1980 BMW E12 518 - Gold

[Carbon]

thats very nice...looks very expensive lol..min ensile as nice & is about R2500

It's actually well priced in my opinion. About R4500 for the base version and R5500 for the TUNE version. But then you still need to import/duties etc.

For a clean tune-able electronic ignition it doesn't seem too bad.
The 6-cylinder version is close to the same price.

https://www.123ignitionshop.com/gb/54-bmw

 

[individj]

i hear you...was much better priced 2 years ago lol

 

[warrenk]

ja thats crucial. I'm getting an electronic unit from the states if i can't get a 620 unit for my datsun but thats a nice carb because its progressive. so it was on the car when you got it i assume. They sell a nice K&N (and replica) top hat for it. people often use that carb for turbo applications.

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a 17" Hartge split on there...mmmmmmmmmmmm

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I'll be looking for a distributor from a later M10 engine that came out with the Bosch electronic unit.
The car came with this carb on it already on it yes, I changed the air filter over to a spare K&N unit yesterday morning.
I'm still looking for the right wheel, I try to stay away from reps as I've had my fair share of mishaps with them..

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Very nice condition. Lovely car to own.

I just did the elec ignition conversion , done by a local friend who has a distributor service company. Fits the modules ect in your distributor. simply DIY installation. If you in the VAAL area can make a plan to have it done for you. Not too expensive and looks original

Enjoy the ride

Thanks Luis, I'm down in Port Elizabeth.
Is that the Accuspark system?

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The 518 2 litre! What a beauty! This was the first BMW my dad bought in the '80s!

We had a metallic green that had twin Stromberg carbs and drove like a dream! The car was handed down to me in 1992 when I started college and stayed with us until 2003!

My dad serviced the car and even those Stromberg carbs himself and even though it was heavy on fuel around town, it was quite economical on the open road.

Man, what a beautiful example you have! The drive is way ahead of it's time! Can be slippery in the wet! At least with our twin Stromberg model, very responsive on the throttle.

Solid as a rock and way above many cars even after its time! :coolShake:

Thank you, this car had the twin Stromberg carbs on it, the bracket for the airbox is still on the passenger side inner fender.
To me it feels like the carb was just thrown onto the car without ever taking time to set it up. On flat out acceleration it feels like it's smothering the car.

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With my daily having gone in for some suspension work yesterday I drove the 518 around.. On my way home the car started to lose power climbing a hill, heat gauge was just over the middle so proceeded to carry on to a friends place that was about a kilometer away..
Popped the bonnet and as I got out of the car I could immediately smell the heat.. On opening the bonnet I went straight for the radiator hoses...
Top hot and bottom still cold.. Thermostat was stuck.. I removed it, jammed it open and refitted it. Left it standing for about an hour before I added water again and made my way home.. Felt normal but I'm weary of that guage.

I want to run a temporary VDO guage to compare it to the original one in the cluster.

 

[Carbon]

I'll be looking for a distributor from a later M10 engine that came out with the Bosch electronic unit.

Then you will need to swap the cams as well since on the newer M10s the dizzy turns the opposite way as yours.

I want to run a temporary VDO guage to compare it to the original one in the cluster.

The gauges are pretty reliable, but the senders tend to read higher the older they get. Although, I have one sender that reads low as well.

 

[warrenk]

Then you will need to swap the cams as well since on the newer M10s the dizzy turns the opposite way as yours.

The gauges are pretty reliable, but the senders tend to read higher the older they get. Although, I have one sender that reads low as well.

You learn something new everyday, thank you sir.
I'll replace the sender unit to be on the safe side.

 

[NtandoN]

When are you selling? :cartel:

Nice, clean ride buddy.

 

[warrenk]

When are you selling? :cartel:

Nice, clean ride buddy.

Thanks bud, I don't have intentions of selling, but you know how the saying goes, everything has a price..

 

[individj]

so i stumbled upon a set of original 16" 9j hartge Splits:skit: might need a e12 for them lol

 

[warrenk]

so i stumbled upon a set of original 16" 9j hartge Splits:skit: might need a e12 for them lol

Pics or it didn't happen:=):

 

[individj]

haha i will put it on tomorrow...im collecting them from a friend.

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ill send you an actually pic but they look like this.

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i was joking earlier but i feel in my heart that i need an e12 with a BBS spoiler..slammed on these with sidedrafts on a 2.8....strange...as i said that i hear my wife saying...i feel in my heart i need a divorce :RedNo:

 

[warrenk]

99% of M10 carb problems lies in the ignition.

You were spot on sir... The vacuum advance was not on the right take off on the carb.

Over the last week I spent some time on the car.
Before replacing the thermostat and temperature sender unit I pulled the radiator out to have it flushed. The flush turned into a new core.

While waiting for the radiator I removed the waterpump to inspect it, flushed the engine out a good couple of times, replaced some blown globes in the cluster and did all the small niggly things the previous owner neglected to do..

Seat covers came off to wash them (I would like to do a full valet before I refit them), repaired the driver seat rail, got the window washer system working and removed the cruise control while I was under the dash.

Things on the to do list:
Oil & filter - probably today after work.
Replace head light globes with normal units,
Strip, clean, polish and reassemble tail light units and chrome.
Replace the hazard switch,
I'd like to source and fit a front BBS spoiler (fiberglass would do)
New exhaust,
Change of wheels - and then lower the car according to the wheels,

 

[DINODENASH]

wow, that's immaculate !
:chef::coolShake:

 

[Carbon]

99% of M10 carb problems lies in the ignition.

You were spot on sir... The vacuum advance was not on the right take off on the carb.

Glad it was such an easy fix. That was the exact same advice I was given years ago by a '70s BMW workshop manager from Germany, when my car had problems starting.

You should also do valve adjustments while you are at it, it is really easy to do. The eccentric adjuster is on the rocker over the valve, and you need a 10mm ring spanner and a small allen key. The allen key goes into a small hole drilled into the eccentric, and used as a little leaver to adjust the gap.

It should be between 0.15 and 0.20mm between the valve and the rocker. Only adjust valves on a cold engine.

These adjustments should me done with every second oil service (~20 000km)

 

[Xack]

haha i will put it on tomorrow...im collecting them from a friend.

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ill send you an actually pic but they look like this.

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i was joking earlier but i feel in my heart that i need an e12 with a BBS spoiler..slammed on these with sidedrafts on a 2.8....strange...as i said that i hear my wife saying...i feel in my heart i need a divorcedivorce :RedNo:

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You need a Madala for those, saw a Nice pair of Oz turbo mags on an old kadette yesterday

 

[rodga]

Nice job
Let me know if you are able to source fibreglass BBS spoiler. Also looking for one.

 

[MoCarCandyBMW]

What a beauty.Looks so good with a sunroof.

Just sold my one last week:blueCry:

 

[warrenk]

Glad it was such an easy fix. That was the exact same advice I was given years ago by a '70s BMW workshop manager from Germany, when my car had problems starting.

You should also do valve adjustments while you are at it, it is really easy to do. The eccentric adjuster is on the rocker over the valve, and you need a 10mm ring spanner and a small allen key. The allen key goes into a small hole drilled into the eccentric, and used as a little leaver to adjust the gap.

It should be between 0.15 and 0.20mm between the valve and the rocker. Only adjust valves on a cold engine.

These adjustments should me done with every second oil service (~20 000km)

Thanks for advice and instructions, much appreciated..
I'll set it over the weekend and do the points gap and ignition timing as well
I don't think the car will do 20k km anytime soon... I've only done 3000km with my Sport in the 3years that I have it.

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Nice job
Let me know if you are able to source fibreglass BBS spoiler. Also looking for one.

Will do Rodga, someone here in PE offered to borrow his original one in order to make a mould. If it's in good quality then we're sorted..

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What a beauty.Looks so good with a sunroof.

Just sold my one last week:blueCry:

Thanks bud, I always admired that silver one, this one is auto, feels as if it needs another gear.

 

[STEVEN COOL]

:clapper:

 

[warrenk]

I did a deal on the wheels with individj a while ago..

Sparco 9's in 16" 8J, unsure of the offset but it's perfect.

I split the wheels today as I will be taking them in to be stripped of all the paint and brake dust build up before reassembling them and sending them in to be straightened and polished up.
I managed to borrow one center cap from a friend that has a 4x100 set (that's how I knew what they were).
I had one printed but the 3D printer had issues and went on strike 3/4 way through the job.. The cap should be done in this week.

But for now, some pictures...

Excuse the granny carpet in the boot, I got the car with it and it will stay there haha..

 

[individj]

its going to look great! Good dealing with you Warren...im oldschool & its so good to see that you still get honest, trustworthy guys! Cant wait to see the 3D print result. Might need your assistance with this in the near future please.:coolShake: