well i'm back in to bmws i'm now on my 3rd 320i, this one is an 81 that i picked up for 900, and it runs and drives better than the last ones :confused well i love the car, it rides really smooth, it's been lowered and i have know idea what has been used, and neather did the guy i bought it from...

now for the questions, why does the speedo only go to 85mph, are there others that have a higher read out???

and i really want a short shifter for the car, any ideas?

and lastly, i can't afford a complete brake upgrade yet, are there any pads that will provide better stopping that stock...

thanks jon.

HOLY COW you're located in AZ! Firstoff, congrats on your 3rd E21! Whereabouts in az are you located? Pagid Brake pads are my favorite for use with stock rotors. Bavauto sells a short shift kit, and so do a few other places (around the $200 range) Stock speedo's on US spec 320i's 80 -83 had an 85mph speedometer. Your previous E21's must have been older than 80. surf on over to www.azbmw.org and meet some of the other local bimmerheads in arizona! hope to see you at a meet sometime soon!

-- Matt

The 77-79 320i's had the 120mph speedometer.

The 85mph speedo was federally mandated for a while...I think it had something to do with CAFE standards back in the 80s. I remember that going along with the "mandatory" tic mark at 55mph on the gauge face...which was also pretty ridiculous. Good to hear that earlier cars came with 120mph units though...I'll have to get one.

thanks for the tip about the az site, i just moved to the phoenix area back in dec. and i have used the pagid pads on my vw's and i had mixed results, but i might try them again, what can it hurt.

Good to hear that earlier cars came with 120mph units though...I'll have to get one.
I'm gonna get a 140 mph later.
Jake
BTW I don't think it'd be any help to anyone, but I found an e12 (I think) Euro 520. In pretty good condition, auto, it's in Gainesville. No clue what's wrong or anything but it looked nice.

id take a 120 or a 140 mph gauge.

If you can find a early E12 they have 140mph speedos that you can use in e21's.

Jay

The 77-79 320i's had the 120mph speedometer.

the "is" also came with 120mph spedo.

if your in need of one i might be able to grab on from a parts car that i know of...

For brake pads I like the Porterfield R4S carbon kevlar pads... best I have used and I run them on my family cars too. Great grip even cold, good modulation-especially with stainless hoses(good idea too), pretty low dusting and easy on the rotors.

All the '80s cars came with the 85mph speedo, even the "is". My '82 "is" has the original 85mph speedo with 330,000 mi on it...

ken

the "is" also came with 120mph spedo.

if your in need of one i might be able to grab on from a parts car that i know of...


From the same years perhaps, but my 82 iS sure as heck didnt come with a 120

thanks for all the replys i have been really busy with work, but i think i'm going to go with pagid pads and see what happens, and next week i'm going to a local wrecker to see about a new cluster

now what other clusters will fit into 320's and does anyone know where to get a good dash or atleast a dash cover.

thanks jon.

An e30 dash is a fairly easy swap......

From the same years perhaps, but my 82 iS sure as heck didnt come with a 120

mine is the same year as yours matt and it has one