From Alpine to Lachssilber (1988 325is)

[e30pdee]

I might get some hate, but I was really liking the metal bumpers... Seems a little bit more unique around this thread.

Yea like I said i liked the metal bumpers with wide taillight look but hey i figured i might as well convert since im painting to entire car

[TFJR]

'88 Lachs 325iS brotherhood! Looks awesome, I think the plastic bumper conversion really transformed the car. Great work with it so far.

[e30pdee]

'88 Lachs 325iS brotherhood! Looks awesome, I think the plastic bumper conversion really transformed the car. Great work with it so far.

Thank you! With a paint job on the way and I figured bumper had to be done!

[winters655]

'88 Lachs 325iS brotherhood! Looks awesome, I think the plastic bumper conversion really transformed the car. Great work with it so far.

+1
I did the plastic swap on my 88 lach a few months ago!
It's just about perfect!!! Needs an is lip too!

[JinormusJ]

My Lachs might be smashed, but I'm joining this Lachs Bro-Fest none the less.


Power to the Lachs!

[e30pdee]

Thinking about getting an IS lip, mudflaps, and yellowing my highbeams and fogs. any suggestions as to where i can get the best quality for the best price guys?

[///Bimmerfan]

One of my favorite e30 colors! Nice car!

[meppadua]

^^ Agreed, I like the Lachssilber color

[JinormusJ]

From Alpine to Lachssilber

Thinking about getting an IS lip, mudflaps, and yellowing my highbeams and fogs. any suggestions as to where i can get the best quality for the best price guys?

Yes to everything except Yellow Fog-Lights and Highs. I used to love it, then I had them for about 2 weeks and peeled the Laminex off.

It really was not worth it and I felt it cheapened the whole look and feel of the car.

HOWEVER, I do like the look of colored bulbs in the highs, where, looking head on, changes the look of the car:



But at most angles, looks completely stock:


I'm against all colors of fog lights that aren't clear, but colored bulbs/HIDs are a-okay, especially yellow as they are somewhat functional (yellow is the lowest output color that allows most visa biliary during the fog, when you know, you actually have to use foglights)

Never.. Ever... Nevereverneverforneverever NEVERNEVERNEVERNEVER buy eBay iS lip replicas. You will hit a bump ONCE, and it will shatter, and it will fall off, and you will be shelling out another $80 for ANOTHER one, when a perfectly genuine OEM one is $140 shipped from BluntTech. The OEM ones are tested to even survive stuff like this:



Notice how my car is destroyed, yet my lip is almost flawless? YEAH.
(Seriously, I reserve the right I punch anyone 7 times in the testicles if they buy an eBay lip)

Mudflaps, while not my thing, are awesome. Go for it. I think BMW has them new for around $200, if not you can try browsing the FS ads on r3v or posting your own WTB ad in the appropriate sub forums.



But seriously: You buy an eBay iS lip and those puppies are gonna get it.

[e30pdee]

Just quick update, I purchased a bunch of parts gonna be tackling my steering right now. I spent all day today installing new control arms and control arm bushings from Condor speed shop.

I have yet to install an e46 330I rack from rack doctor, and AKG aluminum steering coupler. ill be installing this saturday

I also got an IS lip from Blunttech i'll post a picture tommorrow!

Anyways enough talking, heres pictures!













Got her in the air




Got a little lazy with pulling this lollipop off, SO I BURNED IT!!! ;D



Got the new bushing pressed, dont have a hydralic press? some 2 by 4s and a hammers does the job just fine!




Installed on the control arm.




And finally installed on the Car!



More to come tommorrow, ill post a picture of lip and some documented work on the e46 rack install!


I'll end this with an 02 post, another car in the a makings, a little father son project!



Till then, goodnight R3V3RS!

[e30pdee]

Alright so just an update, i know i forgot to finish this up, but basically I got the rack mounted without much trouble, the process is exactly like an e36 rack swap.

I ended up having to shorten the steering assembling using about 3/4 of an inch washers, here is the AKG aluminum coupler installed as well!




I also had to glue a stack of washers together and use that as the filler between the space of my subframe and the e46 rack, since the e46 rack is a little more narrow, unfortunately I dont have pictures of this but thats what i had to do.


I ordered my rack from rack doctor, and I made sure to let him know that i wanted it on my E30, he gladly went ahead and put e36 inner tie rods on the e46 rack, and included e36 outer tie rods for a little extra cost.


Finally here is the steering assembly mounted, and here is the steering rack mounted!





If anyone is interested in which e46 rack I used specifically its the e46 rack from the 2002-2005 3 series, its usually comes with a purple tag, and is generally one of the quickest ratio steering rack of all the e46 rack.


Oh and almost forgot, here are some photos of the IS lip I ordered from blunt!

[e30pdee]

Week after got everything setup I finally got to put the new setup to use, I went for a mountain run to get a feel for everything, I managed to be able to keep my hands on the 3/9 position for most if not the whole time and didn't have to take my hands of the steering wheel, unless it was for shifting gears.

[mikegar]

I did the opposite. I went from an 87 lachs to an 88 alpine

[Kevinl]

do you notice more vibration with the solid steering coupling AKG says its for Race use only. I dont really notice any play with my stock one but I was thinking about getting the akg piece

Also Lachsilber for the win!

[e30pdee]

do you notice more vibration with the solid steering coupling AKG says its for Race use only. I dont really notice any play with my stock one but I was thinking about getting the akg piece

Also Lachsilber for the win!

Thanks! Honestly the vibration from the coupler is minimal. most of the vibration comes from the condorspeedshop bushings, the only reason I replaced the coupler is because I was already going to shorten the assembly, I figured I might as well find a permanent solution to a temporary part. The thing is that if you ever decide to run no power steering down the line, the rubber coupler will get completely destroyed because it cant tolerate the stiffness like a poly or aluminum one, so i guess it was for two reason the fact that I was going to be tinkering with the steering assembly anyways, and for peace of mind in the future. I will say my steering is a lot more sharp and responsive, it might be a little bit twitchy but its been a few weeks now and I've been getting used to it.