Bringing my dad's car back to its former glory and beyond

[dadsbmw]

While I was planning to finish up the front end this weekend, I'm rather frustratingly STILL waiting on my suspension stuff from GC (been almost 2 weeks now and they're literally a 2 hour drive away).

For now the parts sit and wait...

[dadsbmw]

Actual work began this weekend...

I've ordered pretty much all the pieces for the suspension rebuild and started on the front end on Saturday. Didn't take many pictures of the process, but installed:

• No name control arms (came free with the swap)
• Lemforder solid M3 offset CABs
• No name sway bar endlinks
• Convertible stock 21mm front sway bar

Sweet CAB install taking place


While I was shopping for parts this weekend I picked up a Euro license plate filler, just to see what it would look like. I'd never wanted one in the past, but the direction of the car seems to be changing a bit, so I thought I'd try it out.

With:


Without:


Confirmed... still don't like the look!

Waiting on parts to arrive to finish front end work

• IE sway bar mounts/bushings
• Brembo blank rotors
• Akebono ceramic pads
• ECS SS brake lines
• GC Coilovers (375F/475R, Koni shocks)

Front end will be all buttoned up next weekend, at which point I'll move on to the rear end and eventually the swap itself.

The newfound excitement of E30 work even motivated me to complete other car work! I've had a built motor for my PGT sitting in my garage, 85% finished for the past 9 months or so. Finally took the heads to a machine shop to get cleaned, measured, decked, and have the titanium valvetrain installed.

Also finally worked on a door issue with the Z4 that has been lingering FOREVER. Turns out my bowden cable from the exterior handle to the latch is pretty well fucked. Ordered a new one today to get that fixed! Exciting times are upon us!

[e30RS]

Awesome work thus far, that engine bay looks fantastic now.

[dadsbmw]

Hello again everyone! New projects are afoot! Ever since moving to my new house, with a 1 car garage, car work has reduced to a very slow trickle. I've been working on a built engine for the PGT and still dailying the Z4, and as a result the e30 has basically just been sitting.

Although I'm not putting miles on it, the suspension and bushings are really seeming to deteriorate... maybe its just the back to back comparisons with the Z4. Anyways, I'd basically just planned to let the e30 sit as is for the forseeable future, to eventually be taken down for a BIG rebuild, but a too-good-to-pass-up situation presented itself!

Hadn't been on R3V in quite some time and in a fit of boredom decided to give the forum a quick peruse. I was scrolling through the local threads when I happened upon a NorCal FS post for an S52 motor including 95% of ancillaries necessary for the swap. At first I kind of brushed it off, but over the next week or so it really etched itself in my brain. Well, long story short, yesterday I rented a Uhaul van and picked up the swap!

The PO (wilholl) was getting out of the e30 game, at least for the time being, and was looking to sell his accumulated parts as a complete package. We loaded the parts up together yesterday and it was understandably a sad moment given the time and effort dedicated to piecing it together... but these parts will live on in (what I think is) a very worthy vehicle!

Here they are sitting in my garage yesterday afternoon (the heads on the table are for the PGT engine build):


Pieces of note:

• Freshly built S52
• ZF 5-speed trans
• 3.46 LSD diff
• Arc Asylum reinforced front subframe
• 98 M3 steering rack designed for the subframe
• Modified rear sump oilpan to fit the subframe
• Lightened flywheel and clutch, balanced to the engine rotating assembly
• M50 IM and big bore TB
• Extra M50 motor to pull from
• 2 OBD1 M50 wiring harnesses
• Red label 413 ECU

I needed to do a ton of maintenance to the front end of the car, including a new PS pump, steering rack, LCAs, etc that all came with this package, so it really was a no brainer. Also ordering all new brake pieces (rotors, pads, ss lines), GC coilovers with Koni inserts, and reinforcement pieces for the rear subframe.

Anyways, super stoked for the new project! Will keep you all updated over the coming weekends of work!

[s14brent]

loving the story behind the car man.. keep up the good work!

[dadsbmw]

Havent posted in quite some time, as other priorities have come up. However the idle on the e30 has been getting a bit erratic and I could hear a vacuum leak coming from the crank vent hose, so decided to fix it.

Oh also, the engine bay looks like this:




Yeah disgusting. Other than a timing belt and water pump, I hadn't touched anything in the engine bay since the car came into my possession. Project on. Decided to replace the vent hose, intake manifold gaskets, throttle body gasket, spark plugs, vent tube upper and lower seals, valve cover gasket, and adjust lifter clearances. Also decided the obviously hideous engine bay need a bit of a clean up.

And here's the result.




In the end, it was a good amount of work almost all for nothing. The VCG was fine, the vent hose looked to be in decent shape, lifter clearances were all within spec, TB gasket was fine, etc. However I did realize that the seals on the vent tube were bad and causing tons of oil buildup in the engine bay, and the idle is fixed. As well, it looks a bit better.

Took it out for a test drive only to realize all the rest of the maintenance that needs to be completed. I guess look for more boring updates soon! Ha

[parkerbink]

Nice build and story. (I know it's late but sorry for your loss) Thanks for sharing

[dadsbmw]

I had tired pin stripes on my old car. I used a 3M Eraser Wheel. Goes on a drill and makes quick and easy work of it. Also good for removing adhesive/de-badging.

Awesome story and great looking car. I hope one day I can pass a car I love onto to my daughter and she will take great care of it like you are.

Also nice to see another Sterling Silver car on R3v!

Hmm... I may have to look into it. Not actually sure if I want to get rid of it though, I've honestly never even considered it until now.

[MR E30 325is]

Really cool build!

[Zeemz]

I think if you remove the pinstripe it will help hide it, but overall it looks pretty damn good.

I had tired pin stripes on my old car. I used a 3M Eraser Wheel. Goes on a drill and makes quick and easy work of it. Also good for removing adhesive/de-badging.

Awesome story and great looking car. I hope one day I can pass a car I love onto to my daughter and she will take great care of it like you are.

Also nice to see another Sterling Silver car on R3v!

[dadsbmw]

Havent been driving Eloise much as she needs to be taken down to get all the bushings and rear wheel bearings replaced, but I moved her out of the driveway to wash Brunhilde (the Z4) and couldnt help but notice the beauty...

[dadsbmw]

It's surprisingly quick for 225hp as well. The torque is available EVERYWHERE.

[jpod999]

My father-in-law has a 6spd 2004 3.0 and it's a ton of fun to drive. The sensation of sitting so far behind the front wheels really makes it fun!

[dadsbmw]

So the e30 has been my daily for a little over a year now and has been performing flawlessly, however the rear wheel bearings are getting SUPER noisy on the freeway and I want to take her down for a few weeks to slowly work on replacing all the bushings/mounts/etc. To aid in doing this the right way I decided to get a "temporary" daily driver for the interim. So last night I picked my e30's grandson...





2003 BMW Z4 3.0i with 69k miles. Pretty stoked on it so far. As you can see in teh pictures, its in pretty immaculate condition. Has Z4M wheels, rear windscreen, and aux input as only modifications.

[GilbertCarr986]

Well done restoration!