Hello R3V. Just wanted to give a warm hello with my new purchase.
'89 325i
130k
5speed
The Beginning
I've been on the hunt for an e30 for over 3 years now. I didn't want a 'vert/auto/4cyl and got fed up with the search. A year ago, I bought an e32/5speed (1/800 imported) but it was way too big and was more of a PITA than it was worth. (electrical problems, CSB and exhaust were a nightmare to deal with) I was planning on dumping some money into this since there are no clean e32's out there...then the head blew and to the junk yard it went. RIP.
Sold that and finally found this beauty about 45 minutes outside Philadelphia. No immediate issues with it, runs strong and is pretty much stock with an aftermarket muffler. Need to fix the speedo (surprise?) peeling grille and for some reason the fog lights don't come on. The previous owner was driving and hit a random chair in the middle of the highway, broke the left fog light lens and reflector and made two dents...nothing too major. Other than that, this guy is in real good shape. In the future I plan on getting different rims, I've always been a fan of the basket weaves and maybe some coilovers or springs.
I also have a B7 A4 thats my DD (for those curious about this oil-eating Passat: STaSIS coilovers, APR 93 Chip boosting 19-21psi, VMR 18' v710, Test Pipe, RS4 rear sway bar, RS4 Grille, B8 fitted LED's)
1.9.12
I think I'm doing something right....
Smilies, Euro Grilles, Volvo lip, Chrome Kids, Weaves and a sweet tan sport interior. Next up: Drop, light window tint and replace all my leaky gaskets
Q2 2012
Oil Pan Gasket replaced
Fog lights (I didn't listen to everyone and bought ebay ones...what a piece of junk)
JOM Coilover kit (fonts adjusted as high as they can go/no adjuster in rear)
The roads around here are not forgiving, I need to add the rears in as soon as possible, I'm dragging my exhaust over every bump over the road. Also running some pretty aggressive camber.
Funny how a 22 year old car is more reliable than a 4 year old car.
2013
Lot of maintenance done this past winter:
1) Left Rear wheel hub was going on me, so that meant replacing that along with my right one. Took about 5 weekends worth of headache and pain, from taking the whole arm off to get a 50TN press to push out the shaft, replacing out the trailing arm bushings and rebuilding the parking brake (which required the hands of a small baby). It was one of the most PITA jobs I've done so far and now I have a whole tool box drawer full of miscellaneous pricey tools I probably will never use again.
2) Swapped out the old leaky steering rack for an e36 rack. Rebuilt it and replaced as much as I could on the new rack including new tie rod arms. It is defiantly a noticeable difference and I am pretty happy with it all.
3) Replaced all my auxiliary belts, somehow I ran into a problem where my alternator/water pump belt flipped and it wasn't spinning as it should have making it over heat. I don't think I tightened down the adjuster enough when I replaced it.
4) Mounted Red46's hefty skid plate from the group buy and got some new tires and removed my trunk tar :)
I also had a FUN job of having the cabin fill up with smoke while working on the e36 rack swap. I accidentally hit the starter with a wrench, arching the wrench to the bolt and the starter and by the time I disconnected the battery the whole cabin was full of smoke. After ripping apart the whole interior, I found out it melted....flat out melted the ground going to the turn signal- including the wire casing and the copper itself. It was a mess, but was replaced and all is good now.
For this summer I'm planning on cleaning up the exterior- hopefully finding a right front fender to replace my dented one, doing a light tint job, blacking out that chrome around the windows and cleaning up the black trim around the car. Looking to put some decent miles on the old lady this summer, hopefully doing a few 400mile road trips...and enjoying it!
'89 325i
130k
5speed
The Beginning
I've been on the hunt for an e30 for over 3 years now. I didn't want a 'vert/auto/4cyl and got fed up with the search. A year ago, I bought an e32/5speed (1/800 imported) but it was way too big and was more of a PITA than it was worth. (electrical problems, CSB and exhaust were a nightmare to deal with) I was planning on dumping some money into this since there are no clean e32's out there...then the head blew and to the junk yard it went. RIP.
Sold that and finally found this beauty about 45 minutes outside Philadelphia. No immediate issues with it, runs strong and is pretty much stock with an aftermarket muffler. Need to fix the speedo (surprise?) peeling grille and for some reason the fog lights don't come on. The previous owner was driving and hit a random chair in the middle of the highway, broke the left fog light lens and reflector and made two dents...nothing too major. Other than that, this guy is in real good shape. In the future I plan on getting different rims, I've always been a fan of the basket weaves and maybe some coilovers or springs.
I also have a B7 A4 thats my DD (for those curious about this oil-eating Passat: STaSIS coilovers, APR 93 Chip boosting 19-21psi, VMR 18' v710, Test Pipe, RS4 rear sway bar, RS4 Grille, B8 fitted LED's)
1.9.12
I think I'm doing something right....
Smilies, Euro Grilles, Volvo lip, Chrome Kids, Weaves and a sweet tan sport interior. Next up: Drop, light window tint and replace all my leaky gaskets
Q2 2012
Oil Pan Gasket replaced
Fog lights (I didn't listen to everyone and bought ebay ones...what a piece of junk)
JOM Coilover kit (fonts adjusted as high as they can go/no adjuster in rear)
The roads around here are not forgiving, I need to add the rears in as soon as possible, I'm dragging my exhaust over every bump over the road. Also running some pretty aggressive camber.
Funny how a 22 year old car is more reliable than a 4 year old car.
2013
Lot of maintenance done this past winter:
1) Left Rear wheel hub was going on me, so that meant replacing that along with my right one. Took about 5 weekends worth of headache and pain, from taking the whole arm off to get a 50TN press to push out the shaft, replacing out the trailing arm bushings and rebuilding the parking brake (which required the hands of a small baby). It was one of the most PITA jobs I've done so far and now I have a whole tool box drawer full of miscellaneous pricey tools I probably will never use again.
2) Swapped out the old leaky steering rack for an e36 rack. Rebuilt it and replaced as much as I could on the new rack including new tie rod arms. It is defiantly a noticeable difference and I am pretty happy with it all.
3) Replaced all my auxiliary belts, somehow I ran into a problem where my alternator/water pump belt flipped and it wasn't spinning as it should have making it over heat. I don't think I tightened down the adjuster enough when I replaced it.
4) Mounted Red46's hefty skid plate from the group buy and got some new tires and removed my trunk tar :)
I also had a FUN job of having the cabin fill up with smoke while working on the e36 rack swap. I accidentally hit the starter with a wrench, arching the wrench to the bolt and the starter and by the time I disconnected the battery the whole cabin was full of smoke. After ripping apart the whole interior, I found out it melted....flat out melted the ground going to the turn signal- including the wire casing and the copper itself. It was a mess, but was replaced and all is good now.
For this summer I'm planning on cleaning up the exterior- hopefully finding a right front fender to replace my dented one, doing a light tint job, blacking out that chrome around the windows and cleaning up the black trim around the car. Looking to put some decent miles on the old lady this summer, hopefully doing a few 400mile road trips...and enjoying it!
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