Finally getting myself an e30! Critique my Mod Plans:

[Ahheck01]

This has nothing to do with my brother's ridiculous 10k mod budget, fwiw.

Anywho, I'm about to pick up my 1990 BMW 325i sedan. It's got a hair under 150k on it, cosmetically immaculate, extremely well maintained, yadda yadda. It's red on black, 5speed, bone stock.

Anyway, as I always do with every BMW I've purchased (this will be my 6th) I plan what I'm going to do to it right up front. Based on much research, and some feed back from you guys and the guys on r3vlimited, I've come up with this rough draft of a mod list.

I've just estimated prices on a lot of this stuff, so if you see any flaws that jump out to you, let me know.

Please make suggestions on additions and changes you would make!

-Evan

Exterior - $1755:
Front Bumper: IS or M-tech
Rear Bumper: ?
Skirts: IS skirts
Headlights: Euro Smileys w/phillips 4300k HID, Osram H1 x2 (high beams) $800
Fogs: ZKW with H3 Osrams $100
Taillights: MHW Smoked $250
Turn Signals: MHW Smoked $40
Tint: 35% all around $300
Other: Euro Trim/Mouldings $60, Euro Plate Filler in back $40, Euro grills $60, Black Kidneys $60, Shadowlining $25, Stubby Antenna $20, Debadge

Interior - $2550:
Seats: Corbeau, Sparco $800
Steering Wheel: Momo (unsure what model) $300
Shift Knob: Momo tall anatomic (black) $50
Ebrake Handle: e36 M3 Leather $30
Gauges: VDO oil pressure, temp, and water temp gauges, $350
Other: e36 window switches $20

Suspension - $1920:
Shocks/Springs: H&R Sports/Koni Yellows $735
Sways: Suspension Techniques Sway Bars with Reinforcement Kit $400
Strut bar: IE Front and Rear Strut Braces $180
Camber plates: Vorshlag $235
Other (get detailed): '95 M3 offset control arm bushings $50, IE RSM's $70, suspension install $250

Engine - $550:
Complete Refresh: Valve Job/Plugs/Coils/Timing Belt $300
Appearance: Powdercoated Black Valve Cover and Intake Manifold
Software: Conforti or Mark D $250
Other:

Misc - $800:
SSK: UUC Evo3 SSK w/DSSR+Clutch Stop $500
LSD: OEM 3.73 LSD (maybe taller - 3krpm at 60 is a little much) $300

Wheels/Tires/Brakes - $1700:
Wheels: 17x7.5 BBS RS replicas $600
Tires: General Exclaim UHP (top of the charts on tirerack) $300
Brakes: UUC budget BBK (price yet TBD, est: $800)
Other (5-lug, etc?): 5-lug swap if it makes sense

Electronics/Technology - $1800:
Alarm/Remote Entry: AG Alarm/Keyless without remote $100
Radar Detector: Valentine 1 hardwired $500
Navigation: Nuvi som'n $400
Head Unit (DVD?): Alpine, with iPod connection (Est. Sound System: $800)
Amplifiers:
Speakers:
Subs:
Other:

Total Estimated: $10075

[ivo316]

You are insane, but ain't we all ?????

I love it, it's going to be great when finished... ;)

[adept]

expect more under engine :(

[Ahheck01]

I should clarify that these are long term plans, likely to be spread out over the next year or three. First comes the V1, then the seats (so I can fit at 6'7"), keyless/alarm, engine stuff, then suspension stuff - then I get into a few of the niceties, like lights, tint, wheels/tires, etc.

-Evan

You are insane, but ain't we all ?????

I love it, it's going to be great when finished... ;)

[Ahheck01]

such as?

expect more under engine :(

[Court M3]

such as?

maybe a s50?

Wheels: 17x7.5 BBS RS replicas $600

Where are you going to find them for that price?

[egk2]

Money pit I used to do mod lists like this a long, long time ago while being bored in class. How old are you may I ask?

Don't forget to factor in maintenance in that 10K budget.

[Digitalwave]

Where are you going to find RS replicas period, let alone for that price?

And fuck H&R Sports, get Race at least.

[redhatpat]

Strut bar: IE Front and Rear Strut Braces $180

Rear strut brace? Would you like some snake oil with that?

[JPL]

Where are you going to find RS replicas period, let alone for that price?

I too would like to know that.

rear strut brace is pointless.

I'm not a big fan of momo anything especially if its not a track rat. if its a DD i'd go for the semi-stock look with an Mtech II steering wheel and z4 shift knob thats on ebay.

About the SSK why don't you just buy a kit from Patrick at BMA for 60 bucks.

I'm not a fan of debadging on a car that doesn't have something special under the hood.

[Zya8187]

Don't forget the underglow and colorer floor mats for that all show no go mobile.

What are you building this for? Auto X, your DD, or ___________? Please explain your prices too becuase if you pay $300 bucks for tint you are getting raped.

[Jean]

Some of those prices are inflated , but my fave is this (Tires: General Exclaims (top of the charts on tirerack) $300) :D

[MIKe30]

dont debadge it and dont pay $60 bucks for blacked out kidneys... spray them black yourself with the same stuff you do your shadowlining with.

oh, and i dont think euro trim is $60 bucks either.

[Ahheck01]

For a lot of this stuff I just wanted to ballpark prices so I know what this is all going to cost me approximately. Better to guess too expensive than too cheap.

I was in the Wheel/Tires thread and someone found a company that did the 4x100 17x7.5 RS replicas for 450USD + shipping. I'll have to dig up the thread.

What will this car be used for?

1) Daily driver year round
2) Autox 5-15 times a year for fun
3) Track school 1-2 times a year

Eventually, one thing I didn't include is the aluminum block M52 converted to OBD1. That's where to GO comes from, but that's last.

Why go H&R race over sport? I don't want it too ridiculously low, and I don't want it too uncomfortable as it is mainly a fun DD to toss around. In combination with the thick sways, I would think the races might be a big rough day-to-day.

Debadging, in my opinion, make the e30 rear end look REALLY clean. I've always liked the look. I'm not trying to pose as anything, but all of my 3-series BMW's have been debadged. My 525i and 540i/6 were not, just because they were closer to stock anyway, so I wanted to maintain the appeal when I sold them again as stock.

-Evan

[euroshark]

Tires: General Exclaims (top of the charts on tirerack) $300

No, don't even mess with these... Get something better, along the lines of Bridgestone, Michelin, Yokohama, Dunlop, etc. You have a ton of money alloted for interior and technology (useless for the most part imo) stuff, and very little for engine stuff and good tires... It looks like your priorities are a little bit off! Again, thats just my opinion.

Spend more money on the motor, maybe do a nice swap! Get GOOOOOD tires to go with your expensive suspension stuff, and get some factory sport seats or some nice old Recaros for under $500. NOTHING beats a pair of classic Recaros