Need some advice

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Location
Ann Arbor, MI
#1
Okay I need quite a bit of help. I know absolutely NOTHING about BMW. I recently purchased an E30. It is an absolutely beautiful lil convertible waitin to be pimped out.
The only thhings i have done so far are: oil change. air filter cleaning, changed from stock lights to Silver Stars, added Rislone to the oil, and some bottles of fuel injector cleaner.
I do have an advantage: I am a student at the local college in the automotive program which allows me to get ANY part for 50% off the price! Yes, sweet indeed
So Let me get to my questions:


1- I'd like to get a history of the vehicle wiithout going through carfax. IS there anyone here that can possibly run my VIN for me?

2- I am hearing knocking in the engine.People have told me it is the lifters, What other problem(s) can this be?

3- I had a remote start installed but they could not do the power locks because of the trunk being the spot that you can unlock the car? Is there a relay or something?

4- I am looking to really get the engine in shape. The odometer says 173K+ but it also doesn't work! what should be my pimary focus?

5- Because it is a convertible, the back window is plastic. Can this actually be tinted?i spoke to Ziebart and they say they can do the back window because it will peel; Any suggestions?

I will post photos this week of Janet( named after Joyce Dewitt)...



6-
 
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18
Location
Reading,PA
#2
A few I can help with:

2- I am hearing knocking in the engine.People have told me it is the lifters, What other problem(s) can this be?

4- I am looking to really get the engine in shape. The odometer says 173K+ but it also doesn't work! what should be my pimary focus?
You need to determine if the noise is a knock or a click/tap/tick. There actually is a huge difference. Lifters/valve train noises ("top end") sound like clicks/ticks/taps. A knock (deeper, more solid sound) is not valve train, it's "bottom end" - piston slap, rod bearings, crank bearings. If it truly is bottom end knock, the only fix is a rebuild.

5- Because it is a convertible, the back window is plastic. Can this actually be tinted?i spoke to Ziebart and they say they can do the back window because it will peel; Any suggestions?
You can buy a tinted replacement at http://www.emiata.com/E30Window.asp
 
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Location
Toronto, Canada
#3
E30's with the M20 engine are famous for "clickity clack, down the track"... valve adjustments are needed every 50k kilometers or so... also, if you just got the car and you don't know when the timing belt was last changed, you should change it the first chance you get, along with your water pump, as it is basically the same job, labor wise. A good coolant flush, rear diff. fluid change, new fuel filter, new thermostat, and a brake bleed would be great for that car.
As far as tinting, consider that when the top is down and all the windows are down, the small window on the "A'' pillar will be tinted, and that its right in front of the mirror, and the tint will stick out... I just think it would look funny... On the other hand, I've never seen an E30 cabrio tinted before, and it might actually look good.

Post a picture when you get a chance
 
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Location
Australia
#4
When changing the timing belt also replace the adjuster pulley, you woulden't know how many miles that things done, and replace the clutch fluid too
I adjust my poor old tapets every 40 000kms.
Congrats on the purchace, and welcome to the board :)
 
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6
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Location
Ann Arbor, MI
#5
Thanks all! I do have the previous owner's name and address so I plan to contact him and ask. I purchsed the car from a little place on the sideof the road for 1600! The interior is great, the top is perfect. In response to Kirby, it's more of a tap that you really have to listen to to even know it's there.
Also when i got my remote start installed they said they couldn't do the door locks even though they are power. SOmething about not knowing where the relay is.
 


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