BMW E30 INSPECTION After Sitting For 4 YEARS!
PART 1: • Saving a Forgotten BMW...
In today's video, we are performing a full inspection of my new 1984 BMW E30 318i. We looked the whole car over, performed a compression test on all 4 cylinders, smoke tested the engine to find vacuum leaks, and revealed her secrets.
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TOOLS USED:
Autoline Pro Ventus Smoke Machine:
www.amazon.com/AutoLine-Pro-A...
Brake Fluid Tester:
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Compression Tester:
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Cooling System Pressure Tester:
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Manual Impact Driver:
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Metric Allen Socket Set:
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Wire Brush Drill Attachments:
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Prybar Set:
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Awesome! That plug in the diff is the speed sensor.
Ahhh that makes all the sense! No speed sensors off the wheel bearings or CV axle! Thanks!
your videos remind me of how humble KZhead can be, these days everything is over produced. its refreshing seeing BMW content that makes you engaged. I have a 2008 328i E90 and its been a lot of fun driving and working on the car no matter how stressful it might be, the outcome is always worth it. you make great content, I always look for a new video.
Sam, your comment made my day! I try to be different from the rest and keep it real and engaging, im glad you see it that way! I love E90s especially the N51/N52. Its a good modern reliable engine. Thanks for the comment and support! means a lot
ur right alot of my fav bmw mechanic vids just add to much “flair” and it feels too try hard now. Lkve these vids
Can’t wait to see you bring this beauty closer to its glory days, great work as always man.
thanks dude! now that the inspection is out of the way we can really start tearing into things!
I just inherited a 1989 325I. It's a wonderful little car so I find your videos on the E30 quite interesting and informative. Thank you.
One of my favorite cars ever. Smooth as glass.
It’s a great one! Just need to get this idle issue fixed up
Even Sage was amazed at how clean it is underneath. Can't wait to see this car progress.
Thanks Moto! So far so good, starting to get parts ordered up
Vacuum advance on side of distributer is leaking into distributor. clamp the vacuum line to advance pot and smoke will stop coming out distributor. Yep you mentioned it. Also, do timing belt before romping on it again, they don't age well normally.
I think thats whats going on! This M10 has a timing chain actually
@@DayOffDIY Cool, Yes, you are correct, was the later engine with the belt. My friend's belt jumped, costing him an engine. late 80s 318. He modded it so much, it wasn't worth much after.
since the design (seen in later video) of the vacuum advance includes a solenoid switch, it must have a small bleed and therefore a leak, especially if it is reverse pressured. (if it didn't bleed the vacuum advance would lock whenever the solenoid engaged) the smoke test should be repeated with that blocked. also it wouldn't mean it is bad. However I found a test that the vacuum on the dist should hold vacuum for at least a minute essentially meaning it is not bled there. Maybe the solenoid only catches transient conditions momentarily and intentionally locks the vacuum advance? The same guide says this distributor does have mechanical advance, but the 6-cyl M20 engines have motronic (computerized) advance instead of weights. This sounds a bit unlikely, in that the M10 and M20 were the engines from 1977-87, and many things were improved with 3-4 changes to distributors in the period. But from introduction all M20s had computerized rpm advance, and all M10s did not? for 10 years across several revisions? I give up. I can't find an exploded drawing of the dist you have, just parts diagrams, and the weights and springs were not sold/called out. I don't know if it has them. I am wondering if the brake booster might be leaking vacuum (referencing newest video). The oldskool way to test vacuum leaks was to block things to test, but if smoke worked then great. I think maybe another leak exists. If not maybe go even closer than 1.5 micron with the main throttle for "every bit helps".
One of your best episodes yet bud. You have us on our toes waiting to see this restoration!!!
Thank you! I felt pretty good about it, real happy with how it’s coming along. Working on sourcing parts
@@DayOffDIY I was just cleaning the ICV on my E46. It idles like a dream now, but when turning the wheel while stopped the revs still drop uncomfortably low. You think you could test this out on your E46 and share a small video on how it looks like? Or I could share the video and you could compare...
You can send me a video to my email! No check engine light on?
@@DayOffDIY no CELs, car is running cherry (as you say) otherwise. I bought it earlier this year and the only thing I was unhappy about was the power steering. Felt real stiff initially. I did a fluid flush replacing the reservoir (thanks to you) and it got better, but I still don't see such free flowing fluid as I see in your videos with the engine on. I'm afraid only replacing the power pump will satisfy my OCD... hopefully I don't need to replace the steering rack too!! I'll shoot that video to you later. Thanks so much!!
CHERRY! LOL love it. its possible the pump is worn, have you pulled the belt off and checked the power steering pump by hand yet? you can pull it out and back in to see if it has any forward play, or just spin it to see if it feels smooth, its a relatively simple P/S system, i mean its possible there could be a clog in the P/S cooler or rack but I doubt it, id start with inspecting the pump and going from there. Luckily its pretty easy to do and relatively accessible. CHEERS!
This car is so clean. E30s are so rare here, and when you do find one it’s a pile of rust. You’re growing pretty fast, it’d be cool to see you do a turbo conversion in the future to reach a wider audience. Hope you’re doing well
Thank you! Doin well, getting some parts ordered up today and planning out future content. Yeah its surprisingly clean besides the paint. Id be way down for a turbo build! once i get some throwaway money its game on! Cheers
Nice bro another banger video can’t wait to see all the maintenance being done
Thanks Daniel! working on getting parts sourced for the next few videos :)
Excited for the new project 🤩🤩
Glad youre pumped too! thanks for the support
Man what a find! Cant wait to see it get the love and care it deserves:) Great work as always bud
You and me both! thanks man, cant wait to start tearing in and making some progress, parts are on the way!
Yesss i am soo looking forward to you reviving this pretty lil e30🔥👌
thanks whappy! glad youre excited about it. appreciate the support
Great content bro. Keep it up.
Thank you Jasmond!!!
BTW, love these older Bimmers, but only if they're still in stock or close enough to return to stock form. Glad you're treating the old girl right.
gotta love em! trying to keep this one stock. glad you appreciate it! thanks for the comment
WOW Iam just amazed of how clean this car is, great find can’t wait for future uploads.
Right?! It’s cleaner than both of my E46s! Lol
Hey love ur vids man! keep up the good work! love wrenching on my own car and looking ur videos for learning some new ways of doing things :) Thank you very much for that good content! Greetings from Germany✌
Hey thank you! Awesome to have viewers from Germany! Glad I could be of some entertainment or information. Cheers my friend!
Really loving your videos, man. Glad you got such a clean e30!
thank you for the support! im pumped on it
Those good old bolts that don't want to come loose. Sometimes they come out with a loud bang. The neighbors don't like it when I'm working late again. Good luck on this one. It's not a project I can relate too, ~20 yrs is old enough for me :) But I'm definitely interested in seeing some work done on this beauty!
LOL luckily i have some good distance from neighbors at my shop, so I can run the impact gun til 10pm no problem. Thanks for the well wishes! its my oldest car so far, and lowest mileage! lol. appreciate the comment
Nice find dude. It's a clean car for sure.
Agreed! Appreciate the comment Stephen!
I joined. First time sponsoring a KZhead channel. But, I must say, it is also my first time watching a car mechanic do anything on a car. So, two new experiences! Bonus for me. Your enthusiasm is infectious and your content is genuine.
hey, thank you denise! Glad youve been finding some enjoyment with the series. Should have 2 more episodes for you to enjoy with another one coming soon! Appreciate the kind words :)
Another great vid! Someone is going to be extremely fortunate purchasing this beauty after your done with her. Looking forward to you next episodes. Julio
Thanks Julio! Thats the goal, cant wait to get her driving perfect, got some parts on the way to get started!
Congrats on 10k subs, here's to the next 10k. Your videos are professional, not just loud music, burnouts and amazingly quick repairs.
appreciate it! try to keep it practical :)
Watched most of your e46 videos and now e30(my all time favourite car) subscribed after this one 😊 keep up the good work man 💪
I appreciate your support and the sub! Thanks man, glad you enjoy the content
Your instructional ability is first class. And so is the quality of your work. Keep it up dude.
means a lot! thank you!
That Smoke Machine is like using a Cheat Code💯, Thank you for your Content Sir.
Shaq my man! Love that thing, makes diags so much easier. already got the fix on the way. Thanks for watching!
Really good tour with great commentary. Liked how you kept visual orientation on the underside that I could confidently follow. Please fix the paint if possible budget wise. White is really stunning when polished and then wax or silicone protected. It glows like a Star Wars Stormtrooper!! Congrats on 10k subs!
thank you! not the best camera work but theres not too much room under there on jack stands. Id love to fix the paint! just want to get the car running and driving real well before hand. Almost to 10k, need about 50 more subs!!! Cheers
nothing better than eating breakfast and watching a new video in the morning !!
youre awesome! appreciate the support my friend
Dude, now that's a big list, and I like your idea of grouping the jobs..
ya know, after ive looked it over today while looking to source some parts, it wont be all that bad!
Greetings from the Netherlands my friend keep it up ! 👍🏼
Greetings flying dutchman! thanks for the comment! first comment ive seen from the netherlands. Cheers my friend!
Greetings from Belgium haha I grew up in the era when E30’s were new and common, nearly bought a 325i but went a different route in the end, always regretted it. Now I’m looking for one again, stumbled on your video’s, nicely presented with no annoying music and good camera movement, so many now shake the camera about so much it makes you feel motion sick. Keep up the good work, enjoy the E30
Great video and great car! I believe the sensor in the differential is the car speed sensor.
thanks for the comment felix! I think so too, now that you mention it
Yes, indeed it is the speed sensor for the cluster.
Definitely got a gem there...the condition is just fantastic...surprisingly...for the age...and no oil leaks...that is just unheard of...😂
Totally agree, its kinda boggling my mind... I want to service all the fluids but it doesnt really need it! lol
Really clean car
I think so too! Good to see ya Lieutenant
Change the rear brakes from drum to rotors it’s small upgrade but the difference is huge in stopping power
thats a good idea, I already have drum replacement parts on hand but maybe in the future or on the next one!
Also check your timing belt👍🏾
all good! this engine has a timing chain, i believe all the earlier model M10s are timing chain instead of belt
@@DayOffDIY that's great bud, you scored yourself a unicorn, I enjoy your videos, keep doing what you doing don't stop. You have a super subscriber all the way from South African👍🏾🫶🏾🙂
Okay, fix it up Alec, and Iu swear I will be so jealous I will want to buy MY OWN car back from you! It is really fun for me to watch my 318i getting all special again. Alec, it is true "Kismet" that we discovered each other. She has gone to your own BMW Paradise and she appreciates some thanks after a road trip; a good girl pat on the dash Haha. Rock on. Great channel you have.🚗. PS.....yes tranny was replaced by the BMW shop, and not really driven after that. Rainy season then, so, damned wiper motor!
good to know Denise! Everyone loves the story and history this car has, so maybe we can do a video together one day and you can share some more details of the car for the camera! im glad youre enjoying it as much as me, and dont worry, ill show her off to you and give you that opportunity when im all done :)
I Think you have the valve seals shot because when you started it blue smoke is come out
its possible, we will see when shes running again
You need a nice lift. You do great work keep it going, old BMW 's have a big market and will only go up in value.
thanks reymar! I know i mneed a lift bad... its just a lot of money to invest, budget is TIGHT!
I just bought in for $1700 and I still can't believe I got my hands on one
You scored! What type of E30 is it?
It's a 318i 2 door manual it's got some fuel issues but but i It's gonna be a car I'm gonna put a ton of effort into
Epic find my man!!!
Plug on the diff records milage. If unplugged it will stop recording. It should have a seal if broken its not a good sign. First thing to look at when buying a E30 is that sensor if seal is broken its usually to tamper with milage.
good to know reymar! I also need to find the odometer gears and take a look there...
Awesome video, can’t wait to see the wrench fest. Your puppy is getting big.
thanks caddy boy! Yeah shes pretty big now! just broke 40 lbs, i think shes pretty close to being maxed out on size, i hope she gets a little bigger though
Awesome to see the condition of this car…. You want to def change that fan clutch 100%!!!! Those can seize and explode like a bomb in your engine bay and can take out the hood along with your cooling system. I believe they even make an electrical fan upgrade for these cars
Interesting... ive never seen a fan clutch do that! ive seen fins break off, or leak fluid and become ineffective... Ill have to look into an electric fan setup one day thanks for the comment omar!
@@DayOffDIY it happened to my brothers e36 m3. His fan clutch blew up right after he got his car out of the body shop. They seize up and just cause catastrophic damage. Def change it 100% or get an electric conversion. Keep up the good work!!!
ill be sure to keep a close eye on it! Once we get some little items dialed in ill be sure to give the cooling system some proper attention
HEY, so I keep seeing the 33O in the background. Is this still sold or did the deal fall thru again? Totally interested btw
Hey! The 330 is sold to a viewer in Texas, we’ve been trying to work on shipping for almost 2 months, first time we got scammed on Shiply, second time the shipper still hasn’t come up with a date so he’s flying out to come get it this week.
Nice good to know! Thanks for the quick response. Downsizing my E90 M3 so I can find something Pup friendly and since your pup has already been in there 😅 I figured hey I wonder if that is still available. BTW the E30 you got was a steal!! That amazing! Good job.
thats a sweet car, love that engine. my favorite modern M3. what are you asking for it? i couldnt afford it atm but im just curious. Thanks for reaching out about the E46! wish i could sell it to ya but shes sold. I tried to erase all signs of dog in there LOL glad youre as pumped on the E30 as me! workin on getting some parts together for a proper wrench fest
Heck ya, I am sure the e30 once’s it’s finished is going go come out great. The value of those have shot up. My E90 is a rare bird, it’s a black, slick top, manual competition package with 66k. I bought it on BAT last September and have done a ton of work on it as preventative. Bearings, all hoses, all fluids. Done a full paint correction which took forever as the picture didn’t tell the true story. It’s a total beast. I might relist it. On BAT. Total log was about 5k worth of work not including my labor. So I am hoping to get 36k I paid 36,250. Hate that I have to sell it but life changes and now I have a pup to think about. The leather is to nice to let a pup roam around back there. I did the leatherique twice on the car it made a huge difference and restored it. I have to say, it’s awesome to see you bring them back to life. I have even contemplated Getting gen1 x3 since your video. They might be underrated. Any chance you have worked on 335d before ?
@@E90s65 she sounds absolutely mint! im sure youll get top dollar for it, especially being a slick top! ive done a little work on the diesels before, glow plug modules, some DEF work, and oil leak stuff. they seem decent besides common issues with the DEF system
I’m so glad you changed those jack stands. When you first put them up I got worried cuz u don’t like working u see cars 😂😂 u should wear the clear safety glasses and a mask or something when you do it😂😂 this car is CLEAN! I told my friend you were going to replace so many things because you’re a perfectionist😂😂.
Hi Brandi! Yeah me too, those 3 ton stands are little lol. I try to be a perfectionist to an extent, at one point or another it turns into just leeching money into a car, but this one will be worth it! im excited to go all in thanks for watching as always :)
@@DayOffDIY I’m one of your biggest fans😌🪭🪭🪭🧟♀️ so of course I’m worried about you safety 🤣🤣 then who we gonna watch? 🤣🤣☺️☮️🫶🏼🍎
ill do my best to keep things safe for ya :)
@@DayOffDIY please do. I can’t deal with any more bad stuff 💔 that’s prob why I’m always worried about everyone else.
34:36 i think its speed sensor.
i think so too
Have any suggestions on smoke machines
Absolutely! ill link it in this comment for ya. Its completely portable and doesnt require an air compressor or power source. www.amazon.com/AutoLine-Pro-Automotive-Compressor-Flowmeter/dp/B0BSH2XS4R/?maas=maas_adg_83037E7C8A8A794EB8D4204F58BD8C69_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
speed sensor plug
sounds like it! might have something to do with odometer too apparently
Alec, yes, I would be delighted to do a video with you if you think people would be interested. Way fun. Just let me wash my hair and put on some lipstick!!! haha. Let's set it up, I think it would be a hoot!
okay great! lets make it happen someday once I get it to a point im happy with and she is drivable again :)
This car was a steal at $2500. Some basic maintenance and should be good to go. If you’re keeping for yourself a manual swap would be great. But if it’s just a project that you’ll pass on in the near future I’d leave it up to the new owners preference. I’d just focus on the rubber perishable suspension components and maintenance items to make it a good driver I might also just leave the body work for the next one as well. Cut n buff to make it look as good as it can. With everything else being so fresh n clean, someone will snatch it up as is.
right?! seems like all this thing needs is a little bit of maintenance and fluids. Working on sourcing parts today, and i keep thinking to myself, " this really isnt that much!" I like where your head is at, I think the transmission will stay for now, as well as the body work, until I get it running and driving proper. Maybe at that point ill sell it... who knows! gotta pay the bills somehow.
thanks for the support Rob!
While I appreciate a good looking car cosmetically - I’ve always been more about making sure it was mechanically sound and drove well. Body work isn’t my strong point and it’s soooo expensive to do right. For something that may move onto another driveway, it’s funds that won’t likely net enough to profit from. All in it still presents very well. I bet that’s single stage paint so should come right around! Keep up the great content
couldnt agree more! drivetrain is my strength, very inexperienced when it comes to body work. Thanks Rob, hope you have a kickass day! keep the vids coming my friend
Thanks Alec. I think I’ll have a final video on the turbo turd this weekend. I managed to get it running and drove it down the street - which I’m sure my neighbors loved. But found something that finally made my mind up on the direction to go with this car. You’ll have to watch to find out! Ps - what editor do you like to do to stitch different vids together into one? Have a few short clips as I’ve worked on it and I’m terrible with tech stuff
plug might be your speed signal, atleast thats what it is on my E36
looks like it! not used to it being in the rear end, but this car doesnt have ABS so no wheel speed sensors
@@DayOffDIY Most E36s have ABS but they still get the signal from the diff
I have a question that many may ask as well. Why is the reason BMW and others don’t include dipstick anymore. Cost effective? What’s the purpose or reason?
Nobody has asked that yet! as far as the transmission goes, the new ones are relatively sealed units, personally i think its because BMW wants you going to them for service and keep people from performing their own jobs at home. The service department is a big part of where BMW makes their money lol
How many people actually check their oil? Or on a modern car, how many even know how to? An electronic dipstick that tells the driver when to add oil is handy imo. Transmissions are very specific on the fluid they take and the level it’s supposed to be. Imagine the disaster of putting Dexron III in a ZF8? I would rather it be sealed to the layperson.
agreed! just need to stack up some cash so I can afford em
Because dealers now want you to go to the garage to have it done ($$$$) you check the level with the laptop
Hi I disagree on the control arm bushes looks like too much excessive play when you were using the pry bar. Change all the springs they look corroded easy to do and good quality are cheap. Upgrade the brake hose to stainless steel the brake pedal will feel lot better but not a bad car for nearly 40 years old. Have a good time
Hello! Pretty normal movement on the CABs, they probably need to be replaced due to age, but haven’t felt any symptoms from em yet
Appreciate the comment! And thanks for the feedback 👍🏻
Do you offer inspections on classic bmws?
I could! I live in a pretty rural part of Northern California so not much of a market here... Im sure you must have a decent BMW shop located near you somewhere ya?
@@DayOffDIY not close by unfortunately. And I’m a bit away from norcal but… maybe I could pay you to do a visual inspection over facetime? That would be amazing. So far I’ve done all the work on it myself outside of new tires.
@@djangosoftwaredeveloper id be down to give you some info if i can be of any help! no money necessary friend!
@@DayOffDIY Thank you so much. I sent you an email with my info to the email on your channel. Can’t wait.
@@DayOffDIY did you get my email, whats the best way to get ahold of you, thanks!
Are you selling this one ? Please keep me posted very interested thanks.
its for sale for the right price! planning on fixing it up then selling it.
Any ideas on numbers yet ? Thanks
BMW coolant is blue, shouldn’t be green or it’s contaminated with another type of coolant
Thats correct! im sure someone just put some green coolant in there, but better than clear or old BMW coolant thats turned yellow
Sounds about right! LOL
you know it victor! thanks for the comment
Yewwwww
YEWWW!!!
Bro change the front and rear to euro style bumpers, those American style bumpers are ugly😂
in good time my friend! need to prioritize engine and powertrain, brakes... etc... then we can fine tune the exterior :)
Is it for sale??
everything is for sale for the right price! im planning on selling after I get it fixed up