'82 BMW 320i Turbo

[nifu]

Hi, I just recently bought an '82 BMW 320i that was made into a Turbo. I know hardly anything about cars and I am a fairly new driver. The car has been sitting, unused for 15 years and it doesn't start. We bought it from our cousin who turbo'ed it and changed a bunch of stuff to it (EDIT: chnaged stuff 15-20 yrs ago!). I am pretty sure he raced it.
To fix the car, we tried changing the fuel tanks, fuel pumps, spark plugs, oil, gas (EDIT: new Battery) ... but still no go.
The mechanic said that he thinks the fuel insn't getting into the cylinders. Someone on another forum told me to put in fuel injector cleaner..
Forum ( http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=39189 )

Also Inside the glove box there is a switch that has two options: Passive and Valet. Someone said that it may change the "ecu" "rev limiter", don't know what those are...

Anyways, if you have any info on this stuff, OR anything else you would like to share to help me out, I would very much appreciate it! thank you

-nifu

[jbob]

cool, welcome!

"passive & valet switch" that's a switch that's common on some newer car alarm systems....systems that can also disable the car from being started if u don't disarming the alarm.
but as far as i know, in order to get one of those type of systems to work on our cars, u would need to do a bunch of custom electrical work. or maybe ur cousin put a kill or fuel cut-off switch somewhere?

also do u know if the car has the stock fuel injection (bosch K-jetronic)? what ignition system does it have? any pics of the engine bay?

[BetaTested]

My car is funky, it's got a little toggle around where your left knee is on the underside of the steering colum. If it's away from you it kills the fuel pumps. I know that wasn't a stock thing of any kind, and maybe your car had something like that installed on it.

An ECU is your onboard computer that manages your engine. In our old cars it's really simple, because it just tells the injectors to constantly spray fuel into the cylenders, and not much else. And as far as I know there never was a rev limiter on our cars. Newer cars have a rev limiter to keep an individual from over reving their engine, and screwing it up.

But a lot of that stuff can be changed if you have the determination, time and money. And alot of people who take on big turbo projects do change things like the engine management.

It's kind of hard for us to give you much help without you giving us some more information. Changing the injectors might help, and possibly the fuel lines since you didn't mess with thoughs.

On a simplier note, is your battery charged? When you turn your car to the on position(before it turns over) can you hear the fuel pumps?

[KC Ron Carter]

If it still has the OE fuel system.

Here is a diagram.

To bypass the relay short between pins 30 and 87.

The car pumps should operate as normal or the issue is not the relay.



Later,

[KC Ron Carter]

There is a screen in the Warm-up Regulator, I would pull the banjo bolts and check for obstructions.




Later,

[nifu]

Thank you all so much for your quick replies!
I have just finished emailing the previous owner all of these questions and more! I hope he will reply soon so I can tell you all.
I will tell the mechanic your ideas and show him those diagrams (i have no idea what they are).
The one thing i can tell you is that he did all these changes over 15 years ago so... just thought that might change things.
I will keep in touch soon,
thanks,

-nifu

PS: I'm looking at getting a new CD Deck. I ONLY listen to rap, hiphop, R&b, so I want good BASS
I asked my cousin to find out what type of sound system he put in. I believe it was an expensive Jensen system (no subs/amp). He installed it around 1985. Does anyone know if these are good? I know this is the wrong place to write this ...

[BetaTested]

I wouldn't bother asking sound junk to the guys over in the Car Stereo section, they're afraid of anything older than an e36(92) it seems.

As for your system, no clue. I know what's suppost to be in there stock, and I know it blows. Stock you're suppost to have 4 4x6 inch speakers powered by a cassette deck. It's absolute junk. I got new 4x6's and an Eclipse head unit, and added an amp and 2 subs in the trunk. It sounds really good, but there's no real 'bass' just a lot of mid/high and then the bass from the subs. Which is perfect for rap and stuff, and isn't too bad for most techno of sorts, but it really sucks when you try and play rock through it. I'm planning on changing the rear 4x6s to 6x9s to get some threeway action in.

Considering it was all done 15 years ago, you're still probably running on the good old K-jet. Any idea how much boost the turbo is/was suppost to be putting out?

[nifu]

Well I just got a reply from the previous owner!
I asked him questions and he answered them, I'll post them below:

1. What does the Passive/Valet switch do exactly in the Glove Box?
Supposed to be the alarm on/off overide switch.

2. Did you have problems with the left side speakers?
Not when I left Vancouver.

3. What kind of sound system did you put in it?
The brand is called "Proton" and if it's not working well now,it's best to bring it to a good car audio sales and installation shop to have it checked out.

4. Are they stock shocks?
The shocks are stock and probably need to be changed to new ones.The springs I remember we(a bunch of SFU overseas students car freaks) did a very silly thing by torching them to change the height of the springs-they're probably in some serious stage of corrosion by now! I suggest they should be changed also for safety and insurance purposes.

5. Is it a stock fuel injector? If not, what is it?
It's turbocharged as you know so quite a lot has been changed but I don't recall that the fuel injector was changed.

6. Any change in the engine management that we should know?
Also stock Bimmer as I recall.

7. Is there a car alarm?
Yes-but see 1 above-probably should get a new one.

8. Is there cut off switch for the fuel?
No.

9. What ignition system does it have?
Don't recall changing that either.

10. Is there any other miscellanious information that we should know?
The air filter was changed to a K & N system which gave the turbo the required extra breathing-have you checked the filter?it might need to be replaced or cleaned.The car was really running so nicely when I left and as you know,I looked after it very well but I'm afraid years of garaging must have done some "damage".I suggest you get a turbo expert to look at the turbo system also.

End.

Is this information useful? Do you have anymore questions that I should ask him? Do you know anything about these changes he made and if they are good/bad etc...? Is this "Proton" sound system good (15 years old), I just want good bass

Also, we are getting new wheels for the car. We don't want to spend a lot, but I want nice ones. I live in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Does anyone know of a good place to get some, or names of good wheels? My friend was telling me to get White wheels but I've never seen these. Any pics? Oh, and what is the biggest size wheels we can put on this car. We are thinking 15". Thanks again,

-nifu

PS: The previous owner (my cousin) sent me a pic of his new car, a lotus here (tell me if it's nice):

[TheNeek]

Go toyota power!!!! It's so sad the elise doesn't have a Lotus motor in it.

[BetaTested]

15x7 is about the biggest people try and go with e21s. However Matt (faste21) has some 16s that look sick on his car. The lug pattern is 4x100 and the correct offset is 13mm if I recall. Don't rely too much on me for this, seeing as I still have my stock 13x5.5 turbine rims.

As for your sound system, I think you're going to have a hard time finding out anything about it. I doubt anyone in the industry would know of anything that old, I don't.

I dunno what to tell you to get your car running though. Fuel injectors would be the only thing I could think of.

None of the mods that he said he did sound bad. You probably should check on the suspension after you can get the car rolling.

[nifu]

TheNeek: why toyota power? is that an elise in the pic?
BetaTested: Thanks, We'll probably go with 15's but do you know about how much nice/average ones are ?

[BetaTested]

He says toyota power becuase there's a toyota engine in the Elise.

Hard to say, just watch on ebay, or surf around some sites. It'll probably cost $200 a wheel. Just my guess.

[nifu]

lol, i see
thanks

[JAlfredPrufrock]

What happens when you try to start the car? Do you hear anything?

[nifu]

yes, i hear the engine start it makes a noise, but for some reason it doesn't stay on

[blitzed310]

Just make life easier for yourself and take it to a person who specializes in Bavaria made cars... Seeing that you say you know nothing of cars and need this car to run soon take it in to get it checked out because it can be many many things causing your problems. Not saying you cant do it, but it will take you some time to gather some info and alot of DIY to get it back on the road...

[blitzed310]

Oh and your cousion's elise is PIMP , got some good video's of it spanking Ferrari F40's, yeah it has a celica motor at about 200-220 hp depending on the region it is bought in. And welcome to the forum!

[Yonkers320is]

Originally posted by blitzed310
Oh and your cousion's elise is PIMP , got some good video's of it spanking Ferrari F40's, yeah it has a celica motor at about 200-220 hp depending on the region it is bought in. And welcome to the forum!

Yeah, the Elise for North america comes with a Toyota motor, the one from the Celica GTS.... In the UK and Europe you get a lotus modified Rover engine (or Vauxhall not sure) that is more driver oriented, but parts would be nonexistant here......

The problem with you car could be fuel related, after a long time sitting, the fuel deteriorated and turn to gum and tar, blocking the lines, you will need some serious fuel treatments. also check the fuese and relays.
To see if you got fuel, loosen one of the lines on the fuel regulator and turn the key on(remove the coil wire if you want to crank it).
Remove a spark plug wire, and stick a screwdriver in it and put it close to the valve cover and crank the car, that way you can see if you got spark

[nifu]

blitzed: the thing is, we can't drive it, so we can't take it "in".
I hope someone will be willing to come over and see it :/

I found these rims on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=43955
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=38662
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=38662

Is this a good price? Do you guys think white would go nice with my red car? More importantly, will these rims fit on my 320i ? Will i need skinnier tires?
thanks
-nifu

[e21pilot]

First one will fit but will need 25mm spacers and 195/50-15 tires. The second and third will not fit.

[blitzed310]

In my opinion white is ricey. It depends on the look you are going for. The wheels for function are great since they weight only 12 pounds, the down side is that your are going to need 20mm spacers and spacers aren’t such a good idea on any car, but if you like them, get them. I would recommend you hit up some PShoppers to see if they can graph the wheels onto your car before you buy them. But white is a risky move IMO.

Some advice for a new guy such as yourself would be to do it right the first time. Research your choices before you pick one, you don’t want to be stuck with something you might find better down the line cuz you rushed. A good idea that I can think of would be to look into e21 (your car) specific wheels such as BBS, Panasport (which are really sweet), ALPINA (enough said!), Kopi's, BMW Motorsport, and there are others I can not think of right now.

You are on the right foot with these forums cuz you will find lots of helpful info, I wish I had found these forums much earlier in life, it would have helped me so much. I learned the hard way and have replaced many things twice because of not knowing what is the perfect match for my application, shit I went through 3 sets of wheels before realizing what the right choice was! Anyways don’t worry you will solve the problem soon and you will sooo enjoy your e21, having it in turbo form will be indescribable and you will be envied by many including me, at least until mine is on...

So good luck on the issue, What about towing it?

[nifu]

nice nice, thanks for the info. yes, i probably won't rush it.
rims seem so cheap on ebay
i'll look into those brands, although i think white looks really nice.
i'll keep you posted

[Yonkers320is]

Before thinking of wheels, get the car running. There is no worse thing than having pimping rims on a car that doesn't run. First things first. There is thread here with pictures of wheels that fit the e21. A lot of pictures so you can decide.

But as Blitzed said, take your time, and research your options, you may find some Exim rims or some MiM that are very good, and set the car apart; or you may find some Alpinas like Blitzed has.....

[nifu]

that's a very good point! this car is getting expensive
do you know where that thread is exactly?

BTW: What are spacers?

[blitzed310]

Now entering the realm of offset also known as....."et". So what are offset and backspace? Offset is the distance from the Centerline of the wheel to the wheel bolt up face (the part of the wheel that contacts the car's hub when you attach the wheel). Positive or Negative is the descriptive term that tells us whether the wheel bolt up face is farther towards the inner or outer part of the wheel. Defining which side positive or negative means is the part not everyone agrees with. Backspace is not near as confusing. Backspace is the distance from the edge of the inner rim to the wheel bolt up face.

It gets more confusing when you throw backspace into the mix. However, backspace is the only accurate way to really define the fit of a wheel. Offset will work OK if you’re replacing a stock wheel with another of the same width. However, as soon as you go to a wider wheel, specifying a stock offset for the replacement may not be the way to go. More often than not, when you are making small increases in width from stock, staying with the same offset is the correct thing to do. But change the brakes, modify the suspension, use different hubs or make a big jump in width and we need to consider both backspace and offset.

Stock offset on ours cars is 13mm, but will accept 12mm-20mm (depending on the wheel width usually 5.5” to 7.5” will fit) if my mind serves me correct. So in other words those wheels you are looking at are 40mm, to make them fit correctly you will need 20mm to 25mm SPACERS which will offset the hub back to 20mm-15mm. The SPACERS fit onto the front brake disk and onto the rear drums, they are usually billet aluminum pieces that bolt onto the disk/drums, then you will need longer lug bolts, but in this case you may need SPACERS with the studs incorporated into the SPACER and then you will no longer need lug bolts, but rather lug nuts.

I know this may be confusing at first but it takes a while to understand offset, it is not something you can learn very easily, hope this helps, someone correct me if I didn’t explain it right…