e30 in ICU :(

[mirandawinn]

Hey what's up everyone,
This is my first build thread, so bear with me. I picked up my dream car the other day (5/23/15)... well what will hopefully soon be my dream car. I've wanted an e30 forever but got a 4runner as my first car and now a have a little money to start building this little beast to be a beauty.
I found a CL post of an '84 325e with 186,XXX miles, with motor and tranny, clean title and not a dent on the car, but the clear coat was chipping and it idled rough. They were only asking $900. We talked them down to $600, so i was super excited because the cheapest e30 i had seen recently was $500 and that was a beat shell.
We made the trip down there and i had to have it. I will admit the black clouds of smoke coming out of it scared me a little bit, but the shell alone was worth over $600, so i bought it.
We had to tow it because they sold it to us without a battery, and then the tow truck didnt have an available flatbed to tow it 120 miles that night, so it would be dropped off the next day.

Pics of it the night i picked it up (sorry for shitty quality it was dark)

[mirandawinn]

So it was dropped off and after thoroughly going through the car and driving it around the block a couple times, it was more than we expected, i have no clue at all how the car even started, let-alone was semi-drivable. It's misfiring really badly and shooting out clouds of black smoke. The oil has gas in it. every clip in the engine wire harness is broken. Sounds like the diff bushings are shot. Gauges and windows dont work, but the sunroof does.
It runs a little better and doesnt misfire as badly at high RPMs.
Safe to say i have my hands full.
Also, the PO gutted the interior, so ill be getting that all put back together soon too.

[Jay P]

All the best with the build!

[mirandawinn]

All the best with the build!

Thank you !

[mirandawinn]

alrighty, so after all day yesterday of trying to get the engine idling better, it look like we might just be pulling it. Replaced injectors, atleast two of the tips of the old ones were broken off. The old sparkplugs were black and caked in gas, so we got some cheapo ones to see if that would happen again. Drained the oil, (i use the word oil lightly.....it was about 50% gas in there) and put some back in to see if the gas issue would continue. Replaced coolant temp system also.
After all that it just keeps dumping fuel. It seemed like it ran better with broken injectors and caked up plugs.. so that sucks, if anyone has any ideas feel free to let me know!

Yesterday wasnt a total flop though, it was 50% off everything at Pick n Pull yesterday. I picked up a bunch of interior pieces for super cheap.... so even if it isnt running better yet, atlease it looks better

My boyfriend's friend has an e36 318 motor and tranny for sale. keep in mine my car is a 325e, misfiring out of most cylinder. Hes asking $400. That'd be cool to turbo in the future but if im doing a e36 swap i feel like i should be getting more than 20 hp from it :/

Theres also a m30 on CL for reasonable price.

Feel free to give me your input!

[mirandawinn]

heres more pics of my hoopty




(featuring my bf's 98 m3 which is also under construction due to someone running a red light )

[TWM Performance]

This looks like it has so much potential!

- Renato

[mirandawinn]

This looks like it has so much potential!

- Renato

thanks dude im stoked

[cosmo135]

This looks sweet! Sad to see it's engine atm is trashed but i'm sure you'll get something in there. Are you planning on slamming it? Hope so

[mirandawinn]

This looks sweet! Sad to see it's engine atm is trashed but i'm sure you'll get something in there. Are you planning on slamming it? Hope so

Yes of course! Coils were first on the list but I guess an engine is kind of important too.... and thank you!!

[eethirty]

Pull the engine, put a m50 or something like that in. I have spent WAY too much time & money trying to get my eta running to 100%. Seems like with all your problems you should just pull it and swap it. have fun! (also super jealous of how clean that shell is. damn you cali.)

[mirandawinn]

Pull the engine, put a m50 or something like that in. I have spent WAY too much time & money trying to get my eta running to 100%. Seems like with all your problems you should just pull it and swap it. have fun! (also super jealous of how clean that shell is. damn you cali.)

That's what im gonna have to do! and thank you! working on the clear coat, the paint is fine just peeling clear but im super happy about my purchase!

[mirandawinn]

I know a lot of us are facing clear coat peeling.. has anyone figured out a good fix for it yet? haha
Anyway, worked on the engine all day. We did everything we could think of to fix it. Still blowing black smoke, idling super weird, and misfiring badly.
Gonna end up dropping a new motor in... just dont know what yet

Also i forgot to mention earlier that we tucked both the front and rear bumpers a little bit




if i can find a trunk and a hood the clear coat peeling issue would be pretty much gone



the mature/reasonable part of me knows I need to buy a new motor asap but its taking everything i have not to buy coils right now instead..... at least it'll be low while it sits in my garage, right?

[dlegolpolp]

It runs a little better and doesnt misfire as badly at high RPMs.

[Zacne_4]

Its time to look for a M50...