(Now build thread) Norcal new e30 member introduction

[dadsbmw]

Hey guys,

"New" to the e30 game and wanting to officially introduce myself. My dad purchased his 1990 Sterling Silver Metallic 325i back around 1992 and claims it was the first car he'd ever purchased that he ended up getting everything he wanted. I spent a ton of time in that car with him on road trips, learning how to drive in it when I was 16, etc. Basically many memories and lots of love.

My dad passed away this summer, and when he did it was well known within the family that I would be getting his e30. It now has 370,000 miles on the odometer but has been very well maintained and had the engine replaced around 260,000.

My automotive experience is centered mostly around 2nd generation Ford Probe GT's (which Im sure I will get no love for ;)) and I plan to use my e30 as my lightly modified daily driver. It is bone stock at this point but will receive some light exterior modification and suspension work, but will mainly just be getting a lot of maintenance.

Anyways, Im long winded, obviously. On to the pictures.






Just purchased parts to repaint lower valence, replace fogs and add yellow laminex covers, replace front turn signals with smoked clears, replace front side reflectors with smoked clears, and install the missing lower grille.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Great story. I'm betting on those early mornings, on a twisty two lane stretch of blacktop, he is sitting in the passenger seat next to you with as big of a smile as you have at that moment.

[animal]

awesome - I'm in SF. sterling silver's are kinda more rare, nice to see. Glad you're cleaning up - I'd like to help any way I can. Sorry to hear about your dad - let me know if you got any questions.

[dadsbmw]

Thanks guys. Yeah these BMW's seem a lot different from what Im used to working on... lots of (seemingly) over-engineering! Almost like learning to work on cars all over again! I'd love to come to a meet and see everyone and what theyre doing.

[2mAn]

Thats so cool! I've always wanted to have a car with some history like that, but my family thinks cars are appliances with the exception of my brother. He has owned his Euro 190e 16v for about 12 years now and will probably never let go of it.

Car looks great, a decent drop and some euroweaves and I would be done with it and just enjoy being behind the wheel.

[dadsbmw]

Haha well unfortunately unlike everyone on here Im not a huge fan of the euroweaves. Im looking to either go 17" BBS LM's or my preference, throwing stars with a polished lip.

[Cabriolet]

please dont put 17s on the car. 16 is the biggest you really should go. it ruins the ride and looks donk on 17s. unless you have an mtech2 or M3.

[Lee22]

welcome to the board. its good to hear about the car staying in the family.

[mr2peak]

Mmmm F2t.

You making some power? That's a strong motor.

[dadsbmw]

Haha no that's first generation 4cyl turbo. Second generation GT is a 2.5 V6. Im running a 3" CAI, 75mm TB, custom made IM with 3" inlet and internal velocity stacks, Bosal medium length headers, homebuilt 2" to 2.5" y-downpipe, 2.5" electric exhaust cutout, 2.5" cat-back to g35 muffler exiting in front of either rear tire, UDP, findanza 9lb flywheel, upgraded clutch, Megasquirt, supra injectors, 75 wet shot of nitrous. Looking to make about 200whp N/A.

Parts sitting in the garage waiting for install: j-spec 200hp motor (35hp more than a-spec) colt race cams, interprep valve springs (stiffer valve springs alone allow revs to 8000-9000 rpm... cams allow actual power to be made up there), and an electronically clutched twin screw supercharger from a mercedes c32amg. Looking to make around 220whp N/A and hopefully around 350whp supercharged.

[itskingsteelo]

Haha well unfortunately unlike everyone on here Im not a huge fan of the euroweaves. Im looking to either go 17" BBS LM's or my preference, throwing stars with a polished lip.

Fuck that, go with 18 inch bbs black

[itskingsteelo]

I plan to use my e30 as my lightly modified daily driver.

That's how we all start, once we start it's just a downward spiral hahahaha
WELCOME to the forum.

The car is VERY well kept, it's a very clean car. Sorry bout your dad.

[KIRIEIW]

I'm in mountain view as well, right off of castro. If you see a guy in a white coupe or convertible flash there high beams, that probably will be me lol

[dadsbmw]

So I've been doing some work and wanted to update and figured I might as well just do it in this thread.

Started off by trying to get the front valence cleaned up as it was chipped to death and the fog lights were absolutely destroyed. Purchased some color matched spray paint, ebay fogs, yellow lamin-x covers, and the valence lower grill insert as it was missing. Also took the liberty to black out the side markers and turn signals with some night shades and remove the front license plate. Turned out pretty damn good if I do say so myself!

A reminder of the damage on the front end



Front license plate removed and turn signals blacked out... looking better



Valence being painted



All put back together minus the lower grill insert. Still need mounting hardware for that... anyone know how its mounted and what I need to buy?



And with the lamin-x covers installed. I was unsure when I ordered them but now that they're installed I absolutely love them!



Gratuitous (and extremely dirty) shot of the weekend driver as it sits in the garage getting the Megasquirt wired up



Next I moved on to the tint. This stuff has to be at least 20 years old, purple, and bubbling up. Initially planned to get it redone, but now thinking I may stay tintless for a more classic look.
Before:



After:



Next project... The black paint on the rockers is nasty, as will happen. I decided that in lieu of just painting them back to black, I would try them out body color and see how I feel about them. I think body color is the right choice!



Still have to do the rear and the drivers side as well, as I've been busy with another project...



Im fairly sure that most of the suspension is original, meaning 380,000 miles old! I know the drivers rear spring was replaced about a year ago as it broke in half, and Im thinking they may have replaced both sides with stock springs, but Im pretty sure thats about it. It's been suggested that since this will be a daily driver that I go with H&R sports with koni shocks, which is basically what I had been planning on doing. However a few weeks ago I bought some H&R OE Sports off craigslist for a very good price, and figured it couldn't hurt to test fit them and see how they look/perform. Looking at pictures online I didn't really like that the front sits much higher than the rear, so I also opted for e90 front drop hats as well. This weekend I got around to installing. Compare to the picture above to see the drop.



I think the drivers side is a bit lower in front that the passenger side though... loving the look



Nonsensical pic


I'm very happy with the results and plan to stay at this height for some time... at least as long as I'm DDing the car.

[semaj4712]

Looks good welcome to r3v, sorry to hear about your father