New Guy with an E30

[BimmerJeff]

Howdy! A little background on myself.. I've been into cars since I was 14. I've owned a bunch of different rides throughout the years and mod'd every single one of them. I've had two lifted Jeep Wranglers, Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, 94 5.0 Mustang GT Vert, and a lifted Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Last Thurs night I became the new owner of my first BMW, a '86 325 Coupe with a 5 spd and 147k on the odometer. I managed to get the car for $700 as it was sitting for a couple years with a blown head gasket. The car has a few minor rust spots here and there but is pretty solid for a NW PA car, especially a 1986. I also got nine bottle cap wheels with assorted crap tires.

The car does need a few things before I can get it on the road such as the head gasket replaced, there's a fuel leak coming from the fuel filter area (I'm assuming either a line, the filter itself, or the dampener), and new brakes.

Here is the car on its way to its new home


I've got a bunch of new parts coming to replace the head gasket including a new BMW gasket set, Head bolts, water pump, thermostat, ContiTech timing belt kit, new V-Belts, etc. It seems like a pretty straight forward job.

I've been messing around with painting trim and working on odds and ends on the car until my parts arrive. Here's some more pics..



Trailer full of bottle caps :nice:


Painted bumper shroud and grill


Priming and painting a set of wheels for winter snows

[Massimo]

first.

Welcome.

and that is allot of caps lol

[ELVA164]

Looks like a great start! Is this going to be a DD I assume? You should sell like 10 of those bottlecaps for some starter money :up:

[BimmerJeff]

My initial goal for this car was cheap and fun transportation. After reading through various threads I knew I couldn't leave the car alone for very long. Once I manage to get the car back in good running order I plan on doing the following over winter:

-Stereo install (head unit, 6.5 components in door pods, subwoofers, etc)
-Bumper tuck
-US Ellipsoid headlights and Highs
-Start collecting parts for 325i head swap

Next spring I will plan on adding H&R springs, Bilsteins, and possibly a 5 lug swap. Since I have access to a paint booth its also going to get repainted next summer.

For now thats the plan and its always subject to change haha..

[BimmerJeff]

first.

Welcome.

and that is allot of caps lol

Thanks! And yeah it is. I have no use for THAT many lol

Looks like a great start! Is this going to be a DD I assume? You should sell like 10 of those bottlecaps for some starter money :up:

Yeah its going to become my new dd as Im selling my Grand to get rid of the vehicle payment. I used four of them for snows but I'll probably sell the rest to put towards something useful for the car lol

[ELVA164]

Haha, I totally understand how you feel. I bought mine (dents, scratches, chips, and all) as a pseudo-beater with some nice things, and ended up doing an interior swap, fixing all the interior lights, glove box and light, buying a new steering wheel and smiley headlights with euro grills, an iS front spoiler and rear lip I need to install....etc. Yep, it's only starting for you.

[Cronopoulos]

Welcome, what color is that?

[Herr Faust Schinken]

please keep the steelies and hubcaps and slam it that would look sooooo sweet

[MR 325]

Welcome! I love the steelies/hubcaps too.

[BimmerJeff]

Welcome, what color is that?

Thanks. It's Delphin Metallic.


Funny thing, I actually was contemplating keeping the steelies and hubcaps on it after I dropped it some. Could use some better tires on it though for summer. Would be a good sleeper after I do the i head swap.