Hi All, Well, yet again, it has been ages. I hope that you are all super well! (Unlike my car at the present moment.) Have you seen the new BMW TV ad with a 2002, E30, and then newer models? When I saw the ad out of the corner of my eye, I thought "Beemie, what are you doing on TV?" You may recall that I was having some steering issues in July. The mech saw Beemie, and we agree
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteKelly Hi P and R, Thanks for your advice. Well, I'll drive to the mechs tomorrow morning. I really hope Beemie will be ok for a couple more days. I'd hate to roll off a hill. Egad. Thanks, Kelly Hi P and R, I swung by the mechs this am. The mech said the car is safe to drive for the present. He thought the rack may be moderately worn. We took a little test drive. He
Forum: Technical Forum

Quoterkj QuoteArcheo-peteriX QuoteKelly Hi All, Yes, it has been ages. I've been lurking here a bit. My life has been a soap opera. The highlights include - 1) my sister-in-law's cancer, surgery, and now chemotherapy treatments, and 2) another designer passing off photos of my designs as his own work on the Internet. I'm about to rattle those cages. If imitation is flattery, the
Forum: Technical Forum

Hi All, Yes, it has been ages. I've been lurking here a bit. My life has been a soap opera. The highlights include - 1) my sister-in-law's cancer, surgery, and now chemotherapy treatments, and 2) another designer passing off photos of my designs as his own work on the Internet. I'm about to rattle those cages. If imitation is flattery, then what is stealing? Just pathetic. (I me
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteKelly At least the old tires held together during yet another emergency stop at the dreaded T-intersection which I pass daily. Hi All, I hope that you are well. Well Beemie has new Michelin Harmonies finally! Phew. Keeping in mind that my car is a convertible, I can say that the road noise has reduced by 80%. No more banging noises. Perhaps the old RoadRunner tires were quite h
Forum: Technical Forum

Quotestirv i found a third brake light today, with a very good gasket. from an 87. this car was great before they wrecked it. must have blown the motor or something because it was removed and the rest was just tip top. i grabbed the door panels. i had converted my entire interior to black from beige but i just painted the panels with some really nice black paint, but these are original black on
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteFerdinand Other than maybe $20 in gas, plus another $3 bridge toll each way to cross the river, I still save over $300. How is that possible? Hi All, My best answer to your question Ferd is that you are thinking! And economy of scale is working in your favor. All right kids - it's time for a mini-vent. My beloved Beemie is still toodling around on the old tires of doom. Why
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteDave_G QuoteBob in EverettIf the plug was not torqued correctly it can work its way out. This is what I sincerely hope happened! The alternative is that the plug was over-torqued and stripped the threads in the head, in which case it will happen again and I'd be looking at a helicoil repair. I'd rather just make sure that the plugs are torqued correctly. It's funny that a
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteBob P 325is 88 tires in this size are rare so one can't be too picky. Salut, Bob P. Sing it Bros! Wow, it has been hard to decide. I even emailed Ove with the 3 choices: Yokohama 205/60/14, Sumitomo 205/60/14, and Michelin 195/65/14. His first e-mail suggested that the Michelins might be the most comfy. Then added "I am not familiar with the Michelins, but I have heard
Forum: Technical Forum

As if there is not enough to worry about - Instant car key cutter device Humm, I wonder if this is worse than a "slim jim" device and a hot wiring job. Well, at least many of us have manual transmission. Another article I saw today said that less than 10% of Americans could drive a stick shift thereby reducing the likelihood of theft - maybe. Kelly
Forum: Community Forum

Quoterkj I went for 205x60x14 on my car but it does put the pan closer to the road but it looks cool! Rick Were those the Yokohama AVS ES100 model or the Sumimoto HR200? But both of these are summer tires. Do they brake well in the rain? Kelly
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteDave_G QuoteKellyAccording to Michelin's web site I will need size 195/65HR15. This is wrong. Those tires would be too big. The stock 14" tire size is 195/65-14. The equivalent 15" tire size (and stock on the iX) is 205/55-15. If you wanted a skinnier tire, you could go to 195/60-15, which would still be a little too big, but would be closer. 205/55-15 is not a common ti
Forum: Technical Forum

Tires and oil, two things I don't cheap out on, Rick Rick Right there with you Rick...tires are the only important thing between your backside and the assphault Cheap out on other stuff but put the best quality tires you can afford on the car! Hi All, Sounds like Michelins are a great choice. I looked at their web site. I'm like a stranger in a foreign land. I don't
Forum: Technical Forum

Hi, Yesterday I learned that I need new tires. One of my tires had a 6" crack on the inner side wall which caused a flat. the right rear tire has a tiny bulge on the side wall. The tire shop said the car is safe to drive for the present. Which tires should I buy for a "normal" city street driving Beemie with 15" BBS Basketweave rims? The lower friction gas saving ti
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteDave_G Without a slip, the little iX pulled him about 1/2 mile to the top of the gap, where he thanked me profusely and expressed amazement. ("What kind of car is that??) I love my iX. It's good to share the Beemie love. Gathering friends as it rolls. Yep-er-oo! Cheers! Kelly
Forum: Community Forum

QuoteMichiel 318iS I hope they haven't gone into the cash for clunkers show. Yeah, I was worried about that too. However I think in San Francisco I see the same # of e30s today as compared to before cash for clunkers. I'm also surprised that I see as many 1980s mid-size American cars as I do. Surely those should have gone to the crusher. Around here I mostly see Japanese, German, Amer
Forum: Community Forum

Quotedaniel great well i guess i'll just pretend i never posted those. Hi D, Those are nice pictures! Thanks for posting. Sometimes I see a Tesla in Silicon Valley. Orange wheels are popular on bicycles as well. Trek District I think it won some design awards for the belt drive system. (I could be wrong.) The orange wheels are really spiffy. This particular model has a single gear
Forum: Community Forum

QuoteFerdinand QuoteKellythe noise occurs when turning at low speed. When still, the noise does not occur. My car sometimes makes a creaking noise when I turn the steering. I'm pretty sure it's the top bearing on my front left suspension strut making the noise on my car. You can hear it creaking in this video clip from last Sunday's snowcross event, Sixth run: http://www.youtub
Forum: Technical Forum

Quoterkj You're getting the noise when you are actually turning the wheel, right Kelly? Is it a whirring constant noise or a random or steady noise when you're standing still... Rick Hi Rick, Yes, the noise occurs when turning at low speed. When still, the noise does not occur. Cheers, Kelly
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteArcheo-peteriX Yes, that's the reservoir. Make sure it is filled to the indicated level. If the level is good, it could be the pump. It could also be a slipping PS belt. Have the mechanic check that out too. Hi All, I checked the fluid level which seemed fine. Then I drove over to the mechs. They tell me that something inside the pump has shattered. SO Beemie will have new pum
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteBob in Everett Is the power steering reservoir full? Might be the pump ingesting air. Bob in Everett Is the power steering reservoir a semi-spherical tank with a screw-on top which says Automatic Transmission Fluid and located near the air-intake housing? (note: I have a manual transmission.) Thanks, Kelly
Forum: Technical Forum

Quotenomis3613 Quoterkj It sounded like your leak was a slower constant type so if you monitor it with a piece of cardboard under the pan you should be able to keep tabs on it. Did you drain the oil and clean that crack the best possible?, did the crack stop oozing oil before the JB weld went on?? Rick Despite my pathetic initial attempt, it actually sealed the main leak so now it's dripp
Forum: Technical Forum

Hi All, Little Beemie has started making an er-er-er sound when turning the steeling wheel and as the car is moving slowly - such as when I parallel park. I do try not to turn the steering wheel when the car is stopped. The sound almost reminds me of rubber and metal rubbing together. I first noticed the noise on Thurs night. Today it became a little worse. The old mechs replaced the contro
Forum: Technical Forum

QuoteFerdinand Awesome! That was a very informative and entertaining read. I wish I knew how, or had the guts to try, to do body work like that. I found the transmission rebuild very interesting. He has great photos and clear instructions. I once wrote an article explaining how the internals of a transmission work, and why double-clutching on downshifts is so important to the longevity
Forum: Community Forum

Quoterkj QuoteMichiel 318iS It's a sort of social networking site, like facebook, but more job-related. Traces back long lost friends, colleagues, job opportunities. Thanks Michiel, looks like you're right on target, anybody have any experience with this? Cheers Uhh, now those are some real cookies! Choc Chip? Hi Rick, I'm on LinkedIn. Yes, it is a networking site f
Forum: Community Forum

Quotenomis3613 QuoteEarendil So I'm in Safeway (a grocery store) today when I hear the intercom come on and announce: "could come to the phone for a code 1221". My immediate thought was that somebody had an exhaust problem... Should I seek help? LOL! One of the few things I remember from The Dark Night (Batman movie) is that there is an E32 in one of the street shots. Let
Forum: Community Forum

Quoterkj On the other fork, the North Fork, a lot of wooden boat stuff is going on. This was one of my favorites These are my people Nice!! Is the birdseye maple a centerboard? Dumb question perhaps. I've only seen metal centerboards before. Cheers, K
Forum: Community Forum

QuoteJUMPNYC Ok got it back to my friends place so we can start tearing it apart. heres some pics of the new baby In better shape than I thought, more pics to come soon! Uhh - oh my god - smart women will swoon when the rust is gone! Keep smelling salts under the seat. Key word here is SMART women. If you don't like smart girls, buy a different car now! Chose wisely. The light
Forum: Community Forum

Quoterkj QuoteDave_G ...Thus exclaimed an astute observer of automotive excellence as he walked by my E30 in the parking lot of the grocery store today. Of course, he was a 4-year-old preschooler holding the hand of his mom, but his keen observation is no less accurate because of that. So true, so true. I find the youngsters have a very keen sense if left you leave their minds unmolested-
Forum: Community Forum

QuoteArcheo-peteriX There was a group of M-Tech cars that BMW put on the road which weren't M3s. Basically it was like the 325iS but had a special interior decoration package and a special suspension package. I don't believe the engine was any different but it may have had an M3 type transmission. That was a Euro car only though...anything in NA is just a regular E30 with a badge sl
Forum: Technical Forum