1985 325e White M3 Rep

[2mAn]

The accumulation phase is almost as much fun as the installation phase... however nothing beats the finale of all that which is enjoying the completion of the vision you had. I know you've experienced this before so just stick to it and enjoy each phase as best you can.

[OttoB]

It's been a hot minute since I last updated the thread... but same ol' rice. The phenomenally responsible seller of the new/refurbished dashboard shipped out a second one 2 weeks ago (all at his cost, since the first one only God knows why/what/NY/Customs/etc. out of the 9 he shipped in December). So, I am hopeful it arrives soon as that's all that is needed to get the car over to a shop that can do the anticipated work of installing a/c (with wiring too) on a car that never came with; replacing all locks including ignition barrel with complete replacement set; replace gage cluster to ensure all features work as they should; install head unit/amp/compact sub + 5.25 speakers x4; installs front foglights + Euro front quarter panel turn signals; and install Evo II front splitter from Condor Racing and Cecotto Evo III rear small mini spoiler under the wing from Pesch Motorsport in Czech Republic. I may be forgetting some other stuff but essentially, I want to be able to drive/enjoy the car with good working a/c, tunes, and not hesitate to take it anywhere. It will happen, but now the leading contender to have worked on the e30 is in doubt on my end, as they have had another car of mine for 9-10 weeks - given it back to me twice - and twice within the day, the car leaving me stranded. Good guys but that can only carry me through for so long. So, the search for alternatives continues and actively reaching out to more than one shop so that we can get this car moving & going!

Switching gears, I wanted to share some e30 content with the forum as I went to Amelia Island (and the car I was supposed to display - from the shop above - left me stranded which took 5.5 hours for AAA to come pick up) last weekend. Out of the 3 shows this car had been accepted, I participated in none of them! But, I sure went to same and all other shows/events/happenings...

Below, are pics of a 1988 M3 Evo II, no. 151 out of 500, being sold via auction by Broad Arrow - it was cherry!





This is the link which shows that with fees, someone paid $157K excluding transportation or taxes for it!

https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/vehicles/am26_r0095/1988-bmw-m3-evolution-ii

It was the first Evo II I have seen in person, and took tons of pics of the mini rear spoiler that I will install on my rep. Uber cool car, but unsure the new owner will actually be driving it as much of an apparent investment. There are a whole lot of interesting, cool, awesome cars to be had for that dough but when you are flush like the buyer, then this is just a toy. Must be nice to have options ;)

[BadDays]

No doubt that is an awesome looking replica! Hopefully you get the dash issues sorted out!

[reelizmpro]

I wonder if it's weather related or just lost. These things happen from time to time.

[OttoB]

As honest as they come, the seller of the dash (without me asking) sent me the other 8 tracking numbers this week of the bundle/order he shipped out back in December, to prove he sent several out. Unfortunately through no fault of his - mine is the only one that has not been delivered and, remains stuck in NY with no movement/new info since January 17th :(

He offered to reimburse me in full for the dash and in all sincerity - after I spent way too much time looking for next to new dashes, I realized getting one that had been redone to appear brand new was the best alternative. Today, he confirmed having sent a second, replacement newly redone one yesterday and I simply cannot vouch enough for the guy. I have repeated and affirmed that if I end up with both dashes, that I will do the right thing in shipping it to another client of his (as long as payment is made directly for shipping to the shipper) as good karma is exactly just that - good karma. He didn't do anything wrong and has gone over and beyond to assure me he is genuine, honest, and stands behind his product(s)! Theoretically, this last piece of the puzzle will be old, forgotten news in a matter of a few more weeks!

[2mAn]

You're doing it right... theres a lot of work you want to do and while its not happening in the order you want its important to keep going.

[OttoB]

Because I think there may be one or three people in this forum who could be interested in knowing how the headrests came out, then... sharing is caring. Not a terribly complicated undertaking, although I am very happy that this car now is rocking a pair of them on the rear seats.

Hoping everyone is feeling + doing great! Anyone attending Bimmer Invasion in WPB coming up in 5 weeks? In 5 weeks, I am counting on this car being at the shop with the missing dashboard already in hand and - there is another show that same day already where I signed up to participate with another whip... If it's possible for me to check out the BMW's, no doubt I will be there later in the day!

[OttoB]

However, I remain 'proactive' and got a hold of an upholsterer to help me with something at my house, and also the rear headrests. Don't know him from Adam but, big leap of faith to allow a stranger in your house and, to leave with some car parts when all you have is their number (which I got from FB Marketplace). The gent is honorable, decent, and a 3rd generation upholsterer from Cuba - got these pics last night and meant to receive them today to get them back on the car. I got the rear headrests just because they are somewhat uncommon (on non-verts) and I have always wanted to do things differently. I am certain they will look good back on the car as long as he did not scratch or otherwise damage the rear back seat since the interior of the car - outside of the dash - is mint. Props to AWDBob for getting the headrests which will now live on for many more years on this little e30!

[OttoB]

The latest with the car... the dashboard I paid for back in December, that was shipped in December - has not moved from customs in NY in over 4 weeks and counting. Of all the various dashes shipped out when mine was sent, it seems only mine has not been delivered. So... the car just sits as I cannot take it to any shop without all parts in hand :(

Last week, I had to relocate the car to a storage facility that I already had another one of my cars sitting (waiting on parts and opening at another shop also)... The space is 12x25 and the dimensions off both cars before attempting to fit them together made it seem as if it was possible. And luckily for me, it was. But, I am sad that I have to wait longer before I can enjoy the car with functioning gages, a/c, and stereo since it's a really good looking + driving car!

[2mAn]

Customs is a PITA right now. I have a headunit that shipped and has cleared customs also... still waiting.

[OttoB]

Some crazy people out there, as we all know... When I got the e30 a couple of months ago, aside from getting a 1/18 model of it to go along with the rest of the ones I have - I also went looking for a 1/64 sized one (like Hot Wheels). That's when I found this guy asking $220 for a little friggin' white M3 Hot Wheels - nucking futs!





That's when I then remembered having the same one... but, I keep it in a case at my house (at my son's room with a few others) and didn't want to remove it from there. So, I located another white one that's super detailed in order to keep at my office... This morning, I grabbed the old blue one I posted above last week from 2013, the white one with gold wheels also above from 2013, an e30 wagon coincidentally in white that I got a couple of years ago as wagons are cool [all 3 kept at may son's room who, by the way, still does not know I bought this car] and then snapped a couple of pics along with the black little one I have off the 1/18 one because... you know... who doesn't like or appreciate a black car with gold mesh wheels, eh?!?

At least I can enjoy these little toys for now... I drove the car this past weekend and sure enough - there was no less than 6 nails on one tire alone, and why I had to buy a new replacement one. But, driving a car with almost every light on the gage cluster flashing like a Christmas tree and also having non-working gages, and no radio, and no a/c, and no maintenance records of the car... is just not enjoyable for me at the moment. That soon will change, but it's a great driving car that looks friggin' rad, so it's kind of like a hot chick. You put up with some of their crap because... they're hot! Oh well - no rush on my end as I have a few other cars at different shops each for months, and want to get those out so I can drive the wheels off of those!

Anyhow, pics of the old little ones I have for more than 10 years, pics of the white ones, and then the whole little caboodle party ;)






Still waiting on the dash from Russia... the USPS tracking system unfortunately shows no new/different information as of January 17th when it departed the NY Customs office... the car was meant to go to the shop next week but, now everything must wait until a replacement one is eventually shipped (and arrives) which totally sucks, as it puts everything behind by a good 1-2 months - boo!

[2mAn]

Thats quite a cool little collection, shame a friend chose to pull a maneuver like that...

[OttoB]

Here are some pics of the models I own now... including in 1/43 scale where I had a couple of Art Cars in the previous collection, but cannot justify the asking prices for replacing those other stolen ones these days... The e30 M3 Art Car in 1/43 scale? Yeah, I can swing that one!















When I bought this e30 M3 Replica, I had no choice - I had to go ahead and get a 1/18 scale of one just like it! Super cool that it actually has working features like doors, hood, trunk, steering, etc!







I don't have room to fit any more models, and know that even if I never get my old ones back - that I sleep well at night and try to enjoy my life without regrets... Folks - life is very short... You hear this all the time!

I had a near death experience NYE having dinner with the family, and barely around to tell about it. That's why I want to get this car fixed up for my boy, so that if something does happen to me for real down the road - he can always have this car be a reminder of his old man and how cool it was for me to be able to afford giving him such an amazing little car :)

[OttoB]

These don't show all of them but... was cool wall art/office decor! I really thought that the guilt would eventually catch up to him where he'd want to do the right thing and give them back, so that at least my son could enjoy + appreciate them. But, I am not special and all of us have been taken advantage of by people we trusted, that we never imagined would be capable of screwing us over, ya know?











About 3 years ago, my career and finances finally took an upward turn and part of my agenda included replacing all that I no longer had because I had run out of money, out of work (and no one would hire an old lawyer), because things had been taken from me, jewelry/cars/personal effects I had to sell simply to make ends meet, etc. So, I started a 'new' 1/18 model collection at my office. An e30 being a bad*ss car obviously had to be a part of it, so I got this black one raced in Australia to make it be different from the white race one I had owned 10+ years ago.

[OttoB]

Not a whole lot going on with the car for the time being, as I wait for the 914/6 to get completed sometime this month from a shop - that, it is my intent - I use to make this e30 more in line with what I need + want. That's a/c, working locks, a gauge cluster that works, and a stereo among a couple of other items... The dashboard from Russia has not moved in 3 weeks since arriving at NY Customs. So - it's okay - it'll arrive eventually.

I figured - who doesn't like pictures? And, toys? And, pictures of toys??!!?? This first pic is of a handful of Hot Wheels I got from 2013 - my wife threw a car themed 40th birthday party and had table decorations with mostly Porsches. I kept whatever cars were left from the party, but then bought a few Hot Wheels that I would like to own (I had the 850 at the time of this picture also, posted on the first page of this thread, owning it for 6.5 years). The image is from September 2023 and shows a blue e30 M3:






This next picture is from December 2023 and shows a white e30 M3 with gold wheels (barely) but, maybe it was a sign that I would somehow eventually get to own one!!!






As things hit a stride during this timeframe with work, I started collecting 1/18 scale (about 12 inches average) models of cars I felt were cool, and it kinda snowballed into a few hundred of them. Here is a display case with a few BMW's including an e30 Alpina (in this case, it shows the 635 I owned, the e28, 850, and silver Z3 coupe too):






This next picture shows the quintessential race e30 with the M colors (in white) also from 2013:




Running out of room already with pics on this post, but - each and every single one of ALL these models were subsequently stolen by someone I considered more than a good friend for over 20 years - like a brother - when I ran into problems with the office and had to move them out. He owned a man cave with 12 cars and 100's of other 1/18 models. Despite me hanging out with him several times a year after I entrusted them to him - the day I went to ask for them back, things got ugly (no physical violence) but he basically chose to f*ck me over by keeping them, when I was at a low point financially in my life. Messed up how he chose those models over our friendship when the guy had money, and its not like they were going to his daughter...