Alpineweiß II

[dvck]

I bought this little guy about a month ago, and have not had the time to take
half decent pictures up to now, (gotta hate the short days of winter).

It's my first car and I feel like a high school girl the day of prom.

A bit about the car,
the body is perfectly straight and its got a clean title,
all matching numbers.
The dash is terrible, and the headunit sucks.
Its got all the basic "s" components.
The odometer just died.

anyways to the pics...





flickr set

Of course there will be plenty of work going into the car, a looooong long list of
things to be done to this car is in the works.

First things first, there's a small oil leak that has to be fixed along with the power
steering rack that is also leaking.
Suspension and wheels, short-shifter and steering wheel.
Bushings all around, everything to get it to run like a bat out of hell first.

[bimmer_E30]

nice car.

[!kid]

nice ride, any plans for a motor swap ?..... i see you like KROQ

[dvck]

^ Loveline ftw as far as kroq goes.

Engine swap not anytime soon this M20 is good and solid,
but ultimately i would like an M5x with S5x cam

nice car.

thanks, I love it.

[theox69]

If you want to fund any of those things you were planning on doing, I'll help you by buying your front seats :)

[BützBöb]

congrats man! Looks like a solid purchase. Now get those bushings replaced, and slam that bitch!!

[streetwaves]

Nice first car, congrats! I was looking at a very similar 325i in LA a few weeks ago at a dealership. The dash was so bad that he had glued the dash cover in place.

[SpecRaceM5]

If you have not already done these things I suggest doing a timing belt, water pump, thermostat and timing belt tensioner first and follow it with a cap and rotor, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, and an oil change. That is a good place to start to ensure your motor continues on to a long happy life. Clean ride! Where in LA are you located?

Cheers,

Brian

[downernsp]

Nice start, what are your plans exactly?

[dvck]

@ SpecRaceM5 / Brian ,
Thanks for the advice brought up some things i was neglecting.
I live in Alhambra and work Downtown.

The timing belt was done at 152k and the clock just died at 178k, still the belt was changed in 2002 which kinda worries me a bit considering the rubber will deteriorate regardless of the mileage with time.

So the plans right now are

1a. Fix leaks both oil and power-steering.
1b. Timing belt change with water pump.
2a. Filters and fluids.
3b. Cap and rotor along with spark plugs.
4a. Suspension.
4b. Wheels and tires.
4c. Exhaust.
5. Although most look new, drop in all new hoses.


All along replacing used bushings and misc. pieces that i find worn.
Once the car is running the way its meant to be...

---Things of less priority but to be done some time in between the above---

-Fix broken odometer.
-Dashboard.
-Repair/re-build lock cylinders on the doors.
-Front lip.
-Short-shifter, and am thinking about a sans-airbag steering wheel
of a smaller diameter.
-Re-paint all trim around the car.
-Roundels.
-Replace broken antenna mast.
-All the little things.

Im sure I'm forgetting some things and that others will come up,
but my priority is to have a screaming e30 thats a fun and dependable ride.
I'll fix cosmetics at leisure and as secondary.

I don't think I'll be slamming this one to the ground, Los Angeles streets blow at parts
but it will get a considerable drop for a better drive.

I'll keep track of things here, figure it will keep my motivation up to see recorded progress.

[streetwaves]

@ SpecRaceM5 / Brian ,
Thanks for the advice brought up some things i was neglecting.
I live in Alhambra and work Downtown.

The timing belt was done at 152k and the clock just died at 178k, still the belt was changed in 2002 which kinda worries me a bit considering the rubber will deteriorate regardless of the mileage with time.

So the plans right now are

1a. Fix leaks both oil and power-steering.
1b. Timing belt change with water pump.
2a. Filters and fluids.
3b. Cap and rotor along with spark plugs.
4a. Suspension.
4b. Wheels and tires.
4c. Exhaust.
5. Although most look new, drop in all new hoses.


All along replacing used bushings and misc. pieces that i find worn.
Once the car is running the way its meant to be...

---Things of less priority but to be done some time in between the above---

-Fix broken odometer.
-Dashboard.
-Repair/re-build lock cylinders on the doors.
-Front lip.
-Short-shifter, and am thinking about a sans-airbag steering wheel
of a smaller diameter.
-Re-paint all trim around the car.
-Roundels.
-Replace broken antenna mast.
-All the little things.

Im sure I'm forgetting some things and that others will come up,
but my priority is to have a screaming e30 thats a fun and dependable ride.
I'll fix cosmetics at leisure and as secondary.

I don't think I'll be slamming this one to the ground, Los Angeles streets blow at parts
but it will get a considerable drop for a better drive.

I'll keep track of things here, figure it will keep my motivation up to see recorded progress.

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get this car? It sounds so familiar to the car I mentioned above that was for sale in Alhambra at a used car lot. It was pretty nice overall other than the dash.

[dvck]

I actually did pick it up here in Alhambra. Fortune Auto? is the name of the lot,
I'm not too sure I didn't pay much attention to the place it's a pretty lousy
looking used lot, filled with nissan 240's I think, didn't bother to look,
it was the last place i would have expected to find my car.

As the story goes I was on the bus on my way to work and falling asleep,
I suddenly see and instantly recognize an alpineweiß II e30, i try to keep my eyes
on it but the bus speeds past the lot.

I'm left surprised, and somewhat in disbelief, mainly the location, the apparent
shape of the car, and the past few letdowns when I saw other cars in the previous
weeks, either way I'm left wondering.

I get to work and the day at work seems like the longest day ever.
I get off work and head over to the lot as quickly as possible, i wanted to see
what could be my new car!

I get to the lot only to find it closed, in the darkness of the short winter days.
I stand outside for a few minutes looking, plans rushing through my brain as I
'examine' the car from the gate, looking for all the pros and cons and all the
points to possibly haggle.

For the next two days I work long hours and am only able to see the car from
the bus on my way to work and back.

I finally get to go see the car, and begin to talk business with the guy, I introduce
my haggle points one by one after the test drive, to bring the price down, everything
from sagging bumpers and cracked fog lenses, and all things in between.
I could tell he knew I was right but really didn't want to budge, claiming the car to
be ultra rare, and I would have tough luck finding another in decent shape.

Give him my highest offer, and he claims to have someone in his office who was
ready to take the car home for a much heftier sum than I offered.
In the heat of the moment i wanted to up my offer, but the negotiation bit gave me
a vive from this guy that he was bluffing, maybe it was his "I don't have to lie to you"
piece. So I tell him I understand its a business and walk off the lot.

As I ride my bike home the thought of someone else driving home lingers in the back
of my mind but i stuck to my gut feeling.

Two days later I returned to the lot after seeing the car was still there, ask him if he's
ready to sell the car, or if he's got another customer waiting in the office with a sky
high offer, we talk, re-negotiate and in a matter of fifteen minutes i drive off the lot.

/story.

Didn't mean to write a book, but i had to.

[streetwaves]

I actually did pick it up here in Alhambra. Fortune Auto? is the name of the lot,
I'm not too sure I didn't pay much attention to the place it's a pretty lousy
looking used lot, filled with nissan 240's I think, didn't bother to look,
it was the last place i would have expected to find my car.

As the story goes I was on the bus on my way to work and falling asleep,
I suddenly see and instantly recognize an alpineweiß II e30, i try to keep my eyes
on it but the bus speeds past the lot.

I'm left surprised, and somewhat in disbelief, mainly the location, the apparent
shape of the car, and the past few letdowns when I saw other cars in the previous
weeks, either way I'm left wondering.

I get to work and the day at work seems like the longest day ever.
I get off work and head over to the lot as quickly as possible, i wanted to see
what could be my new car!

I get to the lot only to find it closed, in the darkness of the short winter days.
I stand outside for a few minutes looking, plans rushing through my brain as I
'examine' the car from the gate, looking for all the pros and cons and all the
points to possibly haggle.

For the next two days I work long hours and am only able to see the car from
the bus on my way to work and back.

I finally get to go see the car, and begin to talk business with the guy, I introduce
my haggle points one by one after the test drive, to bring the price down, everything
from sagging bumpers and cracked fog lenses, and all things in between.
I could tell he knew I was right but really didn't want to budge, claiming the car to
be ultra rare, and I would have tough luck finding another in decent shape.

Give him my highest offer, and he claims to have someone in his office who was
ready to take the car home for a much heftier sum than I offered.
In the heat of the moment i wanted to up my offer, but the negotiation bit gave me
a vive from this guy that he was bluffing, maybe it was his "I don't have to lie to you"
piece. So I tell him I understand its a business and walk off the lot.

As I ride my bike home the thought of someone else driving home lingers in the back
of my mind but i stuck to my gut feeling.

Two days later I returned to the lot after seeing the car was still there, ask him if he's
ready to sell the car, or if he's got another customer waiting in the office with a sky
high offer, we talk, re-negotiate and in a matter of fifteen minutes i drive off the lot.

/story.

Didn't mean to write a book, but i had to.

I can't remember the name of the lot, and actually it possibly wasn't in Alhambra. But that is definitely the car I drove. I went to see it at a little used car lot that had several Nissan 240s. After driving it and talking about what the cons to the car were, I asked him what his best price was and he said, "see that van right there? He's in the office and he wants to pay $5500". So I said, "well, I guess he's got himself a car" and left. I was suspicious of him and now, unless you were the guy in the van, it sounds like he pulls that trick all the time. Glad you got the car though, it seemed to run nice.

[dvck]

Did the van look like a white fixed gear conversion? :rofl: jk
But that does make me feel better about calling his bluff.
The car is definitely running nice and minus the imperfections
it's a great stock late model.

But no way was I going to pay that money, the day I went back
I put 3500 cash on the hood of the car, and talked it through. :hitler:

So you're still looking? if you are there's a nice looking also late
model and in white just up in La Cresenta, actually one of the
members on here is selling....

(looking for thread)

I can't find it right now, but anyway if you're still looking I'll keep an eye out.

[streetwaves]

Yeah, good job man! I wanted to go back and call his bluff, but I had arranged earlier for a more local alpine white e30 to be inspected by the mechanic that worked on my previous car. He called me right after leaving the used car lot to tell me that it was in great shape and the engine was excellent, so I let your car go. I bought a 318iS, and while I'd have probably been a little bit happier with more power, the plan is to do a swap anyway. Here's mine, snagged for $3k:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=156648

Enjoy your car man! It's a nice one for sure.