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'87 325is build/restoration

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    '87 325is build/restoration

    Here's my latest project. I had an '89 325i that was rotted to hell and back, so I found this on my BMW board. The guy I bought it from pulled the engine and trans, and the previous owner before him, pulled the seats and door cards. I picked up the shell before it went to the scrap yard. It turns out the car is 100% rust free which isn't easy to find here in Ohio especially, it looks like it was a western car. I've been collecting parts for it as I'm going, low mileage swap from an automatic so I know it most likely hasn't been beat or over revved, set of 16x7 et11 BBS RS's, full houndstooth interior which SEVERELY needs to be cleaned, Nardi wheel, tons of extra part and boxes of new BMW OEM parts and hardware. Pretty much any bolt that comes off is being replaced by a new one.

    So far I buffed the paint out, and it REALLY came out great, looks damn near new. I found a factory paint Zinno driver fender as the one I had was hit in the very front. At night it looks a shade darker, but in the daylight it's pretty much a dead match. The car and the new fender are factory BMW paint, 138/3 Zinnoberrot, that's all I care about.

    I replaced all the sound deadening on the firewall with aluminum heat mat, looks a lot better than the shit that was falling off and cracked.

    The brake booster I replaced with a Porsche 944 unit, deleted the ABS and put in a new master cylinder. '89 RX7 Turbo brakes will be going up front with Corrodo rotors.

    I pulled all the plastic around the bumpers and redid it with SEM Flexible Bumper Coater, made my own Euro style grills and shot them with SEM Trim Black and cleaned up the bumpers, YES they will be staying, and no I will not be tucking them haha.

    Well on to the pictures fellas. Hope you enjoy the build!





















    Last edited by bacain32; 01-21-2012, 12:15 AM.


    '97 M3 LS3 V8, '90 S54 325i, '90 325i touring, '99 540i touring, '94 325is

    #2
    Ugh wish i could find a deal like that around here. Looks like a great start
    1985 325e M50TU(Sold)
    1991 318is Slicktop (Sold)
    1990 325is Brilliantrot S50/5 Lug Swapped.
    1992 525i Manual shitbox Winter Beater

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      #3
      totally approve..
      -----Zen and the Art of e30 Maintenance - / - Zen TOC - / - Zen Summary

      Comment


        #4
        Chipping away little by little. I have the interior all back together besides seats. Went through all the wiring hanging out of the dash, got EVERY light, sensor, switch, OBC all working perfectly, all like new. Got the houndstooth panels cleaned up looking like new as well as the carpet after a lot of scrubbing. I added my Infinity Kappa Perfect component speakers I picked up at the junkyard, which sound amazing still, and some Alpine Type S's I got at the junkyard as well, it really sounds good haha.

        The rear bumper and trim is back on, all cleaned up and fresh looking, new stainless above the passenger door, everything going to together pretty well.

        I made a power steering recirculating fitting from 2 banjo fittings, the larger one milled down and then welded together, works really nicely.

        Lastly, I picked up the M20 flywheel today which I had the rear lip turned off, lightened 8lbs, balanced and freshly surfaced. Had it done by D&D Racing Engines here in Cincinnati.









        Last edited by bacain32; 12-05-2011, 10:41 PM.


        '97 M3 LS3 V8, '90 S54 325i, '90 325i touring, '99 540i touring, '94 325is

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          #5
          Engine bay pretty much wrapped up. Car is running GREAT, finishing the exhaust. 2 1/4" from headers to Y collector, single 3" exhaust to a Spintech muffler with a dump right before the rear axle. It'll be rowdy.




          '97 M3 LS3 V8, '90 S54 325i, '90 325i touring, '99 540i touring, '94 325is

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            #6
            nice work, looks good and clean
            sigpic

            1985 325e - wrecked :( (being fixed and full paint job)
            http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=197989
            the horrible day
            http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=210850
            1991 318i - in process of being made a DD
            http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=219793

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              #7
              Loving that e30 Brian! I'm planing on picking up another e30 for myself soon... How's the e36 325is treating you? I miss that car :(

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                #8
                It's doing really great. Has M3 front bumper, sideskirts, mirrors, rear bumper and moldings now, I'll probably put my BBS's on it this spring, getting custom CCW's for my M3 since it's going LS3.:twisted:


                '97 M3 LS3 V8, '90 S54 325i, '90 325i touring, '99 540i touring, '94 325is

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                  #9
                  Looks like a nice clean swap!

                  COTM

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                    #10
                    Looks impressive for a shell that was headed for the junk yard. Another one saved! That original paint looks great! Seems like you're doing a clean, detailed build here--congrats.

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                      #11
                      Awesome resto. Well done. Look forward to seeing the finished product.
                      17 Range Rover Sport SVR
                      14 Q5 TDI S-Line
                      ...on the hunt for another E30.

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                        #12
                        Here's one from tonight. Downpipe is all tacked up with O2 bung and fitted to a 3" V Band to the rest of the exhaust. It will all be black ceramic powder coated.



                        '97 M3 LS3 V8, '90 S54 325i, '90 325i touring, '99 540i touring, '94 325is

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                          #13
                          Look super clean! Great job saving it! Is it going to be ready for Timmayfest this year?
                          sigpic

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                            #14
                            Hot damn.

                            Clean work.
                            -----Zen and the Art of e30 Maintenance - / - Zen TOC - / - Zen Summary

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                              #15
                              this is going to be awesome ...

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