Exact model?

[lawhopes]

Hey! About a month ago, I bought a 1985 M318i as a fixer. However, I apparently got in over my head. I thought, as my dad is a mechanic, he would know everything. Well, guess not. My first order of the day is to smog the thing. The idle air control motor isn't working in the car, but when we took it out and tested it, it works fine. So dad did a voltage test, and it looks like when the electrical system controlling the motor gets under a load (i.e. gets a good ground), it looses all volts. The Haynes repair manual says to check the relay. But guess what? We can't find it. Does anyone have any input? (this car did not come w/an owner's manual; but I've got on on order from e-bay).

And BTW, I see all these cars listed as M10, E20, E36, etc. How can I tell exactly which one mine is? We looked all over the engine and don't see anything remotely like this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Etienne

[ec437]

umm... you got jipped? There was definitely no such thing as an "m318i" that was made in the 80's, and I'm pretty sure that no such model was ever made. If you have a 318i you have the m10. If you have an m3 (doubtful) you have the s14.

[Skycity_BMW]

you have a E30 318i

Like ec437 said . . . the motor is an M10 a 1.8L motor . .

try this forum they may help you a little bit more or go to any E30 forum . . http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...sprune=-1&f=20

[lawhopes]

Wow, thanks a lot! The input is extremely helpful! BTW, how did you know the E30 bit? And why an M10 and not an M3? You can tell I'm intelligently informed on this subject, no?? lol

Etienne

[kelminr]

E30 is the body style/model code for the car, M10 is the motor code for the engine in that car. M3 is a whole different breed of 3 series. This is all stuff you just "absorb" after a while.

[Skycity_BMW]

Well said . . kelminr ! ! ! !