BMW E30 M3

[mark.c]

That's great news Mark, have you seen these....? Will make for easier air filter changes. I fancy one but they're not cheap.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Special-Snorkel-with-integr...

[e21Mark]

Ouch!

As you say though, it would be a much better solution. I always thought the previous way of fitting the filter was a bit of a bodge. Especially when you consider how much it costs to buy and fit the air box.

I've pretty much replaced everything that relates to the engine running now and John (from s14power.com) did me a car specific ECU chip and Alpha N map. You have to supply him with the full engine spec etc and cost was around £100 delivered. He knows his way around mapping s14 and is certainly well recommended. Fingers crossed, power will hopefully be back up at around 215 - 220, which is where we were before this all started. I also want to re wire the AFR gauge so that I can keep an eye on things more easily.

All being well I can then just use the car for the rest of the year and then look at an engine rebuild next winter. I've been chatting to Graham Bahr, who certainly knows how to build a quick s14. His 316 can be seen on YouTube I think and was reputedly the quickest 316 around. I want him to flow the head, fit cams and refresh the bottom end to get me a reliable 250 brake.

[mark.c]

Yeah it's certainly not a bargain, I, like you, always thought the original idea was a bit of an afterthought .

That's interesting about John.....did you have to have it tweaked afterwards or did you just load it on and that's that? The reason I ask is as I mentioned before I've have some fueling and cold start issues and have been deciding the most efficient route to get it sorted. I've been fannying around making light adjustments to the map ( recording as I go so I put it back where it was) but with the best will in the world I'm hardly the last word in mapping expertise!!

When the car is warm it goes exceptionally well ( for a 2.0l, it will give my 2.3 a run for its money) but I can feel from a driveability perspective it's not as good as it could be. Maybe John could be the solution, or perhaps take it to Joe ( ARM Motorsport for those who don't know) or just bite the bullet and get it up to Paul Shephard at Circuit Motors. I really want to get some use out of the car this year.

Glad you're sorted now, pop in for a brew if your ever over this way.

[e21Mark]

It should just be plug and play. John does the chip and AN map as a pair, so they should be just about spot on. There's a link below so you can join s14power.com and mail him direct. I think it's probably worth a punt to be honest. I must say, I have found s14power a really great resource in getting to the bottom of the problems I've had. It seems a bit busier than s14.net is nowadays.

Would be good to get something arranged this year and maybe get a few of the Cornish E30 owners to hook up for a drive somewhere? There's quite a few E30 M3 down here too.

[mark.c]

e21Mark said:

It should just be plug and play. John does the chip and AN map as a pair, so they should be just about spot on. There's a link below so you can join s14power.com and mail him direct. I think it's probably worth a punt to be honest. I must say, I have found s14power a really great resource in getting to the bottom of the problems I've had. It seems a bit busier than s14.net is nowadays.

Would be good to get something arranged this year and maybe get a few of the Cornish E30 owners to hook up for a drive somewhere? There's quite a few E30 M3 down here too.

Thanks for that, I've been a member on there for years but never really paid much attention to the Alpha N stuff as my M3 runs standard management , it's only since the 320is arrived that I've started taking note! I'm not sure the map on that has ever been as good as it can be.

I'll get in touch with John when I get five mins spare and see what he thinks.

I would be up for a meet, anything old BMW related gets my vote.

[e21Mark]

Just got a text from Joe and first dyno run, to check everything is connected, saw a jump from 168 to 190. Certainly looks like we're on the right track.

[mark.c]

Result , certainly looks like you've cracked it.

I will be interested to see if Joe has to do any tweaks to the map once it's done a few runs. I must grab that lead, disc etc from you once you're sorted.

[Butter Face]

Found this in my desk at work after having a clear out, let me know if you want it and I'll post it.

[e21Mark]

mark.c said:

Result , certainly looks like you've cracked it.

I will be interested to see if Joe has to do any tweaks to the map once it's done a few runs. I must grab that lead, disc etc from you once you're sorted.

Much appreciate the loan. In fact, think I'll have a lead made. (just in case!)

Butter Face said:

Found this in my desk at work after having a clear out, let me know if you want it and I'll post it.

Thanks! Am a sucker for a toy BMW. As a kid, I was lucky that my Dad used to deliver industrial rolls of paper to the Matchbox factory and would always get a few cars. I had literally hundreds and all the carrying cases they used to make. Evidently I used to sell them to the other kids through my Nans garden gate.

[e21Mark]

Well a bit of final tweaking with the Alpha N map and then the engine just dies. Initially we thought we'd run out of fuel but the pump has actually thrown in the towel. B*%$£&@S!!!

A few calls and a new OE pump can be had for about £200, instead though, I opted for a replacement from Sytec at just £60 inc next day delivery. I also ordered a new high pressure filter while I was at it and rubber mounts.

Although we'd previously checked the fuel pressure, I imagine the pump has been failing for some time now. The pump is probably just about the only part I haven't replaced so I'm glad it went now, as opposed to when I'd driving somewhere or on track.

I also need to clean and protect my alloys. Much as I like the design they're a right pain to keep clean. I need to find something to protect the stainless outer rims and hold back any corrosion. Tomorrow though, it's new pump and an oil and filter change.

[squareflops]

e21Mark said:

I also need to clean and protect my alloys. Much as I like the design they're a right pain to keep clean. I need to find something to protect the stainless outer rims and hold back any corrosion.

FK1000P

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Good stuff, should see you right

[e21Mark]

squareflops said:

FK1000P

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Good stuff, should see you right

Thanks for that. I need to make some time and give the wheels a thorough clean before they get any worse.

Well the M3 is back on the drive and hopefully I can put a few more miles on it before it next visits the workshop?! I still have a few tasks left on the never-ending to do list but they'll have to wait for now.

Power is back up to around 200 brake, which isn't too bad considering this is a stock engine with a fair amount of mileage on it. The moment I pulled away, I could feel it was more its old self and felt much more lively. By modern standards the s14 isn't hugely powerful but combined with the E30's light weight, it's just a really nice combination. I still intend on having some engine mods done in the autumn and that will include cams, head work and standalone management. I would like bigger capacity but costs are just too high. I was actually offered a freshly rebuilt 2.5 but £14k is just way beyond my pockets.

I also intend doing some sprints this year. Ideally I want to do some events in France or Sweden, where speed events seem to have much more of a following than here. The Isle of Man classic is another on my list, along with Crystal Palace in May. I know the Crystal Palace sprint isn't very long but it's an event I have done a few times now and there's always a great atmosphere. The surroundings are lovely when the sun's out too! I did past years in an E21 316 and an E30 325, so it'll be nice to finally be there in the M3.

[e21Mark]

Unfortunately I haven't had much time to drive the E30 recently. I've just started a new job and my only spare time has been taken up with walking the dogs. As a result, it's a diesel Kangoo van that I've been driving!

All being well though, I will be getting some track time at Castle Combe next month and sprinting at Crystal Palace in May. I still need to fit the extinguisher and electrical cut-out switch but other than the race numbers, I should be good to go.

I am looking at trying to reduce air temperature on the intake side and have been looking at gold heat reflective tape to cover the air box. I also want to replace the air filter using the one Marc mentioned above. I will definitely be going cams and standalone eventually though.

[e21Mark]

Ordered a new parcel shelf today.

[e21Mark]

Well the new parcel shelf arrived and hopefully the door cards will soon be here too. I've also replaced the pedal rubbers with grip tape and much prefer the way they feel in comparison. The electrical cut-out is next so I may lose the digital check panel to mount the interior switch? Once the extinguisher is in I should be ready for my first speed event in the M3?

Also waiting on a Z3 steering rack from Germany, as the stock one is way too slow. The Z3 item is just 2.7 turns from lock to lock and way cheaper than a competition unit.

I've also got to change the oil and plugs before Castle Combe next weekend and hopefully get the onboard camera working to take some footage. I've not been around Castle Combe for more than 20 years and have never driven around it myself, so have been watching plenty of You Tube vids. I'm giving passenger rides in order to raise charitable donations so won't be pushing for every tenth anyway. I hope it's dry though al the same. I've been accepted for Crystal Palace in May though, so really looking forward to that. It's only a short course but I just like the feeling when you get it right. Kirby from C3 BMW usually puts some good times in using his TicTac liveried M3, so I'll hope to get some pointers.

Here's some onboard from Brands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2StUTijDXoE&eb...

Edited by e21Mark on Sunday 27th March 18:42

[e21Mark]

Well Castle Combe was fun yesterday. Hopefully will have some pics at some point.

Opted to update the gear shifter with one of these. http://racingbitz.myshopify.com/products/irp-bmw-a...

[stevesingo]

Nope. Sorry, but nope. I've seen someone drive on track with one of these. Not good.

[Sf_Manta]

e21Mark said:

Well the new parcel shelf arrived and hopefully the door cards will soon be here too. I've also replaced the pedal rubbers with grip tape and much prefer the way they feel in comparison. The electrical cut-out is next so I may lose the digital check panel to mount the interior switch? Once the extinguisher is in I should be ready for my first speed event in the M3?

Also waiting on a Z3 steering rack from Germany, as the stock one is way too slow. The Z3 item is just 2.7 turns from lock to lock and way cheaper than a competition unit.

I've also got to change the oil and plugs before Castle Combe next weekend and hopefully get the onboard camera working to take some footage. I've not been around Castle Combe for more than 20 years and have never driven around it myself, so have been watching plenty of You Tube vids. I'm giving passenger rides in order to raise charitable donations so won't be pushing for every tenth anyway. I hope it's dry though al the same. I've been accepted for Crystal Palace in May though, so really looking forward to that. It's only a short course but I just like the feeling when you get it right. Kirby from C3 BMW usually puts some good times in using his TicTac liveried M3, so I'll hope to get some pointers.

Here's some onboard from Brands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2StUTijDXoE&eb...

Edited by e21Mark on Sunday 27th March 18:42

Using DanThe's conversion kit for it? Surprised you went for the Z3 given they do command a price, and the E46 '067' purple tag is only 3 turns lock to lock (Z3 is 2.8 if i recall). Had one on my 325i touring and well worth the fiddle to get them in

[e21Mark]

Sf_Manta said:

Using DanThe's conversion kit for it? Surprised you went for the Z3 given they do command a price, and the E46 '067' purple tag is only 3 turns lock to lock (Z3 is 2.8 if i recall). Had one on my 325i touring and well worth the fiddle to get them in

It was about £140 so not too bad on price.

stevesingo said:

Nope. Sorry, but nope. I've seen someone drive on track with one of these. Not good.

In what respect? I've been told they only work when set-up and sensitive to being adjusted correctly and obviously poly or solid mounts are called for. I tried an E46 and it felt pretty good, although I guess that's subjective? The other alternative is the Samsonas version.

Edited by e21Mark on Sunday 3rd April 23:55

[e21Mark]

Some video from the weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw7vm0ivhUA