My Euro Converted 325

[AlonzoS]

Some little updates on the car: Finally got around to installing the dtm style muffler that I had laying around for a while. Also fixed a slight tranny leak with a new rear seal as well as a little idle issue that would occur every so often. She still drives beautifully, and I've just been keeping up with regular maintenance.
Have brand new H&R sport springs to throw on as well, I'm not a huge fan of slamming early euro cars to the ground so I think I'll be happy with the slight drop. Just bummed that I can't tackle this job on my own since all the tools I would've used are back at my parents house in SoCal.
Also fell into temptation with throwing some nice vinyl roundels on the doors, not too sure yet if I completely dig it or not, think I might e gone a bit too small with the size, but we'll see.

Next on the list will probably be some nice euroweaves and meaty tires, trying to keep the theme as period correct as possible. Super stoked that I also got a buffing kit, my ocd is just a little much.

[Kershaw]

No on the giant roundels. :tsk:

[M-technik-3]

Did you fill the holes in the trunk after removing us spec bumpers.? Suggest that you do so to avoid moisture from collecting in your trunk.

[evoDRichie]

love the factory stance! class

[AlonzoS]

No on the giant roundels. :tsk:

They've grown on me :ST1G:

Did you fill the holes in the trunk after removing us spec bumpers.? Suggest that you do so to avoid moisture from collecting in your trunk.

Yes, all the existing US bumper holes were welded over and the rear valence painted to give it the correct look. I can't stand bumper swaps that leave the gaping holes untouched, looks ratty.

love the factory stance! class

Thanks! Finally got around to lowering her though :p

Little update: With the help of a local e30 head I was finally able to get the springs on and I'm really happy with the ride height.


Also had a little photo shoot with some good friends here in the Bay, the following photos were shot by Eufonik aka Prsvere88 on Instagram, super talented guy behind the lense so give him a follow!


Up next is wheels, but, I'll save that for a later time.

[efficient]

Very nice e30, not digging the exhaust though.

[c0rbin9]

Car looks incredibly clean... especially the interior. Often you see cars described as "perfect" or "excellent" with tiny details wrong. This one seems to truly deserve the moniker.

I'm guessing the roundels are a nod to some history of which I am not aware, as to me they just look like rising suns from Japan land.

[Panici]

Looks great man!

Do they make a delete strip for the front plate mounting bracket on the euro bumpers? I think that would clean the front up nicely.

[Kevinl]

clean e30 I actually kind of like the dtm exhaust

[CRBR30]

Oh crap, your car was the first e30 that I came to check out in person back when it was for sale haha. That was almost a year ago!

[AlonzoS]

Car looks incredibly clean... especially the interior. Often you see cars described as "perfect" or "excellent" with tiny details wrong. This one seems to truly deserve the moniker.

I'm guessing the roundels are a nod to some history of which I am not aware, as to me they just look like rising suns from Japan land.

Thanks for that! I believe it truly does, looks and feels like it hasn't aged much at all.

As far as the meatballs, I just wanted to see if it would give it more of a historic feel. They're not staying long term though, more of a little project.

Looks great man!

Do they make a delete strip for the front plate mounting bracket on the euro bumpers? I think that would clean the front up nicely.

Agreed! Not sure if they do though. A long time ago I saw a euro e28 m5 with a vanity plate that fit the euro trim, sorta like this one but slimmer, can't seem to find anything on it

Oh crap, your car was the first e30 that I came to check out in person back when it was for sale haha. That was almost a year ago!

Yeah quite a few people came to check it out, this was before all the euro bits were put on though. Really glad I never went through with it. Small world though!

Not so fun update: was recently in a hit and run about two weeks ago. Was coming to a complete stop on a main street with houses and I see some idiot backing out with oncoming traffic, obviously this guy's not going to come all the way out. Wrong. Clips me as I'm nearly stopped and I'm heated just thinking my quarter panel is crumbled up, get out the car mid-street, look at him and drives off. As I walk around to see the damage I'm thinking it's over for the car and to my surprise he just hit the euro bumper. Even more luckily the bumper took no damage whatsoever, simply just pushed the trim all the way to mars.

These bumpers are tough as nails, only damage was a little rash from the bumper edges.

Unluckily for that guy his house is a couple blocks down from mine and I know exactly what his shitbox looks like. I fully intend to pay it a visit with some eggs and bologna, maybe make an outline of some male genitalia, we'll see. I'm just waiting a while so he doesn't suspect it came from that little red car he decided to ditch. You have to be pond scum to leave somebody hanging like that. Estatic everything buttoned up nicely, though!

[Matt341]

I love your car man! Very tastefully done. This is the direction I want to go with my car and Boy does it look good. Really sucks that someone hit you and did not have the nards to admit he was in the wrong. But thankfully the damage was minimal.

[mattlance13]

super clean and tastefully done! keep it up!!!

[AlonzoS]

I love your car man! Very tastefully done. This is the direction I want to go with my car and Boy does it look good. Really sucks that someone hit you and did not have the nards to admit he was in the wrong. But thankfully the damage was minimal.

Yeah, I'm beyond happy that nothing happened!

So update on its current status, finally bit the bullet and bought new wheels. Decided it's time to succumb to wheels and stance of the new day and age. These are Road Force 727's which are rc090 reps, yes reps, but they're damn good ones and nla as well. The PO had these sitting in his garage for a few years after buying them brand new on their last run. Guess they were just waiting for my car to come along! Specs are 16x8 et20 4x100(not redrilled) wrapped in 205/50's on all four corners. Wheel and tire combo really stick the car to the ground. However it does sit much higher considering its only on H&R sports. Got a sweet deal on H&R races here on the forum and have some e90 drop hats on their way as well but I'm still making my mind on Bilstein sport/Koni adjustable.

I'd like to not roll the fenders but that's what it's looking like it's going to come to. Anybody have experience with a trusty roller here in the Bay Area?
Last of the little mods I did was a garagistic strut bar, and boy does it so it's job! You really feel the chassis stick it through turns, definitely recommend as a quick affordable mod.

The car also received some love and care from the awesome people over at Phaedrus BMW in San Francisco. Seriously, hit them up if you're in the Bay Area. Not the cheapest, but the most thorough shop I've ever dealt with. Had the valves adjusted, fluids changed, miscellaneous hoses replaced, and new transmission seals along with shifter bushings. The gears shift effortlessly now, but it's still begging for a SSK.
Compression test was also performed and the verdict was 180-190 on the healthy m20. Wish I had pictures to share too, but after all this the car made it from SF to LA and back without skipping a beat. It's reliability still surprises me to this day for being a 29 year old car.

[bangn]

you don't really need to roll them do you? its at a good height and the offset looks pretty respectable.

really lovely car, Needs a classic angled twin tip on the back to finish it off.