Stiff acclerator on 325i

[AndDown]

OK, no jokes about a stiff pedal...but I would like to hear from those of you who have an E30. I'm looking at an '89 325i, 117K miles (for my daughter), that my independant mechanic has for sale. The thing that I noticed first during the drive was how much stiffer the acclerator pedal was. Coming from the current bimmers (drive by wire type) and a 84 MBZ, the stiffness feels unusual. I used to have a '77 320i, but that was over 20 years ago. I was just wondering if this was normal...there didn't seem to be any lag in the pickup.

[fredg3]

When I got my'89 325i a couple of years ago (to replace my '86 325.... i don't like to speak about what happened to that car :cry: ) the accelerator had the same problem. I was a bit skeptical about it, but the rest of the car was in such mint condition (except for the usual e30 things like to odometer not working - i don't think i've ever owned a bimmer with a working odo come to think of it...) that I had to buy it. So I started working under the hood doing small stuff (changing oil, air filter, etc.) when I started fiddling with the throttle cable. I noticed it was tough to move there also, so it just wasn't isolated to the foot pedal itself. I sprayed some WD-40 in the conduit for the throttle cable while having someone else keep pushing the gas pedal up and down (to move the cable so the WD-40 would coat better) and like MAGIC - good as new. I have such precision control over it now. Trust me - WD-40 - it's the gift that keeps on giving.

[teamdfl]

Do yoursewlf a favor and install a new throttle cable (~$20). The inner cable tends to wear at the bend near the metal "noodle" at the firewall. The frayed inner cable lend drags or hangs up in the outer cable housing. The inner cable had worn through about 60% of the strands in my E30 before I got around to changing it.


Ed

[AndDown]

Thanks, guys, I'll talk with the owner/mechanic about the suggestions regarding the throttle cable. Car is in pretty good interior condition and exterior is also pretty clean. Pulled a carfax on it and everything came back OK. Will definitely have them do the timing belt/water pump replacement if I decide to go with the car.

[Lanc3r]

Do yoursewlf a favor and install a new throttle cable (~$20). The inner cable tends to wear at the bend near the metal "noodle" at the firewall. The frayed inner cable lend drags or hangs up in the outer cable housing. The inner cable had worn through about 60% of the strands in my E30 before I got around to changing it.


Ed


:stupid: mine was down to ONE strand the same day it got stiff. I drove directly to the parts guyand changed mine in the parking lot.