E30 from Ukraine - "Shadow of Intelligence"

[The_Glory]

Good evening! E30 from Ukraine.

I have owned this car since 2008, but I decided to write about it on a foreign forum only now. Although I read all the time and look for useful information here.
I am one of the organizers of the Ukrainian BMW E30 Club, so I blogged about my car on the forum of our club. I also wrote on the Russian forum, but, for obvious reasons, now I don't even want to go there.
Decided to expand the audience to the West ;)
Of course, I will not duplicate everything here, but for those who are interested, here is the content of the past 10 years:

http://forum.e30club.com.ua/index.php/topic,40.0.html

Or here, in a more convenient form:

https://driver.top/car/20194

So, I present to you my E30. It used to be called the "sedan of an interesting color" because it looked like this:


After 10 years of ownership, a new chapter in the life of my E30 began, namely, a complete disassembly for an overhaul of the body, painting and assembly like a "weekend" car. Now she looks different, and her name is "Shadow of Intelligence".
The concept of the project - assembly as much as possible in accordance with ETK and ETM, and maximum equipment with original options, in accordance with EBA - full options. The process has already dragged on for 4 years, so here I will first duplicate the old restoration records up to today. And then, already in real time.
There will be many photos, as I try to describe everything in as much detail as possible. Some photos and things may even seem terrible :) But these are the consequences of harsh operation on Ukrainian roads, and repairs in the absence of normal service in the 90s, when these cars arrived here. By the way, in my case, this is not the worst option for the condition of the car. By our standards ;) In Western Europe and the USA, the E30 has been preserved much better.

PS
I don't know a foreign language very well, so I use a translator. Maybe somewhere the translation will not be completely correct, sorry. This is especially true of old records that I just copy.

[DEV0 E30]

I love seeing cars from other countries. No need for apologies either, your English using a translator is better than stuff I see from only-English speakers.

Great photography and E30!

[spike68]

This is a great looking car.

Also, is it easy to get a hold of a set of Type A's in Ukraine? I feel like those that I see in your country all have those wheels on their cars. Why don't you share them with us in the US? ;)

[moatilliatta]

Welcome! Enjoy the wear on the shifter, looks like a fun car. Always loved the Type A's. Please share as much as you would like. :)

[The_Glory]

Thanks to everyone

I love seeing cars from other countries. No need for apologies either, your English using a translator is better than stuff I see from only-English speakers.

Great photography and E30!

Maybe I'll improve my English at the same time)

This is a great looking car.

Also, is it easy to get a hold of a set of Type A's in Ukraine? I feel like those that I see in your country all have those wheels on their cars. Why don't you share them with us in the US? ;)

BORBET A is one of the best wheels for E30 in my opinion. They used to be very rare. After buying the E30, I immediately ordered a 7.5x16 set from Germany. But a pair of rear 9x16 4x100 was more difficult to find, especially with flat caps. Now, if you wish, you can find it in different conditions.
By the way, such a set is currently sold at a flea market for 600$, but delivery to the USA will probably cost more than the wheels))

Welcome! Enjoy the wear on the shifter, looks like a fun car. Always loved the Type A's. Please share as much as you would like. :)

Yes, this is a really fun car! )
And all wooden parts will also be restored. A few details are still missing.
I already said about BORBET A ;)

[The_Glory]

So, I'll start with the factory configuration.
She was more than modest:

Vehicle data
Type code 1351
Type 316 (EUR)
E-series E30 ()
Series 3
LIM type
Steering LL
Door 4
M10 engine
Working volume 1.80
Drive HECK
MECH gearbox
Color PLATANENGRUEN METALLIC (188)
Upholstery PINIENGRUEN (0149)
Date of extraction 1984-11-02

Additional. equipment
Code Name (port) Name (EPC)
S286A BMW LM RAD/BMW STYLING BMW ALLOY WHEEL BMW DESIGN
S300A ZENTRALVERRIEGELUNG ELEKTRISCH CENTRAL LOCK WITH ANTI-THEFT DEVICE.
S311 ELEKTRISCHER BEIFAHRERSPIEGEL (right electric mirror)
S320A MODELLSCHRIFTZUG ENTFALL MISSING MODEL DESIGNATION
S350A WAERMESCHUTZGLAS GRUEN, RUNDUM HEAT-INSULATING GLASS GREEN
S400A SCHIEBE-HEBEDACH, MECHANISCH MANUAL OPERATED HATCH COVER

Green 316 with an M10 engine on a carburetor, green interior, green glass, and in terms of configuration, it is almost as empty as a drum. :)

But in 2000, it was technically transformed into a full-fledged 325i, and was painted in an "interesting color" - a white base, plus a combined pink and purple "chameleon", plus varnish. It was a creative experiment of a painter. :) It turned out to be an unusual mother-of-pearl, shimmering in different shades, at different angles in the sun. Unfortunately, the photo does not fully convey it... It looked beautiful and attracted people's attention. ;)
Well, there were also different colors under the hood. :)
This is how I bought it after Christmas 2008.

Photo at the time of purchase in all its beauty and colors!









Collage for her 30th birthday ;)



At the moment, the car has the following configuration:
("equipment at the time of purchase of the car"
"[S] replaced, with something better [/S]")


Motor
М20В25 [S]kat[/S]
Release M20B25 [S]with catalyst[/S]
S195 Catalyst Removal (Double Stronger)
M50 radiator with expansion tank
[S]Additional electric fan[/S]
Oil cooler
Valvoline Oil-Level-Matic automatic filling system

Transmission
5-speed gearbox
S209 Self-locking differential S3.73
Thick axles 27mm
Short-stroke slide, analogue of Z3M

Brake
S210 ABS
Front ventilated disc brakes
Rear disc brakes
Dual vacuum brake booster 325ix

Steering and Suspension
S215 Power steering
[S]TA-Technix Coilover Kit[/S]
Front struts 51mm
Eibach Pro Kit springs (-40mm front, -30mm rear)
MTS-Technik front shock absorbers
Bilstein B6 rear shock absorbers
Eccentric integrally poured silent blocks of the M3 front arms
Front stabilizer M-Technic (20mm)
M-Technic rear stabilizer (14.5 mm)
[S]Front spacer (hand made)[/S]
Eibach front spacer
Rear spacer (hand made)
Medium spacer (hand made) analogue of the E30 convertible

Electrics and original options
S235 Removable tow bar (not installed)
S240 Airbag (only electrical part installed)
S300 Central locking
S301 Anti-theft alarm (with magnetic key)
S308 Trinket box with lock and key
S311 Right mirror with electric adjustment
S314 Heating of exterior mirrors, including heating of the door lock / washer nozzles
S401 Sunroof with electric drive
[S]S410 Front electric windows[/S]
S411 Front and rear electric windows
S425 Large Tool Box (without tools, not installed)
S428 Emergency stop sign / first aid kit with built-in storage box
S464 Cover for transporting skis
S494 Heated front seats
S495 Heating of the rear part of the cabin (standard on all four-doors)
S496 Heated rear seats (hand made), analog E32/E34
S500 Headlight washer system, including intensive windshield cleaning
S510 Headlight hydrocorrector system (not working yet)
S520 Fog lights
S530 Air conditioner
S540 Speed control (cruise control)
[S]S542 Active Check Control (USA)[/S]
S542 Active Check Control (Japan Top)
S545 Tachometer with econometer
S548 Speedometer km
S551 On-board computer BC II (13 buttons)
[S]S556 ATA (Outside temperature display with frost warning) (6 buttons) [/S]
S562 Rear view mirror with lamps for reading maps
S785 White front corner glass (optional smoke and orange)
S806 Third brake light (USA)
S832 Battery in luggage compartment
S845 Audible warning of seat belt not fastened (USA) (electrical part installed only)
S850 Additional tank Export (electrical part installed only)
S853 Inscription for instrument panel, English.
S860 Front side turn signals (white E38 turn signals)
S900 Recognized AZT/TÜV immobilizer
S940 Special option (BMW Individual) color Individual 1991 - Pur Blau Metallic (253)
Check Engine (USA)
Headlights with Hella black lenses (hand made)
Startec rear lights
Rear lights with additional trunk lighting
Illuminated key
Portable flashlight with recharging in a box for small things
Interior front lighting (hand made)
Signal light on
Relay for the comfort of interior lighting
Electric window comfort relay
[S]Ammeter[/S]
Complete set of tools
Organizer for small things in the spare wheel disc
Covering the trunk lid
Torsions of the trunk lid M-Technic
Hood trim
Emergency light

Interior
S414 Mesh on the front passenger side
S415 Solar blind with mechanical drive
S417 Sunscreen curtain for the rear door window
S435 Made from valuable wood species
____Momo wooden steering wheel
____Wooden original gear lever handle
____Wooden original overlay on the lid of the box for small things
____Wooden original overlay on the light switch
S481 BMW Sportsitze sports seats for driver and front passenger
S497 Rear central armrest
S498 Rear head restraints
M-Technic badges on the front and rear seats
Kamei front armrest
E34 rubber mats

Exterior
S320 Missing model designation
S324 Front spoiler / rear spoiler in body color
[S]Jimmy Hill Front Spoiler (Replica)[/S]
Breyton fender [S]with additional brake light[/S]
[S]Original pads on the bottom of the rear fenders from 325ix
BBS Thresholds[/S]
S339 Shadow Line Equipment Kit
S350 Heat-insulating glass green
S354 Windshield with green stripe
S387 Windshield
S844 Exterior mirrors in body color
Eyelashes in body color (replica)
Kamei's eyelashes are black
Kamei's nostrils are black
Original winter nostrils
Original summer (for air conditioning) nostrils in body color
Normal nostrils are black
Cover under the back number
Original rare BBS body kit all around (almost 2.5 sets)

Wheels
S296 Alloy wheels 365x150 TD ET35 with TD 220/65 (Michelin TRX)
OZ rims "BMW nuova S3" (ALPINA look, King) 7J15 ET13 PCD 4x100 DIA57.1 195/60R15 winter
Borbet A wide rims with flat caps 7.5J16 ET20 PCD 4x100 DIA57.1 185/55R16, 9J16 ET15 PCD 4x100 DIA57.1 225/40ZR16 summer

Music and more
[S]JVC CD player, 4 speakers (Sony front, Pioneer rear), Panasonic amplifier and some self-made subwoofers and tweeters. [/S]
[S]mp3 radio SONY, 6 speakers (front Nokia, Sony, rear Clarion)[/S]
[S]Bosch active antenna[/S]
S623 BMW D-Netz Car Phone with FSE (BMW Classic GSM900)
S624 Hands-Free package for BMW car phone
S651 Radio Bavaria C Reverse
S653 BMW digital radio receiver
S655 Radio Bavaria C Business
S661 Radio Bavaria C Business RDS
S663 Radio Bavaria C Electronic
S675 BMW Soundsystem (except Clarion rear speakers)
S682 Antenna with electric drive
S690 Cassette holder with full indicator (not installed)
S697 Automatic Telephone Antenna
Original folder with a set of factory documentation

The list will be updated ;)

This was her last appearance:











To be continued...

[The_Glory]

Just a collection of some photos from the life of my E30 - club meetings, festivals, competitions, trips:

Fotostory

Photos of interior and under the hood





Further story in the blog.

[Mike36]

English using a translator is better than stuff I see from only-English speakers.

I was thinking the same. Ha

Very nice build and welcome to R3v.

I didnt know rear side sunshades were an option on e30's, very cool.

[spike68]

BORBET A is one of the best wheels for E30 in my opinion. They used to be very rare. After buying the E30, I immediately ordered a 7.5x16 set from Germany. But a pair of rear 9x16 4x100 was more difficult to find, especially with flat caps. Now, if you wish, you can find it in different conditions.
By the way, such a set is currently sold at a flea market for 600$, but delivery to the USA will probably cost more than the wheels))

You are absolutely right. It is one of my favorites as well.

Funny story, I've actually been sourcing some Borbet A wheels from someone in Ukraine. His prices are actually very cheap. About $1300 shipped to the USA. Not sure how he is doing it for so cheap, but I'm getting them. If you'd like to source some for me I'd gladly purchase ;)

[The_Glory]

Very nice build and welcome to R3v.

I didnt know rear side sunshades were an option on e30's, very cool.

Thank you.
Yes, this is a very rare E30 option - the pride of my collection :)

[The_Glory]

If you'd like to source some for me I'd gladly purchase ;)

If you need any help in the search or delivery, I will help as much as I can.

[The_Glory]

Well, actually, now about the same new page, or even rather a new chapter, in the life of my E30.
The last winter operation in the winter of 2018.


Delivery of the Christmas tree by road snow-salt mixture. :)


Yes, having reached the 10-year anniversary of our life together :), after Christmas, I somehow decided that it was time to change something!





The appearance after several spray painting thresholds and arches, in this color, after every winter became worse and worse... :(


Therefore, one day he came home


Moved to a higher car ;)


I took a picture of the thirtieth anniversary ;)



Drove her into the garage



And I took it apart a little for parts ... :)



...that's how it is...

[The_Glory]

Body repair_01. The scale of the tragedy

So, we are starting in the BZ a fascinating, and, like, long series "Body Repair" :) I hope that it will someday end, with a "happy end"! )))

About 7-8 years ago I already did a "local" body repair on the bottom, then a couple of years ago I welded the front beam mounts, but this time everything will be more global.

Let's start with the scale of the tragedy! )
As I wrote in the previous entry, for this the car was dismantled to the state of "bare body on wheels", since it will still have to be transported to the welder. Both beams with hodovka will be removed on the spot.
The scale of the tragedy lying on the surface has long been visible to the naked eye, so I started collecting bodywork since autumn - I bought new thresholds and repair inserts for the Klokerholm rear arches (by the way, the quality of the arches is so-so), a front apron (immediately under air conditioning), four doors (VP), hood, trunk lid, hatch cover, and tank hatch.







Those. all hinged elements of the body. Except the wings. Six months of searching for intact, live original used wings were unsuccessful .... At best, they sell the same ones as mine - alive on top and rotten below .... Buying a new china / taiwan, judging by the reviews, does not make sense - the geometry of the curve, back-to-back gaps and a bunch of crap during installation. I watched the new original .... but did not like their price))). Therefore, while I bought the repair inserts of the lower part on my fenders, let's see how it turns out ... Or maybe there will still be wings while everything is cooking .... At the same time I bought a shield for the tank ventilation hoses, mine rotted into dust.



Next, we move on to the most interesting - after disassembly, we reveal the hidden scale of the tragedy! )
Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that nothing so completely unexpected and very terrible was found, everything was predictable and expected;)
From the moment I bought the car, I knew that it used to be well attached in the front left, and there was also a blow to the rear left fender. Therefore, it is quite logical that the biggest "horrors of our town" turned out to be in these places!
A hole in the side member at the junction with the engine shield, the shield itself is bent, with a crack near the stove entrance, and solid rot under the fuse box - I didn’t like that “patch” from the very beginning, but the prospect of pulling out all the wiring to get to it, scared the hell out of me! ))) Now I got it! Better late than never)) I also found a welding joint on the arch in front of the glass - after the accident, the front part of the wheel arch and the upper spar (gun) were welded. The main spars are native.





A crack appeared again at the junction of the "gun", which had already been welded - apparently the consequences of a rigid suspension and our roads ...



Under the windshield seal there are small holes under both wipers, but the lower corners are completely intact, oddly enough! By the way, I don’t know, if I weld a whole piece near the VIN under the janitor, so that the cops wouldn’t have any questions later ...
We will treat all these biggest body shoals radically, with the help of such a piece of a donor:



The right side is much better preserved - all load-bearing elements are alive. Only near the bottom bracket of the washer reservoir there is a slight corrosion. Judging by the red color, the battery pad has already been digested before, and not bad at all. By the way, I have already knocked out the factory body plugs for the air conditioner - on the platform behind the headlight for the dehumidifier and under the hood loop for the hoses - now anyone will have to close them with something! Stimulus! ;))
It is not yet clear with the “TV”, we will decide with the welder - if it is normal in geometry (which I doubt a little), then we will weld the radiator mounts with an expansion tank (EP) on this one or change it entirely to VP.



Everything seems to be quite normal in the tunnel, except for the welded backstage fasteners - we will fix it)



Let's go to the salon.
Here, back in the last body repair, on the advice of a good welder of the "old school"), instead of gluing a new vibration isolation, I smeared the bottom with bituminous anticorrosive ....



In principle, it’s not bad at all ... but now all the wiring is in it and everything, and in general ... not aesthetically pleasing)) Therefore, I decided to tear it all off, along with the remnants of the factory vibration isolation. It was not easy, but not in vain! And this is what turned out to be under, quite to itself, a normal-looking factory vibration isolation:
hole next to the spar



rear is ok



Now we return to the most "terrible" place, but already from the salon.



Accordingly, there are holes at the junction of the engine shield with the spar and a hole near the gas pedal, suspiciously smeared with rust sealant opposite the "patch" near the glass. Well, old patches. As I wrote above - we will change all this in a whole piece.

Here I haven’t mastered it yet ... oh well, then I smeared it! as for yourself! ))) But there like the identity should be the norm.



With suspicion I look at the vibra under the seat .... can we tear it off ...? There is a little rust around the belt fasteners and one hole near the wiring hole on the left ...



The rear shelf ... pain .... Here barbarian music lovers, like, cut holes under the "ovals" with an ax.





When I changed the music, I, as best I could, leveled the edges and covered them with at least soil ... but something needs to be done with this .... I am looking for the rear shelf of the first years of production (until 85), without traces of music lovers. You need a shelf or parts of it for speakers, and for belts with fastening on the rear roof rack. For belts, the photo shows rectangular holes along the edges of the shelf.
Not everything is fine with the roof either ... I have long been worried about rust at the junction of the "trough" of the hatch and the roof ... and here it is visible from the inside:



Even more disturbing is the surface rust inside this trough - apparently the consequences of driving with an open hatch in wet weather ... I don’t know how to get there .... we will decide with a welder on the spot.



Continued on the back and thresholds in the next post...

To be continued.

[The_Glory]

Body repair_02. The scale of the tragedy

Let's continue the clarification of the scale of the tragedy, begun in the previous entry.

On the rear window with a lower corner on the left side, the situation is worse than on the windshield, but also not critical. By the way, both glasses were planted on some kind of black type of rubber tape - it is still soft, you can see it in the photo. On top of which there is still a protective film or adhesive tape - I wonder if this is how it should be from the factory or has it already been glued by yourself? But it didn't go anywhere.
You can also see the native color - PLATANENGRUEN METALLIC (188)



The photo shows cracks in the corner of the trunk and under the roof rack. Here we again recall that there was once a blow to this wing, and there was a lot of putty on it - it cracked. I found this out when I drilled a hole for the antenna. Even earlier, the trunk loop immediately fell off, then I also noticed putty at the junction. In general, the next largest "horror of our town" is the junction of the rear arch and the trunk floor. There has been suspicious rust for a long time .... and now, after light picking with a screwdriver, we get this thing:



I haven’t decided what to do with it yet, I’ll talk with a welder - either patch it or change the arch ... There is also a small hole on the same side member from below.
On the right side, the situation is much better, although there is also a little rust ... and outside the shield of the tank ventilation hoses has rotted to dust ... an autopsy will show ...



Both niches of the wings, after being cleared of mastic, look quite intact.





They have a lot of white sealant at the joints, which is still very soft and plastic - I also don’t understand if it’s factory or has already been smeared ....?
I also covered the spare wheel niche with a fool for some reason with bituminous mastic))) Ripped off. Old patches we can ennoble, and so everything is fine.



Left arch and threshold







The right arch and threshold are slightly worse











The thresholds have already been welded a little, so it’s not so scary from the outside - but since this is the case, we will change them entirely along with the arches.
With the rear panel, the question is also ajar for the time being - it was already cooked on the left under the bumper and again there is rust



In addition, for some reason, holes were welded in it for the number plate lights. We'll see if we can change to a new one ...
Well, the trunk lid - "classic" rust under the spoiler ...



On the right, so generally through, apparently the drain was clogged ...



Because of this, it will have to be changed. But the new cover has no holes for the spoiler at all .... and it’s a pity to drill it and I want to leave my Breyton, just remove the stop from it ...
I didn’t take a picture of the hood, it’s just straightened and there is cracked putty on it, so it will change. The tank hatch is also with a large "bug" for replacement. I also wanted to change the manhole cover because of the "bug", but the best of those that I managed to find, in fact, turned out to be worse than mine, so I'll leave mine ...

Well, actually, for iron, like everything that we managed to find on our own. So far, no "surprises" - everything was predictable and not fatal. This is how I imagined the "scale of the tragedy" ...;)
But after the "opening" at the welder, I think it can still get out even ...

Lastly, a couple of pictures of the "creative mess" in the garage - E30 in the form of a heap))





It's good that the garage is large, but there is still not enough space ... I don't know where and when I will put it all down and how I will look for everything later when assembling ....



P.S.
It’s too bad that there is no pit - I got sick of crawling along the rubble on my backs around the car and under it .... Before assembly, you need to make a pit and a normal floor ...

[The_Glory]

Body repair_03. Preparation, assembly

While I was waiting for my turn to the welder, I decided not to waste time and still clean all the bitumen (which I myself foolishly smeared 7-8 years ago) from the cabin, trunk and other places, so that I could paint it all normally later. In the previous post you can see the intermediate result. Further, after a spatula, a chisel and a hammer, a brush went into action on a drill, then a lot of diesel fuel, a lot of rags, a lot of patience and time! )) As a result, the bottom began to look quite acceptable ...









Let me remind you how it was before :)



All in all, it wasn't easy! ) I don’t know, maybe this anticorrosive agent helped to save the bottom, but I won’t smear it anymore)) Only vibration, as in the factory. By the way, no one knows by what logic the Germans glued it on the bottom? Why was the vibration on the left rear panel glued to the front of the stamping, and on the right rear panel - in the back of this stamping (the photo shows lighter spots). Why not the entire stamping on both sides? The front is not symmetrical at all - the driver's side is larger in area. And so on all the E30s, the bottom of which I saw ....
By the way, I also decided to remove the factory vibration isolation from the rear seat. And for good reason - there are holes near the wiring holes.



Further, the same long and tedious procedure in the trunk.











There, now, too, the view is more aesthetic) Old patches will either be changed or cultivated somehow ...
In general, where I could, I tore off this bitumen, and where it remained, we will sand it.

Then I leveled, as best I could, barbarously cut holes for the speakers. Shelf sample 84 years old, without the intervention of music lovers could not be found, so we will cook our own.





It has become a little more accurate ... after welding it should be good.

Well, actually, I got ready to leave for the cook - I hung back the "new" body elements - four doors, a hood, an apron, a tank hatch, a sunroof. He left his wings, we will put repair inserts on the bottom. The trunk is still our own, but there is also a "new" one - we will decide on the spot which one we will install.
Threw grilles and bumpers.





"Air-conditioning" apron ;) Although the seller assured of its perfect evenness, but in fact, on the left it is not slightly curved .... but not critical - it will even out.



I folded all the boxes and parts so that nothing was lost for many years before assembly))) There was a place in the garage again. You can dig a hole. )



Rolled out into the street for the first time in six months, so that it would be ventilated))







I loaded the rest of the bodywork into the cabin, and we are waiting for a tow truck. Tomorrow we go to the welder!