Just got my first e30, evaluate my to-do list

[swolfe]

Hey guys. Got my first e30 about a week ago, I've been really enjoying it. It's an '88 325is:



I'm in grad school now, picking it up to use as a street car for a couple of years and then turn into a SpecE30. I mostly ride my R1 everywhere (and otherwise drive my truck, '97 F-150). I've just really been wanting a fun, cheap, manual, RWD car. It has definitely fit the bill, this thing is very consistent and controllable at the limit. Steering is slow but precise with no dead play.

Good:
Knowledgeable PO (completed an LS1 swap in an E34 a year ago), willing to help me work on the car down the line
3.73 LSD (rebuilt with new clutches 5 years ago, I tested it and it was working well)
M3 springs & Bilstein shocks
Painted about a year ago
Most electronics (CC, OBC) seem to work
Complete tool kit and jack
Chipped (Dinan I think) and have access to software for tuning
Basketweave wheels
Newish summer tires
Cibie headlights
Timing belt & water pump done last year

Bad:
Seats are pretty rough
245k mi
Some slight rust –– about a quarter sized hole in the rear wheel wells, and some rust on the outer portion of the rocker panels near the front
Antenna sticks
Missing lower lip on front
A/C doesn't work/leaks, going to try recharging it today

On my to do list:

- Replace brake pads (Akebono front + PBR rear), flush brake fluid (probably Valvoline DOT4), rotors seem OK, new wear sensor (f)
- Swap diff fluid with Red Line 75W90, got a little chatter at low speeds and high slip angles (lol)
- Swap tranny fluid with Red Line MTL
- Fix fog lights (the black tape on the fascia is holding the fog light wires in place) -- who's got the best deal on fog lenses?
- Remove rear tint (distorted/bubbled)
- Replace front lip/splitter/spoiler/wtf ever you call it
- Replace ambient temp sensor (with the cheap one here on r3v...)
- Spark plugs (NGKs), going to adjust valves at the same time
- Air filter
- Brake duct (when I can find a red one, probably at a yard)
- Door handle trim
- Hood strut

Possible when I get more motivated:
- SS brake lines all around
- UUC SwayBarian 22/19mm ARB
- Slotted Brembos/ATE blue/?? pads

I'm going to keep anything I do Spec E30 legal since that's the goal for this car in a few years. If I wasn't, I would replace the seats. The rest of the interior is nice but the front seats are about to start cracking and the struts/springs are shot.

Anything else you guys recommend looking at?

[swolfe]

Oh, and not that I need to tell anyone here, but Blunt Tech is the shit...I forgot the 2x crush washers I needed for the diff, and emailed him a few hours later. Turns out my order went out 5 min after I placed it (awesome!), I said no problem thanks for the fast shipping....NEXT DAY I had a padded envelope with the crush washers. I'm not sure if he bribed USPS or what, because I had the washers 24 hr after I emailed him.

[urbancynic]

Looks good.

Do not use platinum plugs in this. The m20 does not like them at all. Standard plugs are great.

If you don't have proof of the timing belt job being done, do it anyway.

Since its an 88 you have the best upgrade opportunity ever.... Plastic bumpers are pretty much plug and play on that.

Keep you eyes open in a junkyard for better seats. It's rare but they do pop up in yards and they are pretty inexpensive if you get them quickly.

I ran hawk hps pads and ate premium One slotted rotors with ate super blue fluid in a mk2 gti and was very pleased with my results.

Blunt is awesome too.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

Nice a fellow 88 owner

[swolfe]

Anyone know weight of aluminum vs. plastic bumpers?

[Dsun]

control arms, control arm bushings (get m3 offset if its still on stock, m3 offset gives you more caster for better high speed handling) tie rods, sway bar end link and bushing

for rear check the RTAB, diff mount (while your changing diff fluid), sway bar end link and bushings, and all other misc bushings, rear shock mount (get e46 M3 convertible ones, best and strongest OEM shock mount and fits on e30)

if you changing your tranny fluid might as well change the transmission mount while your in there, i bet they are squishy.

Your also missing the long chrome window trim piece on your passenger side, look out for that piece too at junk yard. Id consider shadowlining the whole window trim

[swolfe]

Nice a fellow 88 owner

Build date is the month before my birthday. :)

Thanks for the tips Dsun. I know the ARB bushings are squishy, but I'll probably wait til I do the UUC.

What's the best source of plastic bumpers? Junk yard? What do they typically go for?

[nadocaster]

Nice catch, the car looks great.

Working sunroof?

[Wschnitz]

Dbs dont look bad if you get a lip and swap the black bumper surround for vert body color matched type.

Or do euro bumpers, look tons better then plastics (my opinion)

[325ix]

Dbs dont look bad if you get a lip and swap the black bumper surround for vert body color matched type.

Or do euro bumpers, look tons better then plastics (my opinion)

Good luck finding a vert rear bumper.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Dbs dont look bad if you get a lip and swap the black bumper surround for vert body color matched type.

Or do euro bumpers, look tons better then plastics (my opinion)

Euro plastics are pretty much the same as the NA plastic bumpers, no?

[agent]

When I first bought mine I thought it was going to become an SE30 car as well, until I realized that these cars aren't getting any more common. In fact it seems their value is going up. Don't sacrifice an all-original iS to become an SE30 car. That purpose is much better suited for an i and/or previously wrecked car.

You're also missing the long anodized aluminum window trim piece on your passenger side...

FTFY

Good luck finding a vert rear bumper.

Just helped a friend with a euro bumper swap on his Alpine II 'vert yesterday. I have all the bits in my garage ready to go into my f/s thread once I take pics.

[swolfe]

Any suggestions for bodywork online?

[cormier]

Congrats on the buy looks good!

Your list looks good too and other members have hit the major points

One thing I'll mention is most times a huge rear sway bar is overkill, the stock cabrio ones are a little thicker and work well on a budget

Also be sure to inspect all fuel and brake lines with a fine tooth comb. I've had a brake line pop (not fun) and this guy had his car burn down from a bad fuel line :(

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=256222

[swolfe]

Thanks for the tip, I looked the hardlines over pretty well with the PO. Some surface oxidation but not too bad.

Sunroof works but catches slightly on closing. A fastener fell out and jammed it up Friday. I can see where it goes (I think this is the reason it's catching, it's hanging a hair too low), but I have to remove the headliner portion. From what I've read they seem pretty fragile, I might just live with it.