New to everything

[isaacneedshelp]

Hi guys, my name is Isaac, I'm 22, I work and go to school (read: poor) and today I purchased my first e30. It has always been a personal goal to buy an older car like this and fix it up for myself and I finally got some funds and the gumption to do it. First I'd like to make this my daily, and then just see where the road takes me for making it a project from there.

The car is a '91 318iS, and it has a ways to go but after seeing some of the transformations you guys have done, I'm confident I'll be able to make it mine.

[isaacneedshelp]

Just realized I posted this in the wrong area, can someone move this thread please?

[JasonC]

Moved the thread for ya.

[isaacneedshelp]

Thanks Jason

[isaacneedshelp]

Update: after a lot not knowing what to do, the figuring out kind of what to do and replacing a battery, a fuel filter, 4 injectors, and about half a meter of hosing attached to the inlet pipe I've been able to get the car running. Still not 100% smooth but miles from what it was.

Next up is the odo, which I need to take apart and order some new gears for, and turn signals, which don't work at all and I'm not entirely sure why.

I did have a couple of questions regarding cosmetics though. First: Attached are pictures of my bumpers, front and back each with it's own dings. Is there any saving these or should I start looking for new ones now?


Second: I recently bought a full set of seats (sport) that will need to be reupholstered. I did some digging but I'm still going to ask the question here of, is there a good DIY kit that anyone has used or is the headache not going to be worth the savings and I should just take them to someone locally? (I just want new clean cloth)

Lastly, this thread should probably be moved to the project folder. My mistake from when I first posted, didn't know what I was doing.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[dishwab]

Update: after a lot not knowing what to do, the figuring out kind of what to do and replacing a battery, a fuel filter, 4 injectors, and about half a meter of hosing attached to the inlet pipe I've been able to get the car running. Still not 100% smooth but miles from what it was.

Next up is the odo, which I need to take apart and order some new gears for, and turn signals, which don't work at all and I'm not entirely sure why.

I did have a couple of questions regarding cosmetics though. First: Attached are pictures of my bumpers, front and back each with it's own dings. Is there any saving these or should I start looking for new ones now?


Second: I recently bought a full set of seats (sport) that will need to be reupholstered. I did some digging but I'm still going to ask the question here of, is there a good DIY kit that anyone has used or is the headache not going to be worth the savings and I should just take them to someone locally? (I just want new clean cloth)

Lastly, this thread should probably be moved to the project folder. My mistake from when I first posted, didn't know what I was doing.

Thanks for any help in advance.

I restored my vinyl sport seats with a combination of new OEM and ebay skins. It was a pain in the ass, but I probably saved $500 in labor and came out looking great.

If I had to do it all again, though, I would just buy nicer seats in the first place and save myself the trouble/bloody knuckles

[rcsoundn1]

It would be a lot of cutting and welding to cut the damaged parts out, they dont just unbolt. Though they do not look to bad, so a decent body guy could hammer them straight for you. Get on the timing belt and water pump unless you have proof of when it was last done. Chip away at it.

[shameson]

It would be a lot of cutting and welding to cut the damaged parts out, they dont just unbolt. Though they do not look to bad, so a decent body guy could hammer them straight for you. Get on the timing belt and water pump unless you have proof of when it was last done. Chip away at it.

It's an m42 so there's no timing belt.. But it wouldn't hurt to go over the timing components. But yes to the water pump. Also wouldn't hurt to drop your lower pan and make sure the upper pan bolts aren't loose, it's a common problem for these motors

[isaacneedshelp]

New to everything

It's an m42 so there's no timing belt.. But it wouldn't hurt to go over the timing components. But yes to the water pump. Also wouldn't hurt to drop your lower pan and make sure the upper pan bolts aren't loose, it's a common problem for these motors

I've done the chain tensioner but I will look into the water pump and everything else. Thank you for the heads up.