My sis got a E30!!!!

[mullethunter3]

Okay, so my sister just recieved a 1984 318i (manual, two-door, M10) from my parents. It's pretty sweet. $800, and I have some projects to do that have been already delgated by my dad.

Problems (known):
Bad wheel bearing, front
Needs new spark plugs and coils
Needs a lot of TLC
-Unknown about everything else


Any suggestions?
Witeshark, I know you've been through a lot of this stuff, so any ideas on where to start?

Thanks,
Amanda

Edit:
Here's the pics...








I know the pics aren't that great, but it's hard to get my little sis to do it right from 100 miles away.

PS->Oh, and we have a fleet now. (528i, 318is, 318i, for those who are counting...)

[witeshark]

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

Okay, so my sister just recieved a 1984 318i (Witeshark, I know you've been through a lot of this stuff, so any ideas on where to start?

Thanks,
Amanda

PS-> No pictures yet, my dad is silly and won't send me them. Oh, and we have a fleet now. (528i, 318is, 318i, for those who are counting...)

Well first, the lower front control arms and those bushings and the power steering!

[celsdogg]

woohoo! E30 ftw!

get her to join UB!

[mullethunter3]

Originally Posted by witeshark

Well first, the lower front control arms and those bushings and the power steering!

What about them? I'm going to need specifics.

[Dudesky]

Talk to defkon99. He's got a wheel bearing tool that he rents out. Good luck with the project, let's see pics!

[defkon99]

yea i got it for the back. but the front you just need a huge 42mm socket

[mullethunter3]

My nieghbor in St Louis has just about every tool for general projects, so I think he has a 42mm. Actually, I think I've seen it.

Anyway, any other suggestions as to where I should start with this thing?

[witeshark]

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

What about them? I'm going to need specifics.

The power steering lines were leaking badly through cracks. Everything in the lower control arms and bushings needed to be replaced

[mullethunter3]

Are there special tools for lower control arms and bushing replacements or is it a "chisle them out kind of job"?

BTW, anything I do to the car will be written into a DIY, so maybe we can finally have an E30 section to the Knowledge Base... even though the KB never gets updated anymore.... (cough... Harry...cough)

[witeshark]

Well the arms were replaced along with the bushings so that means the old bushings were never removed

[mullethunter3]

Is that nessecary on a 1984? I mean, to replace the whole thing? I've seen it done with just replacing the bushings too.

I mean, I've been looking at a LOT of DIY websites and there seems to be a lot of variations through the years. M10, M20, M42, different bumpers, sometimes different suspension setups, some even look like my car... I'm new to the E30 world, and it's taking me a bit to figure this all out.

[witeshark]

I guess it depends on the arms condition.

[devinwwu]

you can do it with the old arms but it requires putting the new ball joint in the wheel end which would be a total pain in the ass. i wouldn't want to do it. I would say its just easier and probably only slightly more expensive to replace the whole arm. That's what i did on mine. The control arm bushings are a total pain to get out on your own. i ended up having to get my new ones pressed in professionally too, the vice was bending them on the way in. I have just finished my complete suspension overhaul replacing every broken part and all new bushings everywhere so if you need pics or answers don't hesitate to ask

[mullethunter3]

I'll PM you later, if my father approves of the "fix list" I'm generating right now.

[nick_318is]

I wish I could be a little more helpful but due to the care my car has had over the years I can't give a list of things that went bad and should be replaced. You might want to pick up a bently e30 manual, they are wonderful (except if you have an m42 e30, then you need 2 books).