Hello everyone!
Although we are not the first to do this swap, I figured we would still go ahead and do a build thread to document our process.
The car was purchased off of Craigslist here in New Orleans around 4 years ago as a bone stock 1989 325i with a cloth interior and a manual trans.
Our intentions for the car were not known at the time, we just knew this was a super clean chassis and a great start to any project.
First things first, we gave the car a good cleaning.
Pics of how it started (Actually at this point we refreshed the suspension with some H&R drop springs/Billie Sports, + control arms etc.
Followed by a timing belt, water pump, belts and a refresh of all the hoses.
2020-03-31_12-14-13 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
2020-03-31_12-17-10 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Next up, the unsightly cracked dash had to go and while we were at it, we refreshed the ODO gears, installed a euro clock, swapped out the wheel and threw in some cardinal sport seats :)
2020-03-31_12-23-02 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
2020-03-31_12-23-18 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
2020-03-31_12-24-23 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Fast forward about 4 months and Voila, we have a freshly painted OE Mtech 2 kit begging to be installed.
The first two pics show the current state of the car before the MTech install. In the 4 months time she received a set of MHW tails, French Smileys and a set of 16" Futuras!
Onto the pics!
20170527_130833 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
20170527_130846 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Mtech 2 goodness just picked up from the painter!
20170527_100649 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
New valence as well since the old one was pretty beat up. Plus French fogs to match the headlights.
20170527_174103 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
20170527_143110 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
lots of drilling and little brackets.
20170527_185041 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Front is done!
20170527_210858 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Time for the rear.
20170527_221334 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
spoiler installed
20170527_231534 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Rear end is done!
20170529_112409 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Side skirts and pods next.
20170529_161506 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
With proper sills!
20170529_161211 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
All done!
What a transformation!
20170603_094841 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
20170603_094940 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Sitting pretty at our local C&C with good company!
IMG_20180220_135228_004 by Brian Hardy, on Flickr
Although we are not the first to do this swap, I figured we would still go ahead and do a build thread to document our process.
The car was purchased off of Craigslist here in New Orleans around 4 years ago as a bone stock 1989 325i with a cloth interior and a manual trans.
Our intentions for the car were not known at the time, we just knew this was a super clean chassis and a great start to any project.
First things first, we gave the car a good cleaning.
Pics of how it started (Actually at this point we refreshed the suspension with some H&R drop springs/Billie Sports, + control arms etc.
Followed by a timing belt, water pump, belts and a refresh of all the hoses.


Next up, the unsightly cracked dash had to go and while we were at it, we refreshed the ODO gears, installed a euro clock, swapped out the wheel and threw in some cardinal sport seats :)



Fast forward about 4 months and Voila, we have a freshly painted OE Mtech 2 kit begging to be installed.
The first two pics show the current state of the car before the MTech install. In the 4 months time she received a set of MHW tails, French Smileys and a set of 16" Futuras!
Onto the pics!


Mtech 2 goodness just picked up from the painter!

New valence as well since the old one was pretty beat up. Plus French fogs to match the headlights.


lots of drilling and little brackets.

Front is done!

Time for the rear.

spoiler installed

Rear end is done!

Side skirts and pods next.

With proper sills!

All done!
What a transformation!


Sitting pretty at our local C&C with good company!

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