1989 325i sedan build thread!

[JrCamacho]

June 8:

Went pick-a-part shopping and came up with the following:

-Front valence in excellent shape
-late model fuel tank with pump
-dashboard with no cracks
-great condition brake booster with master cylinder and reservoir
-tweeter pods
-new coil
-OBC computer (some box that the OBC connects to)
-driver's side dome light and plastic bracket YEAH!!
-late model hood cover (not the 3-piece, the 1-piece)
-two window motors
-fuel filter bracket
-instrument cluster surround


these things need to get into my car!!! haha

on a side note, my car is STILL failing emissions.. NO(x) is my enemy! I don't know if its due to the excess oil blowby in the intake, i don't know if its the head gasket or if the rings are bad, i don't want to pull the head yet since i need the car for my DD.

[JrCamacho]

Sorry it took so long to get pics up.. but here they are!

Old dash is looking cracked and tired!



New dash cleaned and ready for install!


Dash removed, omg wiring!



I found out that the stock BMW wire harness wrap gets very brittle and rips easily after 20+years.. so i actually went through and re-wrapped alot of the loom on every harness that was falling apart. Not to mention i vacuumed and cleaned everything under the dash.. as 20 year old dust is GRIMEY!!


Fitting the new dash:


oops! messed up the A-Pillar!


Routing wires:


Here you can KINDA see where i was taping up the harness'


BOLTED IN!



Finished!


Still need this kick panel :|


Dozy and Miller cleaning and treating the vinyl!



Dozy's e30 that needs some lovin!


Heres an outside pic of the new valence and my custom lip!

[JrCamacho]

sorry for the slow updates! I've been working my ass off at work trying to get promoted, so majority of my time is going to work and the girl

Recently what ive done:
-Replaced brake booster
-replaced master cylinder with all seals
-replaced brake reservoir seals
-re-bled the brakes
-Made a custom bracket for the Cone-filter


But this is whats coming up/parts purchased/ordered!
-New-to-me M20b25 engine (130k miles)
-New-to-me appropriate year (88+) fuel tank
-New fuel filter
-Fuel Filter bracket
-Vogtland Racing springs
-New Strut Tower bearings
-Driver side fog light (mine was sanded previously to remove overspray.. and now its hazy)
-Exhaust Gaskets
-BMW Coolant
-Side Repeater installation

Things that im looking at in the future:
-5spd swap parts (still need trans/driveshaft/Clutch)
-Euro Trim
-Euro Grills
-Hella Smoked Ellipsoid conversion
-Side Skirts (Taurus/IS skirts)
-14" basketweaves or 16" ESM BBS knockoffs

Hopefully once i get this Promotion at work the car will start getting updated more frequently!!!

[JrCamacho]

So this is pretty much up-to-date with how my car sits right now. I'll get pictures of her current state as soon as possible.

[JrCamacho]

Update update update!

11.3.2011

A lot of the game has changed for this e30 since i have purchased it earlier this year!

I recently have modified a pair of Taurus side skirts to fit on the e30 along with doing some DIY Euro trim. Turned out pretty darn good for the price!

Also since the last updates, the car has gotten:

Bilstein Sport struts/shocks
Vogtland Racing springs
Maplight mirror
Volvo Lip
Black Leather Sport seats

anyways, i washed her up and decided to go for a night shoot at a local parking garage. (top floor)

















opinions/comments?

What i have planned for 2012!

-m/s52 OBD1 swap
-5-speed swap
-new wheels
-complete black interior

[JrCamacho]

im the only one talking to myself in this thread. boo

[GDA]

Props on the continual progress from day 1... car has really been transformed.

Oh, don't settle on your 2012 to do list... go for the S50/S52!

Silver sedans FTW!

[WUGcatsvt]

Looks great. How is the cut off line with those headlights? Im thinking about doing a similar set up with my headlights.

[JrCamacho]

Surprisingly, the cutoff on the OEM ellipsoids are stellar! I wish the clarity or brightness was up there, I do have 6k HID's, however i feel like i should have opted for the 55w kit over the 35w. As far as light output, i have compared smilies to these, and its similar.

But then again, the lenses are pitted, they are definitely due for a polish! I need some Cerium Oxide and some felt scrubbers, I'll post up my DIY on it soon.


First thing up on my to-do list is 5-speed swap. This autotragic is slowly dying (1st gear hangs up to 6k rpm on first drives) and is very sloppy with shifts. I need the trans and selector rods, i have mostly everything else.

[FunfGan]

Awesome work! I would suggest flipping the Volvo lip though, I did that on mine and it looked much much better. Keep it up.

[e30shmobberr]

nice job, and welcome

[JrCamacho]

Awesome work! I would suggest flipping the Volvo lip though, I did that on mine and it looked much much better. Keep it up.

I have had that commented to me before.

I like how when its "upside down" it almost has the same characteristics of a IS lip, and to be honest, its only there right now until i get an IS lip. for $2.50 at the yard, i can't complain. And i would flip it over, however i have already drilled holes this way and have it secured rather well.

and... at lunch today i noticed that my passenger rear window stopped responding, swapped some switches around to no avail.. looks like ANOTHER window motor to replace (at least its easy to do.. since i have gone over it with the driver side rear) Which was rather funny since i never noticed TILL i replaced that motor, the window was held up with clear caulk at the top.. LOL thank god that window works now.

[Nick Blais]

That's exactly how the tips of my exhaust looked like when I bought my car. Got some cheap shitty tips from advanced auto. New IE exhaust coming soon! Your Car looks great!

[MattAvino]

The rust in the motor/coolant, is that a result of a faulty ground causing electrolysis? which ground cable is to blame?

[GDA]

I have had that commented to me before.

I like how when its "upside down" it almost has the same characteristics of a IS lip, and to be honest, its only there right now until i get an IS lip. for $2.50 at the yard, i can't complain. And i would flip it over, however i have already drilled holes this way and have it secured rather well.

and... at lunch today i noticed that my passenger rear window stopped responding, swapped some switches around to no avail.. looks like ANOTHER window motor to replace (at least its easy to do.. since i have gone over it with the driver side rear) Which was rather funny since i never noticed TILL i replaced that motor, the window was held up with clear caulk at the top.. LOL thank god that window works now.

Before you pull and swap the window motor make sure the wiring is good as it passes from the B pillar through the door frame and to the regulator.

Don't need to ask how I know this...