My new '85 325e what should I do to it?

[WhigBong]

So guys, I'm 16 and I just bought an '85 325e as my first car. Worked all summer on it and spent $900 on it. I'm in high school so I don't have a huge budget for it. I live off a dirt road in the mountains of NC. Lowering the car or large body kits will not be practical with the number of potholes I drive through daily. Once I get it out on the windy paved roads though it's a joy to drive. My dad and I have agreed that it handles better than my mom's '06 Audi A4. I'm looking to give it more of a rally look and performance aspect. I'd like to pick up a used roof rack so I can plop a river kayak on top. I may need to fix a large dent in the door or I could leave it as is. Maybe looking at a cheap possibly used performance chip (mainly for better MPG and more torque.) Give me any suggestions to improve it. Thanks in advance.

TL;DR: Give me suggestions on how to make my 325e better and more fun on a low budget.

Link to large picture:

Picture


Video:

Youtube video

Thanks in advance guys. :up:

[illest318i]

nice man, she's awesome. I'm in High School too and just got my 84' 318i last month. Enjoy and welcome! :D

[The Humjet]

If I had a 325e the first mod I'd do besides lowering is put the head and fuel management from a 325i, turning it into a 'stroker'

[Kershaw]

he lives on a gravel road. he is not going to lower it.

do all your basic maintenance. replace all belts, distributor, plugs, wires, fluids. and then invest in a skid plate.

[Brian e30]

900 bucks for that ?? what a steal .. good job bro welcome to team beam

[JasonC]

he lives on a gravel road. he is not going to lower it.

do all your basic maintenance. replace all belts, distributor, plugs, wires, fluids. and then invest in a skid plate.

+1. Although not to for sure if a skid plate would be needed on a stock height car.


But since you're looking for opinions, i'll give you mine :p

After maintenance, i'd get some black trim paint and paint the grills (leave kidneys chrome though), paint the bumper trim, paint side view mirrors gloss black, get new chrome locking strip for the front and rear windows, and clean and detail the ever living hell out of the car!

[russhixmo]

Hey man good luck with that e30 I got the same year and model. Your vest bet for mods is gotta be going back to basics. Stock ride height on some upgrade struts and springs to stiffen I up and a good through cleaning of the motor, I chipped mine and put an exhaust on it after I lowered it and the thing has a noticeable amount of toque. Good luck, had my first BMW back in high school too.

[JJe30]

A chip will help out that eta. Nice pick up for $900 and welcome.

[SimplyDope]

Great pick-up.

[matthugie]

Nice pickup! I agree with the rest, do some basic maintenance first, then work on some simple mods. EJP in Asheville is a good source for new parts and can have almost anything next day. The owner is also an e30 enthusiast and very knowledgeable. Let me know if you want hia contact info.


I get up to Asheville a lot (my hometown), if I see you around i'll give a wave.

[xikyle]

NICE CAR DOOD! keep it stock height. maybe even add some rubber washers to lift it up. taller, wider tires, mud flaps, ellipsoids, trunk lip, hella auxillary lights, skid plate. exhaust? presto. e30 rally car

[!AjHoWzA!]

Nice looks good. Ya I just graduated from high school and i bought an '85 318i at 17 for only $475. I think they are a good starter car and then I sold it and got a '91 318is. Have fun with her ;)

[ButtJuice]

If you wanna buy a new antenna, Pm me.

[acolella76]

After maintenance, i'd get some black trim paint and paint the grills (leave kidneys chrome though), paint the bumper trim, paint side view mirrors gloss black, get new chrome locking strip for the front and rear windows, and clean and detail the ever living hell out of the car!

+1, verbatim what I was going to say. Clean it, get a bumper filler, respray the trim, etc. Do maintenance, get a chip, and get a 3.25-3.46LSD.

[russhixmo]

So basically just restore it, upgrade suspension and exhaust and if ur feelin lucky a chip to top it off. Great find for you man, I'm 19 and I'm on my third BMW already, I bought a 535i for my first car and fell in love with them ever sence, I just recently got an e30 myself

That's after about 800$ for suspension, wheels and tires and a roof rack. (tip: the roof rack really makes e30's stand out among the crowd for some reason)