Mike's Alpine White 1991 318is

[mike.bmw]

Thanks, Albie! While I do think a lowered E30 looks great, I prefer my current setup for what I use it for and how I drive. Another benefit is that my low profile jack can reach the front cross member without having to drive on ramps first. :)

It's always a bonus when they want to come help work on something in the garage (and have the attention span for it)!

[Albie325]

My car looks like a crossover compared to the rest (and I'm about 1" lower than stock on H&R OE Sport Springs).

Seriously. At least your IS lip isn't sweating every time you pull into a driveway. I really think your ride height suits the new rims well, the gold really looks awesome. The new sig pic is looking minty.

I looked into the H4/H1 upgrade awhile ago, definitely seems like a nice clean upgrade. Funny, I was out in the garage today getting my smiley's wired up, looks like we're on the same page

Love that you always get the kiddos involved, will be a nice memory for them. Keep it up bud!

[mike.bmw]

I found some time for some photos a few weeks ago. I liked these:

DSC_0742 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0775 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0786 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0755 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0799 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

I went to a local Cars and Coffee with my daughter. There weren't many other cars there, but there was a fanastic E30 turnout. Good group of guys and I enjoyed catching up with them. My car looks like a crossover compared to the rest (and I'm about 1" lower than stock on H&R OE Sport Springs).

DSC_0465 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0447 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Let there be light!

A while back, fresh_TD informed me about upgrading the sealed beam lights to H4s. I wish I had listened to him a couple years ago because WOW. What a great upgrade. I ended up going with the H4/H1 kit from here: http://classicgarage.com/53hehekit.html . That kit includes the housings, the bulbs, and the wiring needed to make this a plug-and-play affair. Also, thanks @jgerock for the photos of the back of your lights. It helped with the cap and wiring placement.

My daughter, Avery, expressed interest in helping. This was my son's first time using "real" tools on the car. I'm socked I let him near the car with a sharp screwdriver, but we all had fun and they learned a thing or two.

20191125_161332 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20191125_164600 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Sealed beams:

20191125_151049 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

H4s and H1s:

20191125_162137 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Additional wiring for the H1s:

20191125_153701 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Swapped out the 7.5 fuses for 10s. (Slots 1 and 2 in the fuse panel, which is in the manual).

20191125_154423 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Driver's side H4/H1. Passenger side sealed beams:

20191125_154546 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Upgrade complete. H4 lows:

20191125_192322 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

H4 lows and H1 highs:

20191125_192346 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

After a quick test drive in the dark, Avery wanted a photo:

20191125_191703 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[mike.bmw]

This evening I came across a flickr photo album of the BMW CCA NCC HPDE I attended in September. The photographer, Jaclyn Heck, frequently writes for the BMW CCA NCC magazine and takes excellent photographs. Here are some of the E30:

48738828983_ebaf759527_o by mike.bevels, on Flickr

48739177836_9de1f232e1_o by mike.bevels, on Flickr

48739015383_e19bb4e287_o by mike.bevels, on Flickr

48739363332_68ab61c498_o by mike.bevels, on Flickr

48739198071_28d0d3eba6_o by mike.bevels, on Flickr

48738821688_bf75fa789d_o by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[dmanb2b]

Looking great Mike!

[mike.bmw]

Yesterday I went to my BMW CCA Chapter's (National Capital Chapter) Cars & Coffee and New Member Reception hosted at BMW of Catonsville. This was about an hour from my house. I planned a nice route to get there comprised of twisty roads and highways. The weather was clear and crisp. It was a great way to spend a morning.

fresh_TD was there in his fantastic E21:

DSC_0763 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

I parked next to some other 3 series:

DSC_0756 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

I didn't get any other photos of my car, but NCC BMW CCA posted this one on Facebook:

FB_IMG_1573425542674 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[mike.bmw]

der Bayerische Article (National Capital Chapter BMW CCA Magazine)

In September I posted about attending the National Capital Chapter (NCC) BMW CCA HPDE at Summit Point. 2 years prior I met Anna, one of the editors/writers/awesome people that publish NCC BMW CCA Magazine: der Bayerische. After chatting with Anna for a bit she said they are always looking for writers and submissions. After the recent HPDE I decided to write something and submit it. Well, it was published!

20191026_085657 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20191026_085705 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20191026_085738 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20191026_085749 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

20191026_085803 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

RS001s

I went out for a drive this morning and took a couple photos in one of my usual spots. I have a set of 1/3 height hex caps and new BBS logo caps on order from Ehrlich Wheel Works. When those arrive I'll get out to a new location for some better photos.

DSC_0444 copy 1 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0461 copy 1 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

I re-polished the lips earlier this week. I did it by hand and it didn't take very long to do. If this is something that needs to happen on a fairly regular basis I'll probably order a drill attachment for polishing.

20191023_153105 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

[ATL_E30]

NICE! Really looking forward to The Vintage next year (my first)! To be honest I would've taken any color RS001, but I'm glad these are gold. I plan to replace the BBS logos and possibly order a set of billet 1/4 height hex caps within the next couple months. I may also see if I can source some touch up paint for the gold as there are a few chips. The condition of the lips, bolts, and barrels is great. The paint (or powder coat) on the faces is a little tired, but looks good unless you're up super close.

With as hard as they're to find nowadays i'd probably take a set in any color as well. I do love the gold however!

I think I had a typo in my previous post saying "Just can't BEAR the white on gold look" when I meant "Just cant BEAT the white on gold look" Oops! haha regardless enjoy them, they look great! Your car has always been an inspiration for me!

[e30austin]

Perfectly refinished wheels, on a car you actually want to go out and drive, are very overrated - ask me how I know :/

enjoy them!

[mike.bmw]

Great score Mike...love them!

Thanks! I'm looking forward to doing some driving tomorrow!

yeeeeeees!

wow 8 lbs thats wild!

I went ahead and weighed the stock 14" weaves. Turns out the BBS RS001s weigh about 2 pounds LESS per corner than the stock 14s! Stock 14" weaves with 195/65R14s are ~36 pounds and BBS RS001s with 205/55R15s are ~34 pounds. The Ronals with 205/55R15s were ~42 pounds! Updated the original post with photos.

20191016_184654 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Nice Score Mike! Now we'll be twinning at The Vintage! Yours appear to be in awesome condition! Just can't bear the white on gold look!

NICE! Really looking forward to The Vintage next year (my first)! To be honest I would've taken any color RS001, but I'm glad these are gold. I plan to replace the BBS logos and possibly order a set of billet 1/4 height hex caps within the next couple months. I may also see if I can source some touch up paint for the gold as there are a few chips. The condition of the lips, bolts, and barrels is great. The paint (or powder coat) on the faces is a little tired, but looks good unless you're up super close.

They look fantastic. Congrats.

Thanks! Certainly not perfect like something out of EWW, but I'm happy with them!

[e30austin]

They look fantastic. Congrats.

[ATL_E30]

Nice Score Mike! Now we'll be twinning at The Vintage! Yours appear to be in awesome condition! Just can't beat the white on gold look!

[wworm]

yeeeeeees!

wow 8 lbs thats wild!

[dmanb2b]

Great score Mike...love them!

[mike.bmw]

The quest for BBS RS001s has come to an end!

Over the past 3 years I've been looking for a decent set of BBS RS001s. I've traveled to look at sets that were not in the condition advertised multiple times. I've had folks on the forum send me leads (thanks!), but they either sold quickly or were out of my budget. Well, last Friday I found a set on FaceBook marketplace. It was not a great ad, which is probably why they hadn't sold yet. Simply: "BBS 3 pc" with a couple of photos of wheels on what looked like an E30.

I messaged the guy and eventually called him on the phone. He sent me the pictures I requested (photos of the stampings, lips, etc). The seller was only ~90 minutes away so I figured it was worth a look. I took the E30 as we have nice fall weather in VA right now. The drive there was a blast: no traffic and the E30 is running really well.

When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the condition. The tires were shot, there were some paint chips on the faces, but overall the wheels were in great condition. The seller was a nice guy. I made him a fair offer and he accepted.

On Monday I dropped the wheels off at RRT so they could verify straightness and trueness. They checked out on the balancer so I ordered new tires from TireRack. The Yoko S.Drives are no longer available in 205/55R15, but their replacements, the Yoko Advan Fleva V701s are available in that size. The wheels were ready for pickup today so I dropped by RRT on the way home from work. I installed them on the car when I got home.

I weighed the stock wheels vs the Ronals vs the BBS RS001s. The RS001s are a good ~8 pounds lighter than the Ronal LS per corner with tries mounted AND about 2 pounds lighter than the stock 14s! The bathroom scale is far from accurate, but the weight differences can be plainly seen regardless.

Stock with 195/65R14s (~36 pounds):

20191016_184654 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

BBS RS001 with 205/55R15s (~34 pounds):

20191016_133142 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Ronal LS with 205/55R15 (~42 pounds):
20191016_131957 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Now for the photos!

20191012_164732 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Loaded up for RRT:

20191014_091456 by mike.bevels, on Flickr

Rainy driveway shots:

DSC_0454 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

DSC_0473 copy by mike.bevels, on Flickr

I'll try to get some more photos later in the week.