Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Oct 28, 2007 16:42:23 GMT
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Hi All, small update - done a bit on the brakes. A little while ago the brake pad warning light came on, I assumed the front pads were worn out from the 'Ring earlier this year, no problem I thought, will replace them. So, yesterday I replaced front discs and pads and annoyingly the new pads don't have the little recess to connect the wear sensor so I thought I'd just bypass the sensor to put the light off. Open or closed circuit the light is still on though?  Wondered if maybe it was the back pads so had a look at those while changing the brake fluid today and the sensor there is intact and the pads look like there's plenty left in them? I've got an MOT on Wednesday, the brakes work great as you'd expect now but the light is still on - will it matter? Also, how do you make it go off... don't say with a 1cm square of black tape applied to the dash lights... Any ideas?  |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Oct 29, 2007 10:44:05 GMT
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I used to have an E30 tourer with H&R springs. 60 front 40 rear. Drove great and no issues.  P.S. I know the wheels are a bit........ but it was 12 years ago! |
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2007 10:45:29 GMT by Deleted
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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I used to have an E30 tourer with H&R springs. 60 front 40 rear. Drove great and no issues. P.S. I know the wheels are a bit........ but it was 12 years ago! Looks great - I even quite like the wheels!  MOT day today for my BMW, fingers crossed... |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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hammoj28
Part of things
Old skool BM
Posts: 321
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Oct 31, 2007 18:40:30 GMT
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Hehe, hope it passes. Shouldn't need much.
Mines not got an mot at the mo as i haven't had time to do it. Gonna replace brake line this weekend then get it through.
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Oct 31, 2007 18:57:32 GMT
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Passed no problems at all, the tester said it was in better condition underneath than most cars he tests that are half the age! ;D
There's always a relieved and slightly smug feeling to blasting home from the test centre in a nice old car with a fresh new MOT isn't there!
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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VWDan
Part of things
VW Jetta MK1, VW Caravelle 1.9TD, Audi A6 Tdi Avant
Posts: 841
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Oct 31, 2007 22:11:16 GMT
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Congrats Love the car - remember getting a lift in one exactly the same a few years ago by my mate's boss - gave it some welly and it sounded ace and went round the corners well...........sort of sideways too ;D |
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Last Edit: Oct 31, 2007 22:13:20 GMT by VWDan
If only everything in life was as cool as a retro VW racer.
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Congrats Love the car - remember getting a lift in one exactly the same a few years ago by my mate's boss - gave it some welly and it sounded ace and went round the corners well...........sort of sideways too ;D Cheers Dan - yes, it's all about the noise with these, it sounds awesome. This one is a little tappety which I believe is quite common so will be having a look at adjusting the tappets next, I'm used to hydraulic ones on old VW's so it's a bit of a new area for me - any tips? |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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i was looking at a few of these some months ago, a few of the ads i read mentioned the tappets so id say it a common fault.
id stick orange indicator lenses on tho, makes it more retro looking, or u could just spray the clear ones with orange tint?
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Waxoyl to keep the underside free from ripples will be my next job. How mine is at the mo:  |
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Yes, mine definitely needs the indicator lenses changing I agree, not keen on the clear ones at all. Pictonroad: Your car looks lovely, I really like the black grille bits as seen on yours and a few others on here. Is it lowered? |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Thread revival - I still own this car, 13 years later  It came to life with a little Swedish assistance last weekend  |
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Last Edit: Aug 8, 2020 14:58:36 GMT by Stu
'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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A brief summary of the intervening 13 years since I last posted... Daily driver from 2007 - 2010, including a few trips to the Nurburging and seeing the speedo go nearly all the way around on the autobahn... Occasional weekend use from 2010 - 2013 and regular maintenance. Very occasional trips to the MOT station from 2013 - 2017, mainly SORN. Still maintained. Minor overhaul (mostly full brake replacement) 2017 and MOT, as I intended to drive it to Germany for my 40th birthday and start using it again. But it didn't happen. Sat in the garage, started occasionally and driven up and down the driveway from 2017 - 2020. During the ownership of this car I've also owned a variety of other vehicles, some more powerful, mostly newer, generally more practical (Volvo and BMW estates, Golf GTIs, VW buses) so this hardly got used. I love the simplicity of the E30, the classic shape and style so it's always managed to keep it's hold on my garage space even if it's fuel economy (or lack of) put it out of daily service many years ago. It might be time to fettle it and start using it again?  |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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e30ben
Part of things
Posts: 71
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Yep....!
I’ve got a E30 318is, driven twice locked away for a better day to weld up, only after going to the garage and seeing it dusty after 5 years lay up today do I really feel the need to drag it out and get roadworthy.... life got in the way as the saying goes...
Yours does look good...
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Yep....! I’ve got a E30 318is, driven twice locked away for a better day to weld up, only after going to the garage and seeing it dusty after 5 years lay up today do I really feel the need to drag it out and get roadworthy.... life got in the way as the saying goes... Yours does look good... Cheers! Yes, exactly - life really did get in the way here too! |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Here's a couple of pics from a while ago. 2007 - Nurburgring trip (posted previously but now on a new image host):   2008 - Nurburgring trip:  2009 - Nurburgring trip, with a Mk1 Golf track car I had at the time, I changed the diff and gearbox oil around that time.  Golf was quicker and hard to catch (it had about 200bhp, lower final drive, LSD, plastic windows and roll cage...), but BMW much more comfortable on the drive home, haha!  2013 (I think) - general local pic:  2017 - brake overhaul, and MOT, plus a pic with my brother in law's E30 he fitted a 2.5L in and then turbo'd...       Systems check  MOT pass!  The last time I used it, I think - also 2017...  2019 - with a 330i sport touring I owned at the time (between lots of Volvos...)   2020 (last weekend) - with the Volvo and Cooper S currently owned:  Cheers Stu |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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live in Warrington? That Starbucks looks like the one near IKEA.
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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live in Warrington? That Starbucks looks like the one near IKEA. Good StarBucks spotting, correct! 🙂 |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Yikes - where does the time go?!? It's spring again, and time to start tinkering again and hopefully get the E30 through another MOT (last one, I'm embarrassed to say was spring 2017!). I put the battery on charge, checked the fluids and she fired straight up as usual and ran quite smoothly. I ordered the bits for an oil and coolant change, as despite it having only done a few hundred miles on the oil and filter fitted, it has been a good few years! Also, I have this oil extraction device (big sucker!) I use on other cars to try on it...  It happily sucked just over 4L of still rather clean oil from the dipstick tube, then I changed the filter and found the remaining few hundred ml of oil, and re-filled it.  Onto the coolant change. I last did this around 2009/10 according to my records so definitely time for a change. The coolant drained out and looked pretty decent, but the top radiator hose connection was brittle and appeared already cracked off when I removed the top hose to flush the radiator.  Although it hadn't leaked or had any issues, I'd rather find out now and just replace the radiator and any other bits that look suspect. Old radiator came out easily so I could measure it to make sure I was ordering the correct size. The old one looks original, and I can't find reference to any replacement in the cars service history so it could well be.  New radiator is on order so I reassembled the car with the old radiator and re-filled with water for now so I could drive the car back into the garage rather than push it! I'm now back on with researching all the other bits and pieces I was looking at doing previously, I *think* all the MOT specific stuff seems ok but I suppose the tester will tell me that when I get it booked in, hopefully later this month. Wish me luck! Cheers Stu |
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Last Edit: Apr 4, 2021 15:44:02 GMT by Stu
'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Whilst I’m changing the radiator I thought I’d have a look at when I last did the timing belt, and found it was only 817 miles ago... but in summer 2013. Despite being a good quality Continental belt I’ve decided that it’s best changed again for peace of mind due to age rather than mileage (belt interval is usually 50-60k miles, haha!).
New belt ordered... the shopping and job list is growing...
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Nice to see an update, it'll be great to see it about!
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