Sorry for missing last month fellow r3v members, too many people keep dropping the ball. HUGE thanks for this awesome member for completing the tasks and getting it done in an afternoon with a day notice.
Before we move forward, let's go back to late 2012. Driving out to Bimmerfest 2012 was an absolute blast, and I had just washed off the last of the chalk from Chalkboard usernames v2. What an amazing adventure the Chalkboard e30 was. The photos, the drawings and the experiences will definitely remain some of the most important in my life. So where do I go from here?
After that last chalking, I decided that I wanted to go in a different direction, a cleaner direction. E30's were being snatched up like mad and clean shells were becoming harder and harder to find so I started searching. After a few months I found an all original, bone stock 89' 325i in Plano Texas. I couldn't drive down there fast enough! One day and a tank of gas later, she was mine. The foundation for my next build.
The foundation: 1989 BMW 325i, Alpine White II w/ 136k miles.
The next few days were a frenzy to swap parts. The interiors had to be swapped over, the suspension, the wheels. There were big plans for this car's future.
During all of this, I had to move to a different city for work and it was decided that the e30 was to stay behind. And so she sat, for a while.
Before leaving, I decided to pop her cherry and do the only rig shot I've ever done of her.
After a few months, we were reunited at last. At this point, I started toying with the idea of selling my e46 so I got a roof rack to make the e30 the new bike hauler. Haha that never happened. However, something else was in the works.
And in stasis, she waited patiently for a new heart. "Let's play" she said.
Upon returning to Houston, I decided that it was finally time to begin the next chapter of this project. The swap I had been piecing together parts for. After searching for a few weeks, I found the perfect motor. An S52B32 + ZF 320Z transmission out of a 1997 M3 w/ 126k miles, and it came with everything.
The ever growing parts storage
Starting the m20 tear down
The night I pulled the m20 out of my bed.
Performing the shift pin fix on the ZF trans.
S52 finally in!
The wiring nightmare. Nah, it wasn't that bad.
Exhaust parts finally in.
Annnnnnnnnnd finally done with the swap.
How she sits today:
The final parts list? Here's where she stands:
Engine/Swap Related
Engine Electrical
Transmission/Driveline/Shifter parts
Wheels/Suspension/Steering/Brakes
Exhaust
Interior/Exterior/Chassis
Other
Am I done with the car? Probably not. There is always something to replace, always something to fix. It's an e30. Future plans? I honestly haven't thought about it much, however I've toyed with the idea of buying another e30 and starting a track build. Who knows what the future holds... ;)
More sexy e30 pics than you can handle
My Bokehlicious S52 swap thread
Thanks for looking guys!
<3
Before we move forward, let's go back to late 2012. Driving out to Bimmerfest 2012 was an absolute blast, and I had just washed off the last of the chalk from Chalkboard usernames v2. What an amazing adventure the Chalkboard e30 was. The photos, the drawings and the experiences will definitely remain some of the most important in my life. So where do I go from here?
After that last chalking, I decided that I wanted to go in a different direction, a cleaner direction. E30's were being snatched up like mad and clean shells were becoming harder and harder to find so I started searching. After a few months I found an all original, bone stock 89' 325i in Plano Texas. I couldn't drive down there fast enough! One day and a tank of gas later, she was mine. The foundation for my next build.
The foundation: 1989 BMW 325i, Alpine White II w/ 136k miles.
The next few days were a frenzy to swap parts. The interiors had to be swapped over, the suspension, the wheels. There were big plans for this car's future.
During all of this, I had to move to a different city for work and it was decided that the e30 was to stay behind. And so she sat, for a while.
Before leaving, I decided to pop her cherry and do the only rig shot I've ever done of her.
After a few months, we were reunited at last. At this point, I started toying with the idea of selling my e46 so I got a roof rack to make the e30 the new bike hauler. Haha that never happened. However, something else was in the works.
And in stasis, she waited patiently for a new heart. "Let's play" she said.
Upon returning to Houston, I decided that it was finally time to begin the next chapter of this project. The swap I had been piecing together parts for. After searching for a few weeks, I found the perfect motor. An S52B32 + ZF 320Z transmission out of a 1997 M3 w/ 126k miles, and it came with everything.
The ever growing parts storage
Starting the m20 tear down
The night I pulled the m20 out of my bed.
Performing the shift pin fix on the ZF trans.
S52 finally in!
The wiring nightmare. Nah, it wasn't that bad.
Exhaust parts finally in.
Annnnnnnnnnd finally done with the swap.
How she sits today:
The final parts list? Here's where she stands:
Engine/Swap Related
- S52B32 out of a 1997 M3 w/ 126k miles, OBD1 converted.
- E34 M50 oil pan, dipstick/tube, oil pickup tube, throttle cable
- E36 motor mount arms, E28 M5/535i engine mounts (Green)
- Rebuilt E21 brake booster (rethreaded/shortened shaft, new seals, etc)
- Bimmerworld intake boot, black (3.5") , Bosch HFM (3.5" from 540i), pink top injectors.
- Secured Oil pump nut w/ deformed threads
- Working ABS, A/C & PS.
- All new OEM fasteners, seals/gaskets, hoses, sensors, electrical connectors, bushings, bearings, pulleys, belts, anything and everything.
Engine Electrical
- 1994 E36 325i wiring harness, vanos, manual
- 413 red label DME
- Turner Motorsport 24v tuning chip (pink top injectors, 3.5" MAF)
- DIY 24v harness (cut off X20, repinned and replaced w/ C101)
Transmission/Driveline/Shifter parts
- ZF 320Z Transmission w/ 126k miles.
- New OEM S52 Luk flywheel, sachs clutch, e36m3 slave cylinder, UUC SS Clutch line, full reseal/shift detent service
- New E36 M3 UUC EVO3, UUC DSSR, carrier arm/bushings/bearings/everything
- E36 M3 driveshaft w/ replaced CSB into S3.73
Wheels/Suspension/Steering/Brakes
- Wheels: E38 Style 5's: 16x8, et.23 w/ Yokohama S.drives, 205/45/R16 all around
- Spacers: 10mm H&R spacers all around
- Suspension: Ground Control complete kit (Adjustable Koni yellows, GC hybrid cushion camber plates, 1.5" shortened/powder coated/reinforced front strut housings, 440F/650R spring rates)
- Other: E30 M3 swaybar endlinks, Treehouse Racing eyeballs arms.
- Steering: OEM Z3 rack (2.7 turns LTL) w/ new e36/z3 inner/outer tie rods.
- Ireland Engineering front strut bar
Exhaust
- OEM S52 Headers (welded SAP ports w/ SAP delete plates on top)
- Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator 3" in/out (1142)
- Vibrant Street Power Muffler 3" in, dual 3" out (1149)
- Vibrant Race Catalytic Converter 3" in/out (7102)
Interior/Exterior/Chassis
- All original body panels, and all original paint w/ healthy micron readings.
- New OEM IS lip, Euro license plate filler, shadowline trim
- OEM front sport seats/rear bench (black vinyl), door cards (black vinyl)
- Momo Mod07 steering wheel (soon to be replaced).
- Zero Rust
Other
- Raceskids skid plate.
- Yakima roof rack: 1A raingutter mounts, 48" crossbars, Forklift bike rack, 38" fairing, basketcase basket & red tie down net.
- OEM E30 318/M3 engine wiring harness covers (390, 391, 392).
- Llumar window tint: 15% sides & back, 35% windshield.
Am I done with the car? Probably not. There is always something to replace, always something to fix. It's an e30. Future plans? I honestly haven't thought about it much, however I've toyed with the idea of buying another e30 and starting a track build. Who knows what the future holds... ;)
More sexy e30 pics than you can handle
My Bokehlicious S52 swap thread
Thanks for looking guys!
<3
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