Diamantschwarz Forever: An E30 Love Story. Re-shell & Restomod

[IronJoe]

Sub'd, nice work so far on the re-up!

[freeride53]

Today was an interesting day. Got some good seat time (450 miles or so) in the E30. Also ran into an old lifelong friend who spent many hours in my E30, or driving alongside of it throughout high school, college, and beyond, on Highway 5, somewhere near Stockton. We caught up, and drove all the way down to LA in tandem.

Back on topic: learned a lot about this car, and further realized how much slower it feels than my old E30. Not crazy, but noticeable. In addition to the "Mess Under The Intake" Mod I plan on doing next weekend, I intend on replacing the injectors, spark plugs & wires, air filter (Mahle on hand), and replacing all of the exhaust piping, which probably has mad holes.

[freeride53]

Good shit Sina! It's not a bad thing overall to get to do it all again and learn from the little mistakes the first time around.

Thanks LBV. This whole ordeal's been one big pain-in-the-ass, but...

It's been an interesting experience, which is far from being over, or plateaued.

A big learning experience, as well as one to make sure I appreciate my E30 everyday.

[Vivek]

Good shit Sina! It's not a bad thing overall to get to do it all again and learn from the little mistakes the first time around.

[freeride53]

I'm glad you were able to get the rotors and the strut brace on Sina!

Yee! I *think* I can feel a subtle difference in stiffness with the brace.

Up next are some thicker sway bars paired with some fresh end links.

The current end links bushings are totally broken, useless.

[jpod999]

I'm glad you were able to get the rotors and the strut brace on Sina!

[freeride53]

Glad I could help, I'm totally down to roll around on Vespas! When we tried to bolt down the strut brace I think it just pushed the stud out- when we got the stud back in and tightened down it pulled it back into place. Fuck, it was tough getting that stud back in though wasn't it?

Thanks for the MT1 wheel!

Merry belated X-Mas JP. It actually sat snug again when I went to install the front strut brace. So I guess that's that.

Any how, some updates. Had the chance to do a lot of things in the last couple of weeks...surprisingly.

Swapped on my nice right tail light from my old wrecked shell and nice left tail that I scored off Sylvester in the SFV. Note: installed my nice old roundel on the rear lid after receiving some new grommets.



Here are the City Lights in action. LED w5w lights installed.




Embarrassingly, I will admit that for some reason, I accidentally switched up my Hi / Low bulbs on the passenger side. Will reprise today.



Installed my freshly powder coated Garagistic M42 strut brace. Yes my engine bay is extremely dirty and yes it will be steam cleaned next weekend. Promise.



Installed all 4 slotted & cross-drilled rotors. Fresh bleed, had some water in the system beforehand. Stops real real nice now.




Then for a little throwback for the OG R3V family. Spotted a WILD LBV while en route for some ultra last minute Xmas shopping in Berkeley.



Then as I was driving home, my fuel pump broke, and left me stranded on the corner of Fernside & Washington Avenues in Alameda, California.

5 or so years ago, the fuel pump in my late clone of this E30 (RIP) broke down on the EXACT SAME FUCKIN BLOCK IN THE SAME TOWN.

Fate? probably.

Then an old buddy Kyle with the Alpine 318i (forgot his handle on here) gave me an old M42 pump he had lying around aka provided with an Xmas Miracle. Thanks Kyle. You da man.



My good buddy Zubin gave me a ride to Kyle's house in his sexy new Corvette Stingray. A little too powerful / nice for my blood



Rejoicing upon the delivery of fuel to my motor.



Then Zubin snapped a few candids of my lovable though ugly new pile.



I really need to find some new bumpers, have thorough PDR done, and get this damn thing painted this year.

[jpod999]

Met up with JP (jpod) on here. Had some burgers, talked some shit, and installed my front suspension. JP, if you're reading this...lets hit up Garrett and go smash around Walnut Creek on Vespas sometime soon please.

We reused the H&R M3 Race springs, E90 drop hats, and decent strut mounts. However, I think we snapped one of the studs on the driver side strut mount while trying to install the Garagistic M42 strut brace.

Glad I could help, I'm totally down to roll around on Vespas! When we tried to bolt down the strut brace I think it just pushed the stud out- when we got the stud back in and tightened down it pulled it back into place. Fuck, it was tough getting that stud back in though wasn't it?

Thanks for the MT1 wheel!

[freeride53]

same

[lambo]

new car, who dis?

same

[freeride53]

new car, who dis?

[ak-]

new car, who dis?

[freeride53]

This past weekend was a good one.

Met up with JP (jpod) on here. Had some burgers, talked some shit, and installed my front suspension. JP, if you're reading this...lets hit up Garrett and go smash around Walnut Creek on Vespas sometime soon please.

We reused the H&R M3 Race springs, E90 drop hats, and decent strut mounts. However, I think we snapped one of the studs on the driver side strut mount while trying to install the Garagistic M42 strut brace.

We dodged a bullet by NOT reusing the old struts. The passenger side strut (point of impact on my old shell) was physically bent. Didn't catch that initially. Oh well. in the trash it goes.

These photos were stupidly taken before the suspension fully settled. It looks a little nicer, and more flush now. I like it.





Now, some quick updates that were done quickly before dinner.

First, not pictured, but replaced my taillights, that were both badly pitted/cracked.

I swapped on the right taillight from my old shell (that was fine).
And then swapped on a nice taillight I got from Sylvester in Sherman Oaks.
He also hooked it up with the nice Schwarz hood w/ molded insulation, etc.

Next, did a little Hella European Smiley conversion. The smileys were nice.
Totally and completely refurbished with brand new bulbs.

Opted for 6-LED w5w bulbs for city..
And 35W 4000K Philips for low beams...
And 55W uber yellow Hellas for high beams...for the uber posh French look.

I'm not sure why I didn't post any pics with lights actually on.

Maybe because I was hungry and mom baked salmon & a nice Persian rice dish for dinner.

Can't wait for you to bring it back so we can shred some mountains 8)

Yes^

Hell yes homeboys.

[iwantspeed]

Yes^

[ak-]

Can't wait for you to bring it back so we can shred some mountains 8)