325ic Calypso Euro Conversion - Houndstooth & dbilas now, MT1 & MM 3.2 stroker coming

[ThatOneEuroE30]

lol. touché. lots of terrific M30 swap examples including yours.. Love CorvalisBMWs M30+M106 turbo. Two things stopping me:

-- front end weight of an M30 swap
-- seeing if I'll be happy with a stroked M20.

See idk why people say that. The weight difference is so minimal unless your in an all out track prepped car you will never notice the difference.

[bradnic]

There is something to say about sometimes keeping things simple.

I am really surprise how well the car looks even without the MT1 kit; I would have never guess.

As it sits, it personifies a very classic "high end" appearance not distracting from the traditional lines.

The kit might give it a more sporty updated appearance but may detract from that vibe.

Your idea being able to toggle between both appearances addresses that issue.

I could not agree more! So well stated Javier. In fact if you read earlier in the thread you will see that I sold my previous mtech1 kit because I just wasn't sure I would like the front spoiler. Once I figured out that I could have a real way to swap the setups I picked up a new mtech1 setup.

Don't be surprise if at the end, you are partial to non-mtech1 appearance.

My wife and I agree. She is putting up with the "mtech1 experiment" for now because she knows I can switch between them :-) she was also surprised how much she likes the vert side skirts... so we will see. It will be fun that's for sure.

Seriously, the car looks that great. I don't think such a dilemma exist with hardtops. I have yet to see a euro hardtop that has NOT benefited from being kitted.

I am thinking now, there is just something about the lines on a vert that can pull the euro appearance off (without the mt1 kit) contingent on the color etc.

Javier

Again I agree with your thinking here. euro coupes look great but they also look "better" kitted. Verts just don't look the same way kitted.

[bradnic]

Ahem m30...

lol. touché. lots of terrific M30 swap examples including yours.. Love CorvalisBMWs M30+M106 turbo. Two things stopping me:

-- front end weight of an M30 swap
-- seeing if I'll be happy with a stroked M20.

I've put about 1k miles on the car now since I got the dbilas ITBs dialed in. She's definitely down on midrange torque, and below 3k there isn't much there either. But the top end seems to be stronger, and the last 200 miles or so seem to have worked some tuning kinks out - she's feeling faster across the board compared to last week.

Some pics of the car from the last few days including The Vintage yesterday. It was great to finally meet jeffnhiscars, n2mye30 and rapide30ic! missed 318aye's delphin unfortunately.

she rolled 200k on the way down - might as well be hauling @ss while turning the odo right?


nice cruising shot on the way to Hot Springs NC.. wife and I enjoyed our first Vintage immensely


Couple of evenings before in downtown Asheville - yes I really did bring the hardtop down from Chicago..

[Javier h]

Less is more

There is something to say about sometimes keeping things simple.

I am really surprise how well the car looks even without the MT1 kit; I would have never guess.

As it sits, it personifies a very classic "high end" appearance not distracting from the traditional lines.

The kit might give it a more sporty updated appearance but may detract from that vibe.

Your idea being able to toggle between both appearances addresses that issue.

Don't be surprise if at the end, you are partial to non-mtech1 appearance. Seriously, the car looks that great. I don't think such a dilemma exist with hardtops. I have yet to see a euro hardtop that has NOT benefited from being kitted.

I am thinking now, there is just something about the lines on a vert that can pull the euro appearance off (without the mt1 kit) contingent on the color etc.

Javier

Ha ebay.de a couple of years ago. I think Barron pointed me to the auction. It mounted up perfectly with one very minor issue - on the 771 db valance, the ends of the narrow strip below the grilles have holes for body clips on both the top and bottom of each end. The repro euro valance only had the holes on the top. easy to drill them, but I didn't realize it before painting so I mounted without the lower body clips because I didn't want to expose bare metal or have to repair the paint job.



Thanks javier!! we're kinda obsessed with this car... our plans:

APPEARANCE
getting close to where we want it, and we'll get it painted in the next year or two. I thought about going body color on the bumpers.. but I dig the chrome alot so..

I'm also thrilled to find the repro MT1 vert side skirts and surprised at how much my wife and I like the way they look.. Our e30 bud Chad was wondering about leaving them black.. it does look good that way but I can't see leaving them a different color than the MT1 front spoiler, trunk spoiler and apron. Then again the rear trunk spoiler is gonna be calypso and black...

As much as we're digging the MT1 bits, we're very excited about being able to switch between them and the stock euro setup. here's how we're doing it:
- I will keep the original trunk unmodified for collector reasons (though man I hate that 3rd brake light / trunk wart).
- I scored a rust free used e30 coupe deck lid with the IS spoiler holes pre-drilled. will paint that and use it as my MT1 trunk lid
- Also have a new OEM trunk lid which I will paint and have available to install unmodified
- since I have the front euro valance I can just unmount the euro fogs, remove the front frames on them and attach them to the MT1 front spoiler.
- I remove both bumpers, pull the trim and reassemble them on the MT1 front spoiler and rear apron, then remount.
- Still need to figure out how to make the vert side skirts cleanly removable - drilling holes for mounting clips isn't too exciting. Truth is though these repro vert skirts are hard fiberglass anyway not urethane like the originals... so maybe I can skip some of the drilling - we'll see.

PERFORMANCE
Even with the ITBs this car is nothing like chicagolande30's or achtunge30's S52 verts.. I've driven chicagolande30's car - it's much faster than mine by quite a bit. But I'm just not feeling the S52. It's not like my old E46 M3 and it doesn't have the sound and vibe of the M20. I'll get there with the stroker and RD headers, and will retain the M20 sound + feel. Focus is on a fat and flat torque curve rather than raw HP. If I need to add the Vortech SC to get the right performance under those conditions I'll do that.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

PERFORMANCE
Even with the ITBs this car is nothing like chicagolande30's or achtunge30's S52 verts.. I've driven chicagolande30's car - it's much faster than mine by quite a bit. But I'm just not feeling the S52. It's not like my old E46 M3 and it doesn't have the sound and vibe of the M20. I'll get there with the stroker and RD headers, and will retain the M20 sound + feel. Focus is on a fat and flat torque curve rather than raw HP. If I need to add the Vortech SC to get the right performance under those conditions I'll do that.

Ahem m30...

[bradnic]

Thanks Andre! can't wait to meet you and the ride!

[e30rapidic]

giant thumbs up brother.

[bradnic]

Oh man the car is looking great! Definitely going to search for you at the Vintage to see it up close.

right on! come on by man. wife and i are totally excited about this trip.

........looking good;)..........
..........................................the thin long side cover (1x1 x70) is usually removed prior to installing skirts.....(could however be a useful for double stick tape)

are you talking about the strip of material along the bottom? I'll give you a call to discuss. just trial fitting right now - we'll get the MT1 work done in the next month or two.

now I know what to look for.

mysterious.. what do you mean? meetup at the Vintage? definitely gonna look for you this weekend!

[bradnic]

car is looking awesome man. Where did you get a repro valence?

Ha ebay.de a couple of years ago. I think Barron pointed me to the auction. It mounted up perfectly with one very minor issue - on the 771 db valance, the ends of the narrow strip below the grilles have holes for body clips on both the top and bottom of each end. The repro euro valance only had the holes on the top. easy to drill them, but I didn't realize it before painting so I mounted without the lower body clips because I didn't want to expose bare metal or have to repair the paint job.

Seriously?

The freaking car is stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable what a few hard to find but well sorted parts will do for a car.
Love the color contrast with the chrome accents etc.

Thanks javier!! we're kinda obsessed with this car... our plans:

APPEARANCE
getting close to where we want it, and we'll get it painted in the next year or two. I thought about going body color on the bumpers.. but I dig the chrome alot so..

I'm also thrilled to find the repro MT1 vert side skirts and surprised at how much my wife and I like the way they look.. Our e30 bud Chad was wondering about leaving them black.. it does look good that way but I can't see leaving them a different color than the MT1 front spoiler, trunk spoiler and apron. Then again the rear trunk spoiler is gonna be calypso and black...

As much as we're digging the MT1 bits, we're very excited about being able to switch between them and the stock euro setup. here's how we're doing it:
- I will keep the original trunk unmodified for collector reasons (though man I hate that 3rd brake light / trunk wart).
- I scored a rust free used e30 coupe deck lid with the IS spoiler holes pre-drilled. will paint that and use it as my MT1 trunk lid
- Also have a new OEM trunk lid which I will paint and have available to install unmodified
- since I have the front euro valance I can just unmount the euro fogs, remove the front frames on them and attach them to the MT1 front spoiler.
- I remove both bumpers, pull the trim and reassemble them on the MT1 front spoiler and rear apron, then remount.
- Still need to figure out how to make the vert side skirts cleanly removable - drilling holes for mounting clips isn't too exciting. Truth is though these repro vert skirts are hard fiberglass anyway not urethane like the originals... so maybe I can skip some of the drilling - we'll see.

PERFORMANCE
Even with the ITBs this car is nothing like chicagolande30's or achtunge30's S52 verts.. I've driven chicagolande30's car - it's much faster than mine by quite a bit. But I'm just not feeling the S52. It's not like my old E46 M3 and it doesn't have the sound and vibe of the M20. I'll get there with the stroker and RD headers, and will retain the M20 sound + feel. Focus is on a fat and flat torque curve rather than raw HP. If I need to add the Vortech SC to get the right performance under those conditions I'll do that.

[318aye]

now I know what to look for.

[411]

Vert side skirts and mtech1 air ducts arrived finally! MT1 setup is now complete except for a pending hardware shipment from BMW.

quick trial fit last night - replica just about perfect, down to the part number detail!

........looking good;)..........
..........................................the thin long side cover (1x1 x70) is usually removed
prior to installing skirts.....(could however be a usefull for double stick tape)

[Reichart12]

Oh man the car is looking great! Definitely going to search for you at the Vintage to see it up close.

[Javier h]

Seriously?

The freaking car is stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable what a few hard to find but well sorted parts will do for a car.

Love the color contrast with the chrome accents etc.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

car is looking awesome man. Where did you get a repro valence?

[bradnic]

Vert MtechI skirts are vary rare.......

indeed.. i'm hoping a certain canuck has pity on me. we'll see.

The Canuck delivered! Vert side skirts and mtech1 air ducts arrived finally! MT1 setup is now complete except for a pending hardware shipment from BMW.

quick trial fit last night - replica just about perfect, down to the part number detail!


also completed the hardtop headliner reglue - neighbor suggested I try a fabric store for foam material and bingo! they actually had 1/4" foam backed headliner material! that was key to getting the OEM fabric to stay up. Glued the foam side to the fiberglass top, and then the original cloth to the new headliner cloth. feels and looks pretty darn good now!