Heya folks,
just scored a 1980 323i for 1200. Looks like a hot plate o' pooh, but I've already started to assemble the parts for installation.

Thing runs pretty good. Spark plugs are a must at this point (suggestions welcome), and I'll need to tool around with it on the dyno to get everything kosher. The rubber underneath the hood will take some R&R, but otherwise its a solid car. No rust on the chassis and there's already a set of Eibach springs and Bilstein Sports on all corners. I just need to figure out why it dies and takes forever to restart when I let the RPM drop when I'm driving it. I guess when I start doing some R&R on the engine rubber things will start to smooth out.

I'll post up some pics as soon as I can, but it's dark out and I'll need to snag my parents digital camera.

congrats and welcome to the forums!

Grats! Might want to check the fuel system. When my filter has been clogged in the past it would do the same type of thing.

congrats and welcome to the forums!
Heh.... I've been a member for some time now, just car less.

Thanks uber, I'll look at that first thing in the morning.

my bad lol I meant to the e21 forum. How's CO treatin you? I used to go to CSU and used to visit Parker where some friends lived

You may have to adjust the idle. I had the same issue when I first got the car but after fiddling around I managed to get it going.

my bad lol I meant to the e21 forum. How's CO treatin you? I used to go to CSU and used to visit Parker where some friends lived

It treats me good. Snow packed roads and studded snow tires rock. I like it a lot. Tons of different driving experiences here, so it makes life interesting. I actually consider Parker/Franktown my home stompin' grounds.

I think the first few things I'll do if fix all of the rubber, as it's all t-o-a-s-t. I hope that most of that will solve the issues, but I'm sure everything will need some adjustment to get it running golden.

Here's a question. I was told that putting a few bottles of some BGK44 Fuel System Cleaner and spraying some BGK upper engine cleaner in the intake manifold should help clear out some of the gunk built up in the motor. Now I know this stuff works wonders, as I've used it several times before, I'm only concerned about compatibility with the K-Jet system, as I'm not sure if it will affect any of the components.

Awesome! another e21 guy in colorado. If you ever want to go tearing up and down mountain passes im down. thats a very cool find.

lol In Red Ribbons defence being apart of the e21 community is different then from the rest, You will see as time goes by. So yes welcome to our forums.

there are like no fricken 323's in north cali!!! this bites, i've been looking for one since i got my 320is!!! arg!

ah well. welcome to the car man.

Here's a question. I was told that putting a few bottles of some BGK44 Fuel System Cleaner and spraying some BGK upper engine cleaner in the intake manifold should help clear out some of the gunk built up in the motor. Now I know this stuff works wonders, as I've used it several times before, I'm only concerned about compatibility with the K-Jet system, as I'm not sure if it will affect any of the components.

I have used it in the Baur with some success. When I first acquired the car I flushed the system with it. The improvement was obvious. No detrimental side effects.

Biggest improvement came after having the injectors cleaned.

I have used it in the Baur with some success. When I first acquired the car I flushed the system with it. The improvement was obvious. No detrimental side effects.

Biggest improvement came after having the injectors cleaned.

Thanks Bruce!

onesimo, roll down to MAC anytime. I'd be more than happy to go cruise some mountain passes with ya. I know of a few good roads within 10 minutes from here in Parker. But yeah, gimme a shout anytime or just drop by. I need to show these assholes here at MAC that these cars are a lot more than what first meets the eye.

Anyone have any recommendations on spark plugs. I'm looking at a set of NGK's as I've had a good history with these plugs.

for plugs, i use NGK BP5ES in my 323i, they seem to work good

congrats on the car.

is it mostly primered? if so i know which one you are talking about.

for plugs, i use NGK BP5ES in my 323i, they seem to work good

congrats on the car.

is it mostly primered? if so i know which one you are talking about.

heh... yeah, it's primered. Thanks for the recommendation

Well, I did some more work on the hawtness today. Flushed the brakes, oil change, fixed the majority of the vacuum leaks (which helped the idle out tremendously along with the gas mileage), put my new 100W/65W and the 100W super yellows in the Hella's. It looks like I could light up a pee-wee baseball game with those new bulbs in it.

After attempting to flush the clutch line, I've discovered that the clutch master is bad, so I'll need to replace it soon. Also, I've got a bad connection to the fuel level sender as the needle ticks all over the place, sometimes drops dead even. As well as a bad ground/short for my turn signals which is causing it to pop fuses all the time.

Got most of the interior reassembled and I'll be tearing out the stock seats and throwing in my Recaro's from my old E21 soon. I need to figure out how to get the mildew smell gone, but I'll be ditching the rear interior (which is trashed, but a few good components still in it) in light of weight reduction and the fact that I don't want to scoot a bunch of people around. Should help with the smell too.

After getting it on the lift today to do some inspection/service, I took a glance at some of the rust issues and was quite satisfied with the condition for a 28 year old car. A little spots on the frame rails and, of course, the rear shock mounts will need some attending to. But otherwise, pretty solid. I HAVE to get the paint issue resolved as mag-chloride does horrible things to bare metal and gaping wounds of rust.

All went well until the end of the night when I ran my bosses car along the side of a trailer. All because my buddy was too lazy to move the trailer where it needs to be after his racing weekend. The door is pretty fucked and the side skirt will need to be patched. Oh God I'm soooooo screwed with this tomorrow. Not looking forward to hearing Bill freak out on me for tweaking his car.... Give me strength guys.

I seemed to have fixed the turn signal short. I'm gonna do a bit more chasing on the wires, but I was wondering if anyone here has a spare turn signal relay they could part with. The wipers work, the horn works and the hazard flashers work, but it seems the relay took a shit.

But here's a question. Should I spend the time on re-wrapping the wiring under the hood? I don't like that cloth loom they use on the harness, irritates the hell out of me and it looks like ass.

I believe that the indicators and hazards work off the same flasher relay, so if the hazards are working and indicators are not then you probably have a problem with the indicator switch or the hazard switch is not quite kosher. It could be something else, but it's probably not your flasher relay.

I believe that the indicators and hazards work off the same flasher relay, so if the hazards are working and indicators are not then you probably have a problem with the indicator switch or the hazard switch is not quite kosher. It could be something else, but it's probably not your flasher relay.

mmm... I'll have to muck with it in the morning. In the mean time, I've got to figure out this whole situation with the ignition switch... pita.....:(

Are there any places where I can download some wiring diagrams for this car? I'm thinking I might just take the time and re-wrap most of the chassis harness and rid myself of these electrical gremlins.

I ripped out my rear interior tonight, ditching the rear seat, belts, side panels and clean the crap out of the back. But I must say, the third day seems to be a charm for finding issues with my car. Looking at the rear strut towers I've uncovered a rather disturbing case of car cancer (aka rust). So big I accidentally stuck my finger through the passenger side wheel well. I'll need to pound out some sheet metal and weld in some patches in the rear towers and a few other locations around the body. Son of a....:mad

If you do a search on this forum you'll find more than a few posts with links to wiring diagrams. I don't know them offhand.