My 325e Build Thread
The History:
I bought the car on a whim in June of 2009, I wasn't looking for a second car I just love browsing Craigslist. Anyway, it was a two owner car. The man I bought it from had it since 1991. He did a lot of maintenance work both, good and bad.
1986 325 M20B27
Bronzit on Houndstooth
5 speed
186,000 miles
The car was repainted about two years ago, unprofessionally in a garage, black. The repaint was due to a lot of faded bronzit and a truck rolling into the front of the car on a hill. The clutch was replaced and all four corners got new brake pads and rotors. No brake pad senors though. The car came equipped with one option... BMW wind visor for the sunroof, a $220 option back in 86.
I test drove it and was really impressed, no leaks, no funny business.
My girl friend and I named him Charlie on the drive home. He was welcomed in to the family with open arms.
Cleaning Him Up
After we brought him home a wash and wax was in order.
Note: Bronzit under-bumper areas front and rear.
Next was a thorough interior cleaning. I don't have very many pictures of this but it was dirty as hell and I made it clean again. :D
I ditched those cheap seat covers, the dashboard cover, the floor mats and that nasty shift knob. I am now rocking an OEM BMW wooden shift knob with 5spd insert, no dash cover and no seat covers.
I had the carpet and seats professionally shampooed (HAHAH only cost me $22!) That made a big difference, but I don't have any pics to prove it. :headbang:
It was about a month after I bought the car it started leaking power steering fluid...badly. Which required a new PS rack. $110.00 + $220.00 for install. (I know I should have upgraded to a E36 rack, but money was tight at the time)
I sprayed the front and rear under bumper areas black, clear front lights were on - $44 and I had a creative moment of clarity and painted the headlight yellow.
Then came blacked out kidney grills and a euro plate.
It was love. That sticker has since been replaced with a new and improved design.
I found a local E30 parts car that willingly donated its IS trunk lip, cruise control unit and blinker switch.
Christmas 2009
This was a bad start to anyones christmas morning... It was mostly due to ice buy my speed and worn out tires sealed the deal.
I ended up hitting a small tree :oops: Here is the Damage.
April 2010
I bent a bottle cap from hitting a curb in the snow back in January 2010. So I picked this bad boy up for $20 to replace the bent one.
It looks pretty gross, but it cleaned up pretty well. I have thoughts of refinishing all my bottle caps in the near future. Just for fun.
I also came across a new chrome grill to replace my shitty broken blacked out grill.
Late Spring 2009
I found some doors.
Along with:
New Pedal pads
A new glove box latch
New tail light gaskets
Just in case you've never seen a new tail light gasket. : /
Still waiting to be installed are:
New front and rear brake pad sensors
Valve cover gasket
I tightened up my e-brake, reattached the parking brake light, cleaned the car inside and out.
It was a good weekend.
Early June
First, I replaced all three belts.
Then, I bought a set of IX weaves with tires and a M20B25 Valve cover.
Then, I cleaned them up.
Here is the valve cover which was sand blasted prior to purchase. $20.
The weaves.
Its amazing how clean they got, and in all honesty I didn't clean them that well. I was so surprised to see how good they looked afterward.
I bought the car on a whim in June of 2009, I wasn't looking for a second car I just love browsing Craigslist. Anyway, it was a two owner car. The man I bought it from had it since 1991. He did a lot of maintenance work both, good and bad.
1986 325 M20B27
Bronzit on Houndstooth
5 speed
186,000 miles
The car was repainted about two years ago, unprofessionally in a garage, black. The repaint was due to a lot of faded bronzit and a truck rolling into the front of the car on a hill. The clutch was replaced and all four corners got new brake pads and rotors. No brake pad senors though. The car came equipped with one option... BMW wind visor for the sunroof, a $220 option back in 86.
I test drove it and was really impressed, no leaks, no funny business.
My girl friend and I named him Charlie on the drive home. He was welcomed in to the family with open arms.
Cleaning Him Up
After we brought him home a wash and wax was in order.
Note: Bronzit under-bumper areas front and rear.
Next was a thorough interior cleaning. I don't have very many pictures of this but it was dirty as hell and I made it clean again. :D
I ditched those cheap seat covers, the dashboard cover, the floor mats and that nasty shift knob. I am now rocking an OEM BMW wooden shift knob with 5spd insert, no dash cover and no seat covers.
I had the carpet and seats professionally shampooed (HAHAH only cost me $22!) That made a big difference, but I don't have any pics to prove it. :headbang:
It was about a month after I bought the car it started leaking power steering fluid...badly. Which required a new PS rack. $110.00 + $220.00 for install. (I know I should have upgraded to a E36 rack, but money was tight at the time)
I sprayed the front and rear under bumper areas black, clear front lights were on - $44 and I had a creative moment of clarity and painted the headlight yellow.
Then came blacked out kidney grills and a euro plate.
It was love. That sticker has since been replaced with a new and improved design.
I found a local E30 parts car that willingly donated its IS trunk lip, cruise control unit and blinker switch.
Christmas 2009
This was a bad start to anyones christmas morning... It was mostly due to ice buy my speed and worn out tires sealed the deal.
I ended up hitting a small tree :oops: Here is the Damage.
April 2010
I bent a bottle cap from hitting a curb in the snow back in January 2010. So I picked this bad boy up for $20 to replace the bent one.
It looks pretty gross, but it cleaned up pretty well. I have thoughts of refinishing all my bottle caps in the near future. Just for fun.
I also came across a new chrome grill to replace my shitty broken blacked out grill.
Late Spring 2009
I found some doors.
Along with:
New Pedal pads
A new glove box latch
New tail light gaskets
Just in case you've never seen a new tail light gasket. : /
Still waiting to be installed are:
New front and rear brake pad sensors
Valve cover gasket
I tightened up my e-brake, reattached the parking brake light, cleaned the car inside and out.
It was a good weekend.
Early June
First, I replaced all three belts.
Then, I bought a set of IX weaves with tires and a M20B25 Valve cover.
Then, I cleaned them up.
Here is the valve cover which was sand blasted prior to purchase. $20.
The weaves.
Its amazing how clean they got, and in all honesty I didn't clean them that well. I was so surprised to see how good they looked afterward.
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