Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Meet Helga: 1987 BMW 325i

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Meet Helga: 1987 BMW 325i

    Important stuff first: Here are the basics...

    -1987 BMW 325i
    -133,000 miles
    -55,000 miles on rebuilt M20B25
    -Delphin over Black sport
    -Euro Pistons
    -Euro Cam (P/N 11311706655)
    -Bavauto headers
    -Custom single pipe exhaust (Magnaflow-based)
    -Miller Motorsports ProStreet Induction Kit
    -Miller W.A.R Chip
    -BBTB
    -Dinan Intake Manifold
    -Bavauto Front Strut Bar
    -E30 M3 offset LCABs
    -Z3 1.9 Shifter
    -4.10 LSD
    -Racing Dynamics Front Spoiler
    -Dinan Springs/Bilstein Sports
    -15x7" Azev Type A
    -AC Schnitzer Sway bars F/R
    -AC Schnitzer Steering Wheel
    -Alpina shift/e-brake boot
    -Alpine H/U (ipod, BT, etc)

    Some photos from when I picked it up on 19 July, 2014.
    The first moments with Helga by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    my new E30, Helga by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    my new E30, Helga by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    my new E30, Helga by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr


    This is my first E30, 3rd BMW (4th if you include the MINI I just sold), 12th German car and overall car number 14 (I think?) in 12 years of driving. Some of my first memories in a car, dating back to around 1989 were in my father's green 1984 325e. I was (unsafely) sitting up front, it was dark out and I kept asking my dad to push the "check" button on the ceiling so I could watch all the check panel lights illuminate and go out. The E30 was the car that more or less formed my love for cars, particularly german ones.

    Getting into this one last week brought me back, the seller picked myself and my girlfriend, Sarah up from PDX at around 9:30am. I'll never forget the car driving up, making noises I didn't know M20s could make. We shook hands and after "he showed me how it was done" I was afforded the opportunity to test drive the car I'd already bought, sight unseen. I was not disappointed. A few hours and one visit to Deschutes brewery later we were on our way back to our home in Fort Collins, CO.

    Why did I buy a metal bumper sedan, you ask? Well, chock it up to the right deal.. I purchased the car from the original owner (!!) who bought the car new and has been meticulously maintaining it for the last 27 years (28 in February). This is the kind of seller that you can count on selling a great car. The amount of records I got with the car was ludicrous. The shop that completed the PPI stated this was one of the top 10 E30s they had seen in the last several years. It had the modifications I would have done anyways (except maybe an engine swap at some point) and came in close to what I've been seeing people spend on either a "completed car" or the price for a small project. All in all, I think I paid a fair price for a car with excellent bones and one that has been lovingly maintained its whole life. Turns out there were 6 people behind me in line, one of which tried to outbid me.


    I'm excited for what is to come as the project develops. In the coming months besides regular maintenance, I'm planning on doing the following:

    -In, out & under detail (fender liners out, engine bay, 2 step paint correction)
    -Euro headlights, grilles
    -OEM Mudflaps
    -Tucked bumpers (to start, full MT1 if I don't like the look)
    -Replace exhaust tips
    -PDR various dings in paint
    -Repair, refinish or replace sport seats (current state is excellent, but "painted on" leather repair has to go)
    -Basketweaves + Snow tires for winter
    -Repair LF window motor (grinds at bottom, smooth at top)


    ...I'm sure the list will grow over time, but to start, that's where I'm at!

    Some more photos for your viewing pleasure...
    the new hoopdie. by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    filler up with premium by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Retro by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Warmth. by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Boot full of tools and parts by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Excitement by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Morning in salt lake by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Straight and narrow by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

    Safe and sound by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr


    ...and, in case you're wondering, my other car. ;)

    my m coupe by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr
    Last edited by captainslow; 08-05-2014, 02:16 PM.
    1987 Delphin/Black BMW 325i & 2016 Mineral Grey/Terra BMW M235i
    BMW CCA #485408

    #2
    This thing is practically flawless and probably is my new favorite metal bumper sedan next to mines. Major kudos sir

    Comment


      #3
      Good find

      Sent from my Samsung Note 3
      '91 318i (Alpine) - daily
      '88 325ix (Zinno) - drive here and there!

      Comment


        #4
        looks like we chose the same name.
        sigpic

        Comment


          #5
          very nice e30!
          sigpic

          Comment


            #6
            nice 4door E30 just like mine except much nicer :)

            Comment


              #7
              Nice purchase, I like the DB's.

              Comment


                #8
                Verrrry nice!

                Comment


                  #9
                  Wow I love it!
                  BimmerHeads
                  Classic BMW Specialists
                  Santa Clarita, CA

                  www.BimmerHeads.com

                  Comment


                    #10
                    that is so clean.
                    sigpic

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Wow I really like what the seller did to this car. Perfect modifications going on for this car. I'm sure you'll make things even better!


                      1992 M tech 2 Convertible - S50 Swap
                      1992 e34 Touring- S50 Swap
                      1992 325i-S50 Swap (SOLD)

                      1995 e36 M3 Mugello Red - S50 (SOLD)
                      1991 325i Convertible Laguna Green (SOLD)
                      1987 325i (SOLD);1992 M tech 2 Convertible (SOLD)
                      1988 325i Convertible Alpine White (SOLD)
                      1991
                      Brilliantrot Convertible 80k Miles (SOLD)
                      1992 325i Convertible Schwarz (SOLD)
                      1992 318i Convertible Project-Finished (SOLD)

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Lovely car. Cool first owner who buys the car new, mods it that much and drives ist for 27 years.

                        Need euro parts? Send me a PM.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          First and foremost, I want to get the car up to par aesthetically and prepare it for the daily driving it's going to be doing (and yes, this car will be driven in winter).

                          Detailing plan:
                          -Remove/replace front fender liners, clean wheel wells
                          -Detail engine bay
                          -Clean up underside below engine of any/all oil residue
                          -Clean up door jambs, trunk jamb, gas filler jamb etc.
                          -Paint faded plastic trim pieces with SEM
                          -PDR entire car
                          -Menzerna FG400
                          -Menzerna Super Finish
                          -Sonax Polymer Net Shield


                          I began yesterday with the front wheel wells/fender liners. I have ordered new fender liners since these have some cracks and have seen better days.

                          This is what 27 years of no undercarriage details will do to a car (no rust though!)
                          Dirty wheel well before by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

                          That's not right... by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

                          After about 1 hour on this wheel well, looks a tad bit better
                          Clean wheel well after by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr

                          Much better by colbyscottgregory, on Flickr


                          Excited to get the rears done this week, jambs cleaned up and moving on to the next stages.. I expect cleaning this thing up is going to take me a good chunk of the rest of the summer.. That's okay :)
                          1987 Delphin/Black BMW 325i & 2016 Mineral Grey/Terra BMW M235i
                          BMW CCA #485408

                          Comment


                            #14
                            I love BOTH of your BMWs!
                            sigpic
                            1991 318is Alpinweiß II M42

                            2013 VW Golf R Candy White



                            "Straight roads are for fast cars, turns are for fast drivers."

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Don't tuck the bumpers!!! Otherwise, beautiful cart and a fantastic start, I'm jelly.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X