E30 Rally Build Thread

[MasterOfPuppets]

Grille treatment

So, having decided on a color scheme for the car, I went ahead and painted the various parts of the grille. First, since I was going to be using bright colors, I sprayed the little body panel between the bumper and the grille satin black.



I then painted the grille pieces in blue, orange, and satin black:



Bolted on to the car, the whole thing looks like this:




Or, with the camera flash,



I still need to paint the valence and everything below the belt line, so the car will be much more black by the time its done. I think the blue-orange combo will be distinctive and just ridiculous enough for a rally car.

Also, I tried out rustoleum flat black on the dash, and it's still way too reflective. I'm ordering a cheapo flocking kit fron donjer.com and will do that next week along with finishing the roof vent and patch.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Under dash boxes

Since I have the dash off, I have easy access to remove unnecessary crap from underneath. So, in the interest of doing so, can someone help me identify the four ECU-esque boxes under the dash? There are two on each side, numbered in the picture below. It's hard to see the ones on the passenger side, but one is quite large (1" x 5" x 10") and one is smaller, bolted to the bigger one. I assume at least one or two of the four deal with sound system or safety and can be removed, but which ones?

Pointers to a good reference will be gratefully accepted.

[Danny]

Remind us what year and model the car is, please.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Remind us what year and model the car is, please.

Ah, of course... 1989 325is. Had the premium sound system if that matters.

[iamsam]

Mike, I would say the ones on the driver's side you can try and unplug and then run the car, I honestly don't know what they all are, but the one on the passenger side inside the glove box area is the ECU, the ECU has a huge plug plugged in the back with like 30 pins or something like that, and it should say "Motronic" on it somewhere.

[SlapDash]

On the ECU side I think is the ABS brain. The other is a cruise control brain. Not sure what No. 1 in the pic is. Central locking?

I pulled the ABS and cruise brains and wiring from mine.

Also, playing with the rally car Wednesday, so I'll post some cage pics then...

[MasterOfPuppets]

On the ECU side I think is the ABS brain. The other is a cruise control brain. Not sure what No. 1 in the pic is. Central locking?

I pulled the ABS and cruise brains and wiring from mine.

Also, playing with the rally car Wednesday, so I'll post some cage pics then...

Hmmm... methinks I'll have to try the "pull one and try to start the car" method. And I eagerly await pics of the cage.

[jasonsnoddy]

Interested in seeing your suspension. I'm building a play e30 for dirt with truck tires, and id like to use the e36 springs if they are a bit higher

[downforce22]

Sweet build, interested to see how it comes out.

Have you seen the '318' rally car? I saw it at pikes peak international hill climb last summer



Also the hood vent it interesting lol I like the grills though, reminds me of this

[SlapDash]

iamcreepingdeath is right. The ECU should say "Motronic" on it and it has a huge plug in the back with a metal clamp that holds it in. You can pull all the rest.

[matt0300]

Idk about 1. 2 is for abs can't tell what three is supposed to represent 4 is dme.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Idk about 1. 2 is for abs can't tell what three is supposed to represent 4 is dme.

Fooled around with it a bit today. Whatever 1 is, the car won't start without it. It only has six wires going to it and feels like an empty plastic box. Checked the Bentley and nothing seems to make sense . Removed 2, had no effect since my ABS is already disabled. Removed 3 (little one attached to the ECU), definitely cruise control. Also pulled every other shred of the CC system from the car; if anyone wants to up-convert their E30 to have cruise I have a 100% complete, functional system, including all wires and fasteners. And I confirmed that 4 is the ECU, labeled "Motronic."

Have to take the car to the DMV tomorrow to transfer the title, which involves a VIN inspection. The VIN plate is on the dash; the dash which will be sitting unattached where the passenger seat used to be. Hopefully the ghettoness of Albuquerque will save the day and I'll get the title anyways.

[iamsam]

I would actually like to be a fly on the wall when you attempt to get this thing registered. I can't imagine what sort of hilarity will ensue by the sheer shock, confusion, and awe of the NM DMV workers when they look at your car.

[SlapDash]

I would actually like to be a fly on the wall when you attempt to get this thing registered. I can't imagine what sort of hilarity will ensue by the sheer shock, confusion, and awe of the NM DMV workers when they look at your car.

I am thinking the same. Are you driving the car to the DMV? I would at least stick the dash and cluster back in with zip ties if you can.

And the little black box may be an aftermarket alarm/ignition disabler. I had something similar on a parts car. The plastic was chintzy though, so I could tell it wasn't original.

Either way, good luck with the DMV. Keep us posted!

[MasterOfPuppets]

So I get the chick at the DMV to go outside for the VIN inspection. She starts her walk-around of the car, seemingly checking for lights. She gets to the front, points to the hood pins, and frowns. "What are these?"

Me: "Hood pins, they hold the hood closed."

Her: "Why?"

And it was all downhill from there. When she got to the VIN-checking part, she leaned into the drivers door and stared silently at the lack-of-dash for 20 seconds, no joke. I then explained that the VIN plate was in the passenger seat attached to the dash, or that she could check the stickers on the doors. She had no issue with that whatsoever. Then she did the same staring-at-the-dash trick when she had to check the mileage. I explained that the odometer was at home on the kitchen table but that she could just mark it "not actual mileage/inoperable." She had no problem with that either. Finally, she asked if I had a license plate number. I responded "no." She was momentarily confused but accepted it and we headed back inside to wrap up the paperwork. She had already given me the total and I was about to pay when she had to ask her boss how to enter the broken odo... the supervisor asked why she couldn't read it and it all fell apart when she found out the VIN and odo had been removed from the car. I kindly offered to go out and wedge the dash back in place, but they failed to see how that is no different than having left it on in the first place. Bottom line, I'll have to screw the dash back to the car in order to get the title. But it was sure fun to try (and waste an hour of my life :curse:).