Jump to content
TriggerFish

Joe's E30 325i Sport - new engine started!

Recommended Posts

Bad and good news Joe. Sadly, I knew that was the A40 (OK, I know your commute but recognise it anyway!). I also was going to say that I thought it was the same guy, the plate stuck in my head!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Remembering that number plate is impressive Sam! One dry weekend, get in touch and you can finally have that go in it I promised you in the summer.

For now though, it's back under cover again for the bulk of the winter. 

20161201_184748.jpg

Edited by TriggerFish
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Markxr said:

Nice workshop 

Thanks. It's going to be going soon though, hopefully. 

My new place I'm in the middle of buying has a garage (hence the furniture you can see) so hopefully I can scrap the e46 chassis and move the E30 in to my own house and have it easily to hand. 

I'll miss having space to work on the car, but I'd rather have the extra money than the space for now. Hopefully (ha!) both cars will be reliable enough they won't need working on, so the dry workspace would be wasted anyway. That's the plan...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An update for the new year. I've still not moved house (I made the offer initially in March 2016! :o ), so this is still leaving in the workshop/shed/greenhouse thing.

I've treated it to a lights-on warning buzzer though after getting fed up of being rang up by the parking chap at work to tell me my lights are on (I've left them on all day before when the regular guy wasn't there, so no-one rang me, and it still started fine, thankfully).

Anyway, in much more interesting news, I ordered a Miller WAR chip for it: https://www.millerperformancecars.com/store/war-chip/best-bmw-chip-miller-w-a-r-chip-detail

This means that I can write and upload four of my own maps to the ECU without needing to mess around with removing the EEEPROM, or paying expensive dyno/tuner fees. :) (I do ideally need an AFR gauge so I don't blow it up though!)

2017-01-18%2013.48.08.jpg

Sadly, it has to use XP, which brought back memories!

16295543_10155423072320839_6345720_n.png

I just need to get my head around all of this, try and find a base map that suits my engine (most are for larger injectors, which I might have to buy, but don't really want to as I had mine refurbed, and they're a pain to change (but not hard, at least)). Most stroker maps are for MAF upgraded cars too - mine still runs the original AFM. I don't know how these two differ in terms of readings reported to the ECU.

The thing I'm looking forward to most? Having one of the maps that's the same as the regular map, but with fuel added on 0 throttle above X,000 rpm to create popping/banging on the overrun. Childish, but meh! :D

Capture_1.jpg

Edited by TriggerFish
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought they all had the buzzer, at least I remember several of mine having one. Maybe just an obvious mod.

Do you really need 4 maps?! I get the overrun, but that'd be standard.

In other news, I saw a 'drift' e30 almost drift into a bus yesterday, think he's a little unsure of his talent! Oh, and I purchased a rather nice little clio 182.

Edited by Sam
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mine definitely doesn't. Wiring suggests it was never there either.

Does a Z4M really need over 300bhp? ;) And no, it doesn't. It won't let you upload with empty slots though, so you have to give it four, even if they're all the same. Only use cases I can see are normal, popping (maybe), MOT pass mode (although it was fine before hand) and a 'valet' mode for giving it to garages. I guess if the chip had the capacity, it's nice to build in for those users using it with more complex ECUs which support stuff like launch control, or different boost pressures. For a basic N/A engine, the need isn't as great.

See, I'd love to watch someone drift into a bus. Win-win situation really (assuming no-one's hurt). One less drifter on the public roads, and a damaged bus. 

I do like the 182, but hate their massive steering wheels. Is that to supplement, or replace, the Z4?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course it does! Silly question.

Fair enough, I suppose you'd complain if it was 1 or 2 and you had to keep swapping.

It was funny, looked 'rat', roll cage, stupid camber/wheels etc. Clearly no talent, he had to come to a stop because he cocked up so much.

Supplement of course! It'll be the 'daily' (although I cycle to work), and the odd track day. Retire the Z to weekends and fun drives, I've done 22k in as many months, and consumables are not cheap. Z tyre £200, 182 tyre £50. Z brake disk £225, 182 £23(!!). I'll do a topic soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still no topic on the 182 Sam! :(

Not much has happened with this still. I fired it up for the first time in a few months last weekend. It's not been on trickle charge or anything, but it cranked happily, and fired into life quite easily. It doesn't idle on its own from cold that well though, and needed a few seconds of raised tickover. I've got a fuel pressure testing kit off eBay and will do some investigations. It could be the FPR, the injectors leaking, the temp sensor, or the ICV. Given it doesn't start on the first attempt after standing, I suspect it's loosing fuel pressure - so it's likely the FPR (I have spares :) ) or the (newly refurbished) injectors.

I did start to replace the diff. bush though - the remaining one on the car that needed doing.

This doesn't show it all that well, but it was clearly past it as I could move it a good cm or so just by hand with a screwdriver!

Resting

2017-02-16%2017.33.32.jpg

And under pressure (note the point of the triangle at the top of the photo is point down, and the right hand side of the triangle is much higher)

2017-02-16%2017.33.42.jpg

The diff is nice and clean inside though, so that's something.

20170215_175920.jpg

20170215_175838.jpg

And it makes me laugh how it's got so much suspension travel, yet sits so low. Standard springs must be well past their best!

20170215_170121.jpg

20170215_170212.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll do a topic when I get a ride in the E30! Surely it's nearly time for it to come out and play? I'll being the 182 to level the playing field. ;)

Actually, I have a topic running else where. Just haven't reposted here, I'll get on it captain.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Sam said:

I'll do a topic when I get a ride in the E30! Surely it's nearly time for it to come out and play? I'll being the 182 to level the playing field. ;)

Actually, I have a topic running else where. Just haven't reposted here, I'll get on it captain.

If it's dry next weekend, you around? I really hope it's faster than a 182. It'll be so depressing if not! There's no way it'll turn/stop as well, as it stands, but if it doesn't have the legs on it, then :(

 

Oh, and I finally got my £30 refund from BMW. Took them 2, nearly 3 months to refund me a measly £30. Specialist Cars in Tring suck. I'll stick with North Oxford BMW (and mail order items via Cotswold) from now on.

Edited by TriggerFish
Link to comment
Share on other sites

True - and you'll probably be better off there too :)

Er, no. I still need to ring them again. I know it's a hiding to nothing, and I know they'll just keep ignoring me, so it's hard to find the motivation to have the argument. I'm resigning myself to the fact it won't be fixed (by them), as they're useless d**ks, and I've likely left it too long. I'll try and remember to ring them on Monday. (It's my birthday today, don't feel like downing my mood with a phone call to them!) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks. Another successful year of not dying completed!

No, it isn't. At least it'll be nearly dark by the time I get home, so the fun of a blast is removed by lack of light, and rush hour traffic. The failed bush was making quick gear changes a pain anyway, so happy to hold off until it's done.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was! Just went to London to collect another, but that snapped too when changing the bush. Should be getting another on Saturday from the same guy. His car is at a workshop at bicester, so nice and close. 

I've said this before, but I really like the e30 community. Some awesome people there. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is good, parts stay at a reasonable price and everyone is willing to help.

Only name I remember was Spadge. Had a big drive way over MK way I think. I got a bonnet from him, but when I turned up, there were 4 other people getting E30 bits, and about 10 E30s (either his, breakers or people collecting stuff). It was a brilliant sight. Don't think his neighbours probably liked it though!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The name Spadge rings a bell, but it could just be an old name off e30zone I've spotted.

I'm struggling to find another diff. backplate, but there's a place nearby who's willing to try welding it for me for £45, with no charge if it doesn't work. I'm hoping it works, and I can get a brace added around the outside for safety. Given they're ~£130-140 on eBay and £250 from BMW, this seems like a no-brainer.

In other news, I suspect that I'm going to need to upgrade my injectors in the near future (well, now, but I need to verify first!) so I can start mapping it with my WAR chip. I'm currently eyeing up BMW S52 injectors, which deliver 216cc p/m @3bar, vs. the standard 149cc @3bar. Some people go with M50 injectors, but then you need to up the fuel pressure, which needs a ~£70 FPR. Given the S52 units are $13 each, rebuilt, from the US and don't need a new FPR, it's a better option IMO.This should see me to about 260bhp ((216/5)*6), so I'll never get near their limits, whereas maths suggests that standard ones are good for ~180bhp only ((149/5)*6). There's someone with an identical engine to mine on e30zone who recorded 199.3bhp with standard injectors, who found they were maxing out, so the upgrade should free up some extra power. 

To map the engine, I really need to know what the air:fuel ratio is doing, otherwise I could run massively lean, or rich, and not know it. Enter stage: my latest (incredibly reluctant) purchase:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/h7b/Innovate-3844-MTX-L-Digital-Wideband-Ratio-Gauge/B004MDT8MW

I didn't want to buy this, but I need it, realistically, for the WAR chip otherwise I'm guessing, or restricted to dynos instead. I just need to find a friendly exhaust place to weld in a mount for me so I can attach the sensor.  Any suggestions of tame exhaust people near Oxford or Aylesbury gratefully received! Then I just need to wire it up. I hate wiring. With a passion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dropped the diff. back plate off at a place just outside Bicester, will hopefully get it back early this week so I can get it road ready again. It's likely to be used as a wedding car for friend wedding in April, but other than that, there's no rush to keep this mobile.

I've finally fitted a lights-on warning buzzer. It makes a horrid piezo shriek, but it's better than leaving them on all the time. I've also started to fit the AFR gauge. Subtle placement was my concern, along with how to run the wire into the car without making any new holes.

I initially ordered a gauge holder, and was planning to stick it in front of the gear stick. When it turned up, it was too deep, so I had to abandon that. Then I considered sticking it on the outside of the center console, but then it might be in the way of passenger's knees, and the glovebox. I didn't want it on the dashboard either. I saw someone had placed them down by the handbrake, but that seemed too hard to read at a glance while moving. Purely by luck, I saw an advert on eBay for an E30 with two gauges mounted in a decentish place (I don't really want to have this at all, but needs must), so I went with that:

2017-03-05%2014.31.45.jpg

I added some masking tape to protect the edges as the drill bit into it, which didn't really do anything! Luckily though the hole came out pretty much perfectly, so no harm done. Also, purely by chance, the top of the gauge lines up perfectly with the slight fold in the trim panel. Phew!

2017-03-05%2014.15.56.jpg

2017-03-05%2014.18.14.jpg

2017-03-05%2014.18.30.jpg

For the wiring, my dad suggested going through the gear stick hole, which works pretty nicely length wise too. The connector is tucked up in the wishbone for now until the sensor itself is fitted to the exhaust pipe. I must remember not to drive in the rain for a while! I just need to give it 12v and an earth, and it's wired in. I was planning to take this from the feed to the OBC (not fitted to my car) as it's a factory switched, appropriately fused, connection and requires no modification to the original wiring loom (very important to me after I've cleared up the mess the PO left behind with audio and alarm crap everywhere.

2017-03-05%2013.03.14.jpg

^ Notice the wire at at abot 1 o' clock, coming out of the rubber grommet.

2017-03-05%2013.03.54.jpg

And there it is running into the car. On the left is the underside of that grommet. The gearbox support/mount is on the right, and the big round thing is a vibration damper on the prop shaft. The reverse sensor wiring and cable ties should make sure the cable doesn't rub anything, but I'll need to keep an eye on it for the first few trips.

2017-03-05%2013.05.12.jpg

And the connector tucked up out of the way. It's a shame it didn't stay clean under there long. It's also a shame the gearbox output shaft seal never got replaced, as that's 100% the cause of my gearbox leak, and the only oil seal that wasn't changed. D'oh!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...


×
×
  • Create New...