It is time...
Here i am to introduce my project. It's a zinnoberrot on black 1989 325i convertible, basically stock with a Miller MAF and unknown, supposedly german made wheels.
It is my 4th E30, my previous three were daily driven. Most recently, i had a 1988 vert that was almost identical. Story of how i got it here
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1269551
After a stupid, low speed fender bender with a friend, my 88 was pretty jacked.
This happened in november, and i drove the car the rest of the year as it was, plus all the way back home to washington after school was out (i go to school in LA). When i got home to my dad's shop, i removed the fender and headlights with the intention of fixing the car. But bad news... the frame was slightly bent, and was badly creased where the headlights mount up to the frame. I don't have the skill to do frame repairs so i was pretty upset. The same day, i was browsing craigslist and came across the 89. The owner wanted 2000 for it, but the car would not start. After talking with him a bit, i drove out to inspect.
The 89 looked a LOT cleaner then my 88, paint was in better shape, wheels look soooo much better then bottlecaps, etc. But a mechanical mystery... the car ran one week before, but one day just decided not to start. Cranked like crazy but no start.
I talked the price down to 1000, and towed it back to the shop where my dad and i hunted for the problem. ECU checked out fine. Coil was good. Everything seemed fine and good. We were even able to start the car if we jumped from the ignition to the coil. Ignition switch was fine. After a frustrating process of elimination, we found that the OBC was killing the power as soon as we tried to crank it. Switched out the 13 button OBC from the 88 and it fired right up.
The best i can figure is that the PO was messing around with the OBC and hit the code button and set the security system. On the 13 button you can enter a code that must be entered a second time to start the car, but if you're an idiot and just randomly push buttons, you can lock yourself out of starting your car.
The 89 had been sitting for a good portion of 2 years (in the mountains in washington
) so there was corrosion on many electrical components and 2 small rust spots. But it runs great, drives smooth, and is miles better then my previous vert. i am $1900 into both cars, so i feel good about that. 2 Verts, same color, and i've only spent 1900 total (well plus 300 on maintenence). On to the pics!
pics taken with my blackberry so bear with me
you're a dirrrrty girl
Engine bay is disgusting
Unknown wheels... they are 15x7 and have "viking" stamped on them. The PO said the person he bought them from had them imported from germany but i have no idea.
And the 88, now a parts car
I have one semester left of college, so for the next 6 months my progress will be somewhat slow. Broke college student paying for own school =/= lotsa mods. Once i graduate i should be able to progress faster, should i be able to get a job in this godforsaken economy.
I do have one little treat though... ;)
I found this full vader interior on craigslist and got it for a steal at $300. The seats have wear, but there are no rips or tears in the leather and they are exactly what i was looking for. Obviously the rear seats will not fit, so they are for sale (PM me) or i will turn them into a couch or something.
I will be recoloring the vaders soon, but i have a dilemma. I want to either do a black interior with tasteful ///M stripe color accenting, or go for the ferrari-like red on modena/dark tan like this
This will decide also what i want to do for some exterior mods (blackout grill vs chrome, etc). I'm leaning black, but i think the tan would look INCREDIBLE. Please vote in the poll i would love some input on this.
Plans are:
Cut springs, ebay tails, ebay turbo, angel eyes, carbon fiber wrapped everything, pink wheels.
Just kiddin. General plans are Coilovers, M-Tech II kit, S50/52, possible 5 lug, BBS RS or style 5 if i go 5 lug (gold, at least for a while), and a big list of other stuff. I will keep posting in this thread as updates are added, and i'll do a full write-up of my vader recoloring. I am poor right now but I am motivated to get money and work hard when i graduate, and this car will be sort of a gauge of my success. but first, gotta go change that pesky timing belt.
Wow freaking novel.
Here i am to introduce my project. It's a zinnoberrot on black 1989 325i convertible, basically stock with a Miller MAF and unknown, supposedly german made wheels.
It is my 4th E30, my previous three were daily driven. Most recently, i had a 1988 vert that was almost identical. Story of how i got it here
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1269551
After a stupid, low speed fender bender with a friend, my 88 was pretty jacked.
This happened in november, and i drove the car the rest of the year as it was, plus all the way back home to washington after school was out (i go to school in LA). When i got home to my dad's shop, i removed the fender and headlights with the intention of fixing the car. But bad news... the frame was slightly bent, and was badly creased where the headlights mount up to the frame. I don't have the skill to do frame repairs so i was pretty upset. The same day, i was browsing craigslist and came across the 89. The owner wanted 2000 for it, but the car would not start. After talking with him a bit, i drove out to inspect.
The 89 looked a LOT cleaner then my 88, paint was in better shape, wheels look soooo much better then bottlecaps, etc. But a mechanical mystery... the car ran one week before, but one day just decided not to start. Cranked like crazy but no start.
I talked the price down to 1000, and towed it back to the shop where my dad and i hunted for the problem. ECU checked out fine. Coil was good. Everything seemed fine and good. We were even able to start the car if we jumped from the ignition to the coil. Ignition switch was fine. After a frustrating process of elimination, we found that the OBC was killing the power as soon as we tried to crank it. Switched out the 13 button OBC from the 88 and it fired right up.
The best i can figure is that the PO was messing around with the OBC and hit the code button and set the security system. On the 13 button you can enter a code that must be entered a second time to start the car, but if you're an idiot and just randomly push buttons, you can lock yourself out of starting your car.
The 89 had been sitting for a good portion of 2 years (in the mountains in washington
) so there was corrosion on many electrical components and 2 small rust spots. But it runs great, drives smooth, and is miles better then my previous vert. i am $1900 into both cars, so i feel good about that. 2 Verts, same color, and i've only spent 1900 total (well plus 300 on maintenence). On to the pics!pics taken with my blackberry so bear with me
you're a dirrrrty girl
Engine bay is disgusting
Unknown wheels... they are 15x7 and have "viking" stamped on them. The PO said the person he bought them from had them imported from germany but i have no idea.
And the 88, now a parts car
I have one semester left of college, so for the next 6 months my progress will be somewhat slow. Broke college student paying for own school =/= lotsa mods. Once i graduate i should be able to progress faster, should i be able to get a job in this godforsaken economy.
I do have one little treat though... ;)
I found this full vader interior on craigslist and got it for a steal at $300. The seats have wear, but there are no rips or tears in the leather and they are exactly what i was looking for. Obviously the rear seats will not fit, so they are for sale (PM me) or i will turn them into a couch or something.
I will be recoloring the vaders soon, but i have a dilemma. I want to either do a black interior with tasteful ///M stripe color accenting, or go for the ferrari-like red on modena/dark tan like this
This will decide also what i want to do for some exterior mods (blackout grill vs chrome, etc). I'm leaning black, but i think the tan would look INCREDIBLE. Please vote in the poll i would love some input on this.
Plans are:
Cut springs, ebay tails, ebay turbo, angel eyes, carbon fiber wrapped everything, pink wheels.
Just kiddin. General plans are Coilovers, M-Tech II kit, S50/52, possible 5 lug, BBS RS or style 5 if i go 5 lug (gold, at least for a while), and a big list of other stuff. I will keep posting in this thread as updates are added, and i'll do a full write-up of my vader recoloring. I am poor right now but I am motivated to get money and work hard when i graduate, and this car will be sort of a gauge of my success. but first, gotta go change that pesky timing belt.
Wow freaking novel.
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