***Editors Note: I typically don't feature cars that dont have build threads because thats usually how I choose my car of the month. By watching the build, the process and the headaches/ love/ joy etc that comes with all of that. This car is an exception. Ive seen its progress, usually subtly shared here and there. Then I slid into the DMs and discovered what a gem this car really was and decided to feature it once I got the collection of pics. I've been sitting on this one for a few months because I was waiting for the right moment, and after a long labor day weekend, its obvious that this was his moment. Congrats to cirrusblue, you're our 2019 Car of the Month!***
Factory options:
ABS, Sunroof, power windows, 5spd, 2.7 ETA, central locks, AM/FM Cassette, fog lamps
Color:
CirrusBlau Metallic / re-spray late 90’s
Interior color:
Pearl Beige
Engine modifications:
Turner 91 oct. chip, BavRest grounding cables, powder coated valve cover, extensive mechanical refresh - timing belt, AFM, engine sensors, radiator, hoses, wires, radiator, alternator, fuel pumps, fuel regulator, cleaned injectors, etc.
Exhaust:
New OEM cat, ANSA exhaust
Transmission:
Stock, Synthetic Fluids, rebuilt shifter bushings etc., Garagistic DSSR
Differential:
3.25 40% LSD reman
Suspension:
Koni Sport shocks, H&R OE Sport springs, H&R sway bars, UUC front strut bar, Garagistic rear strut bar, new control arms, bushings all around - poly + rubber, UUC skid plate, E36 steering rack, Subframe reinforcements, Shock Tower reinforcements
Wheels:
14’’ Hartge Vintage, 15’’ Kopi ‘Alpina’, 14’’ Basketweaves, 10.5mm/15mm spacers
Exterior modifications:
ES front valance + rebuilt fog baskets + air ducts, IS side skirts, Racing Dynamics rear apron w/ exhaust exit mod, new window lockstrips, H4 headlight system
Interior modifications:
New Dashboard (OEM 2015), Vinyl Sport Seats (ebay Waltade), OEM radio with custom AUX in, upgraded front + premium sound rears in baskets, MTech1 tri-stitched wheel, custom shift boot, Rebuilt Cluster (BavRest) w/ red needles, leather tri-stitched door pulls, Window 1 touch circuit (E30IG), OEM BMW car phone (cosmetique only), mirror radar mount with 12v power, zhp shift knob, cocomats “checkers collection”, LED interior cabin light bulbs
Story behind the car:
My car, Greta - is a family story. My dad had a worn 1975 530i that we got at a gas station and fixed up many years ago. He loved it. One day it was trashed by a teenage driver in the neighborhood who didn’t stop at at a stop sign and t-boned him. My dad was so pissed, he did something he had never done. He took the accident money and put a down payment on a new car. A 1987 325. He was pretty tight with money, so this was a very big deal. The car was base spec, but came with power windows, sun roof, ABS and a Motronic management system.
Many forget that the 325e was the first 6 cylinder 3 Series to come to North America. Before that it was just the 4 cyl 318i and prior to that the 4 cylinder E21 which was pretty choked out with emissions equipment. Everyone was waiting for a 6 cylinder model to come out. This car was very refined and pretty unique at the time. I think the 325i and M3 debuted that year or very close to it.
My dad was so proud of the car, he maintained it like it was priceless. I have a book with every oil change for the first 200K miles. Eventually years went by and it was a 25 year old car with 220K and was worn out. He drove it across country a few times and all over. My dad passed away suddenly and I had the car shipped to me in a pretty worn out condition. It had gotten lots of maintenance early in it’s life, but the last 10-15 years, it basically sat in a hot garage in North Florida, with a dead battery, suffering heat damage. Everything was dried out. The dash was cracked in many spots. Tons of little temporary hack fixes became clear to me after looking closely. However, nothing had been messed with, it was just old and tired with a rusty battery box.
I got on R3V, learned a bunch, and started a process of breaking down each sub-system for refurbishment and enhancement. I sourced the parts, and did a lot of the cosmetic and interior work. I did some of the mechanical restoration. What I couldn’t do, or needed a lift or proper mechanic for, I took to an indy BMW shop in Lexington, MA (Auto Engineering).
Every time I touched something I found something else and it took me almost 4 years to go all the way around the car, and through each system and get to a point where I was mainly just looking at body kit enhancements. The idea was to do a slightly modified car, but keep with the spirit of the chrome and diving board era. If any OEM enhancements existed my car didn’t have stock, I was interested in it. That 80’s style means something to me, I remember all the cars of that period. Instead of swapping bumpers, I kept them in tact and worked around it. I added lots of subtle M colored leather trim. After a while, I just finally decided to do whatever I felt like. It’s now finally mine!
Greta = “Grand”- ETA
Factory options:
ABS, Sunroof, power windows, 5spd, 2.7 ETA, central locks, AM/FM Cassette, fog lamps
Color:
CirrusBlau Metallic / re-spray late 90’s
Interior color:
Pearl Beige
Engine modifications:
Turner 91 oct. chip, BavRest grounding cables, powder coated valve cover, extensive mechanical refresh - timing belt, AFM, engine sensors, radiator, hoses, wires, radiator, alternator, fuel pumps, fuel regulator, cleaned injectors, etc.
Exhaust:
New OEM cat, ANSA exhaust
Transmission:
Stock, Synthetic Fluids, rebuilt shifter bushings etc., Garagistic DSSR
Differential:
3.25 40% LSD reman
Suspension:
Koni Sport shocks, H&R OE Sport springs, H&R sway bars, UUC front strut bar, Garagistic rear strut bar, new control arms, bushings all around - poly + rubber, UUC skid plate, E36 steering rack, Subframe reinforcements, Shock Tower reinforcements
Wheels:
14’’ Hartge Vintage, 15’’ Kopi ‘Alpina’, 14’’ Basketweaves, 10.5mm/15mm spacers
Exterior modifications:
ES front valance + rebuilt fog baskets + air ducts, IS side skirts, Racing Dynamics rear apron w/ exhaust exit mod, new window lockstrips, H4 headlight system
Interior modifications:
New Dashboard (OEM 2015), Vinyl Sport Seats (ebay Waltade), OEM radio with custom AUX in, upgraded front + premium sound rears in baskets, MTech1 tri-stitched wheel, custom shift boot, Rebuilt Cluster (BavRest) w/ red needles, leather tri-stitched door pulls, Window 1 touch circuit (E30IG), OEM BMW car phone (cosmetique only), mirror radar mount with 12v power, zhp shift knob, cocomats “checkers collection”, LED interior cabin light bulbs
Story behind the car:
My car, Greta - is a family story. My dad had a worn 1975 530i that we got at a gas station and fixed up many years ago. He loved it. One day it was trashed by a teenage driver in the neighborhood who didn’t stop at at a stop sign and t-boned him. My dad was so pissed, he did something he had never done. He took the accident money and put a down payment on a new car. A 1987 325. He was pretty tight with money, so this was a very big deal. The car was base spec, but came with power windows, sun roof, ABS and a Motronic management system.
Many forget that the 325e was the first 6 cylinder 3 Series to come to North America. Before that it was just the 4 cyl 318i and prior to that the 4 cylinder E21 which was pretty choked out with emissions equipment. Everyone was waiting for a 6 cylinder model to come out. This car was very refined and pretty unique at the time. I think the 325i and M3 debuted that year or very close to it.
My dad was so proud of the car, he maintained it like it was priceless. I have a book with every oil change for the first 200K miles. Eventually years went by and it was a 25 year old car with 220K and was worn out. He drove it across country a few times and all over. My dad passed away suddenly and I had the car shipped to me in a pretty worn out condition. It had gotten lots of maintenance early in it’s life, but the last 10-15 years, it basically sat in a hot garage in North Florida, with a dead battery, suffering heat damage. Everything was dried out. The dash was cracked in many spots. Tons of little temporary hack fixes became clear to me after looking closely. However, nothing had been messed with, it was just old and tired with a rusty battery box.
I got on R3V, learned a bunch, and started a process of breaking down each sub-system for refurbishment and enhancement. I sourced the parts, and did a lot of the cosmetic and interior work. I did some of the mechanical restoration. What I couldn’t do, or needed a lift or proper mechanic for, I took to an indy BMW shop in Lexington, MA (Auto Engineering).
Every time I touched something I found something else and it took me almost 4 years to go all the way around the car, and through each system and get to a point where I was mainly just looking at body kit enhancements. The idea was to do a slightly modified car, but keep with the spirit of the chrome and diving board era. If any OEM enhancements existed my car didn’t have stock, I was interested in it. That 80’s style means something to me, I remember all the cars of that period. Instead of swapping bumpers, I kept them in tact and worked around it. I added lots of subtle M colored leather trim. After a while, I just finally decided to do whatever I felt like. It’s now finally mine!
Greta = “Grand”- ETA
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