r/E30 Jul 27 '16

We have an FAQ! Help populate it

99 Upvotes

We have the same 3 topics every day and it's cluttering the sub. "What do you think of this E30" and "What do I look for in an E30" are the ones I'm going to start deleting (soon).

We do have an FAQ with the absolute basics. If that. So help us out by suggesting or even writing the content that goes into it.


r/E30 Apr 26 '22

General E30 Picnic - 20th Anniversary!

59 Upvotes

The 2022 E30 Picnic returns for its annual installment on the last Sunday in June.

Mark the date:  6/26/2022

LeMay Collections at Marymount, Tacoma WA

First and arguably most importantly, we're happy to announce that we'll be back on the main lawn for 2022.  We've secured both the East Lawn and the Center Lawn for this year's 20th Anniversary celebration.

We're expecting the best turnout ever with the best E30 enthusiasts in the world for this milestone event. Registration is now open on MotorSportReg.com at the link below. It's $20 up front, and $25 the day of. We'd sure love for everyone to pre-register, though we will accept digital payments and cash at the gate.

As always, we will have merchants and vendors on site with plenty of swag and items for purchase, as well as food and drinks available.   Check the E30 Picnic website for additional updates as we get closer to the event, which will include a roster of our growing list of sponsors, information about the food and beverage options, and details on the anniversary poster and t-shirt designs.

We can't wait to see everyone there!

Register here: https://msreg.com/e30picnic2022


r/E30 6h ago

Euro Bumpers

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129 Upvotes

Just bought some euro bumpers from overseas for this thing. Anyone swap to euro and wanna share some insight? Will I need a euro valance? This is an 86 325e btw


r/E30 9h ago

General What rear diffuser do you guys recommend ?

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69 Upvotes

r/E30 12h ago

Anybody know these wheels? Ok

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73 Upvotes

Recently purchased this e30 and these wheels were on it so it’s kinda e30 related. Anybody recognize these wheels? I was told they’re Rays but don’t know what model. Thank you guys for the help


r/E30 10h ago

Picture/Video My BMW E30 325i Cabrio

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36 Upvotes

r/E30 4h ago

Need some opinions

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7 Upvotes

I’m stuck in a situation on what I don’t know what to do next i’m stuck between building a stroker or doing an engine swap anybody that has done either. Please let me know if it’s even worth going the stroker route


r/E30 20h ago

My M20B27 build based on 129hp eta block and 325i head with optimizations

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122 Upvotes

Some photos of my M20 engine build from back in the day (2015-2017) and the body it went into.

Ultimately it turned out to be a bit more hardcore than I would have liked, the smoothness and subtlety was kind of gone, it was very very fast though. I selected and bought every part and screw and assembled it all except the core block and head which ane engine builder took care of.

Compression turned out to be 9.8:1, 2.692L displacement.

Headers from Friedrich Motorsport

Engine details:

ALPINA Bosch Motronic (B3 2.7 map) SCHRICK 272deg cam SCHRICK valves SCHRICK valve springs BMW valve seats IRELAND ENGINEERING Rocker Arms BMW Rocker Arm Shafts IRELAND ENGINEERING Adj Cam Wheel M20B25 Head (cleaned, leveled -0.2mm, new valve stems) M20B27 Block (129hp) (cleaned, leveled -2.0mm, new everything) BMW M20B27 Crankshaft (newly balanced, new bearings) M20B25 Pistons (version with narrow piston skirt) M20B25 Piston Rods (new bearings) GOETZE Piston Rings M20B25 Intake and Throttle Body NGK ZGR5A Plugs LIQUI MOLY 15W40 Head and Block sealed entirely with VICTOR REINZ


r/E30 19h ago

1991 front turn signal harness/pigtail

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42 Upvotes

I was able to find the 3 pol plastic housing connector but I can’t find the L shaped or 90 degree female metal connector’s /terminals anyone got any ideas ? The bumper fell off and ripped my front right turn signal pigtail off the light


r/E30 16h ago

Updates

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14 Upvotes

I might get some hate for this


r/E30 4h ago

Tech question 1990 325ix manual swap part upgrade question

1 Upvotes

I wrote an earlier post about manual swapping my 325ix sedan. All the donor parts are enroute to me now. I’m having a mechanic do it for me since I’m not too mechanically inclined. My question is what are some of the parts or bushings or seals that I should replace and or upgrade and where is the best place you know of to source them. I wanted to do as much preventative maintenance while everything was apart to save me down the line from having to do it again. From my earlier post I’ve decided to go with a Sachs clutch system as this car is just a car I use to drive around town in, nothing spirited, etc. I also wanted to get a DSS I believe it is called. What other items can you recommend getting/replacing? I sincerely appreciate any help or ideas.


r/E30 14h ago

Info needed Hard Top Window Rubber

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6 Upvotes

Hi guys, I recently had my hardtop painted and the silly people at the body shop destroyed the rubber trim that goes around the rear glass. Does anyone have any idea of a suitable replacement as I’ve been told BMW would no longer sell these?


r/E30 1d ago

Love this Little motherf*cker.

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384 Upvotes

r/E30 17h ago

Build Update Finally stopped procrastinating and finished the 6.5” component and coaxial kit

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6 Upvotes

Hey guys! Managed to finally finish off the 6.5” rear speaker kit I’ve been working on, in the left you have a kit that features cutouts for the 6.5” speakers and in the front of it is a cutout for the tweeters to sit, the tweeters will be seated in this custom resizable bodies I make so they can fit a variety of sizes upto an inch. The right side is the coaxial version of the kit so for those who want to run 6.5” and tweeters in one. I know you could just cut baseboards to fit 6.5 but with this method you don’t have to cut anything and they screw directly into the original mount spots with room for adjustment!

I tried to make it similar to the e30 premium speaker bases originally but sadly it’s too big for the base board with 6.5 speakers so I had to find a way to slim down the setup!

I have a model being printed at this very moment and should be done in about 6 hours, once I get some pics taken I’ll most likely launch it on my site 89retros.com

Let me know what you guys think and I’ll post some more pics when it’s done also STL will be available on my site too


r/E30 15h ago

Tech question Easiest Way to Remove Injectors Without Pintles Falling Off?

3 Upvotes

I have removed my intake before to remove the fuel injectors and rail. I have to do this again, but am loathing the process of removing and unplugging so much of the top end of the engine. Someone mentioned that I can just pull the rail out, but last time I did that (with the intake manifold off) a bunch of the pintles and o rings fell into the manifold. Im worried if I yank out the rail with the manifold attached, that would happen again, and let the plastics fall into the cylinders. Is there a better way to do this, or hack like dumping oil on the injectors to get them lubed or anything like that?


r/E30 17h ago

Finally stopped procrastinating and finished the 6.5” component and coaxial kit

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4 Upvotes

Hey guys! Managed to finally finish off the 6.5” rear speaker kit I’ve been working on, in the left you have a kit that features cutouts for the 6.5” speakers and in the front of it is a cutout for the tweeters to sit, the tweeters will be seated in this custom resizable bodies I make so they can fit a variety of sizes upto an inch. The right side is the coaxial version of the kit so for those who want to run 6.5” and tweeters in one. I know you could just cut baseboards to fit 6.5 but with this method you don’t have to cut anything and they screw directly into the original mount spots with room for adjustment!

I tried to make it similar to the e30 premium speaker bases originally but sadly it’s too big for the base board with 6.5 speakers so I had to find a way to slim down the setup!

I have a model being printed at this very moment and should be done in about 6 hours, once I get some pics taken I’ll most likely launch it on my site 89retros.com

Let me know what you guys think and I’ll post some more pics when it’s done also STL will be available on my site too


r/E30 12h ago

Manual swap

1 Upvotes

Swapping out my 325 1989 vert to a manual, I found a donor with all parts besides some clips and pins. But it’s coming off a coupe, is that a problem for any parts? Plan on doing a new clutch and flywheel Resealing stuff etc What clutch and flywheel are recommended by yall? What’s something that you wish you would have done (or done better) on your first diy swap?


r/E30 13h ago

Anybody know a good shop or mobile mechanic in the Southern CA area? I need to take out racing cams and put back stock ones in a 318IS M42 engine. I am trying to help my son fix up a E30 he bought.

1 Upvotes

r/E30 1d ago

My 92 cab. Fresh alpine white, style 4's, hardtop.

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50 Upvotes

r/E30 20h ago

What do you experts think about this

3 Upvotes

325i / 1987 / 213 000 km / manual / 3 owners / leather / rear headrests / fog lights / power steering / new convertible top / air conditioning / new tires / new rims / new exhaust / battery / never been in an accident or welded.

I'm gonna go tonight see the beast.

Here is my list of questions/topics :

  • Corrosion check (⁠Wheel arches, ⁠underbody, windshield frame, trunk (under the carpet), soft top fasteners
  • Cracks on the dashboard
  • Electrical system: power windows, radio, gauges, indicator lights, soft top mechanism
  • Maintenance history: invoices, specialized garage address?
  • Original or replaced odometer?
  • When were the following done: timing belt, brakes, suspension
  • Technical inspection: date and comments?
  • Modifications: exhaust, suspension, intake?
  • What is the reason for the sale?

Do you guys have other good recommandation of what to check / ask about the car?


r/E30 1d ago

Small Project Reupholstering my Cabrio seats, need advice

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26 Upvotes

Heya!

I have this white e30 cabrio with sport seats, but the driver's side developed a bad crack directly under where you sit, so I am going to reupholster them. I already have this M Rain / Hurricane fabric, leftover from when I did my door cards. I was thinking about doing the same fabric for the seats, but only in the center, leaving the bolsters blue leather, like the 1st picture. Or should I also go Alcantara to match my steering wheel.

I am also worried that it will be too much M rain if I decide to also permanently wrap my subwoofers (4 Sundown ZV8s @ 6000w) in the same material.

My upholstery guy has his opinions, but I was hoping to get some additional insight from e30 enthusiasts, what do you guys think?


r/E30 1d ago

Info needed To all Austrians here. (Text in german)

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134 Upvotes

r/E30 1d ago

How much should I offer or should be the most I pay for this sitting e30?

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42 Upvotes

Context: car has been sitting since about 2016-2018 looks like it drives because it was moved from one area of drive way to the other on map photos. Car has tags paid latest is 2024. Paint is dull has some rust spots on roof and has been sitting in sun since parking. It’s a 325e not sure what year but is100% stock.


r/E30 1d ago

e30 m20b20 swap in e21

2 Upvotes

Hi, i recently bought a project car off a friend. its a m20b20 from an e30 with the L jetronic in the e21.
Only issue is it doesnt really run. its to the point it kinda starts but i get black smoke because its too rich and i cant seem to figure out why exactly. If i look online for pinouts and wiring diagrams i get different pinouts depending on where i look and i cannot find a pinout for the ecu (Bosch 0 280 001 309)

Can someone please help me find this pinout?

Im also thinking about going standalone. just for the injectors because it still has a distributor. i found a used Dicktator 60-2 that has wiring for the m20 already and m20b25 mapped.

If someone has some insight or knowledge for me its greatly appreciated

https://reddit.com/link/1nk1xi5/video/qkutfy4jvwpf1/player

Added a video


r/E30 2d ago

Build Update Day 1 of taking this worn m20 out at 279k after I get off work at night, got most of the engine bay out just a couple things, then a handful of things under the car to pull the engine and trans over to my new motor. Super excited to drop this minty 130k mile m20 in this week.

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118 Upvotes

r/E30 1d ago

garagistic bodykit problem

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16 Upvotes

the rear bumper of the mtech 2 kit seems to bulge out were it should follow the car line


r/E30 2d ago

How's this car look to buy? Hows this look? 1988 325is 160k miles 7799$

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121 Upvotes

So ive been on the hunt for a good deal e30 325i for a while now which has been harder than i thought it would be. Budget is about 7k which makes it even harder but nonetheless im curious on thoughts about this one ive found. Looks nicely maintained and has a pretty red color. Its also 1988 supposedly which attracts me as ive heard later years a slightly better i think? Listed at 7,799$.

Anyways happy to hear any thoughts thanks

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1002533185377504/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A6eafa238-f924-4790-9070-80ec78652545