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Canadian Calypso E30

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    Canadian Calypso E30

    With all the work that's gone into her, I figure it's time for a build thread.

    Back Story: Little 318is I bought in 2012 for cheap because a 300e and then 190e Merc weren't cutting it in the fun department. Needed lots of work
    but I thought Calypso was special and wanted a project. Everyone that knows me hates this car and thinks it's stupid waste of money. Which it is but
    they're poor, my money right - my friends aren't the most financially responsible people. They won't be getting rides when it's done... This thing's
    going to be a loud corner weighted people deterrent anyway.

    Plan:
    - Repair rust
    - Partial stripped interior - going for a Singer 911-esque feel.
    - Respray
    - Fix central locking
    - Suspension
    - Brakes
    - Wheels
    - Chip
    - Lightweight Flywheel

    Enough crap, cut to the chase. Like 90% of E30s it was rusty, mostly in the rear battery compartment area.

    This is the car when I first got it. Photos make the paint look better than it is.




    Rust that needs addressing.




    MTech I Spoiler


    Panel to be replaced with new metal. Surprised BMW actually had one sitting around. PN: 41348121771


    Off to the shop in June 2014


    After cutting the rear panel off, we discover the right railed was crushed so that needed to be straightened.


    Chopped rusty bits.


    We're this far in, might as well cut and fill the left wheel well too.


    Battery tray filled with new metal and then sealed with Würth rubber coating.


    Pooling




    A few months later I got the car back home and started sanding down all the panels for paint. Didn't get much done between December and April because
    of projects at work.

    This is how it sits now. Made my booking with the painter and should be bringing it down in a week or two. Through word of mouth from a Porsche/Audi/VW
    friend I found a great tradesman that does top notch work. His approach is either lay it on smooth or redo. He doesn't like wet sanding - guess that's what
    30 years experience shows. On my visit to the shop, he had custom JDM, muscle cars and his own Z4M project. No pics of those.




    Only thing happening now it parts tear down and paint prep. More updates to come when she get in the paint booth.

    A few more photos for fun.


    Trying on 16x8 ET11 Centra T31 that I have around from the Mercedes. Nice fit, too bad they're 5x112.


    Last edited by Le_Garagiste; 05-11-2015, 11:23 PM.

    #2
    Good start mate, love me a calypso paint, hope you plan on keeping it the same colour.

    Comment


      #3
      Looks like a great project. So still work all done? No more rust to deal with?
      Sweet interior btw

      SUB'D
      I BUY/SELL REFURBISHED CM5907s & CM5908s

      HOWTOs:
      DB vert plastic bumpers
      OEM Keys
      MTech1 docs

      88 ix Lach/Card
      91 ic Calypso 3.1
      86 Cosmo 2.7

      OEM+ or bust!


      reelizmpro: I will always be an e30 guy.. I still do all of my own labor
      TrentW: There's just something so right about a well-built M20 in an E30
      e30m3s54turbo: I save my money for tuner parts.

      Comment


        #4
        Nice calypso and nice uberkaro interior. Where did you find the taillight replacement panel?

        Comment


          #5
          great work so far


          1989 325is l 1984 euro 320i l 1970 2002 Racecar
          1991 318i 4dr slick top


          Euro spec 320i/Alpina B6 3.5 project(the never ending saga)
          Vintage race car revival (2002 content)
          Mtech 2 turbo restoration
          Brilliantrot slick top "build"

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by metal_til_deth View Post
            Nice calypso and nice uberkaro interior. Where did you find the taillight replacement panel?
            I got it directly from a BMW dealership - PN:41348121771

            Comment


              #7
              im jelly ! I got rust too:) great taste in color :)) good luck
              With your project ! Ive just made my engine run fine after so many many hours spent online and under the hood ! Keep up the good work ... Ohhh and .. Damn thats a fine color:))

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Zalmoxis View Post
                im jelly ! I got rust too:) great taste in color :)) good luck
                With your project ! Ive just made my engine run fine after so many many hours spent online and under the hood ! Keep up the good work ... Ohhh and .. Damn thats a fine color:))
                I'm the opposite of you, engine's perfectly fine but outside's crap. Nice ride, now I know what to expect, most of the Calypsos online have tired pant. Is it original?

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Le_Garagiste View Post
                  Enough crap, cut to the chase. Like 90% of CANADIAN E30s it was rusty, mostly in the rear battery compartment area.
                  ftfy

                  California has a TON of E30s and very few have rust
                  Simon
                  Current Cars:
                  -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

                  Make R3V Great Again -2020

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by 2mAn View Post
                    ftfy

                    California has a TON of E30s and very few have rust
                    Touché

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Le_Garagiste View Post
                      Touché
                      :up:

                      Love that you are diving in and fixing that rust and getting a fresh coat of calypso. car will be a blast when its done. The lightweight flywheel will really wake up the M42
                      Simon
                      Current Cars:
                      -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

                      Make R3V Great Again -2020

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Cool.

                        Calypso is a great color on E30s and E34s. Sub'd to see how this build progresses.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          The paint is original, but Ive found a recepit for a clear coat for a decent amount of cash .. The car looks awesome washed and waxed ... Buuuuut... If u get really close you see all drips orange peel look etc etc etc .. Its a 15:footer ( looks good from 15feet ) :)) ive replaced all the sensors 3idle control valves 1throttle position sensor 2afm a gas filter all distribution spark plugs ., and i can happily say that shes close to a perfect ride .. That idle boy ... Costs a lot of money on this E30 ! But this fuckers are more fun then my old g37s man and thats a bold statement but true !!

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by 2mAn View Post
                            :up:

                            Love that you are diving in and fixing that rust and getting a fresh coat of calypso. car will be a blast when its done. The lightweight flywheel will really wake up the M42
                            I was a little skeptical about lightweight flywheels for drivability but tried my friends' 7.5# one and was perfectly fine. Reviews about them seem exaggerated after my test.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              No photos but the car got dropped off at the paint shop getting prepped! Work starts Monday!

                              Comment

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