E30 M3 question

[Batster]

I have a 1991 Evo II E30 M3 and it needs a new MOT, the first during my ownership of the car. The bloke at my local garage tells me it will fail as the car has no side repeaters (indicators) on the side of the front wings. I explained that many older and classic cars did not and surely they were not expected to be retro fitted, which would clearly spoil the originality and look of the car. Car has obviously passed many MOTs in past so I hope he is just misinformed.

Can anyone clarify the situation before some grease monkey starts drilling holes in the lovely front wings of my beloved M3??

Cheers

Batster

PS - Just fitted Eisenmann backbox and Supersprint mid section exhaust and the car sounds superb - highly recommend!

[RMac]

I thought they should have side repeaters?

Anyway, just ask one or two other MOT stations. AFAIK if there is nothing there to test, they can't test it. My only experience of this is that I know a caterham has to have side repeaters fitted for SVA / new registration but it doesn't for MOT's.

[sleep envy]

was your car a german import?

in the days when E30's were new they weren't a german requirment and were offered as an optional extra for the home market

sadly you'll need some to pass the MOT, on the bright side it's not too difficult to fit and you stall can buy the original items

[kiko]

I just had removed theside repeaters from my Sport Evo that I imported from England. Mind you the car was originally aGerman car (without repeaters)and the british owner fitted them.

BTW, there is no such thing as a 1991 Evo II, you probably have a 215bhp M3 is that it?

[Mroad]

From the MOT testers manual:
Vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986
These must be fitted with one side repeater indicator on each side. Instead of a separate lamp, the side repeater might be part of the front direction indicator if it includes a wraparound lens.

[stevesingo]

My Sport Evo was originally imported from Germany and it had the wings drilled and side repeaters fitted at some time. It seems to be the case.

Steve

[Batster]

Yes, my car was an import from Germany, so I guess that is why it didnt have them.

Anyone recommend a source for some original ones then? Were they the same on all E30s rather than unique to the M3?

Thanks

[andye30m3]

As others have said they should be on there to pass an MOT, seam to remember hearing of people having to retro fit them to imported cars or find a friendly MOT station.

I think all of the parts can still be bought from bmw or C3 do a kit for imported cars

http://www.c3bmw.co.uk/StockItem.asp?categoryID=45...

Edited by andye30m3 on Friday 22 August 10:59

[houlbt]

Don't fit them... they are nasty. I've sent you an email.

[garymorgan]

Try taking it to another MOT station

[warsteiner///M3]

Batster said:

Anyone recommend a source for some original ones then? Were they the same on all E30s rather than unique to the M3?

Thanks

the side indicators on the e30 m3 are different to the one's on a standard e30. the standard one's are large, and the m3 one's are smaller.
the side indicators on the m3 were from an e36.
you should be able to find a set at your local breakers or maybe ebay

[derin100]

I had my E30 M3 for over six years or so...put it through each and every MOT without side repeaters having been put on the car (at various MOT stations in England and Scotland) and got away with it everytime!...Never a mention!

If somewhere fails it because it hasn't got them my advice would be take it somewhere else...they look much better IMHO without them.

[Neil.D]

derin100 said:

I had my E30 M3 for over six years or so...put it through each and every MOT without side repeaters having been put on the car (at various MOT stations in England and Scotland) and got away with it everytime!...Never a mention!

If somewhere fails it because it hasn't got them my advice would be take it somewhere else...they look much better IMHO without them.

If you were to have them fitted would this encourage rust on a car of this heritage? To cust some holes must be easy enough but im guessing the whole panel would need to be removed, the newly cut holes properly treated and some new wiring put in. Not a quick job I would imagine.

Neil

[garymorgan]

I agree with what Derin said. I have had mine for 6 years and mine has no repeaters and i have had no problems what so ever getting a MOT

[Hoofty]

+1 - No repeaters on mine, and no probs in last 3 MOTs. Take it somewhere else before getting the drill out!

[Batster]

Thanks for all the advice - will defininitely seek out a friendly MOT station as I really dont want someone getting the drill out on my pristine M3!

Another question - has anyone had their 2.3 litre engine bored out to 2.5 as per the Evo Sport? Just wondered what was consensus on doing this to improve performance of the standard 215bhp 2.3 litre M30. My car has had most of the subtle changes made to liberate a few more ponies from the car.

[Andyt25]

Batster said:

Thanks for all the advice - will defininitely seek out a friendly MOT station as I really dont want someone getting the drill out on my pristine M3!

Another question - has anyone had their 2.3 litre engine bored out to 2.5 as per the Evo Sport? Just wondered what was consensus on doing this to improve performance of the standard 215bhp 2.3 litre M30. My car has had most of the subtle changes made to liberate a few more ponies from the car.

Back in 1994 I had an Evo11..I then drove the Evo sport and actually prefered the Evo11. I thought the 2.3 was the better deal.

[Hoofty]

Wouldn't bore out an original block - from what I've heard and read, it can be tricky to do it without ending up with marginal liner thickness at some points. At worst, you're looking at a cracked block. A chap called Gustave (who until recently hosted one of the best sources of info on E30s and S14s) did it, but went to the trouble of having the liner thickness measured sonically before going ahead.

I don't know of anybody who'd be able to do that for you in the UK, and not many people that would be able to do it properly (i.e. with a torque plate). For the trouble you might get into, you might as well start with a brand new E3 block from the dealer. The later pattern blocks have better reinforcements on the mains spans, and can be had with pistons for somewhere between £800 and £1200, depending on how well you get on with your dealer. The pistons with the 2.5 are a little low on compression (10.2:1 I think) but you can budget for some higher ones if needs be.

[E30M3SE]

^^^^ also has the benefit of oil squirters which the 2.3 does not.

[Foggy Fields]

I can do an engine as you have described, (with torque plate). I did one a couple of years ago so if you are interested send me an email- [e-mail]