It’s become increasingly common for owners to convert early E30 M20 cars to the later-style radiator setup. However, that conversion requires a long list of additional parts—new hoses, mounting brackets, water pump, coolant crossover, expansion tank, and more. In reality, this conversion is completely unnecessary. The trend has largely been driven by the assumption...
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Lloyd mats offers a trunk mat pattern for the E30 that fits well overall. It appears to include a bit of extra material near the battery tray area—likely to accommodate E30s with batteries mounted in the engine bay. It’s not a major issue; just a slight trim is needed, and everything fits perfectly. Details:...
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With the widespread use of NGK V-Power spark plugs (NGK 5077 – ZGR5A) in E30 M20 applications, it’s important to stay vigilant about their replacement intervals. These plugs feature a smaller electrode surface area, which, while great for ignitability, tends to wear faster. As the electrode wears down, the spark plug gap increases, which...
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How to Safely Install Modern Car Seats in a BMW E30 Sharing the joy of classic car ownership with your children is incredibly rewarding, but safely installing modern car seats in an older car like the BMW E30 requires some specific considerations. Here’s what you need to know to ensure your child’s safety when...
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The ETK would have you believe that there are different cruise control cables for early and late E30’s, but that’s not true, 65711386243 supersedes 65711371394 and will fit both early and late cars.   One small note about orientating the cable correctly:   Reference this post on how to trouble shoot your cruise control,...
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These are the factory instructions to testing and troubleshooting the E30 cruise control system with additional clarification:   Using backprobes like this fit perfectly into the pin holes of the blue cruise control module plug:   *The English translation was incorrect for the last step and so it has been overwritten in green to...
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There is never a reason to adjust the idle screw on a fuel-injected E30. Idle should never be mechanically adjusted using this screw or the AFM idle bypass screw. The Motronic ECU electronically controls the idle via the Idle Control Valve (ICV). The idle screw only opens the throttle plate by about the thickness...
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All E30s, if unmodified, should have a basic tool set located inside the trunk: All tools were made by Heyco and stamped with the BMW logo. The kit included: 17/19mm wrench 12/13mm wrench 8/10mm wrench Pliers Allen key Screwdriver with a reversible blade (Phillips and flathead) Spark plug tool Plastic manual window crank (in...
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There are two main automotive fuel standards: one commonly referenced in North America (SAE) and the other in Europe (DIN). While these standards overlap in many aspects, they use very different naming conventions. Fuel hoses are typically categorized by pressure (low or high), permeation levels (low or high), and whether they are designed for...
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Per the BMW E30 Factory Manual:   Per Bentley manual: To set between 0.20mm and 0.60mm:   Failure Methods: It is commonly stated online that E30 TPS failures are caused by oil saturation. Crankcase oil can migrate down the throttle body shaft bearings and into the TPS, leading some to recommend drilling a hole...
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