a turbo charged and non turbo charged car? speedwise etc..
lol brand new M3, i wouldn't think so...
oil eh..
anyone have any more info? thanks

DEI37 · 12-16-2003, 07:58 PM

You wouldn't re-install the spark plugs right away, because after putting oil in the cylinders, if you have spark plugs in them, and try to start the car, you'll break the motor for sure. Pretty much the difference between turbo and non-turbo, aka naturally aspirated, is that the turbo motor will make more power, require premium fuel, be more susceptible to oil breakdown...meaning you'll want to use a higher quality oil, and change it religiously.

I say the performance difference simply because of the age of the car. Back in the '80's, BMW's weren't a high performance car. Especially a 3-series. BTW, I'm not dissin' your ride, so don't take that comment the wrong way...I'd give anything for a boosted BMW. Since I obviously don't know what has been done to the motor in its entirety, I can only speculate.

Things you'll want to watch for...seals...of ANY kind. Front crank seal, rear main, valve cover gasket, transmission, and rear differential seals all qualify, and there are more. Having sat that long, they will most likely be dry-rotted. Bearings count here as well. Might want to check in to wheel bearings, and axle bearings. Definitely lube up what is in there, if you don't replace them. The exhaust may be plugged from critters after 15 years. May have to replace it, too.

Hope I'm not being to pessimistic here. Just have to be a realist, and understand that cars that sit for fifteen years are going to have problems, and being a BMW, they most likely won't be the cheapest things to fix, either. I guess the best advice I can offer is to treat it like a brand new car...only do it for longer. And pay MORE attention to oil leaks, and such.

BTW...we need pictures of this thing.

Peryn · 12-16-2003, 11:34 PM

If i were you, i would honestly expect to throw a few hundred at that car. Tires, bushings, bearings, greases, oils...it all adds up. Expect to do a full service tune up. Make sure to grease all the Zerk fittings under the chassis, and get the old grease outta there. Expect the boots on your tierod ends and balljoints to possibly have dried out and broken. In wich case, the parts should be replaced. Expect new tires...i posted that in my first post, but old rubber + flatspotting = bad news. Expect to do a Coolant flush, and your going to need to clean the hell outta your old radiator probably. Expect to regrease wheel bearings at the minimum...possibly replace them. Expect possibly needing break rotors turned, and maybe new pads. Expect to change out the differential grease, along with the transmission oils. Is it carbed or fuel injected? Possibly ought to eventually run some carb cleaner or fuel injector cleaner through em. Probably not too big a deal, but check your engine and transmission mounts. Check power steering (if equipped) and gearbox for leaks and flush their fluids. Those costs can add up quick, or could totally dissapear. It really depends on where this car was stored, and how well it was prepped to be stored away. If he expected to store it for a long time, he may have taken preventative measures, and could save you a lot of time and money.

Oh, a kinda important note....where do you live, and where has this car been sitting? Outside, exposed to the cats, rats, and elephants or inside a nice dust tight garage? This could make a huge difference in what all needs to be replaced, and what is salvagable.

nifu · 12-17-2003, 12:30 AM

Hmm.. I think the mechanic already installed new spark plugs :/
If I take it to a mechanic for a tune up, will he look at all these things ie. fluids, seals, etc..?
We're getting a digital camera soon, I'll post pics

The car was stored in a nice house garage, dusty though. I don't think he took too many preventative measures.
I live in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Got the car for $2000 Canadian. Any idea how much it may be worth?

Thanks again,

-nifu

soccerchamp76 · 12-17-2003, 06:47 AM

If it is any comparison, I bought my '88 BMW 325 white coupe with 105000 miles on it for $2500. We got a deal though because we bought it from one of my dad's coworkers.
Straight-sixes are nice though, mine isn't a turbo.
Got it up to 100 but I still gotta test it out, my tires are rated up to 130 so I want to hit at least 120 soon, but in St. Louis I cannot find many good roads to test. Only 44E late at night.

soccerchamp76 · 12-17-2003, 06:52 AM

Only problem with them is that the basic "mechanic" does not know how to deal with older German cars. For instance, it took my 15 minutes to find the car battery only to find out it was in the trunk covered. Car stereo installation from Ultimate Electronics was a little complicated because of the hard-wiring.

castex · 12-17-2003, 07:09 AM

DEI37 is quite correct in his statement that performance won't be up to the levels of the current M3. However, in terms of likely tyre footprint/technology, chassis composure and above all power delivery this will be considerably more difficult to drive than that current king of fast saloons.
In its day your new car was a handy little sports saloon - the state of the art, in fact. My Granny had one and she loved it. BMW never made a turbo for this model, though, and your car's after-market conversion - while surely a scream - will not have the levels of refinement you might expect of something made in Munich.

Soccerchamp, pull your finger out! I've had over 140mph (indicated) in my '89 325i touring on numerous occasions, although I do understand that such speeds are rather easier to attain on European roads...

nifu · 12-17-2003, 03:30 PM

castex, will it be more difficult to drive at low speeds? I am not going to race or speed (too much) in this car. I just want to drive it for everyday use. Does that change anything?

DEI37 · 12-17-2003, 06:05 PM

No...if you have some common sense...and it appears that you do, driving something like this shouldn't be a problem. Bad weather might cause some problems, considering it's rear wheel drive. I don't think we know if it's an automatic or a manual trans yet...which is it? Where do you live? Do you get snow? If so, then either get another $200 beater car, or spend good money on good snow tires.

nifu · 12-17-2003, 07:34 PM

heh, i dont have common sense
it's manual, i haven't even learned to use manual yet!
live in vancouver bc, canada, no snow mostly.

soccerchamp76 · 12-17-2003, 08:28 PM

Castex, I am waiting for the right moment...no cars...late night....

But it is highly difficult to attain in St. Louis and with my radar detector would scare the crap out of me if i heard a beep at all.
The biggest thrill i got (after goin 100, my first time in the century mark), was going 75mph in a 25mph zone...that was fun.

castex · 12-18-2003, 01:00 AM

I don't wish to sound like your Grandad, but high speeds through built-up areas are never a good idea. The sensation of velocity might be higher than on the open road, but the potential consequences for others don't bear thinking about. Choosing when and where to be irresponsible is key.
Harrumph.
Now where did I leave my false teeth?

nifu, good luck with the stick shift. You'll find it transforms your connection, involvement with the car - any car. And when Richard Gere pulls up, crunching and graunching the cogs off his nicked Esprit, you'll be in prime position to show him what that baby can do!

nifu · 12-18-2003, 08:48 PM

hahah castex, richard gere
please explain ;P

BigTruck1956 · 12-19-2003, 02:15 AM

If i were you, before you go any further, find out exactly how the original owner "turbo'd" the engine. There is a lot more to boosting an engine than simply slapping a turbo on the intake. As was mentioned, turbos are harsh on the eingine, and you might want to find out if the compression was altered to accomodate the boost and if the oiling system was improved.

sounds like a sweet car though. good luck and keep us updated!

castex · 12-19-2003, 07:26 AM

nifu, our Rich pinches his lawyer's esprit turbo at the start of 'Pretty Woman'. Thing is, he can barely drive it. Julia Robert's Daddy taught her how to use a clutch back on the farm, or something...Terrible film, nice car.

nifu · 12-19-2003, 01:27 PM

lol castex
update:
we still can't get the car to start,
we replaced the battery, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, spark plugs, new oil, the mechanic has looked at it all, but it still won't start.
the mechanic 'thinks' that for some reason the gas isn't coming through to the cylinders. he's working on stuff right now, I don't know exactly what he's doing though...
Can anyone give me any ideas on what may be wrong with it?

dangsta · 12-19-2003, 04:21 PM

i think the valet and passive mode are different modes on the ecu.. you set it to valet mode so if someone else is driving the car, the engines rev limiter is lowered dramatically so they cant drive fast.

castex · 12-20-2003, 03:25 AM

Ah yes; I think you might be on to something there, dangsta.

Peryn · 12-20-2003, 09:22 AM

i dunno if i asked, but is it carbed or fuel injected? Not too many people were injecting cars back in 82, but maybe BMW was...

I dont know much more than the basics of carbs, but if it was fuel injected, chances are that it was stored with fuel in the lines, and are all clogged up. Has he checked the fuel pressure going into the carb or fuel rail? if thats good, you might wanna think about having him run some GOOD fuel injector cleaner through there. Or if he knows his way around a carb, or if your willing to learn (not too complicated), you might wanna think about a carb rebuild.

But then again, i've got no real idea what going on with it...just something to think about.

nifu · 12-20-2003, 11:41 AM

What is ecu?
I read in the manual that it said the car had a fuel injector, does that mean it's fuel injected?? what is carbed?
fuel injector cleaner sounds like a good idea ...

JohnS72 · 12-20-2003, 03:27 PM

No pictures?? We need pictures! :-D please? ;-)

nifu · 12-20-2003, 05:54 PM

hehe, pictures after xmas!!!

nifu · 12-22-2003, 11:57 AM

I posted this on www.bimmerforums.com also, but for you guys

...

Well I just got a reply from the previous owner!
I asked him questions and he answered them, I'll post them below:

1. What does the Passive/Valet switch do exactly in the Glove Box?
Supposed to be the alarm on/off overide switch.

2. Did you have problems with the left side speakers?
Not when I left Vancouver.

3. What kind of sound system did you put in it?
The brand is called "Proton" and if it's not working well now,it's best to bring it to a good car audio sales and installation shop to have it checked out.

4. Are they stock shocks?
The shocks are stock and probably need to be changed to new ones.The springs I remember we(a bunch of SFU overseas students car freaks) did a very silly thing by torching them to change the height of the springs-they're probably in some serious stage of corrosion by now! I suggest they should be changed also for safety and insurance purposes.

5. Is it a stock fuel injector? If not, what is it?
It's turbocharged as you know so quite a lot has been changed but I don't recall that the fuel injector was changed.

6. Any change in the engine management that we should know?
Also stock Bimmer as I recall.

7. Is there a car alarm?
Yes-but see 1 above-probably should get a new one.

8. Is there cut off switch for the fuel?
No.

9. What ignition system does it have?
Don't recall changing that either.

10. Is there any other miscellanious information that we should know?
The air filter was changed to a K & N system which gave the turbo the required extra breathing-have you checked the filter?it might need to be replaced or cleaned.The car was really running so nicely when I left and as you know,I looked after it very well but I'm afraid years of garaging must have done some "damage".I suggest you get a turbo expert to look at the turbo system also.

End.

Is this information useful? Do you have anymore questions that I should ask him? Do you know anything about these changes he made and if they are good/bad etc...? Is this "Proton" sound system good (15 years old), I just want good bass

Also, we are getting new wheels for the car. We don't want to spend a lot, but I want nice ones. I live in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Does anyone know of a good place to get some, or names of good wheels? My friend was telling me to get White wheels but I've never seen these. Any pics? Oh, and what is the biggest size wheels we can put on this car. We are thinking 15". Thanks again,

-nifu

PS: The previous owner (my cousin) sent me a pic of his new car, a lotus here (tell me if it's nice):

castex · 01-05-2004, 11:19 AM

Your cousin's a lucky chap. The Elise is an absolute peach

In terms of wheels I'd suggest you look for period photo's of racing 3 series BM's. They're liable to be fat BBS cross-spokes, 15" would be fine.

I've never heard of Proton for sound systems, and the name doesn't augur well. Again, if I were you I'd be looking for something in keeping with the age of the car. An '80's Blaupunkt would be just the job. Otherwise, look at Kenwood, Alpine, and especially Nakamichi.
Bonne chance, and post those pics when you have a mo'.

12-15-2003, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
nifu Banned	'82 BMW 320i Turbo Hi! I just bought an '82 BMW 320i which has has been Turbo'ed. I don't know much about cars, this is my first one. The car hasn't been run for about 15 years! I haven't been able to talk to the previous owner (he is very far away), so I don't know all of the exact changes he has made to it (he is trustworthy, we are related). I think he put a sound system in it in 1985 :/ Anyways, we have to put in a new battery, change sparkplugs, and change two fuel pumps to make it work, so says the mechanic. One more problem with it, is that the left side speakers aren't working, not sure what to do. Another question is that, inside the glove box, there is an added metal switch which has two options, either Valet or Passive. I have no idea what these do or mean, neither does the mechanic. Anyone help? I think he raced this car (it's bright red ) Thank you for your help, bye -nifu PS: Does anyone know any good car sites where I could get more help/info? Either specifically for my BMW or more general? Thanks.

12-15-2003, 11:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
CS733t Crazy	Sounds like an alarm switch...just leave it on passive __________________ So tired now of paying my dues I start out strong but then I always lose It's half the distance before you leave me behind It's such a waste of time

12-16-2003, 09:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
Peryn Junkie Location: San Diego, CA.	Well, if it has been sitting for that long, before you even start it up, you need to do a bunch of work. Flush ALL the fluids. Change the plugs, cap, and rotor. Change the air filter, oil filter, and , while not necessary, it might help to have a fuel filter handy. Also, drain the gas tank and put new, good gas into it. Who knows what you'll do to your engine with 15 yr old gas... Depending on where it has been sitting, you will probably end up having to replace most of the wear items on the car shortly. Expect to haveta replace in the future : Balljoints (maybe) , control arm bushings, shocks, springs, possibly mounts (engine and tranny and whatever else), absolutely 100% get a change of tires. After sitting for 15 years, your tires are shot...i dont care if they were inflated and still look good or not. Thats a long time for a car to be sitting....but that also means it probably didn't live a very long useful life. It probably will be good and reliable for quite some time. Give it a wash and all....but be prepared for all the wearable parts to wear very quickly. __________________ Dont cry kid, It's not your fault you suck.

12-16-2003, 04:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	When he talks about a straight six, he means that instead of a V6 like we're used to, all six cylinders are in one row...like a four cylinder. BMW makes great Inline-6's. That's an old one, so who knows exactly what kind of condition things are in. Even with the turbocharger, performance won't be up to the level of a brand new M3 engine. That said...do a complete oil change, but instead of just starting the motor, take the spark plugs out, put some oil...not a lot...in each cylinder. DO NOT REINSTALL THE SPARK PLUGS!!!!! Turn the motor over by hand a few times to lube up the cylinder walls. If this isn't possible, go ahead and use the starter motor to crank it over in three second intervals. Do this several times. Maybe 15-20 times. At this point, you should be OK to reinstall the spark plugs. At this point, go ahead and start the engine. Let it idle to get warmed up, and then drive it carefully. Treat it like a new car. You'll have to "break in" the motor again. I would recommend another oil change at 500 miles, 1500 miles, and then every 3000 miles after that. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

12-16-2003, 07:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	You wouldn't re-install the spark plugs right away, because after putting oil in the cylinders, if you have spark plugs in them, and try to start the car, you'll break the motor for sure. Pretty much the difference between turbo and non-turbo, aka naturally aspirated, is that the turbo motor will make more power, require premium fuel, be more susceptible to oil breakdown...meaning you'll want to use a higher quality oil, and change it religiously. I say the performance difference simply because of the age of the car. Back in the '80's, BMW's weren't a high performance car. Especially a 3-series. BTW, I'm not dissin' your ride, so don't take that comment the wrong way...I'd give anything for a boosted BMW. Since I obviously don't know what has been done to the motor in its entirety, I can only speculate. Things you'll want to watch for...seals...of ANY kind. Front crank seal, rear main, valve cover gasket, transmission, and rear differential seals all qualify, and there are more. Having sat that long, they will most likely be dry-rotted. Bearings count here as well. Might want to check in to wheel bearings, and axle bearings. Definitely lube up what is in there, if you don't replace them. The exhaust may be plugged from critters after 15 years. May have to replace it, too. Hope I'm not being to pessimistic here. Just have to be a realist, and understand that cars that sit for fifteen years are going to have problems, and being a BMW, they most likely won't be the cheapest things to fix, either. I guess the best advice I can offer is to treat it like a brand new car...only do it for longer. And pay MORE attention to oil leaks, and such. BTW...we need pictures of this thing. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

12-16-2003, 04:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	Wow, sounds like it'll be fun, fun, fun to drive. BMW make, and made the best straight sixes in the business. Not only should your engine be smooth as silk and sound fabulous, but it should also have some serious welly. Be careful in this car! If your driving experience is limited you absolutely must make sure that you go into corners slowly enough, and you don't floor the throttle with the steering wheel at any sort of angle. There will be turbo lag. When the power comes in it will all be at once, and transmitted to the rear wheels. These will then spin, in all likelihood. I feel I ought to advise you to sell it and get something less, um, vivacious. It's a BM, however; small, fun and built like a tank. Have fun and please be careful! For the left speaker, start by checking the wire connection at the back of the stereo unit itself, before proceeding to check the connection on the speaker cone which should be unscrewable from behind the grill. www.pistonheads.co.uk is a great site with a separate BMW section and lots of chaps who are an awful lot more knowledgeable than I. Also try www.bmwboard.com and www.bimmerforums.com

12-16-2003, 09:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
stingc Psycho Location: PA	It sounds like it will be a fun car once you get it working. Good luck with that. I doubt that only the things you mentioned are broken after sitting for 15 years (tires, bushings, exhaust, maybe shocks, ....).

12-16-2003, 04:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
nifu Banned	Hey, thank you all for your replies castex, what do you mean by best straight sixes? welly? Sell it? No way! Why is it so hard to drive? I am 'inexperienced' but I WILL be careful. I will spend a lot of time getting used to it before normal usage. Peryn, it has been sitting for 15 years, but it hasn't been sitting because it didn't live a very useful life. My cousin had to move away and thought he would come back to it, but never did :P I hope that most of the parts don't wear quickly ;( About how much do you think all this will cost? I got the car for a pretty low amount, but still, I don't want to be spending a fortune on it to fix! Thanks again all, -nifu

12-16-2003, 07:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
nifu Banned	ahh, why do not reinstall spark splugs? can you tell me what exactly the difference between a turbo charged and non turbo charged car? speedwise etc.. lol brand new M3, i wouldn't think so... oil eh.. anyone have any more info? thanks

12-16-2003, 11:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
Peryn Junkie Location: San Diego, CA.	If i were you, i would honestly expect to throw a few hundred at that car. Tires, bushings, bearings, greases, oils...it all adds up. Expect to do a full service tune up. Make sure to grease all the Zerk fittings under the chassis, and get the old grease outta there. Expect the boots on your tierod ends and balljoints to possibly have dried out and broken. In wich case, the parts should be replaced. Expect new tires...i posted that in my first post, but old rubber + flatspotting = bad news. Expect to do a Coolant flush, and your going to need to clean the hell outta your old radiator probably. Expect to regrease wheel bearings at the minimum...possibly replace them. Expect possibly needing break rotors turned, and maybe new pads. Expect to change out the differential grease, along with the transmission oils. Is it carbed or fuel injected? Possibly ought to eventually run some carb cleaner or fuel injector cleaner through em. Probably not too big a deal, but check your engine and transmission mounts. Check power steering (if equipped) and gearbox for leaks and flush their fluids. Those costs can add up quick, or could totally dissapear. It really depends on where this car was stored, and how well it was prepped to be stored away. If he expected to store it for a long time, he may have taken preventative measures, and could save you a lot of time and money. Oh, a kinda important note....where do you live, and where has this car been sitting? Outside, exposed to the cats, rats, and elephants or inside a nice dust tight garage? This could make a huge difference in what all needs to be replaced, and what is salvagable. __________________ Dont cry kid, It's not your fault you suck.

12-17-2003, 12:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
nifu Banned	Hmm.. I think the mechanic already installed new spark plugs :/ If I take it to a mechanic for a tune up, will he look at all these things ie. fluids, seals, etc..? We're getting a digital camera soon, I'll post pics The car was stored in a nice house garage, dusty though. I don't think he took too many preventative measures. I live in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Got the car for $2000 Canadian. Any idea how much it may be worth? Thanks again, -nifu

12-17-2003, 06:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	If it is any comparison, I bought my '88 BMW 325 white coupe with 105000 miles on it for $2500. We got a deal though because we bought it from one of my dad's coworkers. Straight-sixes are nice though, mine isn't a turbo. Got it up to 100 but I still gotta test it out, my tires are rated up to 130 so I want to hit at least 120 soon, but in St. Louis I cannot find many good roads to test. Only 44E late at night. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

12-17-2003, 06:52 AM	#13 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Only problem with them is that the basic "mechanic" does not know how to deal with older German cars. For instance, it took my 15 minutes to find the car battery only to find out it was in the trunk covered. Car stereo installation from Ultimate Electronics was a little complicated because of the hard-wiring. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

12-17-2003, 07:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	DEI37 is quite correct in his statement that performance won't be up to the levels of the current M3. However, in terms of likely tyre footprint/technology, chassis composure and above all power delivery this will be considerably more difficult to drive than that current king of fast saloons. In its day your new car was a handy little sports saloon - the state of the art, in fact. My Granny had one and she loved it. BMW never made a turbo for this model, though, and your car's after-market conversion - while surely a scream - will not have the levels of refinement you might expect of something made in Munich. Soccerchamp, pull your finger out! I've had over 140mph (indicated) in my '89 325i touring on numerous occasions, although I do understand that such speeds are rather easier to attain on European roads...

12-17-2003, 03:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
nifu Banned	castex, will it be more difficult to drive at low speeds? I am not going to race or speed (too much) in this car. I just want to drive it for everyday use. Does that change anything?

12-17-2003, 06:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	No...if you have some common sense...and it appears that you do, driving something like this shouldn't be a problem. Bad weather might cause some problems, considering it's rear wheel drive. I don't think we know if it's an automatic or a manual trans yet...which is it? Where do you live? Do you get snow? If so, then either get another $200 beater car, or spend good money on good snow tires. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

12-17-2003, 07:34 PM	#17 (permalink)
nifu Banned	heh, i dont have common sense it's manual, i haven't even learned to use manual yet! live in vancouver bc, canada, no snow mostly.

12-17-2003, 08:28 PM	#18 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Castex, I am waiting for the right moment...no cars...late night.... But it is highly difficult to attain in St. Louis and with my radar detector would scare the crap out of me if i heard a beep at all. The biggest thrill i got (after goin 100, my first time in the century mark), was going 75mph in a 25mph zone...that was fun. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

12-18-2003, 01:00 AM	#19 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	I don't wish to sound like your Grandad, but high speeds through built-up areas are never a good idea. The sensation of velocity might be higher than on the open road, but the potential consequences for others don't bear thinking about. Choosing when and where to be irresponsible is key. Harrumph. Now where did I leave my false teeth? nifu, good luck with the stick shift. You'll find it transforms your connection, involvement with the car - any car. And when Richard Gere pulls up, crunching and graunching the cogs off his nicked Esprit, you'll be in prime position to show him what that baby can do!

12-18-2003, 08:48 PM	#20 (permalink)
nifu Banned	hahah castex, richard gere please explain ;P

12-19-2003, 02:15 AM	#21 (permalink)
BigTruck1956 Psycho Location: norcal	If i were you, before you go any further, find out exactly how the original owner "turbo'd" the engine. There is a lot more to boosting an engine than simply slapping a turbo on the intake. As was mentioned, turbos are harsh on the eingine, and you might want to find out if the compression was altered to accomodate the boost and if the oiling system was improved. sounds like a sweet car though. good luck and keep us updated! __________________ so much to do, so little time.....at least i aint bored.

12-19-2003, 07:26 AM	#22 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	nifu, our Rich pinches his lawyer's esprit turbo at the start of 'Pretty Woman'. Thing is, he can barely drive it. Julia Robert's Daddy taught her how to use a clutch back on the farm, or something...Terrible film, nice car.

12-19-2003, 01:27 PM	#23 (permalink)
nifu Banned	lol castex update: we still can't get the car to start, we replaced the battery, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, spark plugs, new oil, the mechanic has looked at it all, but it still won't start. the mechanic 'thinks' that for some reason the gas isn't coming through to the cylinders. he's working on stuff right now, I don't know exactly what he's doing though... Can anyone give me any ideas on what may be wrong with it?

12-19-2003, 04:21 PM	#24 (permalink)
dangsta Upright	i think the valet and passive mode are different modes on the ecu.. you set it to valet mode so if someone else is driving the car, the engines rev limiter is lowered dramatically so they cant drive fast.

12-20-2003, 03:25 AM	#25 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	Ah yes; I think you might be on to something there, dangsta.

12-20-2003, 09:22 AM	#26 (permalink)
Peryn Junkie Location: San Diego, CA.	i dunno if i asked, but is it carbed or fuel injected? Not too many people were injecting cars back in 82, but maybe BMW was... I dont know much more than the basics of carbs, but if it was fuel injected, chances are that it was stored with fuel in the lines, and are all clogged up. Has he checked the fuel pressure going into the carb or fuel rail? if thats good, you might wanna think about having him run some GOOD fuel injector cleaner through there. Or if he knows his way around a carb, or if your willing to learn (not too complicated), you might wanna think about a carb rebuild. But then again, i've got no real idea what going on with it...just something to think about. __________________ Dont cry kid, It's not your fault you suck.

12-20-2003, 11:41 AM	#27 (permalink)
nifu Banned	What is ecu? I read in the manual that it said the car had a fuel injector, does that mean it's fuel injected?? what is carbed? fuel injector cleaner sounds like a good idea ...

12-20-2003, 03:27 PM	#28 (permalink)
JohnS72 Crazy	No pictures?? We need pictures! :-D please? ;-)

12-20-2003, 05:54 PM	#29 (permalink)
nifu Banned	hehe, pictures after xmas!!!

12-22-2003, 11:57 AM	#30 (permalink)
nifu Banned	UPDATE! I posted this on www.bimmerforums.com also, but for you guys ... Well I just got a reply from the previous owner! I asked him questions and he answered them, I'll post them below: 1. What does the Passive/Valet switch do exactly in the Glove Box? Supposed to be the alarm on/off overide switch. 2. Did you have problems with the left side speakers? Not when I left Vancouver. 3. What kind of sound system did you put in it? The brand is called "Proton" and if it's not working well now,it's best to bring it to a good car audio sales and installation shop to have it checked out. 4. Are they stock shocks? The shocks are stock and probably need to be changed to new ones.The springs I remember we(a bunch of SFU overseas students car freaks) did a very silly thing by torching them to change the height of the springs-they're probably in some serious stage of corrosion by now! I suggest they should be changed also for safety and insurance purposes. 5. Is it a stock fuel injector? If not, what is it? It's turbocharged as you know so quite a lot has been changed but I don't recall that the fuel injector was changed. 6. Any change in the engine management that we should know? Also stock Bimmer as I recall. 7. Is there a car alarm? Yes-but see 1 above-probably should get a new one. 8. Is there cut off switch for the fuel? No. 9. What ignition system does it have? Don't recall changing that either. 10. Is there any other miscellanious information that we should know? The air filter was changed to a K & N system which gave the turbo the required extra breathing-have you checked the filter?it might need to be replaced or cleaned.The car was really running so nicely when I left and as you know,I looked after it very well but I'm afraid years of garaging must have done some "damage".I suggest you get a turbo expert to look at the turbo system also. End. Is this information useful? Do you have anymore questions that I should ask him? Do you know anything about these changes he made and if they are good/bad etc...? Is this "Proton" sound system good (15 years old), I just want good bass Also, we are getting new wheels for the car. We don't want to spend a lot, but I want nice ones. I live in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Does anyone know of a good place to get some, or names of good wheels? My friend was telling me to get White wheels but I've never seen these. Any pics? Oh, and what is the biggest size wheels we can put on this car. We are thinking 15". Thanks again, -nifu PS: The previous owner (my cousin) sent me a pic of his new car, a lotus here (tell me if it's nice):

01-05-2004, 11:19 AM	#31 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	Your cousin's a lucky chap. The Elise is an absolute peach In terms of wheels I'd suggest you look for period photo's of racing 3 series BM's. They're liable to be fat BBS cross-spokes, 15" would be fine. I've never heard of Proton for sound systems, and the name doesn't augur well. Again, if I were you I'd be looking for something in keeping with the age of the car. An '80's Blaupunkt would be just the job. Otherwise, look at Kenwood, Alpine, and especially Nakamichi. Bonne chance, and post those pics when you have a mo'.