1995 BMW 320i

[loserone]

Er.. wow

[Supernaut]

The best* part is that one of the failures on the first MOT attempt was because the passenger side screen washer was providing insufficient fluid.

 

It passed on the second attempt, so the new washer is definitely providing sufficient fluid... just not in the right direction.

[Supernaut]

Very very very minor update.

 

Found the grub screw on the gear selector. Tightened it. No more wibbly wobbly t-handle. Nice solid action now. Good.

[Supernaut]

When’s the trip for Karl mk1’s birthday?

This Friday.

[cort1977]

That washer jet is like me trying to piss straight at four in the morning after 8 tins of Polish cooking lager and a 6 minute shot on the missus.

6 minutes.  Who said romance was dead?

[Shep Shepherd]

This car has come a long way. I approve ^^

[Supernaut]

I woke up stupidily early this morning. Not on purpose! Was ready to go at half 6, so I did. Having a coffee in Lauder in the borders.

 

 

I hit a milestone earlier in glen shee.

 

 

 

This thing is a brilliant cruiser. Sunroof open, radio set just so (fader slightly to the front, not too much bass) cruise control set to NSL. Perfect!

[Supernaut]

Crossed the border just after midday yesterday...

 

 

 

On my mate's driveway with his tigra 1.4

 

 

I put nearly 300 miles on it yesterday. Drove the scenic route to Durham then ran some errands in the local area.

[Supernaut]

The final score is in!

 

 

After leaving Durham at the back of 1pm, my first stop was in Coldstream, where I bought a sausage roll and some crisps.

 

I stopped to eat the sausage roll here:

 

 

 

 

I ate the crisps while in traffic on the Edinburgh bypass. The joys of an automatic!

 

My next stop was in Forfar.

 

 

Oh, hello! I dropped in on Tickman and 320touring as they were STILL welding up the Oxford at the back of 5. I then got shown the GSA, he even let me drive it briefly! It's a thoroughly pleasant little thing.

 

 

 

 

I got home at the back of 7. Have some other photos I took with my proper camera and only just copied them across from it now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the Mondeo may be looking for a new home soon. This is just as fast, cheaper to run (31mpg average!), more fun to drive, and is all the car I need anyway. If I need something practical in the future I'd be looking at something smoll and box-shaped.

[320touring]

Was nice to see this today - it's looking well after all the work you have put in:)

[Split_Pin]

Looks like you are getting on with it splendidly. Good result after all your hard work on it.

[Supernaut]

It looks like I may have a buyer lined up for the Mondeo already!

 

In light of this, I'd like to get some small parts for this, just to finish it off.

 

 

First, the little grey plastic holders for the front fog lamps. I have some fog lamps that work, but I managed to break some clips off the little grey holders that are screwed into the front bumper. D'oh!

 

I'd also be tempted to get an ignition barrel and key set. I'd still have two keys (one for the door, one for the ignition) but it would still be better than the current arrangement!

 

If anybody on here can help me out with sourcing these, thanks in advance.

[BavarianRetro]

Unless it's an early E36, you'll need key, barrels, engine ecu and ews module. Or you can strip the door lock down and recode it to work on the same key as the ignition.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

No idea if it's EWS or not, will need to see a photo of the key.

 

1/95 is right in the change point.

[BavarianRetro]

There was a photo of the key somewhere and it looked like the wee LED torch, non remote, EWS key, but that's not to say the chip is doing anything.

[Supernaut]

So I couldn't just keep the current transponder ring around the current barrel and just replace the inner bit of the barrel, then?

 

At the moment, it seems as though the ignition switch itself at the bottom of the barrel has come adrift at some point, so it's now mounted on the left hand side of the steering column, and you turn it with a blank key that just goes in a few mm. The main key (which opens the door) just sits in the barrel in the original location in order to be near the transponder ring.

[BavarianRetro]

So I couldn't just keep the current transponder ring around the current barrel and just replace the inner bit of the barrel, then?

 

Yes, but the chip is in the key.

 

A secondhand barrel and key will send a signal from the secondhand key that won't be recognised by the EWS module in the car. Key, EWS, and ECU need to match.

 

The transponder ring is interchangeable.

[Supernaut]

Yeah, but I could take the key apart to get the chip out and put it in the other key. No?

[BavarianRetro]

You could try. But, I've never seen a cut up key yet that wasn't a bloody mess.

[Supernaut]

Well, I could also look into the possibility of making the ignition switch part of the main barrel again.

 

Or I just glue some sort of handle on there so I can turn it without faffing about with a second key.

 

*shrug*

[BavarianRetro]

An ignition switch isn't a difficult fix. Fix that then key your door lock to match the ignition.

[Supernaut]

An ignition switch isn't a difficult fix. Fix that then key your door lock to match the ignition.

 

I don't think the door lock would need changed.

 

I have a key that opens the door, and that same key sits in the original remains of the ignition barrel with the transponder ring around it.

 

The ignition switch sits separate and is turned by a blank key, as it's just a few mm thick (so you could technically turn it with anything flat, like a screwdriver for example). I'm just thinking aloud about somehow re-attaching it to the bottom of the ignition barrel again. There must be a reason a previous owner did this bodge, though (or perhaps they were just stupid).

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

No idea if it's EWS or not, will need to see a photo of the key.

 

1/95 is right in the change point.

[Supernaut]

I can give you this for now:

 

 

I'll get a better photo later.

 

There is a sort of button on the other side of the key, looks like it would have once had a BMW badge on it, but it's worn smooth to just silver. The button presses down but doesn't do anything though.

You can also make out in that picture the plain metal key, which seems to be a blank (it's BMW branded though), which is used to turn the separate ignition switch on and off.

 

The little fob is for the alarm / immobiliser. It's got a little red light on the dash that you have to press the fob against until it goes out.

[320touring]

This car has ews.

 

The button you speak of would operate a light in the key ( if there was any juice left in the battery)

 

The second key is an old valet key from a 318iS I had - I only used it as it fitted in the ignition section ( right shape)

 

Its not for the 320 and won't unlock anything.

[Supernaut]

More key-related info!

 

Top:

 

 

The button does indeed do something!

 

 

 

Bottom. Looks like a battery cover to me.

 

 

Comes apart fairly easily too, and went back together.

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

That is EWS and 1/95 is the first month of production. The arrow points towards the EWS chip. It's secured by some double sided tape type stuff.

 

If the barrel just spins it can be fixed in 30 mins with a selt tapper. The plastic anti theft base is designed to break off if forced and after time they just wear out. If the barrel when the key fits is still there and the key still fits - and it just spins - it can be fixed.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Drill and screw here.

 

Wind the screw in until the barrel starts to jam up, back it off a tad and the key/barrel should work properly

[BavarianRetro]

I misunderstood. I thought you had different keys for door and ignition.

 

Just fix the switch and barrel, then.

 

Hassle to swap a lockset if it's EWS.

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

 

It used to look like this ∆

 

...aaarrrgghhh! BLINDING!!1!!! V