Bimmerthusiast's 87 325is Build

[Bimmerthusiast]

Before anyone flames at me for selling euro bumpers for replica m3 bumpers..

Since I started modding cars, I always wanted to be different. Being innovative and trying things that people haven't done before. I have yet to see a nicely done non m3 with evo bumpers. I plan on making them fit as nice as possible and maybe tracking the car a few times this Summer.

[Bimmerthusiast]

Started off my birthday wrenching in the beautiful weather! One of the very few nice days in Chicago these past 3-4 months.


I got in a bit of an accident and started taking the front end apart.


Went from Euro bumpers, to M3 rep bumpers, to plastic bumpers haha. Finaly found something I'm gonna stick with.


Cut the rear valance off a junkyard car and got some more bits and pieces for the conversion.


Both fenders also had rust under the Kamei skirts. This side was the worst.


Getting the fenders off.


What lies under the fenders. Filth.


More filth.


Used some soap water and some brushes I had laying around.


All soaped up.


All cleaned up. Didn't have time to grab some black sealant primer, but I will be puting some on in the inside when I get the chance.


Was too tempted too see how it would look all done, so I mocked stuff up. Definitely liking the look over the diving boards and IS valance.


I will be purchasing a new radiator support, upgrading the bent oil cooler, maybe a new aluminum radiator. Then I'll move to the back end where I need to cut my old rear valance and weld the new one in.

[Reichart12]

Good looking progress. You've been making some drastic changes with bumper choice lately lol

[Bimmerthusiast]

Small update, but I decided on trying the suede mod 78 vs the leather and wow! This feels so much better than the leather! If I were to get a leather one, I'd realy need to break it in or get a used one to have it feel comfortable for me. I love the broken in old feel.

[Bimmerthusiast]

Haven't updated this in a long time. I got somewhat injured so the build has slowed down. Gonna get back to working on the front end soon. Yet again, I changed a few things on the car. I sold the LM reps and through on my spare 15s on drag radials. Waiting patiantly for a good set of euroweaves or something similar. I also decided to make the car more track prepped so I found an SPG for sale not too far from me.


Old seats that are now for sale. E36 seats with E30 adapters in great condition!


Seats are out and man the car collected a lot of junk and dirt.


Cleaned up and threw the seat in. nothing is mounted so It may be sitting way too low and crooked haha.






How the front sits right now. Next step is to drain coolant and oil and put in the new radiator and oil cooler.

[Bimmerthusiast]

Old vs new radiator


So these were impossible to take out using the two nut method so I had to find a better solution.


This thing is a life savor! Got all the studs out in 10 minutes tops! Only issue was one of the studs snapped! This set me back at least 4 days. Had to drill it out, used an extractor but it broke off inside. Drilled it again, then tapped it with an m7. Luckily it kinda works as ghetto as it looks.


New hardware so none of these break again on me.


Everything installed. Had to use a bolt for the stud hole that I had to tap in as the studs are m8 and the hole was m7. The eBay headers had to be tugged a bit to get it to fit, but wasn't too bad!

[Bimmerthusiast]

Fitting the radiator support and making sure the fenders and hood align well. Next step is to weld the damn thing on and start putting the front end back together!

[87'325e]

Moar Updates!!

[Bimmerthusiast]

Okay so I know it's been forever haha. Chicago whether is STILL tweaking sometimes. Today it was supposed to be all sunny but it was sunny and drizzling; weird, I know.


Finally got a Sparco seat bracket. Only issue is the holes don't exactly line up. I think it's because I'm using sliders as opposed to directly mounting the seat.


Drilled some new holes, not a big deal.


Seat bracket mounted!


Seat is finally mounted and adjusted. Tomorrow I'll work on piecing the front together.

[CRBR30]

This is gonna look sick! Thinking of turning my interior to black also haha

[Bimmerthusiast]

She's finally seeing some sun after being in the garage for over 10 months! :D


Also got some new rubber! In search for some decent 15x7 and 15x8 wheels now.

[Bimmerthusiast]

Mounted the grills and valance.


Measuring for the banner.


pin-holing bubbles. This was way harder than I thought haha.


shitty picture, but it's all coming together. Or at least be driveable lol.

[dpmit94]

I'm liking this build so far. Keep it up! You'll like those S-drive's, I had them on my old '72 roundie on 15's.

[mrmckie]

did those ebay headers get rid of the cat?

[Bimmerthusiast]

Can't wait to see how the S-Drives are!

And yeah, the ebay headers got rid of the cats!

Quick update from the past few days:


I was so excited when the wheels came in that I got the tires mounted on within the first few hours haha.


Love the lip and offset! Not too flashy, I like the simple purpose built look.


VR6 lip and lightweight battery came in!


Old vs new lip!


completely forgot I had to order these post adapters. Thank you Amazon Prime!


Ready to replace my old dead battery.


With a little creativity, I photoshopped and printed out some tire stencils.


This took foreverrrr!


Pretty sure there's an easier way like spray glue, but I was too lazy to go to the auto shop. Might have to after this lol.


Sprayed a heavy coat and that's it.


Finished! Now gotta do that 3 more times...

Oh, and GO HAWKSS!! My city brought Stanley back home babyyy!