Hello, R3V!
I've been a lurker over here for years, had my mind set on finding the right plastic bumper coupe to finally start what I've always wanted: A daily drivable yet trackable e30.
So I searched craigslist eagerly for months, eventually picked up my very first e30 over this passed summer. 1989 325i Cirrus Blau Coupe 5spd with 180k miles. The bone stock m20 engine purred, transmission shifted great, handled just like a stock e30 should, although the body had some damage to the front end due to a low speed crash with the P.O.(dented hood, buckled up drivers fender) and there was some rust build up on the passenger rocker panel. Now, I'm more mechanically inclined than I am with body work, so I shaped the front end to look presentable in the least (via hammer + prybar LOL) and I rocked that stock e30 for a few months. Turns out I wasn't looking forward to the body work I had ahead of me. Ended up selling her to another new Member here on R3V who has actually just recently created his own Thread about his new e30 project :). After the sale of my first e30 I was really aiming towards getting myself an e36 coupe although I had no idea what laid ahead of me. Literally the day after selling the Cirrus Blau, I pick up e30 #2...
A 1989 Delphin Mettalic 325i Coupe.
240,000 Miles
Autotragic...:hitler: The body is in very good shape considering the mileage which is just what I was looking for. Now for the bad - Misfiring engine, Oil leaks everywhere, its automatic, its 100% bone stock. I did a compression test and found that cylinder #3 has 30lbs of compression! The rest of the cylinders were somewhat average. Auto trans took over 3 quarts to get back up to level and the Oil leak was the result of oil pan bolts that were literally loose enough to spin off by hand all the way around. After the oil pan was tightened up I still have a few more oil leaks here and there to address, and it turns out the engine is burning some oil as well. I'm hoping to pull the head off in the next couple weeks and replace valve seals and the like, along with a new water pump, timing belt + tensioner, and some other maintenance required parts that I'm forgetting right now. Well I think that's a good start for now. More info on how things have come along since I bought it (over a month ago now) as soon as I find the time. PLENTY of pics to share as well :pimp:
Oh...and it has an LSD!!!!!!!!
Some Stock Suspension "LSD Testing" In the rain.
I Apologize for the terrible quality, realized halfway through the night that the digital camera was in "Compact Mode" HA
The first run forward and back was my best of the entire night.
I've been a lurker over here for years, had my mind set on finding the right plastic bumper coupe to finally start what I've always wanted: A daily drivable yet trackable e30.
So I searched craigslist eagerly for months, eventually picked up my very first e30 over this passed summer. 1989 325i Cirrus Blau Coupe 5spd with 180k miles. The bone stock m20 engine purred, transmission shifted great, handled just like a stock e30 should, although the body had some damage to the front end due to a low speed crash with the P.O.(dented hood, buckled up drivers fender) and there was some rust build up on the passenger rocker panel. Now, I'm more mechanically inclined than I am with body work, so I shaped the front end to look presentable in the least (via hammer + prybar LOL) and I rocked that stock e30 for a few months. Turns out I wasn't looking forward to the body work I had ahead of me. Ended up selling her to another new Member here on R3V who has actually just recently created his own Thread about his new e30 project :). After the sale of my first e30 I was really aiming towards getting myself an e36 coupe although I had no idea what laid ahead of me. Literally the day after selling the Cirrus Blau, I pick up e30 #2...
A 1989 Delphin Mettalic 325i Coupe.
240,000 Miles
Autotragic...:hitler: The body is in very good shape considering the mileage which is just what I was looking for. Now for the bad - Misfiring engine, Oil leaks everywhere, its automatic, its 100% bone stock. I did a compression test and found that cylinder #3 has 30lbs of compression! The rest of the cylinders were somewhat average. Auto trans took over 3 quarts to get back up to level and the Oil leak was the result of oil pan bolts that were literally loose enough to spin off by hand all the way around. After the oil pan was tightened up I still have a few more oil leaks here and there to address, and it turns out the engine is burning some oil as well. I'm hoping to pull the head off in the next couple weeks and replace valve seals and the like, along with a new water pump, timing belt + tensioner, and some other maintenance required parts that I'm forgetting right now. Well I think that's a good start for now. More info on how things have come along since I bought it (over a month ago now) as soon as I find the time. PLENTY of pics to share as well :pimp: Oh...and it has an LSD!!!!!!!!
Some Stock Suspension "LSD Testing" In the rain.
I Apologize for the terrible quality, realized halfway through the night that the digital camera was in "Compact Mode" HA
The first run forward and back was my best of the entire night.
Attached Files
Comment