fule filter, general questions

[bfdbatt2]

hello, been working on my e30 all week, picked it up last weekend. need some help.

i know nothing about its history, should i have it looked at by someone who knows their _ _ _ from their elbow?

i am hearing noise from underneath on drivers side that sounds like a cicada, high pitched. researched it, i thought it was the fuel filter. do i replace it? or am i on the hook for the fuel and transfer pump too? how do i know if they are in the tank?

as much as i want to be able to fix these things, i am a nervous wreck about screwing it up. I desperately want to learn how to do this stuff, and have managed small things like service indicator light reset and stuck doors, but also managed to screw up radio repair.

so what do i do w/ a new car i know nothing about? i appreciate any assistance. thanks.

[grafhky52]

take it to the dealer and let them check it out. they are the most familiar with the car and if you want it to last you need the issues addressed

[shadowpuck]

you may also want to check around in your area and see where people take their German cars to get work done.

dealers won't always know e30's inside and out. i've run into more than one dealer that has one tech on staff that knows those cars - the rest simply don't have the experience working on them.

barring any other possibilities, taking it to the dealer is definitely and option and should work out fine. i'd look for a shop that specializes in BMW/German cars first, though. your wallet will appreciate that!

also, you might check into the local chapter of the BMW club - I started learning how to fix/maintain my car by joining the local chapter and going to meetings/helping others with work, etc. I started on the simple jobs like oil changes and have moved up to transmission swaps and other repairs.

[Jeron]

Are you sure the sound is a cicada:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada

There is a sound file in that article. The sound is a high freq rattle or buzz.

Now if the sound is a cricket which is a high pitch squeak then I would say it is worn belts or a belt tensioner.

As for the fuel filter, I've never heard one make a noise.