My First e30

[JinormusJ]

Thought I might aswell "officially" introduce my car now that Ive been making some good headway on the build.

As She Sits Today: 8/12/2012
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One last hurrah before I let her go; think of it as my final tribute
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6/12/2012
4/16/2012
3/29/2012
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Basic Specs:
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325i Lovin!
Cluster
Center Console
Interior Goodies
Damaged area :(
Wheel-well too
I still have my O2 Sensor Heat Shielding! :mrgreen:
Throttle Body Heater Bypass
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205k on original motor
Automatic transmission
Babied by original owner (old marine guy in his 50s)
Oil changed every 3.5k miles
Most receipts are there starting earliest from 2004 (so much work has been put into this car!)

A little story about her:
I finally wanted to switch to a FR layout after running front-wheel-fail for the passed 4 years of my life. Always loved Bimmers, had a bunch of friends and cousins who had them, always loved the throwback 80's style. Lo-and-behold, my quest began; and for a good while, I looked. Started off wanting a bronzit, still kinda do, but hey; This e30 is MINE! Was up in NorCal for Christmas and New Years, putting down my hunt for the perfect e30 for me for the holidays, when unexpectantly.. BAM! Outta nowhere, my cousin says he's found an e30 on craigslist for cheap. Next morning we head out to San Fran, and it all went uphill from there; ended up being a little damaged, but we got it for a great deal, so i didnt mind. Later, I thought to myself: "Tomorrow, I need to get home 450 miles away, parents already left, all I have is this e30. I have no idea how mechanically stable it is, if its remotely safe to drive long distances, no replacement parts, or if any of the maintenance has been done; Le can you say 'LETS GO GUISE!' (Herpaderpaderp)"
Remarkably, it made it back home with a 205k engine in a car packed with 5 dudes and luggage no problem (besides some vacuum leaks and idle surge...). But, in classic e30 nature, problems did arrise.. So, the madness began...

Day After She Arrived - 1/5/2012
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As you can tell.. It burst the coolant from the throttle body heater and was bleeding like crazy. After about a month on non-op, I bypassed the heater, fixed my hoses, replaced my belts, and everything else possible such as destroying my rear end


The Day She Was Fixed - 3/5/2012
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Got a 3.73 LSD and bolted everything back up. Continued grabbing goodies for her like e36 switches and a 13-Button OBC




And Because I'm OCD, I need a check-list. Deal with it :D

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Mechanical Check List:
2/11/2012
Replaced V-Belts
Thermostat
Fan Clutch
Idle Control Valve
2/29/2012
Thermostat Housing
Throttle Body-Bypass
3/4/2012
Check Box Panel
Coolant Flush
3/12/2012
Fixed Radiator Evaporation Line Leak
3/22/2012
Coolant Sensor
4/2/2012
Oil Change/206,xxx: 10w40 Mobil 1 Full Synthetic
5/21/2012
Clutch Master Cylinder rebuild
6/12/2012
Fluid change:
Diff: Redline Synthetic GL-5 Gear Oil
Tranny: Redline MT-90 GL-4 Synthetic
6/14/2012
Timing belt/Water Pump/Tensioner/~210,xxx Miles
7/3/2012
Bosch OEM+ Spark Plugs

Mechanical Tune-Ups to Be Done:
Valve Adjustment/Valve Cover Gasket

Future Tune-Up
NOTHING! (Hopefully lol)

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Performance Mods:
Previous Owner
Gutted/Aftermarket Muffler?
3/4/2012
Rear Suspension Rebuild
3.73 LSD (120k Miles)
4/29/2012
5-Speed Getrag 260 Swap
Z3 1.9 BMA Short-Shift Kit + Bushing Refresh

Performance to be Done:

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Asthetically/Minor Fixes Done:
Replaced Door-Trim clips
Fixed Manual Door-Lock Sticking
e36 Window Switches
13-Button OBC + OBC Stalk
Fixed Door Chime
Leather e34 E-Brake Handle
Euro Smilies
Dual Trunk Light
Pop-Out Rear Windows
Cardinal Interior
New Front Valance
Antenna Delete (Because DailyDriver-Racecar)
New roundels
Euro Grilles
New Foglights
Early Model Center console retrofit
4-door Mini Window-Breaker switch
E34 Cigarette lighter
Broken Factory e28 Premium Radio
Topgaiter's Leather Shift/e-Brake Boots
Heatgunned Volvo Lip
e38 tool trunk/liner w/ complete e38 toolkit
Semi-Functional e34 Car Phone
Basketweaves

To Do Asthetically and Around The Car:

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I understand this is all more dreaming than what may really be accomplished, but if you dont dream big, how you gonna win large? ;)
That's all for now, more too come soon!
But for now... Check out my fuel gauge! (Yes, I am an Instagram nerd :D)


Future Performance Mods:
e30 M3 5-lug Conversion
e30 M3 Brake Swap
Bilstein HD Shocks
H&R Race Springs
HP Aluminium Shock Mounts
Condor Solid CABs
Poly-CABs
E90 Drop Hats
e30 Vert 21mm Front Sway Bar
e30 M3 Front Sway Bar Links
e30 M3 14.5mm Rear Sway Bar
e36 Steering Knuckle
z3 2.8 Steering Rack
SS Brake-Lines
S54B32
Getrag 420G
3.25 LSD
DSSR

Future Enhancements:
Aluminium Tach-rings
Fix ODO Gears
Fix Body Damage
M-Tech II Body Kit
M-Tech I Trunk Lip
M-Tech II Wheel
Professional Respray
16"x8" e38 Style 5s
Fender Roll
Lipstick Red Front Heated Sport Seats
Lipstick Red Rear Bench Seats w/ Armrest and Headrests
Lipstick Red Carpets
New Rear Taillights
M-Tech II Steering Wheel
Black IS Headliner



Enjoy,
Joey

[N2MYE30]

Good luck on your e30 quest Joey. Looks like a good platform for mods.

[JinormusJ]

Thanks man! Cash is starting to get a bit strapped, so I might not do very many mods for a while, but I'm starting a new job next week, and once I get more hours in, I'll be able to make more headway on the build.

Looking to get my 5-speed swap in by Bimmerfest!

[JinormusJ]

Updated with new pics

Enjoy,
Joey

[JinormusJ]

Finally passed smog by 1 point in the NOx emission.. Don't gotta care for another 2 years though lol
Oil change today as well. She's running like a dream

Time to finally register and insure this puppy

[mr ilia]

These cars look so innocent when stock.

[JinormusJ]

It's funny watching heads turn and people stare in disbelief as all they get is a small glimpse of my taillights and a few split seconds of listening to the symphony of angels that is... a gutted stock muffler lol

My guess to what is going on in their mind
"THAT CAR... Did not... Just do that..."
I love douching on people who are douching me; whenever someone tailgates, I turn around and stare for a few seconds, then speed up 5mph after I drop into 3rd in my auto. They sure keep their distance after that :)

[JinormusJ]

Small Photoshoot in the rain today :)

Small DIY updates and mini write-ups tomorrow with pics! Stay tuned peeps


Enjoy,
Joey

[CHIF8008]

more pics!

[stamar]

Hey man I noticed you talking about having smog problems and I want to give you a real legal loophole I learned by accident.

I grew up in socal in santa barbara in a 2 year test area.

Here in humboldt, we only have to test when the car changes owner ( several other counties are the same, many closer to where you are now.)

When I went to renew my registration while I was on a road trip here they said there was a smog test due. Just like normal. I ended up settling here.
So i literally let the tags expire. More than six months later I was afraid of my car getting impounded so I went back, changed my address to my new mailing address in humboldt.

And SHAZAM there was no smog due. paid the fees done. That simple.

All you have to do is go to the DMV, tell them you live in a rural county and change your address and no smog is due. Even if you dont.
I know that sounds like its too easy to work but it does.

[Cronopoulos]

Good looking project, keep up tasteful mods.

[JinormusJ]

Good looking project, keep up tasteful mods.

Oh, I intend to sir! :D
For now, major aesthetics have then a back seat to my 5-speed, but minor stuff still happening here and there

All you have to do is go to the DMV, tell them you live in a rural county and change your address and no smog is due.

Hmmm.. Isn't that technically.. Illegal? Hah
I'll have to research it more.. If its actually lagit, you sir might be a freakin genius.. Maybe I can buy a doghouse up in Big Bear and claim thats my new vacation home lol

But yeah. I wasnt having smog issues, just the smog numbers were really close; barely passing almost. Don't gotta worry about it for another 2 years, and by then, I should have all the maintainence and refreshes done so my car should be in better form. Thanks for the input though!

[Cronopoulos]

Oh, I intend to sir! :D
For now, major aesthetics have then a back seat to my 5-speed, but minor stuff still happening here and there

Noticed you wanted to do the antenna delete... Not sure if you already have but this member sells a neat little plug that has worked great for me.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=221925

[JinormusJ]

Oh yeah! Thanks for the look-out bud!

I've already spoken to Jaywood before, but unfortunately, there's something screwy goin on with my paypal, so I haven't been able to order mine yet. Even then, my electrical tape is holding up just fine, and eve the plug will be temporary until I shave the hole when it's time to do body work. I'd definitely want to get mine in ASAP regardless though.. Rains are a'comin!

Lots of plans for swagger on this baby, that's for sure!

[stamar]

I dont debate ethics in writing on a message forum.

But do you remember where bush filed his taxes when he was president?

I have no opinion.

But I wanted to share this with you, the DMV doesnt check where you live they take your word for it. Strangely enough.
The IRS, they check.