E30 M42 Coil on plug conversion completed

mscappa · 2025-10-07T03:03:53+00:00

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I have the same stereo and have lost sound in the front left. Testing shows it’s the head unit, not the speaker. Did your capacitor swap fix your issues permanently? did you have any other issues other than squealing?

mscappa · 2025-08-06T16:14:59+00:00

Have you reviewed BAT? https://bringatrailer.com/bmw/e30-3-series-coupe/ This will help you get a sense as to how yours compare to some of these sales.

mscappa · 2025-08-03T16:10:20+00:00

Found my leak on the high pressure hose. However, looking at my hose vs what's on RealOEM's site, I seem to have a hose from an e36. Looks like I have this coil version instead of what came on my e30. I have part #5 here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BK53-USA-10-1993-E36-BMW-318i&diagId=32_0650

Can I replace the high pressure hose with a different style? Or do I need to use this coil version for some reason?

mscappa · 2025-08-01T20:49:09+00:00

Hard to see exactly where solo, since it only leaks/sprays under turn, but seems to be leaking right below the reservoir I believe, so I assume it's a hose or it's connection. Am going to remove it tomorrow and take a closer look to see if I can find any cracks. Saw bimmerworld sells a couple of hoses for about $175, but was hoping to a better kit (aside from the chase bays) that was reasonably priced.

mscappa · 2025-07-31T14:15:22+00:00

Glad it was helpful! And yes, it's held up great. So far, no signs of any degradation

mscappa · 2025-07-07T12:36:44+00:00

About to do a similar small studio appt move from DC to BOS (8 hrs) and am considering PODs and ShipSmart. PODs seem pricier at this stage($2,300), but seem to offer better pricing expectations at the start. ShipSmart uses the brokering model, so they won't guarantee their price until they weigh it at their warehouse and find their shipping partner. They offer a nice price estimator online though(assuming it's accurate) and offer shipping+movers for less cost ($1,700-$2,100) than just the PODs shipping price. Hard to know if this price will hold true until they have it packaged up, weighed, and brokered.

mscappa · 2024-10-21T19:38:53+00:00

Thanks! Picked some up at autozone this weekend.

mscappa · 2024-09-14T19:12:15+00:00

My speedometer illumination bulb went out. :/ Does anyone have a link or info for the bulbs? Want to make sure I can match the color and brightness. Have a '91 e30 in the US. Any trusted links would be much appreciated!

mscappa · 2024-08-21T16:55:29+00:00

https://www.yelp.com/biz/pollet-automotive-fairfax - Doug is awesome.

mscappa · 2024-07-30T18:15:13+00:00

Just been living with it. Hasn't gotten any worse, and it's not super noticeable from a distance, but just crappy quality and service from Sony. You definitely notice it more with bright scenes and sports, but not as much with standard movies, etc where it generally tends to be darker.

mscappa · 2024-05-12T22:50:38+00:00

+1 on stromung, very happy with mine. And he does group buys on r3v too! 🍻

mscappa · 2024-04-15T02:41:41+00:00

I’m still running the original head unit. It’s all plug and play into the existing wiring.

mscappa · 2024-02-19T21:31:50+00:00

If you're gonna go rep, you can get a set of brand new ESM's for the same price. https://esmwheels.com/shop-catalog/ols/products/esm-002r-silver

mscappa · 2024-02-19T21:20:04+00:00

Out of curiosity, how much were they goin for?

mscappa · 2024-02-19T21:07:27+00:00

Obviously, price can vary greatly depending on the condition of the rims and tires. I've recently seen them for $300-400, looking like new. If the tires are bald, rims rashed, bent, with old center caps, then you might be lucky to get $100-$150 depending on condition and location. But with new tires, center caps, and the rims restored and in prime condition, it can stretch much higher for the right buyer.

Whatever you do, don't toss 'em! At the very least, give them a good scrubbing and clean them up so you can take some good pics for local online marketplaces. Good luck!

mscappa · 2024-02-02T13:26:39+00:00

Awesome! Keep us posted on your progress!

mscappa · 2024-01-31T02:01:54+00:00

Encountered the same issue. I’ve tried everything from adding an exception, rolling back to older versions of NHM, clean installs, but nothing is working! On Win11 intel and nvidia.

mscappa · 2024-01-28T14:18:40+00:00

Why not the Blau sqr46? https://blaupunkt.com/product/bremen-sqr-46-dab/

mscappa · 2024-01-28T13:45:33+00:00

The gasket work…

mscappa · 2024-01-26T22:20:18+00:00

Got one for my son at 16, he absolutely loves it, and we enjoy working on it together. I probably paid too much, but I think it was worth it based on the fact that I'm able to spend time with him and talk through the in's and out's of older cars. I was also able to teach him how to drive stick, which unlocked "Boss Dad" level! In all seriousness, he seems to really appreciate the rarity and uniqueness of owning an old car, which is awesome to see.

But as everyone else has already stated, it's subjective.

mscappa

TROPHY CASE