There is a lot of misinformation and misconceptions with rust proofing / under coating/ rust prevention; for which I hope to provide some clarity and direction. First, remember that rust is like an iceberg, you only see 10% of it. Moisture normally gets trapped for the longest duration of time in the places that...
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When you first hear the Getrag rattle its a little unnerving. The Getrag rattle is the sound the Getrag transmissions (particularly 5 speed’s like those found in E30’s, BMW’s and GM’s) makes when it is in Neutral and the clutch pedal is not engaged. The sound completely goes away when either the clutch pedal...
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Although there are a multitude of reasons why your central locking may not be working (Microswitches, actuators, fuses, previous owners attempts) there are two major flaws in the design of the E30 central locking system that often fail and contribute to 80%+ of the central locking problems people experience. The first is the internal...
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The on board computer (OBC) in an E30 uses two regular light bulbs wired in series on a removable circuit board to light up the display on the OBC. Because they are wired in series, if one light-bulb goes out both go out. The bulbs are not supposed to be replaceable as they are...
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Supplementary Article for control arm bushing options: https://www.rtsauto.com/e30-control-arm-bushing-upgrades-also-applicable-to-e36-comprehensive-guide-on-control-arm-bushings/   Recently picked up a E30/E36/E46 control arm bushing specialty tool which made the job extremely easy as far as getting the finished bushing carrier with bushing onto the control arm shaft. This article only really applies to OEM rubber bushings as poly and solid bushings...
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It is not always justifiable to spend the money on a specialty tool, however in the case of rear axles a little investment goes a long way.   The problem with many german cars and particularly E30’s is that the tolerance between the hub splines and the axles splines is VERY small causing a...
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Wheel bearings can be deceiving since they can often only be heard when the wheel is spinning in excess of 30mph; they produce a howling, growning, sometimes grinding sounds that increases frequency with speed. The problem: You drive around and around and try to figure which bearing it actually is, and thinking to yourself if...
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Supplementary Article for specialty tools and bushing install: https://www.rtsauto.com/control-arm-bushing-specialty-tools-and-tips/     When talking about control arm bushings, there are two ways to “upgrade” and I use that word loosely because upgrade is relative. The first way is to add rigidity to the bushing to prevent deflection under steering and braking, the second being the positioning of...
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One essential part of the M60B40 swap into an E30 or otherwise is to eliminate EWS if you got an engine from an EWS car. EWS is a security system meant to prevent your car from being stolen and subsequently started. The reason the 404 DME (0261200404) is used is because it does not...
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I had been looking for OEM esque rubber floormats for my E30 and after years of searching have come across something that truly looks OEM, and is OEM (except that these are made for an E82 by BMW). OEM BMW part number: Black – 51472239697 Grey – 51470439165 Beige – 51470439166 The best part...
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