Trying to build my e30

[lambo]

Or borrow tools.. They could run a lot, and being 19 myself, I know how precious every dollar spent is at that point. Luckily I got my pops tools, so I'm not sweating, but you aren't so fortunate..

No kidding...I used to dislike getting tools for Christmas as a child but now they dominate the majority of my wish lists and I am so thankful to have my own tools :D

[Jand3rson]

No kidding...I used to dislike getting tools for Christmas as a child but now they dominate the majority of my wish lists and I am so thankful to have my own tools :D

I pretty much just ask for gift cards to Sears at Christmas and birthdays, for about the last 10 years or so.

[Delraco]

If you have a way of saving up money and not messing with the car, DO IT. Best lesson I learned..

I've dumped so much money into shitty cars that I needed running THE NEXT FUCKING DAY so many times over...it hurts my head thinking of how that huge amount of money could have been better spent if I just let the car sit and rode a bike to work for a little while.

I was not too long ago 18, tool-less, and had no one to look to for guidance in the car realm. Made a lot of mistakes and learned a whole hell of a lot. The biggest lesson though was if you can let it sit, do it and save up money. Why drop $300 on stock suspension parts to get the car running temporarily when you plan on having coilovers in the end? If it's an option, leave it alone until you have the money you need to get what you really want.

If not?
Fuck it, maintenance is your friend, like everyone is saying.

[Roysneon]

There are literally at least a dozen things to do on your car before coilovers or an engine swap. Check the following things first:

Control arms (inner and outer ball joint play)
Tie rods (leaks or tie rod end play)
Subframe bushings
Control arm bushings (cracked/ripped)
Swaybar endlinks (rubber bushings/end joint play)
Shocks/struts
Rear shock mounts
wheel bearings


If you don't have your own tools or a place to work on your car for up to a month at a time it's not really realistic at this point for you to do an engine swap. If you're planning to swap to a 24v or something similar then I'd suggest upgrading to rear disk brakes and vented fronts. I also have an early model 318i as a project car.

[JinormusJ]

I was not too long ago 18, tool-less, and had no one to look to for guidance in the car realm. Made a lot of mistakes and learned a whole hell of a lot. The biggest lesson though was if you can let it sit, do it and save up money. Why drop $300 on stock suspension parts to get the car running temporarily when you plan on having coilovers in the end? If it's an otion, leave it alone until you have the money you need to get what you really want.

Making a build thread, listing everything you want to do, and staying dedicated to the goal in mind helps too. I've done it, and it's helped me a lot when I was thinking of buying a IS front lip and Ryan G splitter; eventually I'm gonna go M-tech II, so I'd rather look like crap now, look good later, and have some change in my pocket too.
At this point, junkyards are your best friends as well. Dont waste money on fuses and little mickeymouse stuff that you can pocket cause that money is well spent elsewhere. That is... If your not at the point where your broke enough to have to take out a loan to pay the entrance fee :rofl:

I pretty much just ask for gift cards to Sears at Christmas and birthdays, for about the last 10 years or so.

Hmm.. That's a good idea hah.. I usually ask for cash or gift cards as it is cause I'm one broke sucka.. Never thought of Sears though