Best Forum for BMW technical help?

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 08:02 AM

My car is an E30, at least for the parts that seem to be breaking.

There are a few forums out there, but which is best?

MotoSook · 07-23-2009, 08:09 AM

E30tech.com

Not kick you when you're down but who was it that kept trying to justify spend a premium on a car because it is "suppose" to be well sorted and perfect conditon?

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soukus

E30tech.com

Not kick you when you're down but who was it that kept trying to justify spend a premium on a car because it is "suppose" to be well sorted and perfect conditon?

Yes, you are kicking me when I am down.

Carrerax · 07-23-2009, 08:27 AM

www.bimmerforums.com

Tidybuoy · 07-23-2009, 09:05 AM

The e30 is a great car (I have an e28).

I see these at the wrecking yards all the time and they almost always have 300k+ miles on them. With the age of these cars, I think you can get a great bargain and a very high quality car.

I don't know of any great forums (certainly not likd pelican).

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 09:12 AM

I've been posting questions on a few of them, and I don't get the kind of help that I used to get with the 944 here. Seems like threads about painting gauges get traction, but broken stuff is ignored.

Sarc · 07-23-2009, 09:31 AM

Another vote for E30tech.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. That car definitely appeared meticulousely prepared with a very detailed-oriented owner. What kind of problems are you having specifically? Have you made any contact with the seller regarding these issues?

MotoSook · 07-23-2009, 10:11 AM

rammy - I wasn't trying to get you say your were the one...there was someone else who kept telling folks paying 3-4 times the fair market value for a perfect car was the only way to get into a headache free car.

Anyhow...sorry to kick ya.

What is the problem with the car? I or someone here who has owned an E30 may be able to help.

McLovin · 07-23-2009, 10:33 AM

Yeah, what problems are you having?

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 11:20 AM

Here is a link to the seat issues- I'll keep it at this for now:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=144649

McLovin · 07-23-2009, 11:25 AM

Fixing the broken bolster is easy, I did that on that exact same seat years ago.

Like others have suggested, just take the seat out and take it to a muffler shop, that's what I did. Someone there will weld it back up in 5 minutes for $10-20.

You don't need to take anything apart on the seat for the welder to get to that.

Oh Haha · 07-23-2009, 03:35 PM

Bimmerfest was a good place for tech stuff. I found LOTS of archived tips, just like here at Pelican. There are some hardcore DIY'er s there as well as some that just have the car for status.

Jims5543 · 07-23-2009, 04:19 PM

I can probably weld it and if I cannot my friend can for free.

There you go, problem solved.

I personally would have gotten a set of Sparco's for it.

As far as the A/C Compressor, I would scour E30tech and Bimmorforums classifieds.

I also may have a source for you as I know a guy that races E30 Spec races and always has parts for these car laying around.

Remember my son has an E30, if you even need anything let me know.

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 05:15 PM

Well, I might still get a another set anyhow. Thing is, the seats in it LOOKED great. I can't even replace the backrest shocks. I've tried for 2 nights now with 2 different sets of clamps trying to squeeze the stupid mother fugger in place. 2 nights. I hate these seats. Who designs these things? I mean, how the hell did they get the shocks in there to begin with? Is there some kind of Bavarian magician? #($%&#($&(#$@&!

Jims5543 · 07-23-2009, 05:42 PM

I am sure you saw this:

http://bmw.e30tuner.com/articles_seatfix.php

Quote:

Once done, reassemble the seat. That procedure is the exact reverse of the disassembly outlined above. After this, the seat should work like new! One reminder is to be sure to reinstall the lock ring on the piston end that you freed. THe pistons can be very stiff, and you will need to put the piston on the edge of a table and puch downward on the entire machanism to compress it. With the pin it mates to off of the table's edge, you should be able to compress the piston & align the pin with the hole. When reinstalling the lock ring, use a 7mm socket and lightly tap it to reinstall the ring evenly. Also, when putting the tilt mechanisms' plastic covers back
on you will need to look through the small gap between it and the seat and visually align the smaller copper screw with the corresponding hole inside the cover. On the side with the seat belt buckle, this is far easier to do with the buckle removed.

Sometimes you need to come back fresh to try a difficult task. I had to do this when replacing the windshield wiper motor on the E30. BTW - It can be done without taking the assembly out if your patient and fresh when doing it.

mattdavis11 · 07-23-2009, 06:01 PM

I may have a compressor for you. I think that's a 10PA17c that the 91 318I comes with. If it looks like the one below but has a single groove pulley, then I have a brand new one that needs your clutch.

onewhippedpuppy · 07-23-2009, 06:12 PM

Most of the E30 owners I've known recommend this site: http://r3vlimited.com/

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 06:17 PM

Jim- you win the prize. You see, I saw that article before, but because it was about taking the whole seat apart, I skipped it and used this one:

http://strictlyeta.net/technical/seatshocks.html

For the rest of my life, I will never understand how he did it. BUT- by taking the back off of the seat, I got the shock on instantly. Instantly. I owe you in such a huge way- the rage I was feeling was unbearable. Thank you!!!!

rammstein · 07-23-2009, 06:18 PM

By the way, I already paid for the compressor- also the drier and other seals and stuff got replaced too. So did the O2 sensor. I got the compressor from (drumroll) pelican parts.

That whole job altogether set me back a cool g.

Jims5543 · 07-23-2009, 06:37 PM

Glad I could help but the answer was actually in the thread you started on the BMW board.

As far as sorting the car out, sorry your dealing with this. Hopefully this will be the last of it.

If you ever need help and want to get out of Dade for a weekend let me know, I have a garage, tools, manuals, and I can get Beer. I also have a welder if you ever need anything done, I am not the best but once I get the cobwebs out I do a pretty good job.

Check your e-mail.