First E30 and first Convertible!

[davesmystery]

Here's some better shots of the car. Hoping for a good wash, wax, and polish this weekend weather permitting:







Check out that dash!

Recently painted the grills, new shift knob and emblems should be here tomorrow, along with the water pump and hopefully the timing belt. Also ordered a duplicate key with the light so I can do the LED mod.

Still need to get some trim pieces, but that will come after I figure out how to pass emissions!

[tytypetersen]

Keep that dash moisturized!! Looks cool

[swboat12]

Your cab looks very much like mine. I've had mine 4 years now and it's been a delight for me. Good luck!

[hendrixvodu]

Looks great man ! I've got a set of those plastic rocker trims if your looking

[davesmystery]

Hendrix - Thanks! I only need the right side, how much are you looking to get for it?

[animal]

congrats! You got a steal on a that vert.

just picked up an 89 for myself - first clean it up well and take care of the maintenance. Mine is still leaking some oil but it does have 300k.

[davesmystery]

Update - been at work on the car on and off for the past week or so, here's the things I've done so far:

Timing Belt/Tensioner
Water Pump
Cam Seal/O-ring/Flange
Valve Cover Gasket/Plugs
Oil Change
Coolant Flush
Odometer Gears (Garagistic!)
Instrument Cluster Lights
Oxygen Sensor (Ford 4 wire splice!)
Spark Plug Wires
Spark Plugs
Distributor Cap/Rotor
Adjusted Valves
Intake Boot
Glove Box Latch
Fan Shroud
Thermostat
Coolant Temp Sensor
Emblems
Shift Knob

After doing the ignition components, new intake boot, o2 sensor, and valve adjust, the car passed emissions like a champ! I was actually just kind of surprised it actually ran well after I put it back together although it still sounds like there's a bit too much valve chatter in cylinders 1&2. Still has a ton of rattles and suspension work will come after the next thing, which is...

My steering rack, it's definitely toast. The passenger side tie rod boot no longer seals and sprays ATF all over the tie rod and control arm. I'll probably just wind up going with a rebuilt e30 rack since this is more of a cruiser than a racecar.

Also, my radio code works! So nice to have tunes in the car since it's going to be a while before a proper stereo goes in.

Gonna have it detailed soon soon after I get some touch up paint, my GF got me a certificate for my bday. Also bought the passenger side rocker trim and the manual top conversion parts from Manpie that will be going in as soon as I get them.

Some random pics from working:



New Timing Belt and Water Pump



It's amazing how much you can accomplish with the standard tool kit. The adjustable pliers actually got my fan clutch nut off!



New Garagistic gears, working excellently.



I might get hate, but no more Check panel instrument light. Instead I put the bulb on the side of instrument panel where there currently wasn't one.

Also, does anyone know what these things plug in to? Any help/info is greatly appreciated.

They're hanging beneath driver's side front bumper. They appear to go up into the headlight area but I can't find anywhere it might plug into.



Not the vent hose, but the plug. It's coming out of the bottom of the fuse box, and for some reason was routed underneath the side area and was mangled with the coolant vent hose




Finally, this plug is coming out of the wiring harness near the fuse box and was dangling near the brake/clutch fluid reservoir.




It should be pretty obvious at this point the car has spent it's entire life here in the desert, a lot of things are cracked and look like hell.

Also, do these still exist? I really want one for some reason.

[WELOVEGREY]

I have a 1991 325i cab - same color/interior as yours. Though mine is an automatic...otherwise almost a twin! I've had mine since the end of May. It's my first BMW and love it!

[series88]

Very nice car! Im a sucker for alpines and Im biased since I have a late vert.

[manpie]

We are literally twinses. You have a 5 speed though. :)

[davesmystery]

Glad to hear there are a lot of alpine and indigo verts running around. Manpie, thanks again for the parts! I'll post pics once I get the manual set up installed.

[GT BMW E30]

Finally, this plug is coming out of the wiring harness near the fuse box and was dangling near the brake/clutch fluid reservoir.




It should be pretty obvious at this point the car has spent it's entire life here in the desert, a lot of things are cracked and look like hell.

Also, do these still exist? I really want one for some reason.

I will like to know what its for too. That cover is interesting. 1st time ever seeing that.

[MoreMayhem]

I also see in that picture some text about converting a manual convertible top to electric. Never heard of that either. What is that picture from?

[KIRIEIW]

You would think verbs would get cracked dashes the easiest but out of all the Craigslist ones i went to check out they were all perfect! Maybe BMW put a special material in the vert models ;D

[davesmystery]

GT BMW E30 - let me know if you find anything out about it by any chance. It's a bit unnerving having random plugs dangling around your engine bay.

MoreMayhem - I laughed when I saw that conversion kit, considering most powertop guys switch theirs back to manual. It's from the 1992 BMW accessory catalog. My car came with one in the glove box, it has all sorts of cool stuff they don't sell anymore.

KIRIEIW - I've noticed a similar occurrence... I can't explain it either haha, but I'm definitely happy mine is perfect. I keep sun shades in that thing 24/7.