1991 BMW 325i Coupe - Build Thread - The end is in sight!

[MaksV]

Looks like a solid car & you're already off to a good start.

One thing I'd suggest is dying the interior carpet black or dark gray to flow with the seats better.

thats a good idea. Gonna add that to thelist thanks.

[MaksV]

Update: Voltage regulator is in process of being ordered and will replace that ASAP. got more bolts but didnt hvae time to bolt the driver side in. for whatever reason it is threade for 3/8" coarse rather than a metric size. No clue why. Also found out driver side seat does not want to recline at all. not sure why. gonna find out though.

[MaksV]

A mini update.

- Gave the leather seats another treatment of leather conditioner. and armoralled everything. It was thirsty - sucked it right up. Since the car can chill in the garage in the next few days I am gonna use this time to get them nice and supple.
-pulled the shitty voltage regulator - picture tells the whole story. got 13.3V w/ no increase at reving after I put it back. New one is on its way. thanks Steve from blunt tech.
- battery is almost back to 100% - another 24 hours and it will be fully charged again. no rush.
- got a few more pics of the car for you guys.
-:censor: Front seat now stuck in full recline - POS is broken, got it back to driving state but I want a new seat.

Battery charging


a few interior shots





the culprit - original voltage regulator


engine bay


a few inside garage exterior shots





and her brother (the more reliably of the two ATM)

[MaksV]

So time for another little update.

-Replaced the Voltage regulator - charging still isnt in the high 13s yet, but it seems to be around 13.5V and working ok, I believe its trying to recharge the battery first. will keep investigating
-----Thanks Steve at Blunt Tech.
-Put in a ZHP knob - best interior mod ever
-----Thanks Jason and Even at Tischer for the great deal.

Pictures:

New voltage regulator


New vs old


And I managed to strip a screw :censor:


Couldnt find a replacement in my garage that fit right, so I did the Phillips to Flathead conversion


Are you too good for your hole? thankfully not.


I wonder whats in here?


busted old knob


the definition of happiness


And a few more exterior shots I remembered to take:







Do not like the full recline, need race seat. Please help

[MaksV]

ok so the op is updated with a new list including pn and prices, as well as vendors and manufacturers. give people a better idea of what it costs to build a car like this.

[N2MYE30]

Nice project car and I dig the color. :)

[MaksV]

hhaha thanks. I love the color. just gotta get around to blackingout some of that chrome.

[MaksV]

well I got the seat fixed. Just disassembled it and reassembled it and now it works. ohh well problem solved.

[worangejuice]

WOW!
Kudos on the spreadsheet :)
Really shows how much goes into a car, when it looks seemingly stock :)

[MaksV]

WOW!
Kudos on the spreadsheet :)
Really shows how much goes into a car, when it looks seemingly stock :)

haha
the car IS stock. The list is gonna mostly happen over winterbreak. :)

[MaksV]

a little bitty update. Basically i think I am just gonna donate a few hours a day to the car so there should be some more updates soon.

Anyway for today
-begin painting tailights all red
-explore audio options
-explore pile of junk I got with the car

Tails:
materials:

stock


forcast predicts rain tnght/tmrw


Step 1: wash


Step 2: Prep
step 3:Candy Apple Red :thumbsup:

Step 4: clear gloss


Audio:
Current ok headunit - nothing wrong just kinda old

Professional head unit removal tools :rofl: but seriously these work better than any professional tool. Just cut up a coat hanger

Instead of using stock speaker wiring they ran their own. the question is why? guess the only way to find out is to hook up the stock wires to the new speaker and new headunit


So couple of audio questions:
Do my stock wires work?
How do I get to the rear speakers - the speaker protector things dont seem to wanna come off?
Does this newer headunit that was included with the car work?

I am probably gonna use crimps to put the new harness in and test the headunit first - if all is well I will return to stock wires.....

Exploration time:

Newish steering wheel - mine bends and flexes - this one does not....


Extra head I got with purchase - upon inspection it needs a new cam - there is wear on a single lobe so that means one of the oil tunnels is probably jammed. Probably going to get a new cam and rebuild this head and swap it over. If i let it sit in brake cleaner bath + compressed air I should be able to clean the head out right?



My box of misc junk - need to sort through that as well:

[MaksV]

ok the last update for the weekend.

First a couple of questions (e30 guys chime in plz):

1. The drain tube from the battery - it is supposed to run to the outside world, mine ends at a connector which means that if for some reason if it starts to overflow its gonna put a bunch of acid inside my fender - which will destroy my fender. How is it supposed to be properly routed?
2. How to get to the rear speakers? I still cant get the grill covers off. is there some screws somewhere?

Ok update time....

Pictures of Red tails mounted:



Installed a newer headunit. Very happy :)

new headunit



the new headunit went in great. Now I have Aux in and a much cleaner looking and working display. That means the old one goes for sale.


I also finished sorting through the box of stuff I got with it, a lot of it is going for sale if you like e30 stuff look here.

But I have a few questions:

What is this?


how about this(the silver curved metal bracket thing- the black is a plate holder)?



The previous owner installed new Bremi wires but not the distributor cap..... this will go on when I get ready to take engine apart

[Bimmerista]

Thats an exhaust hanger. Keeps your exhaust from hanging too low and moving around.

[MaksV]

That helps thanks. Where does it go? at the muffler? or further forward? is the silver bracket thing to hold the muffler by any chance?

[DREWHALL]

Doughnut thing attaches the bracket to the car. Bracket goes around muffler. Hopefully that clearcoat doesn't wear out in the weather. Car looks good so far!