March's Car of the Month is Clay's (clavinzero) 1990 325is!
Again another short notice for CotM, so be sure to thank clay for coming through!
Factory options:
My 1990 325is came fully loaded. I don't actually know what is an option versus what is a base-model item... it has power windows/mirrors, 13 button onboard computer (clock, temp, etc.), limited slip differential, leather sport seats, air-conditioning, power sunroof, rear deck and front lip spoilers, etc.
Color:
- Sterling Silber Metallic
Interior color:
- Gray, leather seats and vinyl door cards (originally)
Engine modifications:
- Internally, this motor is still stock
- Drilled out part of the air filter box for a sweeter note
- ECU has a Turner/JimC chip.
- Engine fan delete with lower temperature E36 318i auxiliary fan switch
Exhaust:
- Super Sprint Cat-back, rounded tips
Transmission:
- Getrag 260, 5-speed manual
Differential:
- 3.73 Limited Slip Differential
Suspension:
- 1997 Z3 complete rear trailing arms (brakes, hubs, etc.)
- 1997 E36 M3 complete strut assemblies (knuckles, brakes, hubs, etc.) with E30 top strut mounts
- 1997 E36 M3 control arms
- Polyurethane bushings (rear trailing arm and subframe bushings from Ireland Engineering, front offset control arm bushings from Bavarian Autosport - all "street" compound)
- E30 fitment H&R sport lowering springs
- E30 rear Bilstein Sport shocks
- 1997 E36 M3 front Bilstein Sport struts
- E30 cabriolet rear shock mounts
- Eibach 22mm/19mm anti-roll bar set (swaybars) with polyurethane bushings, weld-reinforced trailing arms, bolt-through-trunk rear bar mounts
- Old-style BMP front strut brace
- Ireland Engineering weld-on rear camber/toe correction kit
Wheels (5-lug):
-BMW Style #32 "Radial Spoke" @ 17" x 7.5" et41, running 215/40R17 tires
Exterior modifications:
- Paint-matched front "iS" lip
- Paint-matched "iS" factory side skirts
- Black rear deck spoiler
- De-textured front valance
- HID low-beam headlights and foglights (4500K white and 3000K yellow, respectively)
- BMW motorsport-style checkered flag decals on opposing corners, black
- All-red tail lights
- US plate filler with stainless plate hardware
- Smoked front indicator lenses with added kill switch for parking lights
- Custom plate
Interior modifications:
- Newer leather BMW "M" shifter
- E36 window switches
- Black door pulls and map pockets
- Black rear speaker shelf and black rear speaker pods
- 20% tint
- Aftermarket head unit, amplified front 6.5" components (using factory locations), amplified sub woofer in hand-made fiberglass enclosure, amp rack
- Antenna control switch (due to aftermarket head unit)
- Rob Schiering leather shift and parking break boots
Story behind the car:
Unfortunately, my first E30 (black automatic 325is) was "stolen" back from me by my parents in late 2003. It's a long story, so just know I had put a lot into it. The hunt began for a new one. I put up signs near my uncle's repair shop; they looked like garage sale signs, no joke... I wanted one bad. Randomly, a friend of a friend knew someone that had "one of those little BMW 325s" and they called for me at my uncle's shop. We met. I drove. I bought.
After six and a half years of ownership and hours of hard work, I still love the car. We have been through a "total" accident in 2005 in Oregon (front end rebuild); that is where some serious R3v bonding, respect, admiration, and fun began. The 5-lug swap in July 2007 put a bigger grin on my face. Three PNW E30 picnics have come and gone (yeah, I drove from California!). Three Bimmerfests are now under my belt and on the odometer. I can't wait to see what the rest of 2010 has in store for us. Thanks for having a look!
Pictures:
Day 1 I believe:
Interior with speaker mods:
The Super Sprint:
Old Kosei wheels and brake setup:
The wreck during a R3V meet in Feb 2005... bad times and GOOD times:
Partial wreck recovery (please excuse hideous bumper):
All back together, showing off:
Bimmerfest 2007 caravan label:
PNW Picnic drive shot:
HID install:
Some interior upgrades:
Audio stuff, I'm pretty happy with what I built:
For R3V to LOLz:
Pic-whore glamor shot:
Highway 1 run, with real driving:
2009 PNW E30 picnic shots, as she sits now:
Also E30 Picnic (thank you Daniel for the photo!!):
Again another short notice for CotM, so be sure to thank clay for coming through!
Factory options:
My 1990 325is came fully loaded. I don't actually know what is an option versus what is a base-model item... it has power windows/mirrors, 13 button onboard computer (clock, temp, etc.), limited slip differential, leather sport seats, air-conditioning, power sunroof, rear deck and front lip spoilers, etc.
Color:
- Sterling Silber Metallic
Interior color:
- Gray, leather seats and vinyl door cards (originally)
Engine modifications:
- Internally, this motor is still stock
- Drilled out part of the air filter box for a sweeter note
- ECU has a Turner/JimC chip.
- Engine fan delete with lower temperature E36 318i auxiliary fan switch
Exhaust:
- Super Sprint Cat-back, rounded tips
Transmission:
- Getrag 260, 5-speed manual
Differential:
- 3.73 Limited Slip Differential
Suspension:
- 1997 Z3 complete rear trailing arms (brakes, hubs, etc.)
- 1997 E36 M3 complete strut assemblies (knuckles, brakes, hubs, etc.) with E30 top strut mounts
- 1997 E36 M3 control arms
- Polyurethane bushings (rear trailing arm and subframe bushings from Ireland Engineering, front offset control arm bushings from Bavarian Autosport - all "street" compound)
- E30 fitment H&R sport lowering springs
- E30 rear Bilstein Sport shocks
- 1997 E36 M3 front Bilstein Sport struts
- E30 cabriolet rear shock mounts
- Eibach 22mm/19mm anti-roll bar set (swaybars) with polyurethane bushings, weld-reinforced trailing arms, bolt-through-trunk rear bar mounts
- Old-style BMP front strut brace
- Ireland Engineering weld-on rear camber/toe correction kit
Wheels (5-lug):
-BMW Style #32 "Radial Spoke" @ 17" x 7.5" et41, running 215/40R17 tires
Exterior modifications:
- Paint-matched front "iS" lip
- Paint-matched "iS" factory side skirts
- Black rear deck spoiler
- De-textured front valance
- HID low-beam headlights and foglights (4500K white and 3000K yellow, respectively)
- BMW motorsport-style checkered flag decals on opposing corners, black
- All-red tail lights
- US plate filler with stainless plate hardware
- Smoked front indicator lenses with added kill switch for parking lights
- Custom plate
Interior modifications:
- Newer leather BMW "M" shifter
- E36 window switches
- Black door pulls and map pockets
- Black rear speaker shelf and black rear speaker pods
- 20% tint
- Aftermarket head unit, amplified front 6.5" components (using factory locations), amplified sub woofer in hand-made fiberglass enclosure, amp rack
- Antenna control switch (due to aftermarket head unit)
- Rob Schiering leather shift and parking break boots
Story behind the car:
Unfortunately, my first E30 (black automatic 325is) was "stolen" back from me by my parents in late 2003. It's a long story, so just know I had put a lot into it. The hunt began for a new one. I put up signs near my uncle's repair shop; they looked like garage sale signs, no joke... I wanted one bad. Randomly, a friend of a friend knew someone that had "one of those little BMW 325s" and they called for me at my uncle's shop. We met. I drove. I bought.
After six and a half years of ownership and hours of hard work, I still love the car. We have been through a "total" accident in 2005 in Oregon (front end rebuild); that is where some serious R3v bonding, respect, admiration, and fun began. The 5-lug swap in July 2007 put a bigger grin on my face. Three PNW E30 picnics have come and gone (yeah, I drove from California!). Three Bimmerfests are now under my belt and on the odometer. I can't wait to see what the rest of 2010 has in store for us. Thanks for having a look!
Pictures:
Day 1 I believe:
Interior with speaker mods:
The Super Sprint:
Old Kosei wheels and brake setup:
The wreck during a R3V meet in Feb 2005... bad times and GOOD times:
Partial wreck recovery (please excuse hideous bumper):
All back together, showing off:
Bimmerfest 2007 caravan label:
PNW Picnic drive shot:
HID install:
Some interior upgrades:
Audio stuff, I'm pretty happy with what I built:
For R3V to LOLz:
Pic-whore glamor shot:
Highway 1 run, with real driving:
2009 PNW E30 picnic shots, as she sits now:
Also E30 Picnic (thank you Daniel for the photo!!):
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