BMW 325e?

[trekkor]

What do you guys know about this car?
Any tricks or tips?

It's going to be a student trainer/track car.

1985 model.




KT

[Apollo]

I think the 'e' means economical or detuned compared to the standard 325- not a powerhouse.

[Embraer]

it's detuned. i paid $400 for mine, and i've been driving it daily for over a year. i gutted the interior, everything except console, dash, and driver seat. i love mine so much, when this disposable car goes, i'll buy another.

usual things, ie: timing belt/waterpump, etc.

it's a blast to drive, but i'd probably go for an "i" if i wanted more go. even still, with shedding the weight, it feels faster than my SC did

[trekkor]

Yes. I drove it today for the first time.

It has good acceleration and power up to 5,000 rpm's when it pegs the limiter.
It feels like driving a powerful car being short shifted.

I'm wondering if the limiter can be disabled safely?


KT

[Embraer]

you can spend about $50 for a chipset off of ebay that bumps the rev limiter up. i believe you'll get about 30 more hp or so, too, as long as youre running 91 octane

[slodave]

Hood lock?

[Embraer]

good eye! actually, i broke the hood catch, and needed a quick fix, so i put a gate hasp on there. $5 fix.

(it was a running joke at work to see who could have the worst airport car).

anyway, i have since removed that, and now have hood pins on the car to keep the hood on

[einreb]

that motor responds well to being chipped. pelican sells one.

very flat torque curve right up to the new limit with that chip.

[Embraer]

like i said, i paid $400 for the car, and was involved in an accident last winter. the girl who hit me was cited as being at fault (ie: speeding and reckless driving according to the state troopers report).

her insurance adjuster came out and he looked at the car and asked me if i wanted it fixed or totaled. of course i said total it.

after going back to the office, he called up and said "well, market value on your BMW is around $2400. if you want to keep it, we'll send you a check for $2100."

no brainer!

[trekkor]

I'll be installing a 6-point roll cage, race seats and harnesses, race brake pads and SPEC e30 suspension.

Car should scoot.


KT

[trekkor]

Originally Posted by einreb

that motor responds well to being chipped. pelican sells one.

very flat torque curve right up to the new limit with that chip.

Help me find that link, please!


KT

[slodave]

Pelican Parts - Product Information: PEL-TMS027-000

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=N&make=BMW&model=BE30&section=FULful&page=1&bookmark=1&part_number=PEL-TMS525-310

[trekkor]

Thanks!

That's big gains.


KT

[Tobra]

ain't technology great

are those 4 lug wheels?

[trekkor]

They are. 14x6 bottle caps.


KT

[A930Rocket]

trekkor

How much us the car your looking at? I've been thinking of ditching my F150 at 12mpg for something with better mpg. Been looking at mid 90's 3 series, but 1985 and up might be just as good.

[Wilhelm]

I owned an 85 325e. Nice car. Not much power..the 'e" was for "eta" as I recall =efficiency = fuel economy.
A reliable , solid daily driver. The odometer busted at around 175,000 miles. When I sold it to my nephew it probably had 200,000 miles on it. He drove it like he stole it...beat the hell out of it... and put probably another 25,000 miles on it. He thought he was a mechanic and did his own maintenance, and repairs. He finally killed the motor.
Well maintained and driven reasonably I bet that thing would have gone 300,000 miles.

[trekkor]

This car is for a track friend.
It's going to be beat on with reckless abandon...


KT

[Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by trekkor

This car is for a track friend.
It's going to be beat on with reckless abandon...


KT

Based upon the way my nephew treated that car after I sold it to him...I would say that the motor ,transmission, running gear, can take a lot of abuse. He drove it on the street like he was on the track ! He treated the throttle like an on/off switch.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Wilhelm

He treated the throttle like an on/off switch.

You mean the throttle really isn't an on off switch? Damn, wish someone had told me sooner.