Just the beginning. Initial parts bill

[saturnv7890]

I just bought a $600 91 318is yesterday and I'm wondering where to begin. I want to build a track car, but I don't won't to start making modifications that would exclude me from any racing class. It was sold as a blown head gasket case, but the entire cooling system is in complete disarray. I quoted lowsodium because I feel like I can't go wrong with freshening up the suspension

My options:
- restore to stock get tags
- S50/52 swap and get tags
- restore and race spec E30
- swap up to bigger motor and race
- swap up, tags, and race

I'm a total new guy when it comes to BMWs, but I can turn a wrench and I'm not afraid to spend some time and money. I just need a place to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-JT

Why did you post in this thread then? I would recommend you start a new thread but something like this should be decided by you. It doesn't sound like you really have a focus for your car right now, and you need to think about what you need it for and what you want it for.

Additionally (pre-apologize for the tone of my response), I'd do a lot more reading on proper forum etiquette. It is customary to start your own thread instead of "jacking" others for your own questions. Additionally, when creating a new thread, be sure to do a LOT of searching first to make sure the question hasn't come up before (chances are it has). And for something as wishy washy and opinion based as your post, you'll definitely get some mixed feedback, not always in a good way. Not trying to be rude by any means, as I see you might be sticking around here, I'm hopefully informing you on how to be successful here.

So I can stop being mean, one thing I do actually appreciate is that your spelling, grammar, format, tone, and relevant information are impeccable! Keep that up for sure!

Oh and to be helpful, I personally would try to fix all the problems and drive it stock for a while.
/offtopic


__

Needae30, I know where you're coming from with issues stacking on top of each other, I've owned my new e30 for a few months now and have yet to beat on the thing once. There are times when I just want to set it on fire, but I'm sure it's all gonna be worth it in the end.

As for your life problems, I haven't been on this planet long enough to relate, so I leave that to the experts to symphathize.



.

[JtNolan]

Ya, You're right. I needed a good "you're out of your element Donnie". Definitely didn't mean to jack the thread. You're also right in the fact that I should have more focus on the direction of my build on the second day of owning the car. I made a mistake in assuming this was an open discussion for people in similar situations to gather advice and opinions from the experienced. Can you recommend a good forum etiquette forum. I'll defininitely do more research before I start my research in the future. Thanks for the reach around on my spelling, grammar, and punctuation though. Sorry if my response further jacked the thread.

[AirplaneBuilder]

5.5k later for me haha.. but i haz s50 coilovers wheels sound system reupholstered interior... list is endless of the parts replaced and added!!

[NeedaE30]

Well I decided to start refinishing the basketweaves i got for free on craigslist.. i must say it came out pretty decent for being my first time doing this kind of stuff to wheels. I only have 2 done so far.. 1 of them had no curb rash the other had a huge chunk taken out i have pics of the process ive used

things i used
Dremel
magnum metal filler epoxy
120grit sand paper
400 grit sand paper
gun metal plasti dip

so i started off by using the dremel
this is what the first wheel looked like after the dremel

pretty nasty to say the least

Then i applied the magnum metal filler epoxy, let it cure for 10 minutes or so and becan sanding/shaping with the 120grit sand paper


starting to look somewhat better

looking a little better more pictures of the sanding/shaping process(keep in mind this metal epoxy is pretty annoying to work with and starts to cure almost immediately so its easy to waste chunks of it :( )






THis picture is of the curb rashed/filled wheel in the process of being sanded and the wheel to the right is the first wheel that i plasti dipped because it had no curb rash and was in extremely nice shape
comparison not done/done


Close up of the finished wheel with no curb rash.. this was after 4 coats of plasti dip


More sanding on the curbed/filled wheel



after final sanding/cleaning ready for plasti dip. (in the end i wish i sanded more)


First 3 coats of plasti dip on the curbed/filled wheel


after 6 coats of plasti dip on the first wheel i did that was uncurbed


after 6 coats on of plasti dip on the curbed/filled wheel


Both wheels refinished side by side 1 had nasty curb rash the other was almost perfect its hard to tell the bad one from the good one in the pictures :) i say mission accomplished



I need opinions please my process probably wasn't proper and it doesn't look professionally done but you cant really notice the massive chunk that a curb had once removed from the wheel so once i get the other 2 done i'll be slapping them on the bimmer.. i plan to use plasti dip silver metalizer over the gun metal to give it a metallic shine opinions? thoughts?

[Pantless Spency]

great thread.

that revival of the curbed wheel was a great job!



that rust looks really bad though.... continue!

[NeedaE30]

great thread.

that revival of the curbed wheel was a great job!



that rust looks really bad though.... continue!

thanks man. the pics of the rust make it look worse than it is. but it is worse than i hoped it would be.. not sure if im gonna repair and paint or just get another shell/whole e30 to start over with.

I'm curious what do you guys think i could sell this e30 for, all things in this thread considered? cause if i can sell it for enough to fund a rust free e30 i think ill sell it..

[TimKninja]

None of it looks to be structural. It all looks like surface rust, possibly due to a shitty respray.

[nightbear]

sorry, that is no surface rust.
if the seams of the shell have the same amount of holes then start planning to change the body