Alpine Redemption

[AWDBOB]

If you've followed the hooptie journey at all you may remember the infamous "Texas Holdem", a rust free fresh paint white late 325iS I had shipped in from TX that "just needed a few small things". I lost a year of free time to that car after it turned out to be a basket case. After moving that car along I had a broken spirit, but the void for a nicer coupe remained.

A few weeks ago a buddy in southern IN reached out saying his brother's Alpine over Cardinal '87 325iS might be available soon, and that I should come down and take a look.

He sent a few photos and I did just that.

It has been sitting for a while after the engine mounts failed and oil pan cracked being loaded onto the transport truck, so it's desperate for a detail.

I'm going to put the correct transmission in the car and clean it up over winter to see what we might have.

The car is rust free and has mostly original paint as far as I can tell. I looked it over pretty extensively for accident damage and found nothing.

They already did Konis/H&Rs, staggered Alpina wheels, and generally looked after the car pretty well.

Pretty excited to get this project underway! I figured this one deserved its own thread.

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr

[2mAn]

87 325is > M3

[iXguido]

Subbed for some early model alpine love

[JasonWilson48]

87 325is > M3

Step 1: Buy another hooptie
Step 2: Have it take up all your time
Step 3: Let currently owned M3 and other E30s sit idle until they require more work from not being driven enough
Step 4: Repeat step 1
Step 5: Profit?

[AWDBOB]

87 325is > M3

Step 1: Buy another hooptie
Step 2: Have it take up all your time
Step 3: Let currently owned M3 and other E30s sit idle until they require more work from not being driven enough
Step 4: Repeat step 1
Step 5: Profit?

I'd first like to point out that I very much deserve this

HOWEVER

I finished the 318 that I m20 swapped and sold it to a buddy cheap who wanted a coupety

Fixed the fuel leak on my main '89 iS hooptie and drive it often

and work on the M3 weekly, just waiting on the rear sub and new fuel tank from powder before it's a roller again. No progress to report from machine shop unfortunately but I knew it'd be slow going into it.

[AWDBOB]

Was going to wait until the weekend but got excited and had some time tonight so I replaced the oil pan/engine mounts, removed the control arms, and placed a parts order for the manual swap and suspension stuff. If I'm feeling jazzy this weekend I'll pull the auto trans and start prepping for the manual swap while I wait on parts.

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr

[dirty30]

White suits these cars so well! That looks like a nice car and cardinal red interior to boot, awesome car.

[AWDBOB]

White suits these cars so well! That looks like a nice car and cardinal red interior to boot, awesome car.

Agreed! So many white cars were ordered with tan interior for whatever reason. Alpine/Cardinal is timeless

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Hope y'all don't mind daily updates while I'm making progress.

Tore down the timing belt system because I always seem to find a mystery.

The timing cover was keeping the belt on due to a 2020 INA tensioner stamp failing. Belt was also not tensioned properly. Slack could've cause excessive force on the tensioner causing it to fail prematurely? Not sure, glad I didn't drive it before doing this. Water pump was replaced at the same time and was developing radial play. Human error + shite parts

Bonus, m10/s14 a/c compressor with kustom provisions

You can see the slack by the tensioner:

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr




loose goose

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr






Ridin dirty


Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr




Adaptations

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr




I had to pull exhaust and driveshaft, what's a few more bolts

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr

[2mAn]

Hope y'all don't mind daily updates while I'm making progress.

Mind it? I encourage it! Get that swap done ASAP

[AWDBOB]

Mind it? I encourage it! Get that swap done ASAP

Final weekend update.... I've gone further off course, but at least it's all shiny now

Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr

[Panici]

Subframe dropped already, you don't waste any time!

Following. Looking forward to the manual swap.

[dirty30]

I should do this to the vert I have apart but godddamit I hate doing those bushings lol

[AWDBOB]

Subframe dropped already, you don't waste any time!

Following. Looking forward to the manual swap.

I'm trying to ride the new car momentum wave as long as I can! Me too, a manual will really help this car out.

I should do this to the vert I have apart but godddamit I hate doing those bushings lol

I have the Forsvara subframe bushing tool and AKG trailing arm bushing tool- both make the job a breeze to remove/install! Would highly recommend them both

I've found the Febi trailing arm bushings are 1-2mm too big and don't install like they should. I switched to Meyle the last few times and they went in much easier.


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I told myself I'd only redo the subframe if I could get it back in same day. Once everything was out I started painting stuff which delayed me by a day, but two days to do all of this isn't bad. The factory coating was coming off of the brake lines above the subframe/fuel tank, so I cleaned/painted them. Replaced hardware with nicer spares where I could, all new Corteco soft lines, and its back in!

I also got the exhaust, auto trans lines, etc removed so all that's left are bellhousing bolts before I can drop the auto out.


Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr
Untitled by bimmertown, on Flickr