I'm new to R3V, been reading a bunch of threads, grabbed some parts and am attempting to become a quick learn. Didn't really think I have much to add, but thought I'd post about my last 90 days. Bear with my stream-of-consciousness ramble.
We inherited a 87 convertible. My brother in law bought it new in 87, (so all receipts since purchase are in-hand!), Delphin on Black. Drove it non-stop for 20 years, with tons of service done, topped off by a NEW BMW longblock @ 195,000. It was consuming more oil than he liked so popped in a motor ($7500 installed!). 50K later, when he replaced it with a new 3-series convertible in 2007, he gave it to a co-worker who was in a bad way with a blown up car and a new baby. This guy was a I.T. guy from India or Dubai? This Sept. he decides to go back to where-ever, leave the country, and offers the car back. We got it on the rebound. The I.T. guy got the treatment from the smog shop when he transferred the title in 07, paid a bunch of tune-up money and was sure it wouldn't pass when I had to smog it, but it flew through nice & clean.
Its an auto, and will be my daughters school car. She instantly started asking if we could somehow make it a stick-shift :). So I'm reading up on the web, searching craigslist and scheming for 1) a hardtop and 2) a 5-speed set up. Hit the local pic-n-pull and scored some 14" weaves, an iS front spoiler, bunch of misc trim and stuff I needed. Replied to a bunch of CL ads, heard back from half but didn't find the answer.
Oh, and I scored that elusive hardtop in Yuma, AZ.
So, called a guy with a 91 325i 2 door. A $300 bring-a-trailer the car is wrecked type deal. From the time I call to the time I'm loading it on the trailer was maybe 3 hours. I score this: (first two pictures)
Inside was Sweet, great sport seats, perfect dash, rolling the cheapo Sportmax wheels, showing 160k and a 5-speed, plastic bumper set-up, etc. I'm happy for the $300 spent. The left rear wheel was pushed back, and whatever frame damage. I grab a salvage trailing arm and CV joint and spend a couple hours at night, for a few nights, wrestling the parts back & forth. Thanks for all those DIY posts everywhere! Once those were in, took the 91 around the block a few times, runs great, shifts great, big smiles. The Left rear wheel however is still not in-line, so it's the subframe and end-of-story for the chassis on this one & me. My daughter keeps saying she wants to drive it wrecked, can't we keep it. No way, not going to insure it, etc., we bought it for the 5-speed I tell her. It's almost a driveable beater but not quite. For it to live it needs a shell, right?
So, I start following the e30 shell thought-train. On norcale30, there is a guy 10 minutes away, running a bunch of ads on CL for differential, head, ICV, etc. and says 86 325es shell for $100, no windows or hood/doors. If those are included he wants $200. So I go to look at the shell. What I see when I get there is a complete 86 325es, nothing removed? He was waiting till the weekend to start yanking things, and not looking forward to it. Had it for 2-3 months, said he really loved the car, sweet shifting & solid, had put big wheels on it and springs. He has just done the timing belt/water pump service, all new hoses, put a New BEHR radiator because he pressure-washed a hole into his original one and then...No Spark. Couldn't fire it up. Spent maybe 5 days chasing everything down, from coil backwards and was so frustrated he was giving up. He said he did a breakdown on parts and could re-coup $1000 and was going to cash it out in pieces. This was not what I was wanting to do, get even deeper into problem cars but I went home and considered things. I read about all the possibilities, from sensors missing on the flywheel, to DME, relays, etc. In the morning I went back and trailered this one home for $700. A gamble.
It came on bottle-caps, and the front grill was in the trunk, the es spoiler was loose. Put the grill on, mounted the spoiler. And then I grabbed the main relay off the 91, plugged in onto the 86 and fired that bitch right up. Runs real strong, might be chipped. Stuck the wide wheels on the 86, the stance ain't too bad. Found a bag of un-opened BMW parts in the trunk, all new shifter bushings and clips and a boot. And it has the New radiator... and the fresh Timing belt. Original blue-plated California car, straight & no rust. I'm liking it. It has a well-worn blue interior, so I'm putting the perfect 91 black interior in with grey carpet. We now have a 5-speed!
Now I have the red 91 that I don't need. I may keep the head and 1.3 system for the 2.7 turbo thing I keep reading about. Or sit the complete running 91 motor in the shed for a "spare". I have twin boys 12 years old and they are ripe for a hands-on car education.
Anyway, 3 months and 3 E30s in my driveway. This pace just can't keep going.
We inherited a 87 convertible. My brother in law bought it new in 87, (so all receipts since purchase are in-hand!), Delphin on Black. Drove it non-stop for 20 years, with tons of service done, topped off by a NEW BMW longblock @ 195,000. It was consuming more oil than he liked so popped in a motor ($7500 installed!). 50K later, when he replaced it with a new 3-series convertible in 2007, he gave it to a co-worker who was in a bad way with a blown up car and a new baby. This guy was a I.T. guy from India or Dubai? This Sept. he decides to go back to where-ever, leave the country, and offers the car back. We got it on the rebound. The I.T. guy got the treatment from the smog shop when he transferred the title in 07, paid a bunch of tune-up money and was sure it wouldn't pass when I had to smog it, but it flew through nice & clean.
Its an auto, and will be my daughters school car. She instantly started asking if we could somehow make it a stick-shift :). So I'm reading up on the web, searching craigslist and scheming for 1) a hardtop and 2) a 5-speed set up. Hit the local pic-n-pull and scored some 14" weaves, an iS front spoiler, bunch of misc trim and stuff I needed. Replied to a bunch of CL ads, heard back from half but didn't find the answer.
Oh, and I scored that elusive hardtop in Yuma, AZ.
So, called a guy with a 91 325i 2 door. A $300 bring-a-trailer the car is wrecked type deal. From the time I call to the time I'm loading it on the trailer was maybe 3 hours. I score this: (first two pictures)
Inside was Sweet, great sport seats, perfect dash, rolling the cheapo Sportmax wheels, showing 160k and a 5-speed, plastic bumper set-up, etc. I'm happy for the $300 spent. The left rear wheel was pushed back, and whatever frame damage. I grab a salvage trailing arm and CV joint and spend a couple hours at night, for a few nights, wrestling the parts back & forth. Thanks for all those DIY posts everywhere! Once those were in, took the 91 around the block a few times, runs great, shifts great, big smiles. The Left rear wheel however is still not in-line, so it's the subframe and end-of-story for the chassis on this one & me. My daughter keeps saying she wants to drive it wrecked, can't we keep it. No way, not going to insure it, etc., we bought it for the 5-speed I tell her. It's almost a driveable beater but not quite. For it to live it needs a shell, right?
So, I start following the e30 shell thought-train. On norcale30, there is a guy 10 minutes away, running a bunch of ads on CL for differential, head, ICV, etc. and says 86 325es shell for $100, no windows or hood/doors. If those are included he wants $200. So I go to look at the shell. What I see when I get there is a complete 86 325es, nothing removed? He was waiting till the weekend to start yanking things, and not looking forward to it. Had it for 2-3 months, said he really loved the car, sweet shifting & solid, had put big wheels on it and springs. He has just done the timing belt/water pump service, all new hoses, put a New BEHR radiator because he pressure-washed a hole into his original one and then...No Spark. Couldn't fire it up. Spent maybe 5 days chasing everything down, from coil backwards and was so frustrated he was giving up. He said he did a breakdown on parts and could re-coup $1000 and was going to cash it out in pieces. This was not what I was wanting to do, get even deeper into problem cars but I went home and considered things. I read about all the possibilities, from sensors missing on the flywheel, to DME, relays, etc. In the morning I went back and trailered this one home for $700. A gamble.
It came on bottle-caps, and the front grill was in the trunk, the es spoiler was loose. Put the grill on, mounted the spoiler. And then I grabbed the main relay off the 91, plugged in onto the 86 and fired that bitch right up. Runs real strong, might be chipped. Stuck the wide wheels on the 86, the stance ain't too bad. Found a bag of un-opened BMW parts in the trunk, all new shifter bushings and clips and a boot. And it has the New radiator... and the fresh Timing belt. Original blue-plated California car, straight & no rust. I'm liking it. It has a well-worn blue interior, so I'm putting the perfect 91 black interior in with grey carpet. We now have a 5-speed!
Now I have the red 91 that I don't need. I may keep the head and 1.3 system for the 2.7 turbo thing I keep reading about. Or sit the complete running 91 motor in the shed for a "spare". I have twin boys 12 years old and they are ripe for a hands-on car education.
Anyway, 3 months and 3 E30s in my driveway. This pace just can't keep going.
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