Always finish someone else's racecar

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Not a Fed
    Definitely a Fed
    • Mar 2026
    • 9

    #1

    Always finish someone else's racecar

    Hello all, I would like to share my (relatively) new to me 1989 325is.

    I was doomscrolling marketplace one evening, as I know we all have done, searching for really anything but specifically a not completely clapped E30 when I came across an interesting listing. An almost fully disassembled 325is with a nice looking roll cage already installed, a lot of new performance parts and seemingly all of the pieces to put it back together. The chassis looked clean and Mr. Facebook man answered all of my questions so I drove 9 hrs. to pick it up. I was able to get what I feel was a good deal since the cost of the cage alone was surely more than what I paid for the whole car. I don't currently have a very fleshed out plan for where I want this build to go other than turning it at least somewhat back into a street car, being a local menace, and probably autocrossing it.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	20260103_182640.jpg
Views:	23
Size:	289.7 KB
ID:	10157139
    Mandatory Bucees picture of the new purchase.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	20260107_212701.jpg
Views:	18
Size:	250.3 KB
ID:	10157140
    The previous owner got a little excited about weight reduction lol.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	20260107_212720.jpg
Views:	18
Size:	263.9 KB
ID:	10157141
    Suprisingly nice cage.

    When I started working on it I noticed that drivers side lollipop bushing was missing a bolt, which I thought was odd. I figured it must've fallen out during transit or just been lost by a previous owner so I swung by Lowe's picked up a new one and tried to toss her in there. For some reason the bolt wouldn't go in. Upon further inspection it appears that someone snapped and then welded the old bolt in there.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	20260119_160903.jpg
Views:	17
Size:	317.3 KB
ID:	10157142
    No idea how this kind of thing even happens.

    After a couple of weeks of deliberating, pb blaster, a tungsten carbide grinding bit, a broken bolt extractor, and an M10 tap I finally got her mostly back in shape. Though the new hole is definitely looser than the old one.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	20260310_195851.jpg
Views:	18
Size:	146.2 KB
ID:	10157143
    I emerge victorious in the end.
  • Panici
    Moderator
    • Dec 2009
    • 2367

    #2
    Subscribed!

    And you probably already know this, but a full cage in a street car is a serious risk.
    Unhelmeted head + steel bars could be a literal killer.

    Might look at converting it to a half cage, depends on your use and risk tolerance.
    FWIW my insurance company specifically will not ensure cars with a full cage, but a rollbar behind front seats is okay. Found this out in my '90 Miata.

    '87 BMW E30 325is Turbo

    '99 BMW E36 M3 - - - '98 BMW E36 328i

    Comment

    • Not a Fed
      Definitely a Fed
      • Mar 2026
      • 9

      #3
      Hmm, I have heard that from a few folks now, I'll have to revaluate later down the road. The cage is tucked so well though that I don't know if it will be physically possible for me to smack my head on anything when I'm strapped in. Obviously there aren't any seats in it yet so we'll see what it looks like when I get some and toss them in there. And as far as my insurance company and I are concerned this is a completely stock 325, though it will be a sec until I need to get it insured lol.

      Comment

      • Not a Fed
        Definitely a Fed
        • Mar 2026
        • 9

        #4
        On this episode of how the heck did this even happen we encountered a strange weld while I was attempting to remove the lollipop bushing bolt.

        Click image for larger version

Name:	20260228_183834.jpg
Views:	41
Size:	189.9 KB
ID:	10157274
        Just why

        It is quite the hideous weld on the passenger side between the front subframe and chassis. At first I figured it was just a botched attempt at fixing some rust or something then I noticed that there was only one subframe bolt on this side of the car. As the astute among you have already guessed the rear subframe bolt is in fact snapped and one of the (highly intelligent) previous owners decided it was a good idea to weld the subframe to the chassis of the car. Why they thought this was a good idea I will never know.

        Click image for larger version

Name:	20260228_184322.jpg
Views:	38
Size:	311.3 KB
ID:	10157275
        Absolutely stunning work

        At least the weld appears so poor that cutting through it shouldn't be too bad. The plan now is to remove the engine and transmission, drop the subframe, remove the old bolt/retap the hole and finally start putting parts back on the car. And there isn't much to disconnect from the engine since there is nothing in the car lol. While I have everything out I will be tossing the engine on a stand to give it a once over, though Mr. Facebook man claimed it was built "by a shop" I don't have much faith. Trust but verify as it were.

        Is there any trick to removing the other front subframe bolts? I really don't want any more broken bolts on my hands.

        Comment

        • Panici
          Moderator
          • Dec 2009
          • 2367

          #5
          Hack stuff there with the subframe welded on.

          Shouldn't be too bad to rectify. Do you have a welder of your own to close up the holes blown in the body side?

          '87 BMW E30 325is Turbo

          '99 BMW E36 M3 - - - '98 BMW E36 328i

          Comment

          • Not a Fed
            Definitely a Fed
            • Mar 2026
            • 9

            #6
            Yeah, I have a welder it's at my parents house though. I need to get a 220 outlet in my garage lol. I'll patch the chassis and probably the few holes in the floor at the same time.
            In other news I got everything disconnected from the engine so should be able to pull it and the transmission tomorrow night.

            Comment

            Working...