As someone that feels like I should save every E30 possible, and I applaud you for what you're undertaking, I do feel like that this shell 'might' be a bit too damaged. Now I am not saying that it can't be repaired, but I can tell you that is going to be a LOT of work and money put into repairing that car properly. That is a substantial hit that car took on the right lower rocker, and it was enough of a side impact at the A pillar to mash the dashboard to where it compressed.
Unless you have a hell of a hookup at a good body shop, it would be less expensive to swap everything into a better shell. Hell, from the looks of it, it would be easier to repair that 318is parts car. The damage to it doesn't look to be quite as bad.
But if they/you can pull off the repair properly, I will definitely be one of the first to congratulate you!
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Project Lola: Schwarz 89 325is given a new life.
So a little update. Forked out the cash for an Optima Yellow top. I couldn’t find a red top for the life of me.
Hooked everything up, and she runs! I didn’t check the oil level before starting, so I shut it off after a second or two of it running. The engine ran okay, other than what sounded like an exhaust leak from caused by the accident.
I managed to break the mounting clips for my smoked hella smilies from my Henna car, so I ordered some more clips but have yet to install them.
I started working on getting the rear trailing arm apart. I used an axle press to pop out the halfshaft, and started on the bolts that go into the diff only to find out 2 of them are completely stripped out.
I decided just to cut the heads of the bolts off and then use vice grips to get the studs out (yet to be done)
Planning to have the trailing arm swapped out this weekend, and maybe change the oil so the car can be driven onto a trailer to go to the body shop.
While the car is at the body shop, I’m going to start amassing the parts to rebuild the rear suspension. RTABs, subframe bushings, RSMs, braided steel brake lines, as well as the stuff to do a full diff service (fluid, ECS magnetic drain plug, and cover gasket) are all on the list of things to order within the next month and a half.
And here’s a picture of my daily if anyone was curious. [emoji4]
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They are ESM004. 17x8.5 iirc. They’re cheap Chinese wheels and I wouldn’t recommend them. I might have a line on a cheap set of Mtechnica Turbos, but I’m not sure if they’re knockoffs or not.
I went to autozone last night to get a battery for the car, and they wanted $170 for one. I said screw that and started to shop around for an Optima. My dad is calling Bimmerworld today to place an order for the race car, so he said he would ask how long the Redtop is backordered for.
Also, when I pulled the battery last night, it was sitting in an inch and a half of water.
My guess is the sunroof drain is split or disconnected, and whenever it rained, it just filled the trunk with water. Will have to investigate further when I’m off work.
Been reading up on RX7 BBKs, might decide to pull the trigger on it, stainless steel braided brake lines, and a braided stainless clutch line soon.
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Awesome can't wait to see what this beast will become!
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Project Lola: Schwarz 89 325is given a new life.
To start this story off, we go back 3 years ago. I was contacted by a guy who lived in College Station, asking if I would help him out in search of an E30 for him. After a week or so of looking through craigslist he finds a couple of cars here in the DFW area that interest him, and plans a weekend to come up and take a look at them. We looked at 2 cars. One of which was a red 325i coupe, which he ended up buying. The other was a black 89 325is with some tasteful mods, which he turned down because of a transmission whine that scared him.
Fast forward 3 months later, I get a message on R3v from a guy in Ft. Worth who had just bought his first E30 and wasn't really sure what to do with it. I help point him in the right direction with some of the things I was wanting to do with the car, and we eventually became good friends.
In January, he sends me a text saying he hydroplaned his car off the highway into a guard rail, and it damaged the side considerably. A day later, I get this picture
He tells me he originally intends to fix the car, but works a lot and isn't sure when he'd have time to fix it. He eventually decides to part the car out and get something else, and I start to ask about parts on the car. After figuring out a list of parts off the car, I say screw it, and offer him a number for the entire car, which he accepts. That weekend I pick the car up. Now for some pictures.
Loaded on the trailer.
Arriving at home.
It has cardinal seats, but the rest of the interior is black. I'm going to have the seats reupholstered but keep the rest black I think.
Bent control arm and broken wheel
Will probably sell the MT2 wheel, I have a Momo i plan to have reupholstered.
The car has Vogtlands and Bilsteins, I'll likely just run them till I get Koni's and Ground Controls.
Picked up 91 318is parts car to get a trailing arm, door, hinge pillar/rocker and tail lights this week.
The car goes to get fixed on the 30th of this month. From there I plan to get a set of wheels for it, and get it back into running shape.
Long term goals for the car, I am considering LSx or S54 swapping this car, with fully rebuilt suspension and coils.Last edited by HennaE30; 04-10-2018, 06:23 PM.
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