Another Touring import from Europe

[bmw325_num99]

Great little project so far and enjoyed the read.

Hoping you keep updating this.

Thanks! I will

[TrentW]

Broken studs. EZ out. Sounds like fun.

[bmw325_num99]

Its back running and quieter than ever thanks to the new manifold gaskets. 1 of the threads is buggered and the previous owner rethreaded the head with a bigger bolt diameter. spark plugs, valve adjustment, valve gasket and half moons all done.

I also took out the NASTY, rusty sunroof panel. There were rust flakes all over the interior and headliner thanks to this piece of crap panel. However, I have a new (used) one painted and drying in the garage as I type. One or two more coats tomorrow and it should be back in place. The sunroof motor is acting up a little but maybe a re-greasing of the tracks will help it along.

[RetroAde]

Lucky on the rust there with a UK car, looks solid in the pictures. Looks funny on UK plates in a US car lot.

Enjoy driving a car with the steering wheel on the correct side.

[bmw325_num99]

Lucky on the rust there with a UK car, looks solid in the pictures. Looks funny on UK plates in a US car lot.

Enjoy driving a car with the steering wheel on the correct side.

Thanks! Im glad the only rusty part of the car (the sunroof) can be bolted/unbolted. I may replace the fenders also since they are so dented.

Pics of the sunroof, it was so bad the clips rusted off!

[SickE30]

Congratulations on this acquisition! I've been interested in bringing in a touring since we bought my wife an e46 touring some years ago. Did Orchid Euro take care of the entire process for you? Or did you source the car for yourself then turn them onto the importing? I'm excited to see your progress, congratulations again man.

[bmw325_num99]

Congratulations on this acquisition! I've been interested in bringing in a touring since we bought my wife an e46 touring some years ago. Did Orchid Euro take care of the entire process for you? Or did you source the car for yourself then turn them onto the importing? I'm excited to see your progress, congratulations again man.

Thanks for your support!

I found the car on the internet myself, checked with OE to see if they can pick it up in the time required by the seller then arranged a price with the seller. After that, OE did almost everything themselves while contacting me when there were decisions to be made or money to be paid. Specifically, they picked up the car, paid the seller, brought the car to the ferry in the UK, picked it up in NYC, did an inspection and some little fixes for my drive home and picked me up at the airport when I arrived.

Things I had to do myself were arrange travel for me to get the car, arrange for insurance and register the car in IL. They would have registered the car in PA with a title there if I wanted it. It is the more expensive but risk-averse method so it is easier to register the car in your home state.

Note that costs like transportation from the seller to the UK storage and then UK ferry is extra. Costs to obtain the EPA and NHTSA docs are optional extras since they are paperless and require a govt request. The cost to inspect and repair the car in their shop is an optional extra cost as well.

I would definitely use OE again and I may indeed try importing something else at some point.

[leegf]

I'm liking this story (and photos!) a lot. Thank you for documenting it and sharing :up:

[tspangle88]

I love it! To most people it's just an old station wagon, but enthusiasts know it's special.

Is there a reason you didn't try to find a LHD car from continental Europe?

[doorman]

From one Touring owner to another.....she's sweet!!

When we bought our e39 the wife loved it.
When she saw pictures of our e30 she told me "go now"!!

E30 touring would be a sweet addition!

[bmw325_num99]

Was your e30 touring the one I saw at Vintagefest last year?

[doorman]

Was your e30 touring the one I saw at Vintagefest last year?

I don't have an e30 touring, just a 325e.

We did take the e39 touring to Vintagefest but it wasn't in the show.

[bmw325_num99]

Last night I played hookey from fatherhood/husbandhood and did some work on the car.

I cleaned the ICV and adjusted the throttle-rest screw so the idle is system controlled as opposed to throttle controlled.

Put on an identical replacement for the 3-spoke sport steering wheel. I sold my coupe and didnt want the buyer to get my 370mm Mtech2 wheel so I put the touring wheel on the coupe temporarily. Now I put the sport wheel back on, lubed up the column, door strikers and lubed/adjusted the signal cancel striker.

I found a non-OEM replacement for the $30-apiece headlamp wiper blades. Here they are, mocked up in place for now before I fully secure them.

I am still waiting on the replacement sunroof since the first one they sent was incorrect.

Next, I am going to mess around with the aftermarket Kenwood head unit. Reading the manual made it seem like a high-end model but maybe features like RDS, Traffic Information, etc are common in Europe.

Ill also replace the tires at some point, address the brake-lining warning light and check out a driveshaft vibration by looking at the guibo.

[bmw325_num99]

I love it! To most people it's just an old station wagon, but enthusiasts know it's special.

Is there a reason you didn't try to find a LHD car from continental Europe?

Well said on who thinks it is special and who does not.

Yeah, the main reason is that I am cheap. Orchid Euro is based in the UK so I could avoid inland shipping costs, paperwork translations, sale ad and seller misinterpretations. I do not prefer RHD or anything but I do like how unusual it is. It makes it seem like even more of a foreign car which adds to the driving enjoyment for me. That being said, I would consider either driving position next time with a preference for LHD. I now have a BMW-enthusiast contact in Spain that could help with part of the process.

[bmw325_num99]

I'm liking this story (and photos!) a lot. Thank you for documenting it and sharing :up:

Thanks!