Originally posted 3/28/16
White. Convertible. 1992. Caucasian Yuppie Mobile.....and what is the most Yuppie name you can possibly think of? Quade.
Hey guys-
Wanted to introduce my new-to-me 1992 325i Vert I picked up last week.
So after moving back to PA from SC this year, I was visiting my mother at work around July and next door is a local hole-in-the-wall Mercades shop. Noticed that tucked away in the back was this alpine late model vert and took a look. Saw that it was recently inspected and figured that someone had it in for maintenance so I didn't think anything of it.
Met another local e30 guy and told him that I've been looking for a late model vert with a blown engine to do an engine swap on. I've been itching to do one for the longest time and my current '89 is too "proper" to swap an engine in and the M20 in it is healthy as shit. Plus I've done all maintenance and in my eyes, the thing is 95% complete. So he goes to tell me if I know of this MB shop and said that I saw they had this white vert parked out back for 9 months. Well turns out it was for sale, just not publicly listed.
Well needless to say the next morning I drove up and bought it for $1k ;)
The PO brought it in (drove it) with the oil cooler dangling down from the front end all busted up. The shop basically sat on it for a few months until the PO said to try to fix it and sell it. They topped off the oil and said it was knocking up a storm and spitting up oil all over. In my head I asked WHY! the oil cooler was obviously busted and it could never build up any pressure like that!
Brought the turd over to my garage, blocked off the cooler and the thing started right up, sounded beautiful and wasn't knocking at all! Thought I got lucky! But noticed that after a few minutes the oil pressure would go from around 50psi to about 5psi, so something was up. Got the 325e oil filter adapter for running without a cooler and still had the same issues.
Since its a vert and summer is coming up quick, I thought that if I can get this M20 running good- I can beat around on it until I find a suitable swap. Started with the oil pump and after I removed it took off the cover to find this!
Hot Damn- well goodbye to a summer beater! Put another pump in that I had laying around and had the same issues, good oil psi then eventually it would suck up more metal shavings and block the pump again. At this point, I'm not even mad- just more upset I spent 4h swapping out the pump and pan gasket.
Anyway! I am going to be pulling out the engine soon and breaking it down for parts- as its worth nothing as it is now and rebuilding it wouldn't do me any good. I'm going to sell what I need too and keep some of the other odds and ends in case my '89 needs something replaced down the road.
From what I know about the car:
- Original CA car that went up for auction in 2006 and sold in PA. Lived for the past 10 years obviously in a garage because of the condition it is in. Plus only went 5k miles in the time it was over here. So it was a summer only car for the PO.
- Interior was reupholstered and top was replaced at one point. Got really lucky for this condition especially because it is a vert.
- Never molested, It's been a while since I've seen an e30 with everything in tact. Brake ducts, ABS/Brake wear sensors, fog lights NOT cracked AND working....stock stock stock
- Wheels were optional apparently being semi rare Style 10's with brand new Hankook tires.
- NO RUST! Under body solid! Only one rust spot on the drivers side door jam but only surface.
So I feel I got a good deal, I can sell the wheels/tires and top and make my $1k back alone.
As far as swaps- the plans are to see what comes into play, S52 or S54 A local guy has a S38B36 for sale which was rebuilt once in its life- tempting but a little nerve wracking to jump into.
For now it's going to just take up space while I finish up my '82 Mk1 Caddy then I'll get cracking.
Will post updates as this project goes on!
White. Convertible. 1992. Caucasian Yuppie Mobile.....and what is the most Yuppie name you can possibly think of? Quade.
Hey guys-
Wanted to introduce my new-to-me 1992 325i Vert I picked up last week.
So after moving back to PA from SC this year, I was visiting my mother at work around July and next door is a local hole-in-the-wall Mercades shop. Noticed that tucked away in the back was this alpine late model vert and took a look. Saw that it was recently inspected and figured that someone had it in for maintenance so I didn't think anything of it.
Met another local e30 guy and told him that I've been looking for a late model vert with a blown engine to do an engine swap on. I've been itching to do one for the longest time and my current '89 is too "proper" to swap an engine in and the M20 in it is healthy as shit. Plus I've done all maintenance and in my eyes, the thing is 95% complete. So he goes to tell me if I know of this MB shop and said that I saw they had this white vert parked out back for 9 months. Well turns out it was for sale, just not publicly listed.
Well needless to say the next morning I drove up and bought it for $1k ;)
The PO brought it in (drove it) with the oil cooler dangling down from the front end all busted up. The shop basically sat on it for a few months until the PO said to try to fix it and sell it. They topped off the oil and said it was knocking up a storm and spitting up oil all over. In my head I asked WHY! the oil cooler was obviously busted and it could never build up any pressure like that!
Brought the turd over to my garage, blocked off the cooler and the thing started right up, sounded beautiful and wasn't knocking at all! Thought I got lucky! But noticed that after a few minutes the oil pressure would go from around 50psi to about 5psi, so something was up. Got the 325e oil filter adapter for running without a cooler and still had the same issues.
Since its a vert and summer is coming up quick, I thought that if I can get this M20 running good- I can beat around on it until I find a suitable swap. Started with the oil pump and after I removed it took off the cover to find this!
Hot Damn- well goodbye to a summer beater! Put another pump in that I had laying around and had the same issues, good oil psi then eventually it would suck up more metal shavings and block the pump again. At this point, I'm not even mad- just more upset I spent 4h swapping out the pump and pan gasket.
Anyway! I am going to be pulling out the engine soon and breaking it down for parts- as its worth nothing as it is now and rebuilding it wouldn't do me any good. I'm going to sell what I need too and keep some of the other odds and ends in case my '89 needs something replaced down the road.
From what I know about the car:
- Original CA car that went up for auction in 2006 and sold in PA. Lived for the past 10 years obviously in a garage because of the condition it is in. Plus only went 5k miles in the time it was over here. So it was a summer only car for the PO.
- Interior was reupholstered and top was replaced at one point. Got really lucky for this condition especially because it is a vert.
- Never molested, It's been a while since I've seen an e30 with everything in tact. Brake ducts, ABS/Brake wear sensors, fog lights NOT cracked AND working....stock stock stock
- Wheels were optional apparently being semi rare Style 10's with brand new Hankook tires.
- NO RUST! Under body solid! Only one rust spot on the drivers side door jam but only surface.
So I feel I got a good deal, I can sell the wheels/tires and top and make my $1k back alone.
As far as swaps- the plans are to see what comes into play, S52 or S54 A local guy has a S38B36 for sale which was rebuilt once in its life- tempting but a little nerve wracking to jump into.
For now it's going to just take up space while I finish up my '82 Mk1 Caddy then I'll get cracking.
Will post updates as this project goes on!
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