Discussion
e30m3Mark said:
Couple of hundred miles in and all appears to be well. Performance is strong and it seems much smoother throughout the rev range since swapping injectors.
One thing I have noticed is how much cooler the engine is running now, compared to how it was before when fitted with the larger capacity Moroso sump, despite the much higher ambient temperature. Coolant temperature used to be 90 degrees on regular running but it now stays at around 85. Oil temperature is also lower. I'm wondering if the extra heat was coming from the premature wear in the bearings?
The Eisenmann race exhaust is on route but I have been looking into having a full performance system made to offer to other owners.
There are just a couple of jobs left now, the first of which is moving my seat position. I want to get it as low in the car as I can, whilst increasing the rearward tilt. The lack of space will most likely mean bringing it forward an inch or two though.
There's also a new hillclimb event here in Cornwall. It's the UK's first 'closed road' event since the law was changed to allow them. Hopefully I can enter both days, although my race suit etc is out of date now and replacement isn't cheap.
http://www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk/#
Over advanced ignition causes high coolant temps as the heat released from the fuel is not used to to push down the piston, so it must go somewhere.One thing I have noticed is how much cooler the engine is running now, compared to how it was before when fitted with the larger capacity Moroso sump, despite the much higher ambient temperature. Coolant temperature used to be 90 degrees on regular running but it now stays at around 85. Oil temperature is also lower. I'm wondering if the extra heat was coming from the premature wear in the bearings?
The Eisenmann race exhaust is on route but I have been looking into having a full performance system made to offer to other owners.
There are just a couple of jobs left now, the first of which is moving my seat position. I want to get it as low in the car as I can, whilst increasing the rearward tilt. The lack of space will most likely mean bringing it forward an inch or two though.
There's also a new hillclimb event here in Cornwall. It's the UK's first 'closed road' event since the law was changed to allow them. Hopefully I can enter both days, although my race suit etc is out of date now and replacement isn't cheap.
http://www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk/#
Lee540 said:
e30m3Mark said:
Awesome. I was admiring the roads, though it was quite busy at the time. Looks great fun.
Fitted the Eisenmann exhaust and really happy with the results. It's their race spec' system, so a bit louder than the usual one but it's certainly not over the top. It has a really nice tone and sounds great on overrun. The tailpipes look way nicer too.
I've got a slot in a local hillclimb event in September ( www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk ) and am really looking forward to taking it up the hill in anger. Everything appears to be working together and I've really enjoyed putting a few miles on it in the recent good weather. Those Nankang AR-1 have really come into their own. They're an excellent tyre and really inspire confidence.
It's great to be back enjoying the E30 once again. When the day comes that I have to sell I just don't know what I can get that'll even come close?
I've got a slot in a local hillclimb event in September ( www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk ) and am really looking forward to taking it up the hill in anger. Everything appears to be working together and I've really enjoyed putting a few miles on it in the recent good weather. Those Nankang AR-1 have really come into their own. They're an excellent tyre and really inspire confidence.
It's great to be back enjoying the E30 once again. When the day comes that I have to sell I just don't know what I can get that'll even come close?
Edited by e30m3Mark on Friday 27th July 16:56
Fitted the Eisenmann exhaust and really happy with the results. It's their race spec' system, so a bit louder than the usual one but it's certainly not over the top. It has a really nice tone and sounds great on overrun. The tailpipes look way nicer too.
I've got a slot in a local hillclimb event in September ( www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk ) and am really looking forward to taking it up the hill in anger. Everything appears to be working together and I've really enjoyed putting a few miles on it in the recent good weather. Those Nankang AR-1 have really come into their own. They're an excellent tyre and really inspire confidence.
It's great to be back enjoying the E30 once again. When the day comes that I have to sell I just don't know what I can get that'll even come close?
I've got a slot in a local hillclimb event in September ( www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk ) and am really looking forward to taking it up the hill in anger. Everything appears to be working together and I've really enjoyed putting a few miles on it in the recent good weather. Those Nankang AR-1 have really come into their own. They're an excellent tyre and really inspire confidence.
It's great to be back enjoying the E30 once again. When the day comes that I have to sell I just don't know what I can get that'll even come close?
Edited by e30m3Mark on Friday 27th July 21:58
Well the Eisenmann exhaust has been on for a while and a good few miles now and I'm really happy with the fit, finish and most of all, the sound! I know it's subjective but it just sounds so much nicer than the old Supersprint system. The pops and crackles on overrun are much more obvious than they were.
I've just done another oil change and sliced into the old filter to see if there was any glitter evident? There wasn't.
Just clean, gold coloured oil and no hint of fuel aroma. I've been a bit obsessive over oil and coolant temperatures of late but given the past 12 months or so, it's hardly surprising. Coolant is pretty much consistent at 85 - 87 degrees and oil temperature is 87 - 89 degrees.
Hopefully, once Retro Rides is over and my bank account is a little healthier, I can start looking at spring rates and getting the suspension as I want it.
I've just done another oil change and sliced into the old filter to see if there was any glitter evident? There wasn't.
Just clean, gold coloured oil and no hint of fuel aroma. I've been a bit obsessive over oil and coolant temperatures of late but given the past 12 months or so, it's hardly surprising. Coolant is pretty much consistent at 85 - 87 degrees and oil temperature is 87 - 89 degrees.Hopefully, once Retro Rides is over and my bank account is a little healthier, I can start looking at spring rates and getting the suspension as I want it.
I didn't but it was definitely a bit lighter than the Supersprint. Mind you, neither are what you might call light. The splatter is just carbon / water I think? I placed a bit of cardboard behind the car and gave it a few revs but there was no sign of anything untoward.
Just given the engine bay a spanner check and I want to move my seat forward a couple of inches. Hopefully I can get a bit more reclined too and fit the door bars again?
It also looks as though I may be doing a video for Petrolicious soon.
Just given the engine bay a spanner check and I want to move my seat forward a couple of inches. Hopefully I can get a bit more reclined too and fit the door bars again?
It also looks as though I may be doing a video for Petrolicious soon.
As a) I'm heading out of Cornwall and past attempts have been disastrous and b) I will be trying to drive up a hill flat out, several times, I figured I would get the M3 up on a lift today and give it a thorough spanner check. The s14 vibrates a lot and things have a habit of working loose if you don't keep an eye on them. I usually do that trick where you dab a little bit of yellow paint on nuts / bolts as a tell if anything should move. I always check the alternator bracket as I've had those fracture twice over the years.
Having done the oil and filter change last week, it'll be just a case of checking all fluid levels. One thing I do want to do though is move my seat forward a little more. I'm hoping that will then mean there clearance for a couple more degrees of recline? It should mean a better route for the harness shoulder straps although I was thinking of adding a harness bar to the roll cage instead? I also want to refit the door bars but I have a weakness in my left leg which makes lifting it over a door bar pretty difficult. An option may be to fabricate a new bar that hugs the sill?
I want to try and get some video from the weekend so will try and mount the couple of GoPro cameras I have here. Unfortunately neither accepts an auxiliary microphone so the audio might be pretty poor. I'll give it a go though.
Having done the oil and filter change last week, it'll be just a case of checking all fluid levels. One thing I do want to do though is move my seat forward a little more. I'm hoping that will then mean there clearance for a couple more degrees of recline? It should mean a better route for the harness shoulder straps although I was thinking of adding a harness bar to the roll cage instead? I also want to refit the door bars but I have a weakness in my left leg which makes lifting it over a door bar pretty difficult. An option may be to fabricate a new bar that hugs the sill?
I want to try and get some video from the weekend so will try and mount the couple of GoPro cameras I have here. Unfortunately neither accepts an auxiliary microphone so the audio might be pretty poor. I'll give it a go though.
What a gorgeous car like most living breathing people I've got a bit of a soft-spot for the E30, although being primarily a Brit and Italian car person it's more of a respected enemy situation 
In an alternate universe where my dad had a Bimmer not a Biturbo I could definitely see myself bombing about in one probably not quite as nice as yours though...
like most living breathing people I've got a bit of a soft-spot for the E30, although being primarily a Brit and Italian car person it's more of a respected enemy situation In an alternate universe where my dad had a Bimmer not a Biturbo I could definitely see myself bombing about in one
probably not quite as nice as yours though...Thank you.
It's funny but I've only ever had a couple of Italian cars. Both were lovely though. A '78 Alfasud 1.5ti and an '82 Lancia Beta 1600, when I was in my 20's. I loved their styling and the 'Sud sounded great too. It was soon after that I got my first BMW. A mint green 1502 which was out the back of a local car dealer for clearance. It had some rust but it drove really well. I was smitten though and have had a BMW of some type ever since.
It's funny but I've only ever had a couple of Italian cars. Both were lovely though. A '78 Alfasud 1.5ti and an '82 Lancia Beta 1600, when I was in my 20's. I loved their styling and the 'Sud sounded great too. It was soon after that I got my first BMW. A mint green 1502 which was out the back of a local car dealer for clearance. It had some rust but it drove really well. I was smitten though and have had a BMW of some type ever since.
This car is fantastic - proper labour of love. I think I would have chickened out and sold it long ago if it was me - the bills look properly wounding so hats off for persevering. Nice to see one that's still in the hands of a proper enthusiast and driven, rather than a showpiece for wealthy speculators.
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