1985 325e White M3 Rep

[OttoB]

sounds like a rough adventure. glad the car mostly survived.

for door locks, I'd find a used factory one and have it reconfigured to match your existing lock. simple job for a locksmith. this can be done to all of your cylinders to have them match whatever.

this is a kit that's typically used - https://www.bimmerworld.com/Body-Aer...61343-E30.html

The link you sent from Bimmer World indicates that it is out of stock. I don’t feel comfortable driving the car without working locks. In the link, it specified “Left”? What does that mean? For a LHD car?

I then did a Google search under the same description as the Bimmer World link and found a kit for the e30 but… says “Right” and oh - they want $113 just for shipping 😳🫣‼️

Can you please elaborate on whether these kits bring locks for ignition, doors, trunk and glove box? Forgive my being naive and if there’s a link with everything I need from someone having it in stock, mo’ better! Found this from FCP - yes?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...er-51219556313

[kronus]

sounds like a rough adventure. glad the car mostly survived.

for door locks, I'd find a used factory one and have it reconfigured to match your existing lock. simple job for a locksmith. this can be done to all of your cylinders to have them match whatever.

this is a kit that's typically used - https://www.bimmerworld.com/Body-Aer...61343-E30.html

[OttoB]

Well... this week has certainly been very eventful! After having been promised that the car would be delivered in the morning this past Monday... excuse after bullcrap excuse had them arrive at around 8:30pm or so.








That was the plan anyway - the driver ended up somehow breaking the one key the car came with, off the trunk lock. Don't ask me why it was there or why he was fiddling with it, or? But, no other choice but to take the car back to Miami while being told they would get a locksmith Tuesday morning to create a new key and deliver the car to me later that day.

Okay - that was the plan anyway. Car got delivered yesterday instead during working hours and washed but, one key only for the ignition as the trunk lock essentially is busted open (in attempting to remove the remaining part off the key) so, I now have to figure out how to get all locks on the car on the same key with parts, and who. I want a genuine BMW key as well vs. a locksmith special... The driver told me the battery was weak (sat on the truck for 2 weeks actually) so, as soon as it was unloaded yesterday, I went straight to AutoZone and bought a Mac Daddy 5 year Duralast one. Then, topped the fuel tank with 6 gallons of premium as the fuel gage nor most of the other gages work on the cluster. While I was there, got air on the tires since they were at only 12 psi, revealing to me that this car apparently spent a long time sitting. I checked the oil and I'd say it was topped off as there was plenty!

Having missed the DMV appointment, now scheduled for next week - then I don't want to drive the car much. These are pics before the wax, detail job being done to the car as we speak:






Tomorrow, the car will have the DTM wheels installed which I believe will significantly change the look of the car, and I am genuinely enthusiastic about that. HOWEVER, the laundry list of the car's needs is pretty significant and, that is aside and apart from my own personal list of all items that will be undertaken to make the car more to my liking. Both are extensive, actually. On the short drive to AutoZone, the car had plenty of pep which was surprising! The exhaust is raspy and lets out a nice sound (bordering on almost too loud, but I am good with it). Brakes, clutch, suspension - everything really good, actually! But, the a/c does not work and I cannot drive a car without one. I am on the hunt to replace the dashboard and have been looking at eBay for some. The refurbished Euro 325e cluster from Canada is arriving soon, as are Euro side marker lights that go on the front quarter panel, headlight wiper system, lower lip Evo splitter, K&N, etc.

If anyone with a Euro spec car can give me a heads up on how to mount a 'regular license plate' from the holes atop license plates (vs. on the sides/middle of euro ones - adapters available?), that would be appreciated. Also, info on the door locks?? Is the dealer is the only way, but they would sell all of them or? There are 2-3 shops nearby that I am considering getting the work done and will have to visit them next week. I will store the car at a warehouse/shop belonging to a friend as the door locks don't work with the ignition key either and, without a license plate - not good having this good looking car hanging around!

[2mAn]

Transporters are always frustrating... I swear they always want to drop off at night

[OttoB]

Car was supposed to have been dropped off this morning from Miami - a 70 mile drive that takes 1.5 hours at most. The DMV appointment was scheduled 2 weeks ago for tomorrow morning, so the car can be driven once it has been registered. This is the picture of the car in the transporter from this morning that the driver sent me but, the batteries on the truck died, and he supposedly has been waiting 7+ hours for replacements to be delivered to him. I am not banking on the car arriving tonight although it would be nice not to have it sitting for another week+ per a backup DMV appointment on the 8th that I just booked. Taking delivery of a car at night is no bueno - but, what choice do I have? Life goes on! Wish me luck and I will post pics of the car in daylight tomorrow, hopefully. Off to get the DTM wheels installed on Wednesday, hopefully!

[OttoB]

Lastly, these floor mats are a very nice, understated improvement over the ones my car has had it seems since it was built in 2020. I like the quality, look, finish, and touch but - likely the last thing I will install on the car so they don't get beat up by any shop while the car is being worked soon, in order to get some of this stuff installed, plus more on the way (and the routine, basic post-purchase fluids/maintenance stuff).

[OttoB]

Okay - after 2 calls today to Run Buggy - first was told car can be delivered on Thanksgiving or, supposedly next Monday, December 1st. So, next Monday hopefully it will be and had coincidentally already lined up an appointment with the DMV Tuesday to get plates in order to be able to drive it... In the meantime, I got the Depo Smiley headlights in today from Classic Hero and they appear great...












Although the listing of the car when the Seller bought it in 2022 off Cars & Bids had a regular kidney grill, I asked him if he had done anything to it as its presently black to match the tinted dark headlights and turn signals. When he said no - which is strange since the kidney grill on the car is black - I went ahead and bought a new one since this is a New-to-Me car and I want it looking as good as possible from Day1:










The amber turn signals sourced from eBay (as has everything else other than the headlights which is where I found them, actually) also arrived and looking spiffy:











Long story but in essence, all my cars have to either get a Momo steering wheel and/or Alpine head unit - no exceptions (other than the VQ). So, here is a new, old-stock Alpine CD player since they don't make or sell them new anymore and, I use the the USB ports on them to charge my cell phone. Next to the box is a cigarette lighter cap since it's missing on my car and I don't smoke (much less in any car).

[OttoB]

Wheels arrived 2 weeks ago, but got tires the other day and I needed to check both out at the tire/alignment place. I ended up buying the set of 4 Yoko 235/40/17’s from eBay vs. Tire Rack after buying the same exact size for the rears (along with new, smaller fronts for the GTV-6) 3 months ago from Tire Rack, but each tire had gone up like $45 for no reason since then. On eBay, it’s luck of the draw but saved more than $175 for same new tires and date codes are from 2023 onward.

e30 arrives this week. I called Run Buggy first thing Monday morning for an ETA and was told to wait until later in the day. Car was picked up last Wednesday and I was told it would arrive 6-7 days later (tomorrow). Called Run Buggy 7 hours later (this evening) and still no info available. Not expecting to arrive tomorrow but such bs where there is zero justification for the driver not getting back to dispatch. Had something similar happen expecting delivery over this past 4th of July - it sours the experience because these aholes think it’s funny to keep things to themselves and then surprise you last minute.

[Northern]

A few things from the last page.

No idea who Redux is, but they carry a lot of parts from others and claim they're their own. The ITBs and their flywheels are made by RHD (Racehead Engineering) in Australia. No idea how/why they're doing this.
The ITBs are great, but only worth it with a lot of supporting mods.

Nothing wrong with Depos (other than the odd leak which mine are fairly consistent with). Hella and Bosch lights are all old/expensive, so the Depos make more sense now than ever. They're a straight replica of the Hella parts, and interchangeable 100% as far as I know. May need some adjustment out of the box to have them sit right in the grilles and aim right.

[OttoB]

You should know that M3 foglights mount to the bumper support/carrier via a special bracket and the foglights need the "ears" to mount them to the said bracket. All these parts are either NLA or very expensive/hard to find. Which is why many people just run brake ducts. Your car probably won't have an M3 bumper support anyway so you'd have to find another way to mount the fogs.

Methinks that the theme/direction of the original build for this car when it was being transformed into a M3 in Poland back around 2020 was to make it like an Evo II… The car has both Evo front and rear spoilers and I’ve been looking through the interweb and Evo II’s apparently didn’t come with fog lights?!?

My goal is to make my e30 emulate the real deal from a cosmetic point of view. So, the smoked lenses, whether they’re bright as day or not - are just not my cup of tea for this car (but again, have done that in a previous BMW of mine). So, Depo clear Smileys are coming in.

M3 door sills are super expensive… They cool? Yeap - can I live without them? Yeap.

Foglights - looking more and more like $1.2K+ easy. My ‘81 S123 AMG, ‘85 Quattroporte, and ‘86 GTV-6 don’t have foglights but wish I did. There’s nothing having me make a decision or purchase anytime soon, as much as it being cool to have (if I get them).

Same thing with e30 M3 rear seats. Someone was selling one last week for $2K and are they cool? Yeap! Is it obvious my car is a rep because of the rear normal
bench seats? Yeap! Do I care? Nope! This car is eventually meant for my son and prefer he have the option of having 3 girls back there vs. only 2 ;)

All good, baby! Thank you for your continued feedback, support, help, and insight fellas!

[McGyver]

The "smoked" headlights are likely not tinted. I don't believe BMW offered them as a factory option, but I know Hella made them as a period-correct modification.

The low beams have the front reflector plate painted black. On projector headlights, the reflector plate doesn't reflect much light, so there isn't a real difference in light output. The high beams have black metal crosshairs installed. These make the reflector look black in the daylight, but have little to no impact on light output.

Depo is the cheap/only aftermarket projector headlight company. I bought a set of smoked Depo headlights when I had a small crash, they've been great and I don't have any complaints about light output. I do have occasional condensation on the inside, which is/was a common concern for Depos.


It's a moot point now, but I would have waited to see if you like the smoked lights. I think they look really cool

[reelizmpro]

You should know that M3 foglights mount to the bumper support/carrier via a special bracket and the foglights need the "ears" to mount them to the said bracket. All these parts are either NLA or very expensive/hard to find. Which is why many people just run brake ducts. Your car probably won't have an M3 bumper support anyway so you'd have to find another way to mount the fogs.

[OttoB]

Got the Smiley's from Classic Hero earlier today - originally found via eBay but Simon had suggested I contact them directly and saved a few bucks! As to the front spoiler brake vents/scoops - where I live and drive, I much prefer fog lights as the street light situation in WPB isn't great, actually. At some point, I will place the stuff I am removing off the car for sale, although the wheels were snatched up almost immediately by an acquaintance located nearby for his Miata. The smoked headlights, turn signals, and kidney grill are coming off at some point and will be available eventually.

[patrick88m3]

What I saw was the smoked ones... I know OttoB is looking for some fogs, maybe you can trade your fogs for his scoops and then work the headlights & turn signals into the trade... You would probably need to add cash Im sure but no idea where the values on everything is

Guess who also needs fogs haha
There's plenty depo smileys for 350 on ebay still. And one seller with them for 250. I'll try and grab some soon-ish in case they vanish. Can't wait to see Hella smoked smileys go up even more in price.

[2mAn]

You gotta be kidding me. Hope I can sell some more part out parts and grab a set before they all go out of stock.

What I saw was the smoked ones... I know OttoB is looking for some fogs, maybe you can trade your fogs for his scoops and then work the headlights & turn signals into the trade... You would probably need to add cash Im sure but no idea where the values on everything is