project daily driver

[bmw320e21]

WOW you did a really good job with the whole car! How did you do the shadowlining? Did you use plasti dip?

[rodrigo]

Yeah, I hear you on that, I have also sprayed my rear shelf black and it turned out ok.

I tried spraying as well, but it came out like crap. :(

[Jean]

If you go look at the e30m3 shelfs they don't have the 3rd brake light there at all, as the 3rd brake light is on the headliner near the rear glass.

I've looked at two e30m3s and the shape of the shelf looks identical to the non e30m3 shelf.

Yeah, I hear you on that, I have also sprayed my rear shelf black and it turned out ok.

Good job!

[rodrigo]

Jean,
From what i understood, the E30 M3 rear shelf is basically a normal E30 shelf with a piece added onto the rear (rear glass side) portion. I got the impression that the E30 M3 rear shelf is longer front to back to accomodate the diferently configured rear glass. In general though, i am not at all very familiar with the M3 stuff...I know the OEM shelf would fit so I just worked with that.

Since I had the original shelf, I just pulled off the old material, cut off the hood for the light, stapled a piece of pressed board accross the hole and filled in the edges. Some spray adhesive and black carpet fabric...lots of patience. It ran me about $35 in material as opposed to getting another rear shelf.

I still have to put the middle passenger seat belt buckle receiver on it.

[Jean]

Ahhh makes sense. Not sure if you've looked into this but the e30m3 rear shelf is "premium" in terms of it's shape, not flat like the very old ones, and does not have any holes for 3rd brake light .

[rodrigo]

Good job, but what's with two a/c switches?

hahahaha...I noticed it after I posted. I lost my other blank. The AC and Recirculator button on the passenger side works, the one on the driver side is just so I don't see the gaping hole on the switch cut out. gotta hit the junkyard again next week.

[Jean]

Good job, but what's with two a/c switches?

[Mtriple]

nicely done.

[rodrigo]

Today I put on the bottlecaps that I refinished myself. Polished the centercaps by hand and put on new roundel decals. Got some Dunlop's mounted and balanced...rides like a comfy family car! :mrgreen:

Also installed the Ansa exhaust on Tuesday. If you guys would, please give me options on the tips...I don't like how you can see the 10mm bolts that hold the polished tips in place...kinda 'not clean'? :(

Eventually mods will come but, as you all probably know by now, I just want to make it roadworthy and drive it for some 100's of miles to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Here are today's pictures:

The interior:


The dash and radio delete panel. Still needs detailing...that will come very soon:


My super-pimp bottle caps. Real gansgters roll on 14's :pimp:


Exterior of the deleted 3rd brake light. Technically illegal, but looks so clean.


Interior view of the rear shelf I re-upholstered and the deleted 3rd brake light. Note the BMW fleece blanket on the seat:


Front end with 'is' spoiler, oil cooler grille and old school Portuguese lisence plate:


Rear end shot. THis is where I'd like you guys' opinions on the exhaust tips. See these little 10mm bolts sticking down? I don't like them....

Overview pic:


Another rear end shot, this time demonstrating the generous 4X4 action the stock suspension has to offer:


...and thats about all. Let me know what you all think. I've been driving it all day and love every minute.

[rodrigo]

just to share an occurence i just experienced.....

my father and i go for a spin in the car and we're just driving along. although the car looks to be all together, it is still missing a few things, like the center consoles, the rear compartment shelf....and the wipers and wiper arms...

in driving i accidentally hit the wiper stalk. the volvo i normally drive has the wiper stalk much firther away from the rim of the steering wheel, so i hit it often enoughon the BMW, but this time i somehow hit it so that the washer pump engaged....and started squirting onto my windshield wiper-less windshield...and did not stop running until it ran out of water!

i had to pull over and pull the wires to shut it off!!


oh, man....good times. tomorrow: washer pump relay?

[rodrigo]

woohoo!!
the blower area is complete! what a pain in the butt to get in there! everything was vaccuumed (including the heater core) and the baffles were wiped down. all the ratty insulation on the flaps was replaced with epdm seals. everything is back together and everything works, except the A/C...which I have to find the reason why.

this coming week I should have the rear shelf and brake light delete complete. i am also waiting for the dealer to get me a few 'body nuts' for installing the center consoles.

its so close....i can feel it!

thanks everyone for your continued help!

[rodrigo]

thats right: EPDM vent re-circulator flap seals!!




:D

[rodrigo]

PM Sent!

[el bob]

Wow looks great! It would be cool to meet up if you are anywhere around Port Washington. We've got two turbo cars here that can go fast, but don't look nearly as nice as yours! Maybe we could help each other out :D

[rodrigo]

Update!!

more pictures...blacked out most of the shadowline this weekend, and the door panels are in.















...also went back to the black door handles. :)