COTM ~Feb 2013~ JGood

[Vivek]

Congrats on COTM, I'm glad it's back, and Justin definitely, definitely deserved it. Easily the e30 on here with THE most work into it.

[F34R]

I am also glad COTM is back, I always looked forward to it each coming month. I am even more happy I am doing it. SO MANY awesome e30s to cover!!!

Stay tuned guys.

[dashboardmonkey]

And suddenly i want a nasty v8 in my e30. Thanks brandon. You bastard ;)

Good job justin, car looks awesome and i love the color. Glad to see COTM is back.

[Brilliantrot 318is]

Car of the month well deserved :up: I love seeing buckets being turned into beauties

[2mAn]

so happy COTM is back and this is a great one, love the story behind it

[IronFreak]

So freakin clean. Very cool to see a COTM thread!

[F34R]

Damn. I want the first of the "Glamour" shots as a desktop wallpaper. High resolution?

Send him a PM, that is what he sent me. He might have some HiRes laying around.

[kid325e]

The whole car, story, and vibe behind the whole build and car is just incredible. Kudos!

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

[eskimo810]

Damn. I want the first of the "Glamour" shots as a desktop wallpaper. High resolution?

[Wh33lhop]

This car absofuckinglutely deserves this title. Seriously, way more than a lot of the others. Awesome work Justin.

[acolella76]

Hell yeah, I'm glad we're finally doing COTM again! Justin's car is awesome. Love the color.

[F34R]

I have taken over COTM since Matt stepped down.

This Month is Justin's gorgeous 4 door. Enjoy guys, leave him some props!

1985 BMW 325e sedan

Factory options:
Car was built in 10/84, came as an automatic in Gazelle Beige, with Pearl Beige leather interior.

Color:
BMW Marrakesh Brown Metallic

Interior color:
Black

Chassis:
-Removable core/radiator support
-Relocated brake booster using a modified e34 540i bracket / linkage and modified e30 pedal box.

Engine:
-m60b40 4.0 V8 from a 94 740i
-DUDMD chip
-Revshift mounts
-Mishimoto MZ3 radiator
-Earls oil cooler
-Remote mounted dual spin-on filter setup.

Exhaust:
Modified X5 manifolds, v-bands, dual 2.5” piping to a Magnaflow 12468.

Transmission:
-ZF310 5 speed manual from a 94 530i
-Z4 shifter and modified linkage setup
-e36 328i driveshaft
-UUC lightweight flywheel
-ClutchMasters FX100 clutch

Differential:
2.93 LSD

Suspension:
-GE coilovers
-Hyperco springs *rates: 450lbs Fronts 650lbs rear
-Shorted housings
-Bilstein iX inserts
-IE camber plates
-Sparco strut bar
-UUC Swaybarbarian kit
-Adjustable(e30 M3 style) sway bar end links mounted to the struts
-M3 offset CAB’s
-e36 M3 steering rack
-AKG subframe bushings

Wheels:
-ESM-004
17x8 et20
17x9 et25

Tires:
-Sumitumo HTRZ-II’s.
215/40/17 and with 235/40/17

Exterior modifications:
-Late model front valance/bumper conversion. -Ellipsoids with HID’s
-Modified Taurus side skirts
-BMP rear apron
-Hartge wing
-Shadowline trim
-Smoked turn signal, side marker, and rear lights

Interior modifications:
-Black carpet, door panels, rear deck, and vinyl sport seats.
-M Tech 1 wheel
-Leather shift & e-brake boots
-Pioneer DEH-X6500BT head unit
-Polk 5-1/4 fronts and Pioneer 6-1/2” rears.

Story behind the car:
I purchased the car in 2000 as my first vehicle, with 108k miles and daily drove it 100+ miles/day to school and work. Around 2005, I was t-boned and the car was technically totaled. I didn't go through insurance in order to keep a clean title, and replaced the quarter panel, as well as resprayed the rear/sides of the car. I m50 swapped it in 2008 with 250k miles. Eventually did s50 cams and a tune.


In late 2011, the car had 295k miles, and I found some serious rust in the front driver’s side strut tower. I tore the entire car apart to a bare shell, taught myself how to weld, bought some new panels, and went to work.

A lot of the floorboards and firewall needed rebuilding; I had to replace the entire driver front wheel housing / strut tower. I did not do a professional-quality restoration, but I did the best I could to save a car that I have huge emotional attachment to. I also swapped in the m60 while doing the rebuild.

All of the work was done in my garage. I got a Longacre alignment kit to finish off the car, so everything from beginning to end was done in my garage with no shop assistance. That was a great feeling.

Shout outs:
-Garey (bmwmech1): Provided some custom swap parts and did some TIG welding for me.

-Walt:When it came time for body work and paint, my good friend helped me out big time.
We built a fanned and filtered booth in my garage. He did all of the body and paint work, teaching me as we went.
This project would not have happened without those two guys.

Last but not least; the help of the r3v v8 subforum. All of the generous folks sharing their info and experience.

As for the future of the car, well, as long as I’m alive, I’ll own it and drive it.

It’s an ongoing project. I'm still working out some small bugs with the swap. I’m sure I’ll be bored by the end of summer and either end up doing an m60b44 hybrid build next winter, and/or some type of forced induction.



Want to see more? Ongoing build thread, click me!


Picture from 2000:


Picture from 2011, right before the rebuild:


Rust repair:




Glamour




:evil: