*** Editors Note: From the first time I saw this one, I loved it. Who doesnt love these mtech2-2tone cars. The mods are great and this car has a bright future and the owner is a crazy SOB like many of us. Congrats to Simple_Smith July 2022 Car of the Month***
Factory options:
L807A National version Japan
S215A Power steering, rpm-sensitive
S281A BMW LA wheel, chrome-plated/round spoke
S300A Central locking with antitheft system
S335 M TECHNIC SPORT Package
S339A Shadow-Line
S350A Thermal insulatation glass green
S361A Vent window rear
S401A Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S410A Window lifts, electric, front
S423A Floor mats, velour
S481A Sports seats
S520A Fog lights
S530A Air conditioning
S562A Reading light
S704A M Sports suspension
S708A M sports steering wheel leather
S792 KLEINES MOTORSPORT-PAKET
S794 " BICOLOR - PAKET "
Color:
Delphin Grey (although I believe all the Japanese MT2 cars were 2-tone so I think this was Delphin with Lachsilber(?) kit)
Interior color:
0269 Anthrecite
Engine modifications:
Swapped from M20B20 to M20B25
Exhaust:
Stock
Transmission:
Getrag 260
delrin shifter bushings on shift arm
refreshed rubber for rear mount
(originally an auto car)
Differential:
3.73 LSD
3rd clutch pack
Z3M finned cover
RevShift 80A bushing
Suspension:
CA Tuned Coilovers
M3 rubber CABs
Poly filled OEM rubber subframe bushings
Condor Speed Shop adjustable toe/camber trailing arm bushings
Wheels:
Desmond Regamaster 16x8 et35
15mm front, 20mm rear spacers
Motorsport Hardware studs
Muteki lugnuts
225/45 Dunlop Direzza III tires
Exterior modifications:
Added front splitter/undertray
Interior modifications:
355mm MT2 wheel
Custom dead pedal
e46 vert floormats
griptape pedals
e60 545i shifter with ZHP knob
Husco armrest
Maplight mirror
Story behind the car:
Oh man where to begin.. well pre-pandemic I was looking for a 135i in sparkling graphite metallic from anywhere outside of the rust belt and came across the listing for this on FB marketplace in California. A late model MT2 Delphin Coupe with the 0269 sport interior was one or my attainable grail cars and after watching e30 prices continue to rise, I realized if I didn't jump on it now, I might not be able to again.
I flew out with a friend to look at it and came to the conclusion that its really slow and definitely needed some TLC but it was really clean and basically exactly what I wanted, a blank slate Japan spec MT2.
We opted to take the scenic drive over the mountains to get out of L.A. and ended up finding our way blocked by snow. It was to become an annoying theme of the trip. After backtracking a bit, the drive continued through Vegas, and to Grand Junction. We had checked the A/C in Cali and it had worked great, however we didn't check the heat when it was 80 degrees out.. We found out the heater core was clogged in the freezing temps of Colorado.. This was just the beginning. After making it a few hours from Grand Junction, it started to snow.. and snow.. and snow. Eventually, the highway was shut down and we were directed off the highway by a gate into Glenwood Springs where we stayed a very much unplanned extra two days waiting for the pass to be opened. Once I-70 was deemed clear, we set out and proceeded to spend 6 hours making the supposed 2 hour drive to Denver. After stopping at a carwash to clean the road grime off, the timing belt decided it was time to leave the chat and stripped the teeth off itself on the crank pulley. Starter moved the crank, crank did not move the timing belt. yay. One small part of me was glad to be rid of the boat anchor M20B20, but a much bigger part of me was upset that it wasn't taken out intact and on my terms. Luckily for us, my co-pilot's aunt lived in Denver so I had the car towed there to await a shipping truck to finish out its journey home while I booked us flights back home.
Once I got it back home I slowly (or not so slowly) began the build process and gathering parts. I knew the direction I wanted to go with the car and didn't want to overbuild it for what I wanted; my previous turbo e30 went a bit too far racecar to be completely enjoyable on the street. This build would retain A/C and full interior, but would also be getting a lot of suspension bits and subtle mods. I wanted to portray my view of a period correct Japanese tuner getting ahold of the car in the early 90's and building it for a spirited driving style; still retaining most of the factory comforts while giving a much more precise and purposeful feel. I think so far I've done fairly well in capturing that, but the build is forever ongoing so there will definitely be changes in the future to continue my vision for it.
It definitely still needs more power for what I really want and the brakes feel a bit lacking compared to what I'm used to. Hawk HPS pads on my e36 feel much more confidence inspiring than on the e30 so that will eventually be sorted out. Possibly an e32 master cylinder.. TBD I don't want it as rowdy as the turbo car, so I think a "mild" 3.0 M20 will be the end goal, but don't expect that anytime soon.
So far I've put a good amount of mountain miles on this and am happy with how its progressing. Unfortunately on my drive back from The Vintage this spring I got a tire puncture and I'm still waiting for a replacement tire.. ETA July 20th.. Luckily no damage to the wheel when I got the flat. Unluckily, the factory widowmaker jack slipped off the pinchweld in the rear and crunched the rocker panel. Thankfully MT2 skirts and pods popped out when it crunched and popped back in once the jack was out and I didn't get hurt in the process. Another thing to add to the list.. It needs some paint work anyways.
I hope everyone has enjoyed it thus far, but I will try to be more active on my build thread. I have way more pictures than I know what to do with, but r3v's picture hosting is a pain.
Factory options:
L807A National version Japan
S215A Power steering, rpm-sensitive
S281A BMW LA wheel, chrome-plated/round spoke
S300A Central locking with antitheft system
S335 M TECHNIC SPORT Package
S339A Shadow-Line
S350A Thermal insulatation glass green
S361A Vent window rear
S401A Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S410A Window lifts, electric, front
S423A Floor mats, velour
S481A Sports seats
S520A Fog lights
S530A Air conditioning
S562A Reading light
S704A M Sports suspension
S708A M sports steering wheel leather
S792 KLEINES MOTORSPORT-PAKET
S794 " BICOLOR - PAKET "
Color:
Delphin Grey (although I believe all the Japanese MT2 cars were 2-tone so I think this was Delphin with Lachsilber(?) kit)
Interior color:
0269 Anthrecite
Engine modifications:
Swapped from M20B20 to M20B25
Exhaust:
Stock
Transmission:
Getrag 260
delrin shifter bushings on shift arm
refreshed rubber for rear mount
(originally an auto car)
Differential:
3.73 LSD
3rd clutch pack
Z3M finned cover
RevShift 80A bushing
Suspension:
CA Tuned Coilovers
M3 rubber CABs
Poly filled OEM rubber subframe bushings
Condor Speed Shop adjustable toe/camber trailing arm bushings
Wheels:
Desmond Regamaster 16x8 et35
15mm front, 20mm rear spacers
Motorsport Hardware studs
Muteki lugnuts
225/45 Dunlop Direzza III tires
Exterior modifications:
Added front splitter/undertray
Interior modifications:
355mm MT2 wheel
Custom dead pedal
e46 vert floormats
griptape pedals
e60 545i shifter with ZHP knob
Husco armrest
Maplight mirror
Story behind the car:
Oh man where to begin.. well pre-pandemic I was looking for a 135i in sparkling graphite metallic from anywhere outside of the rust belt and came across the listing for this on FB marketplace in California. A late model MT2 Delphin Coupe with the 0269 sport interior was one or my attainable grail cars and after watching e30 prices continue to rise, I realized if I didn't jump on it now, I might not be able to again.
I flew out with a friend to look at it and came to the conclusion that its really slow and definitely needed some TLC but it was really clean and basically exactly what I wanted, a blank slate Japan spec MT2.
We opted to take the scenic drive over the mountains to get out of L.A. and ended up finding our way blocked by snow. It was to become an annoying theme of the trip. After backtracking a bit, the drive continued through Vegas, and to Grand Junction. We had checked the A/C in Cali and it had worked great, however we didn't check the heat when it was 80 degrees out.. We found out the heater core was clogged in the freezing temps of Colorado.. This was just the beginning. After making it a few hours from Grand Junction, it started to snow.. and snow.. and snow. Eventually, the highway was shut down and we were directed off the highway by a gate into Glenwood Springs where we stayed a very much unplanned extra two days waiting for the pass to be opened. Once I-70 was deemed clear, we set out and proceeded to spend 6 hours making the supposed 2 hour drive to Denver. After stopping at a carwash to clean the road grime off, the timing belt decided it was time to leave the chat and stripped the teeth off itself on the crank pulley. Starter moved the crank, crank did not move the timing belt. yay. One small part of me was glad to be rid of the boat anchor M20B20, but a much bigger part of me was upset that it wasn't taken out intact and on my terms. Luckily for us, my co-pilot's aunt lived in Denver so I had the car towed there to await a shipping truck to finish out its journey home while I booked us flights back home.
Once I got it back home I slowly (or not so slowly) began the build process and gathering parts. I knew the direction I wanted to go with the car and didn't want to overbuild it for what I wanted; my previous turbo e30 went a bit too far racecar to be completely enjoyable on the street. This build would retain A/C and full interior, but would also be getting a lot of suspension bits and subtle mods. I wanted to portray my view of a period correct Japanese tuner getting ahold of the car in the early 90's and building it for a spirited driving style; still retaining most of the factory comforts while giving a much more precise and purposeful feel. I think so far I've done fairly well in capturing that, but the build is forever ongoing so there will definitely be changes in the future to continue my vision for it.
It definitely still needs more power for what I really want and the brakes feel a bit lacking compared to what I'm used to. Hawk HPS pads on my e36 feel much more confidence inspiring than on the e30 so that will eventually be sorted out. Possibly an e32 master cylinder.. TBD I don't want it as rowdy as the turbo car, so I think a "mild" 3.0 M20 will be the end goal, but don't expect that anytime soon.
So far I've put a good amount of mountain miles on this and am happy with how its progressing. Unfortunately on my drive back from The Vintage this spring I got a tire puncture and I'm still waiting for a replacement tire.. ETA July 20th.. Luckily no damage to the wheel when I got the flat. Unluckily, the factory widowmaker jack slipped off the pinchweld in the rear and crunched the rocker panel. Thankfully MT2 skirts and pods popped out when it crunched and popped back in once the jack was out and I didn't get hurt in the process. Another thing to add to the list.. It needs some paint work anyways.
I hope everyone has enjoyed it thus far, but I will try to be more active on my build thread. I have way more pictures than I know what to do with, but r3v's picture hosting is a pain.
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