E21 maintenance

Some advice on maintaining E21's. Some things may seem too simple to mention, but they can have severe consequences!

• All E21 engines run best on leaded fuel
• Change cam belts on 6-cylinder M20 engines every 50,000 kilometres
• Cam chains on 4-cylinder M10 engines usually last a lifetime, but when the chain is noisy replacing the tensioner most times cures the rattle
• Keep inner wheel arches and front wings clean as they do rust easily. Also, check bottom of the car regularly for rust.
• Check rubber bushings of front/rear sway bars (rear if applicable). When worn they can cause the car to vibrate
• Front end knocking sound most times is a result of a worn upper strut bearing and usually becomes apparent after changing the shock inserts
• When changing the clutch center it very carefully to prevent it from juddering, clutch judder is caused by overheating the clutch plates;

More tips on how to prevent clutch judder:

NEVER ...

NEVER pull away from a standstill in second gear

NEVER hold the car on a hill with the clutch

NEVER let your foot rest on the clutch pedal when the car is moving, even the slightest touch can cause the clutch to slip

ALWAYS ...

ALWAYS slip the clutch as little as possible when pulling away

ALWAYS select neutral and bring up the clutch pedal if you're stationary for more than a few seconds

ALWAYS use the brakes to slow down the car, not downward gear changes

Tech articles:	Hazard switch repair
	Maintenance schedule
	Cooling system problems
	Cold start problems
	Common E21 problems

Any other questions? Please post them on my forum!

Lots of tech tips for E21 engines on the E30-net

Repair manuals: Haynes is good, but keep in mind that more recent editions share E21 and E30 3-series and cover either the 4 cilinder or 6 cilinder engines. Or the 'Vraagbaak BMW 3-serie 1975-1982' if the Dutch language is no obstacle for you.

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