1988 BMW 325i Build Project. Help Needed.

[Babbitmike]

Hi there! I am new to this forum. What drug me here is the need for information, I am doing some work for a man that owns a 1988 BMW 325i with manual transmission. I recieved this car and the freshly rebuilt motor and several big boxes of parts both old and new (long story, original mechanic in jail). I am sure that after I am through getting the engine installed that I will be working with this car alot as it was a totalled out restore... I basically stumbled onto this site with a yahoo search. Installs are a side line and I am generally an antique engine rebuilder and restorer all the way back to 1890. If anyone is interested in antique engines then I will post up my URL. I want to be sure that I get everything routed and installed just like it should be and I know that some of these groups can be a bunch of help.
Mike

[Blackice]

Hey Mike, Welcome to the site !

What kind of information are you looking for ?

Antique engines ? Sounds cool ! You should post some photos and info.

[Babbitmike]

Well, as I was getting this engine ready to drop it into the engine compartment I had to do some serious head scratching. There are coolant lines that go to everywhere. I need some help with the proper routing of the hoses and any connections that have to be made under the intake plenum. The motor is stabbed to the tranny and the motor mounts are in place and so the motor is secured in. There is a 1/2 id hose that looks like it goes from the drivers side of the block at the rear side of motor up to the throttle body and the other line goes to the thermostat housing. As I said, this thing came to me as a basket case and I have no books or information to refer to to help me out. Most of the Chiltons and Haynes manuals are not specific enough to keep me out of a jam.







If it worked right there should be 3 different pics of the car here.

Here is the URL to my myspace page for my shop services for the antique engines... it is set to public so anyone can look around.

www.myspace.com/vintageengine


Mike

[BeamR X]

Originally Posted by Babbitmike Well, as I was getting this engine ready to drop it into the engine compartment I had to do some serious head scratching. There are coolant lines that go to everywhere. I need some help with the proper routing of the hoses and any connections that have to be made under the intake plenum. The motor is stabbed to the tranny and the motor mounts are in place and so the motor is secured in. There is a 1/2 id hose that looks like it goes from the drivers side of the block at the rear side of motor up to the throttle body and the other line goes to the thermostat housing. As I said, this thing came to me as a basket case and I have no books or information to refer to to help me out. Most of the Chiltons and Haynes manuals are not specific enough to keep me out of a jam.

Been there, done that and therefore understand your pain. I scratched my head numerous times in this and had them hooked up both ways without any significant difference in motor performance, however from what I researched since I found out its a throttle body heater.

It helps to warm the air going in to the engine which does 2 things: it helps the motor warm up faster and it helps vaporize the fuel more completely.

The flow direction is not important, but the bend in the hoses should help you figure it out. Looks to me from your pics that you have it running the same way I settled to run it...

[BeamR X]

PS, I could use a bag of patatas...


Welcome...

[craig4ie]

Hiltons and Haynes Manuals are junk for these cars. Find yourself a Bently manual for the car and you'll be much better off. Also, check out www.realoem.com. Just enter the VIN and you can browse all kinds of parts diagrams to help you figure out how that puzzle goes back together.

[Babbitmike]

Originally Posted by BeamR X PS, I could use a bag of patatas... Welcome...

I didn't think it was going to take too long to get that.... I guess it is to be expected. 'sides, 'taters come from lower in the state, we grow utility poles poles up here.
Mike

Originally Posted by craig4ie Hiltons and Haynes Manuals are junk for these cars. Find yourself a Bently manual for the car and you'll be much better off. Also, check out www.realoem.com. Just enter the VIN and you can browse all kinds of parts diagrams to help you figure out how that puzzle goes back together.

Now see?!? This is what I am talking about. I was searching for 3 full days on the web and when I came across this site I knew I had found the mother lode. This site also uses the same software that 2 other sites I frequent use. Puzzle? Yes... It wouldn't be so bad if I had been the one to take it out. With what I do, I have to keep a good archive of current work and my camera has been the best tool I have. Originality is of the utmost in restorations.
Mike

I have found that Chiltons and Haynes are really only good for the specs but then sometimes they suffer there too. It is too hard for them to compile all of the variations into a single book. The owner of this car had me drive to where he knew that another BMW "like this one" was and it turned out to be a 1989 328I and everything was rearranged... I got printouts from Realoem and this will help so much!
Mike

[Babbitmike]

The site Real Oem helped out so very much. I have most everything under the intake figured out. except where this hose is upposed to go to. I have looked all over for it to go to something in the fuel system but I am not finding anywhere on the intake, throttle body or fuel rail. What am I missing here? Everything else is kinda falling in place except this one hose... so far.
Mike

[craig4ie]

Good to hear realoem worked out for you! I'd like to help you out on this last issue, but I have an M42...any input from the M20 guys?

[DS Rook]

Thats the carbon canister purge valve. I believe it ties into the intake somewhere. i'll look and see if i can find it.

Edit:
Ok it goes under the throttle body near the flange.

[Babbitmike]

Thank you. I had used a small mirror to look around under the intake and did not see anything but once I started feeling around up in there I found it. I was able to get all the connections made on the electrical, most of it would only go one way and feel in place naturally after I got the harness and hoses set up right. I was not a real fan of the 3 prong connectors that are in there. On my Mitz they are dummy proof as they will only go to 1 specific connector.
Mike

[Babbitmike]

Well I got the 325I running this morning. Has good oil pressure and the cooling system has been purged, but after I got it running for a few minutes it started to diesel, the rpm would go up to about 1100 and then drop to about 500 and keeps on doing this. I know the computer has to be reset and I need to know if this is something that I can do or does it have to go to the dealer to be reset? The owner said something about reprogramming the computer from the radio but that is all that he knows.

[Babbitmike]

Well I got the 325I running this morning. Has good oil pressure and the cooling system has been purged, but after I got it running for a few minutes it started to diesel, the rpm would go up to about 1100 and then drop to about 500 and keeps on doing this. I know the computer has to be reset and I need to know if this is something that I can do or does it have to go to the dealer to be reset? The owner said something about reprogramming the computer from the radio but that is all that he knows.
Mike

[DS Rook]

Check ICV, coolant temp sensors and o2 sensor. Check for vacuum leaks. Car runs on preset fuel map when cold, after about 200 sec, or when temp climbs to a preset temp(can't remember what it is though) the ecu switches to feed back from the coolant temp and o2 for mapping and mixture. Disconnect the battery for a few minutes to reset.

[Lobstrosity]

After reconnecting the battery (as someone said in the other thread), it will do this for the first few restarts as the computer is re-learning the engine and how to keep it happy when running warm.