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  4. The "Random E30 Questions" Thread

The "Random E30 Questions" Thread

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  • B
    B
    B C
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    49e079ea.jpg\

    Im posting this image explicitly because of the note on it where  "JHZR2" claims to have copyrighted the image  and I felt like making "unotherized use" of it because im going to profit so much by posting it. 

    When its below 40F consistently I run 10w-40

    When its above 40F consistently I run 20w-50

    Rear diff: 

    Some are regular hex head drain plugs, others are male hex (10mm?)  nothing special here, just fill until it starts pouring out of the top drain hole. I like the soap dispenser type bottle pumps for this and also remember to use diff fluid with an LSD additive. (If you dont have an LSD then freaking get one)

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    • jc43089J
      jc43089J
      jc43089
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      I don't feel it is necessary to run such heavy oil with modern synthetics, if using dino oil then stick with the factory weight recommendation.  I will be using 10w-30 Royal Purple HPS in my m20.

      2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
      3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
      '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

      '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

      '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
      '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
      '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

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      0
      • B
        B
        B C
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Im assuming you are talking about the shear and heat characteristics which I agree with but the higher viscosity on the older design engines is used for maintaining proper film buildup between bearing surfaces when larger clearances are in play (old design engine)

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        • jc43089J
          jc43089J
          jc43089
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          Crank/rod bearing clearances are the same for m20 and m50 iirc.  .0008-.0023"

          2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
          3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
          '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

          '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

          '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
          '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
          '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

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          • B
            B
            B C
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Same oil viscosity specs are called out for the M50 so that is probably correct.  (see uncopyrighted image b elow)

            E34OilSpecChartM50TU.jpg

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            • straight6pwrS
              straight6pwrS
              straight6pwr
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              SEM trim paint looks great and is high quality and matches the OEM trim look.  however, like most paint, your trim that has been on the car in the sun for 30 years won't really match anything perfectly if you are trying to touch it up.  repaint whole pieces for the best effect.

              Dan
              yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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              • 6670charger6
                6670charger6
                6670charger
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                I use 10W-40 in the winter and 20W-50 in the summer. Stock M20. Seems to do fine, although you can tell the difference in how the engine runs when that 20W-50 starts getting cold around early November. Will change sooner this year.

                88 325ic, Cirrus Blau; 120,000 miles

                66 Dodge Charger, red/black, mileage unknown

                Appleton, WI

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                0
                • DrLeadFootD
                  DrLeadFootD
                  DrLeadFoot
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  On my old 2.7i m20 (eta motor with the i head) I ran 20w-50.

                  Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

                  15924991875a64c599885m.jpg

                       @DrLeadFoot

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                  0
                  • B
                    B
                    Boris3
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    Stock m20 in the Spec e30, run 20w-50 dino.

                    For the rear diff make sure you can open the fill plug before you open the drain plug.

                    1990 325i racecar (ITS, former Spec E30); 2004 330i ZHP

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    1
                    • ClassEC
                      ClassEC
                      ClassE
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      straight6pwr said:

                      SEM trim paint looks great and is high quality and matches the OEM trim look. however, like most paint, your trim that has been on the car in the sun for 30 years won't really match anything perfectly if you are trying to touch it up. repaint whole pieces for the best effect.

                      Planning to do the whole lip, just want to be close in color/texture to bumper rub strips.

                      Is SEM a brand? Never heard if it - will try to find locally.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • EarlE
                        EarlE
                        Earl
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        It is a brand. It is one of the best trim paints. It is lacquer based so it is thin and will be the same texture as your lip is now. O'Reillys is a supplier for it but they may need to order you a can. I had them order it for me when I was working on my hatch trim.

                        museum sig 2earl.jpg

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                        1
                        • ClassEC
                          ClassEC
                          ClassE
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          Acouple more:

                          -I see people referencing "early" and "late" model taillights. Is the split on the taillight style the same as the bumper change from metal to plastic? Any overlap?

                          -Are the rear parcel shelves the same between the 2-doors and 4-doors?

                          -How do I reset the "oil change" interval LED thingy in the cluster?

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                          0
                          • EarlE
                            EarlE
                            Earl
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            I believe the split follows the metal and plastic bumper change. The exception is that all e30 m3's use early tail lights=)

                            museum sig 2earl.jpg

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                            0
                            • KaiserRollsK
                              KaiserRollsK
                              KaiserRolls
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              I would assume the parcel shelves should be similar between two and four doors.

                              Edit: just browsed realoem. Looks like the 2dr and 4dr window shelves have the same part numbers

                              And I think you need a tool to reset the SIL in the dash

                              -or jump some pins

                              http://www.beckerelectronics.com/BMW/servicelightreset.html

                              Just don't jump the wrong pins.

                              Fwiw, mine are on, I try not to look at them

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                              0
                              • ClassEC
                                ClassEC
                                ClassE
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                Lesson learned from doing inner tie rods: they utilize a "lock plate" to secure the inner tie rod to the rack.... Order new ones before starting project.

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                                • TehRaydarloverT
                                  TehRaydarloverT
                                  TehRaydarlover
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  Do people typically not over bore their m20 when rebuilding it for boost? Is it safe to do an overbore for boost?

                                  Untitled1zps3446a42f.png

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                                  • jc43089J
                                    jc43089J
                                    jc43089
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    No need to bore it unless cylinders are out of spec, I tore one down with 280+k (broken odo) and it was still in spec.

                                    2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                                    3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                                    '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                                    '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                                    '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                                    '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                                    '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • m42b32M
                                      m42b32M
                                      m42b32
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      Well, this is probably the place to ask this (oil questions again):

                                      I need to change my oil again (e30 318is, 1000 miles of driving will be occurring in the next 10 days) and I don't know what oil I should use because there is no concrete answer for m42 cars. I don't want to go to a full synthetic because I don't want any more leaks to develop. I currently have castrol gtx high mileage 10w-40 and it was pretty good in the colder weather but I have been noticing a lot more audible ticking at lower RPM's (possibly due to the oil being too thin?) recently as the temperatures have been steadily 65+. Would changing to 20w-50 (probably castrol gtx high mileage again) be a good choice for the summer or would it put too much strain on the pump/not flow well on startup/etc in WI summer temperatures? This weight seems to be the consensus on m20's but for the m42 I can't find a consistent answer.

                                      Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

                                      1991 318is, 1991 318i, 2022 Bronco

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                                      • EarlE
                                        EarlE
                                        Earl
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        20w-50 or 15w-50 would be great=-)

                                        museum sig 2earl.jpg

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • jc43089J
                                          jc43089J
                                          jc43089
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          BMW engines all tick like a sewing machine, I would not be concerned about that.  I would also use synthetic but that's my personal preference.  I just filled my new to me m20 with 150k on it with royal purple 10w-40.

                                          2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                                          3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                                          '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                                          '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                                          '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                                          '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                                          '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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