I think I found a E30

#1

Looked at a 87 325is today. Worked a deal with the owner as long as compression looks good. I will go back and check with a gauge in the next few days and take her home. I’m gathering that 175 psi is the normal pressure.

The car is smoking and according to the owner his mother accidentaly put in about 12 quarts of oil. It started smoking after that, suddently. Sounds like valve seals. The brakes need some attention, other than that it seems solid. Is the valve job something that can be done in my garage? Or should I have it done at a shop? I drove the car and it seems to have plenty of power, but this is the 1st one I have driven.

Anything else to look for?

#2

great news on the car. Now you must help someone else locally find a car. This is a pyramid organization, yuh know!

wild ass guess, but maybe the excess oil is getting into the intake via the PCV and just getting spewed out the exhaust. Maybe give Dave at Bimmerhaus a call and tell him I suggested you call to ask about the effect of overfill.
cheers,
bruce

#3

drain it all out, refill correctly, pull the intake boot off and clean everything with rags and brake cleaner.(wear gloves, yada yada) go drive the crap out of it for a while, then see what you have.
I would be surprised if 12 qts actually fit in there.

#4

Yeah, Excess oil will cause smoke. Per Leggwork’s comments it get sucked into the intake and thus burns out the exhaust, Particularly on decel. It may take a while to get ot all out of there but if compression looks good it should be OK.

Good Luck with the car.

Don

#5

Pickin her up tomorrow!

B) Now the fun part…

suspension
brakes
fix any mechanical
take care of all leaks
tires (14s? or 15s?) is it worth the upgrade?
strip it
seats
gauges
last but not least, a cage

#6

awesome.

14 vs 15 is a minor item. Some have 15’s shaved and rains on 14’s.

3 in progress, 3 seriously interested in the Rocky Mountain region now!
cheers,
bruce

#7

RichV wrote:

[quote]Pickin her up tomorrow!

B) Now the fun part…

tires (14s? or 15s?) is it worth the upgrade?
[/quote]

Congratulations!

I raced on straight bottle caps for a season and it was fine.

Keep us up to date on your progress.

Carter