The Laguna Green e30

[twiggletwaggle]

Great progress and awesome vert. Laguna Green is fast becoming my favorite color on E30s.

[HerbReal]

Small world! Ya funny enough she still has it posted on Craigslist. I really regretted buying this thing for the first week but now with the new interior it's not that bad of a car at all. Have to ask.. Would have you passed on the car seeing the condition it was in before? I almost parted this thing out..

I would've asked for an even lower price and would keep it for my niece when she's of legal driving age. You wouldnt trade for a 90' sedan would you? lol.

[KIRIEIW]

Got some more work done! Yesterday I had time after work to install some new outer tie rods, bleed the brakes with fresh Genuine BMW fluid, and best of all do an alignment. I also noticed some hack that did the brakes last stripped the allen fasteners so I even replaced those with some new OEM hardware.

Since lowing the car the steering wheels been a little crooked, likely because a car's alignment toe settings change drastically when you lower it. Also, you might be asking me why I'd only replace the outer tie rods and not the iners at the same time. Well I have a good answer, a shop some time in the previous owners past replaced the steering rack, and the new steering rack came with new inner tie rods. For whatever reason, the shop (or the previous owner) was too cheap to install/ buy new outer rods at the same time so the original BMW outer tie rods where re used. Man these things where toast. Car drives great now, so much better then when I first got it can't stress that enough!

All in all it looks like I'm coming down to the very last finishing touch's on the car. I drop it off for paint in about 2 weeks, besides that now its up to date on maintenance and ready to be driven and enjoined!


Few pic's, plus I found one additional pic from last weekend:

[UlrichFennec]

I love that little bit of rake with how it sits right now. Makes it look nice and aggressive imo. Keep it coming, I'm liking the progress!

[KIRIEIW]

I love that little bit of rake with how it sits right now. Makes it look nice and aggressive imo. Keep it coming, I'm liking the progress!

Thank you sir! I'm happy I didn't go with the H&R Race's, I think these give the perfect height especially since I'm running stock wheels.

[KIRIEIW]

Ok so today I got a little bit more work done, after work. I got lucky at the junk yard the other day and got 3 major bit's the car really needed. The first being the under dash kick panel. The car never came with one so I really needed one of those. The other two thing where a rear view mirror, which also wasn't included with the car.. and bumper trim piece since mine's cracked. Great deal, $21 bucks for all 3 pieces :D

One of my buddys a few weeks back also gave me his old airbag steering wheel, since the one in my car was in extremely rough and nasty condition. I mean seriously, there was mold growing on this thing when I removed the steering wheel cover the first week I owned it! The only draw back to this one is it's not leather like all the 325i convertibles originally came with, but I'm happy with it for now.

Onto the pics!

Also I don't know what it is, but it seem's like everyone cross threads these bolts.. I got my tap/ dye set out to fix it.












And the original steering wheel..

[KIRIEIW]

So just a small update, over the weekend I decided to do the valve cover gasket along with the 4 little plugs that tend to leak oil. Quick and easy job, I should have done it a few weeks back already but I've been pushing it off.

Also, I dropped the car off for paint yesterday afternoon! He'll be painting the trunk and the two front mirrors since they are the only panels really suffering from clear coat peal. I told him not to worry about re installing the 325i badge, and that I'd buy a brand new one to put back on later down the line. Should be done sometime next week :D

[cblais19]

Looking great! I'll be doing that whole front end work myself this week or next. I think you have a little more experience with that sort of thing though ;).

[KIRIEIW]

The Laguna Green e30

Two quick iPhone pics to update you guys, got it back about 10min ago! (Don't mind the beautiful Bay Area traffic in the background)






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[robrez]

Great work and fast progress.

[KIRIEIW]

The Laguna Green e30

Thank you sir! Ok guys, just snapped a few pics right before leaving for work. The color match is AMAZING. Spot on no doubt, I was worried it might be off but he did an amazing job. I still need to put on the mirrors and 3rd brake light on later today because I took them off for the painter before I dropped off the car to make his life a little easier. I was also a little worried about the VIN sticker on the trunk, I forgot to tell him not to paint over that like some hacks do... He didn't paint it :D. Even all the trunk lid gaps are perfect, I'm really, really happy with the work.

Little bad news I forgot to share, I was making a close to full lock turn going a little fast, hit a bump and it dented the fender out last weekend :sad: I'll need to figure something out to fix it, I'm hoping a few taps with a piece of wood and a fender roll will fix it and keep it from happening again...

Anyways onto the pics.

[cblais19]

Really nice work with that car, looks like a fantastic paint job too. I love how Laguna has a fair bit of blue that is more pronounced in certain light conditions and angles.

[KIRIEIW]

Really nice work with that car, looks like a fantastic paint job too. I love how Laguna has a fair bit of blue that is more pronounced in certain light conditions and angles.

Same! If you weren't going to take a second look you'd think it's just a green car, but in the right light you see a hint of blue.. really cool!


So I finally had a chance to re install the 3rd brake light and put the mirrors back on. It's been a crazy week for me, I purchased another convertible, drove out to Reno for "Hot August Nights", and of course came back from vacation two weeks ago. Anyways, got it all installed and it looks great! I also had a chance to clean up the trunk, I regret not taking a before pic it was horrible.. I mean empty bottles all over the place, a jack from a Nissan, used socks, you name it, it was in there. Even the trunk mat was missing but luckily I was able to snag one up from the parts car I got the interior/ convertible top from.

Yes I know, I need to re install the side markers. Unfortunately one broke while being removed so I need to find another red one, which I most likely have an extra of someplace.

[jeffnhiscars]

I like the progress you're making. Good work

[Zeemz]

Awesome job bringing this one back to life. Impressive job inside and out.

Your painter did a great job on the color match and that is stunning visual improvement!