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?
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?
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