I have an E 30.

[Northern]

I've had two of those tabs break off on me, but it was a little further over, where the threaded insert goes into it.

[Nader393]

How long before the morons on Stanceworks catch on to this??

In other news, I took to replacing the seat struts on the driver's seat. Not the passenger's seat, because good lord, this job sucked balls!!






And while I was at it, I found out why my seat back was so wiggly during my last track day.



Had to weld that up. All good now.

[Nader393]

Jesus Christ. You're right!

[2mAn]

Add some red arrows on the fenders pointing to them too while you're at it

[Nader393]

I paid good money for those Yokohama tires, and I need to make sure everyone knows that’s what they are.

[Nader393]

[e30austin]

While I think on that, I want to point out that I'm probably the only person on this site to know what a fresh e30 smells like when it's brought home off the showroom floor. My dad did it twice in the mid-late '80's when I was a teenager, right around when I got my driver's license. First was a white 5-speed 325es he bought new in '86. He could barely drive a stick, and didn't realize it was a manual transmission car until after he signed the papers. I distinctly remember the smell of it in the garage as the warmed up Cosmoline was off-gassing after its first drive home. At the time I wondered if that was the smell of a burning clutch (because he sucked at driving a stick). But it kept smelling that way for a month or so after he learned to drive the thing. That smell... It's a pleasant chemical smell; kind of like a cross between WD-40 and Hoppes #9 gun cleaner.

Then in a particularly bad rainstorm, he filled the still newish car's tank at a gas station that was flooded with water, and it hydrolocked the engine. Had it towed to the dealership, then that same night he bought what was probably the first e30 M3 in the Midwest, white/black, right off the showroom floor. I was there, and remember him trying to choose between that and the red 535is (with M-tech rear spoiler) sitting next to it. It was $32K. He didn't realize it was a 4-cylinder engine until after he bought it. He had enough fun on the test-drive that it wouldn't have mattered, anyway. I remember he exclaimed after the test drive that he didn't have to slow down for the turns. So then he kept the dealership open after hours trying to settle on a deal. I feel like I've already told this story. I forget. Anyway, the warmed up M3 smelled the same in the garage as the previous 325es. At this point I figured it was just how good German cars smelled.

what an awesome story, thanks for sharing.

[Nader393]

Just to push forward that M20'02 idea .... here's a roundie with all the bodywork heavy lifting needed for the M20 already completed. Cannot state how good the deal is, and seems tailer-made for you. If you do have any questions regarding the swap, let me know.

1973 BMW 2002 M20 Restomod Project - BMW 2002 and Neue Klasse Cars for Sale/Wanted - BMW 2002 FAQ

Oh, man. I wish you wouldn't have posted that. I have a big diesel truck and enclosed hauler to fetch it. And I've got someone in mind to do this project. You think he'll knock some off the price if I didn't need the drivetrain? I'll need to think about this. I just don't have the space and energy right now to go through with it. At which point it's still probably another $20K minimum to finish it if I farm it out.



While I think on that, I want to point out that I'm probably the only person on this site to know what a fresh e30 smells like when it's brought home off the showroom floor. My dad did it twice in the mid-late '80's when I was a teenager, right around when I got my driver's license. First was a white 5-speed 325es he bought new in '86. He could barely drive a stick, and didn't realize it was a manual transmission car until after he signed the papers. I distinctly remember the smell of it in the garage as the warmed up Cosmoline was off-gassing after its first drive home. At the time I wondered if that was the smell of a burning clutch (because he sucked at driving a stick). But it kept smelling that way for a month or so after he learned to drive the thing. That smell... It's a pleasant chemical smell; kind of like a cross between WD-40 and Hoppes #9 gun cleaner.

Then in a particularly bad rainstorm, he filled the still newish car's tank at a gas station that was flooded with water, and it hydrolocked the engine. Had it towed to the dealership, then that same night he bought what was probably the first e30 M3 in the Midwest, white/black, right off the showroom floor. I was there, and remember him trying to choose between that and the red 535is (with M-tech rear spoiler) sitting next to it. It was $32K. He didn't realize it was a 4-cylinder engine until after he bought it. He had enough fun on the test-drive that it wouldn't have mattered, anyway. I remember he exclaimed after the test drive that he didn't have to slow down for the turns. So then he kept the dealership open after hours trying to settle on a deal. I feel like I've already told this story. I forget. Anyway, the warmed up M3 smelled the same in the garage as the previous 325es. At this point I figured it was just how good German cars smelled.

I want to re-experience that. So I bought this, for $17.



Test spray smells right, I think, so I'm going to hit the oil sump and transmission with it, see how it smells when it's warmed up. I'll report back later.

[AceAndrew777]

Just to push forward that M20'02 idea .... here's a roundie with all the bodywork heavy lifting needed for the M20 already completed. Cannot state how good the deal is, and seems tailer-made for you. If you do have any questions regarding the swap, let me know.

1973 BMW 2002 M20 Restomod Project - BMW 2002 and Neue Klasse Cars for Sale/Wanted - BMW 2002 FAQ

[e30austin]

the Advans are a great tire, nice choice.

[AceAndrew777]

Not surprised, but still very happy, to see those numbers. When I worked with Mahle to design these pistons, this is right in that sweet spot we were aiming for.

As for the 2002 plans .... yesssss, come to the dark side! No regerts!

[Nader393]

Kept breaking the old hard tires loose, especially in the perpetually wet weather we have up here. Got some better tires for future track days, that could hopefully maintain traction in this awful, cold and wet PNW climate. They are Yokohamas something or anothers in a treadwear rating of 200. You folks in the desert southwest and L.A. may be facing a water crisis, but up here, we have all the water and then some, and I'd happily trade it to you guys for some warm, dry weather. OTOH, If this global warming deal comes through, I might have your guys' climate in a few years.

[Northern]

When I read the estimate, I was going to say 205whp. Pretty potent if it's making 226.

[Nader393]

if you end up not doing anything with the aforementioned, please let me know. i'm sort of in need of an M20 core for a client's future stroker build, but would happily take everything you've got.

Tell you what, Austin; if my source for that e28 M5 engine (S35/B38) pans out and I get it (it's a multi-year coaxing approach), I'll sell you that M20 stuff. You still have that header/exhaust combo I gave you? It would go well with this. Then I'll put the M5 powerplant in my car, and use this current 2.9 for a 2002 project.

[e30austin]

You are correct, Michael Jordan Weimer! The car $pent over $ix hour$ on the dyno. Pretty much the whole day. No regert$! Definitely $ome of the be$t $$$ I've $pent on it.

This E30 is now faster than my '87 Carrera (which has a dyno-verified 185 RWHP, and weighs about the same)




And it also has a similar power/weight ratio to my '91 348.



This E30 is now almost as fast as a modern V6 Accord or Camry.

After all this, I have a pile of leftover parts. Including a complete running 2.7 (or is it 2.8?) stroker engine with shaved Myster-E performance head, G-260 transmission+clutch, and wire harness+ECU. I'm kicking around the idea of getting a crusty shell of a 2002 and doing an M20 swap. Hmm...

if you end up not doing anything with the aforementioned, please let me know. i'm sort of in need of an M20 core for a client's future stroker build, but would happily take everything you've got.