New builder
 

I am a new (ish) owner of a part built sportster and thought i would post up as i have been lurking for to long. The sportster was bought as a kit in 2005 and has been built up to nearly all the body panels fitted. I have managed to get the car to start, but it will only start and run for a few seconds then cuts out. Can anyone advise me on what is best to start with to fix this problem, it is based on a 325 1987. This may seem a silly question, but i will fire away. How does everyone fit the bumpers, other than welding them in?

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Your engine starting, running and then cuts out sounds like a fuel supply problem. It may be the filter is blocked up with crap from the fuel tank. Mine did that on it's first run despite flushing the tank.
Depending on the type of filter fitted, you will need to replace it or maybe dismantle it to clean with carb cleaner.

The bumpers are fixed with a bolt through the chassis tube. My front ones use the same bolt to fix the axillary light bracket.

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1040/1...d183587393.jpg
Drivers side bumper by marlinpeter, on Flickr

At the back the bolt is underneath the car.

Good luck fixing your engine running and finishing off the car! :smile:

...peter

Welcome, I can only echo Peter's comments :)

Ditto here - all I'll add is that you need to fashion your own driving lamp brackets for the front - which share the fixing for the front bumpers.

Also, when drilling for the rear bumpers, it's probably a hell of a lot easier to do if you have a willing helper hold the bumpers level and true whilst you drill up from below.

I clamped both of mine to a straight piece of timber running accross the rear of the car ensuring they were both horizontal and in-line. (My willing helper is never very willing lol).

Robin

Good tip: my willing helper lost interest years ago!

Mike

Best place for air mass boot
 

I need to find a new air mass boot, does any one know where best place to get one is? I have had a look on the bay, but could not find any.

It is a 1987 325i

Hi there,

The boots are readily available from your local BMW parts desk. According to the BMW parts site:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...97&hg=13&fg=15

The part number number is 13711708800

Cheers

Jason

Jason's right but you'll see there are three different types listed on Realoem so it's important to get the right one. The differences are to do with the number and position of the little idle valve connection tubes. When I rebuilt my 325 engine last year I found out the hard way and it took me two or three goes to find the right one and IIRC one type is no longer available from BMW as they are one of the very few parts now discontinued.

I think I still have the boots that were wrong for my engine so post up a picture of yours and I'll see if I've got one to match.
I'll see if I can find them next time I'm down at my lockup and see what I've got.
...peter

Pete - that's the specific code for an '87 325i, according to RealOEM. :)

http://s1353.beta.photobucket.com/

Thank you for your replys, it looks like the one Jason posted up.

Ryan

Ryan ,
I can't see your photobucket picture but googling the number posted by Jason throws up this image........


http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/...3711708800.jpg

Is this the type your looking for?

Hello peter, just getting to grips with forum techniques of post photos, that is the correct one.

OK, I'll have a look at what type I've got.

I've got one like that spare as well, after buying a different boot to fit a replacement idle valve Robin sent me.

I've got a 'used' one like the one in the picture. It seems to be in good condition. Send me a PM if you want it.