My 1988 e30 325ix - Garage'd

[jeenyus]

I got some goodies in the mail today. I've been waiting since black Friday for these... Chase Bays brake lines. Nice quality and I really like the single lines in the back. I have also been messing with the exhaust trying to see if I can get it to fit. I think I can do it. I have decided that one side is too long with the orientation. If I cut off part of it it should fit. I marked the bottom of the slip on section with the green tape and the top with the marker. You can see there is about a half inch that is erroneous. I'm gonna cut that... .

[mike.bmw]

dude this time it will have two seats! Haha! I blamed not installing it on my daughter and ease of access to the car seat (true), but I couldn't have done it without power.

No joke. Thankfully both of mine are forward facing now, but it was not fun trying to get my son into the rear facing seat when the other forward facing seat was right next to it.

Looks good with the carpet!

[jeenyus]

Nice, is it going to get both seats this time?!

dude this time it will have two seats! Haha! I blamed not installing it on my daughter and ease of access to the car seat (true), but I couldn't have done it without power.

[2mAn]

Nice, is it going to get both seats this time?!

[jeenyus]

Too keep myself motivated and feel like I'm actually completing things I decided to put the carpet back in today. So I soldered in the fuse holders into the aux fuse-thing BMW so kindly provided. I ran the wire and out the interior together. Now I have two wires for my seats to function and be installed. The carpet is going to take a min to settle since it's been folded forever...

[AWDBOB]

I was thinking about welding a nut onto it and getting it out that way. You think that will be ok?

Yup, plus the heat from welding typically helps!

[jeenyus]

I have never once seen those headers fit to the provided midpipe. Also, with that bolt being broken it likely doesn't have much tension on it. You could probably just drill/EZ out. I had one of those bolts that I had to drill and retap after the extractor method failed- that's your worst case and still isn't too bad as long as you have a good set of drill bits.

I was thinking about welding a nut onto it and getting it out that way. You think that will be ok?

[AWDBOB]

I have never once seen those headers fit to the provided midpipe.

Also, with that bolt being broken it likely doesn't have much tension on it. You could probably just drill/EZ out. I had one of those bolts that I had to drill and retap after the extractor method failed- that's your worst case and still isn't too bad as long as you have a good set of drill bits.

[jeenyus]

Fitting my exhaust manifold tonight... Lots of sadness in this picture. The 17mm on the lollipop broke and the body is in the way so I can't line it up. Is it worth "massaging" the body of the car? Or should I take this to a professional? This was hopefully supposed to be a learning experience.

[jeenyus]

I got the black rubberized layer on the car over the holiday. After these pictures I went back through and did another coat in some areas that I missed, plus another full coat. Once that was done I moved onto better things. I installed the headers on the car with new studs, bolts and gaskets. I didn't fully tighten them in case I need some wiggle room.

[jeenyus]

I can't wait to get the carpet back in the car, it takes up a lot of floor space.

MJ

haha! this is funny, because you're totally right. I decided to put my on top of the e30 since i wasn't going to be driving it. it's been there for like the last few months and hasn't gotten in the way yet!

[mjweimer]

The underside of the car still needs a layer of rubberized paint. It's black so it should finish it off really nice. The interior I have dynamat to lay down still today, but no plans to paint anything else in the interior.

Sounds like a good plan, the rubberized undercoating should offer some extra protection and look proper. Was just curious of your plans since I am still working out how to handle the final finish of my repair work of previous panel replacement (repair of accident damage).

The Dynamat looks great, I have plans to do a similar install once I re-seal all the loose body plugs....I can't wait to get the carpet back in the car, it takes up a lot of floor space.


MJ

[jeenyus]

Got dynamat installed in the e30 this evening. I had about 12sq ft. Below are the results. Now I can reinstall the carpet! Feels good.

[jeenyus]

You must be happy the interior is going back in! Anything left to do or will you start driving it again?

I have decided to redo some exhaust bits before I can drive it. So after the interior is back together I will need to figure that out before I can drive it again. Hopefully that won't be too tough.

[jeenyus]

Coming together well and looking good. This kind of repair work is tedious (and unfortunately mostly hidden) but satisfying in its own way. Are you painting the patches/seam sealer in body color? MJ

The underside of the car still needs a layer of rubberized paint. It's black so it should finish it off really nice. The interior I have dynamat to lay down still today, but no plans to paint anything else in the interior.