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

[Das Delfin]

Just noticed in one of your pictures - my car has that funky 80's spec car phone antenna base mounted on the trunk behind the 3rd brake light too! What are your thoughts on that? I've considered finding a period looking antenna that fits the base threading or removing it when I go to wrap the car. Honestly I can't decide whether it's charming or ghastly

[bradnic]

Lol Delfín
Definitely ghastly imho. We have it bad enough with the trunk mounted 3rd brake light.. the hole drilled through the trunk lid leaking water into the toolkit just piles on :-)

I know what you mean about the retro appeal tho. I’d just get one of the old bmw analog car phone handsets and leave the antenna and transceiver box out

Just check out the euro verts

Found these pics recently of an Austrian euro ic. OMG. Exact front end setup I'm using. That rear deck looks amazing without the brake light wart! and those wheels, stance..... just wow.

[phenryiv1]

Lol Delfín
Definitely ghastly imho. We have it bad enough with the trunk mounted 3rd brake light.. the hole drilled through the trunk lid leaking water into the toolkit just piles on :-)

I know what you mean about the retro appeal tho. I’d just get one of the old bmw analog car phone handsets and leave the antenna and transceiver box out

Just check out the euro verts

The 3rd brake light delete is so much better...

[zwill23]

Oh damn, I've never seen a vert without the trunk mounted brake light. That really does look great.

Is it as simple as swapping trunk lids from a non-vert? I have a sneaking feeling they wouldn't be interchangeable.

[bradnic]

Oh damn, I've never seen a vert without the trunk mounted brake light. That really does look great.

Is it as simple as swapping trunk lids from a non-vert? I have a sneaking feeling they wouldn't be interchangeable.

It does look terrific no? Ditto the euro bumpers and front valance.

Pretty much, though the wiring for the 3rd light needs to be dealt with so the check panel stays happy. I think adding a resistor is all you need.

Don’t like losing the 3rd light but I’ll figure out how to do a 3rd light as part of the trunk roundel

[Das Delfin]

Losing the center light is my hang up as well. I don't want my car to be rear ended by some idiot! I wired my blank rear fog light slots to act alongside the regular taillight to increase visibility, but if I were to delete the 3rd tail light I may switch them over to act as brake lights so there would be 4 in total. However a center roundel light would be cooler and safer for those idiots expecting a center brake light stabbing them in the eyes

[zwill23]

It does look terrific no? Ditto the euro bumpers and front valance.

Pretty much, though the wiring for the 3rd light needs to be dealt with so the check panel stays happy. I think adding a resistor is all you need.

Don’t like losing the 3rd light but I’ll figure out how to do a 3rd light as part of the trunk roundel

Absolutely!

I've also seen people around the forum really cranking up the lighting output from their rear tail lights. Installing brighter bulbs or LEDs of some sort might be sufficient to alert inattentive drivers.

[e30rapidic]

I deleted my trunk mounted 3rd brake light years ago! My current trunk lid is off a 325es.

In order to keep your overhead check panel happy, you just need to put a jumper wire in to connect the two striped wires for the 3rd brake light. I did mine at the plug by the antenna.

[bradnic]

Lol Andre.. I remember you mentioning what the fix was but didn’t recall the details.. thanks for clarifying

Callie is still recovering from bitch tube (intake to block breather tube) oil leak repairs and is still waiting on a much needed valve adjustment. Couldn’t get to it without pulling the ITBs completely off... got everything back in after installing new o-rings, and of course the ITBS needed to be retuned again.

I’m the middle of retuning when I look down and ... oil leaking out of the bottom of the bitch tube. $&@$;&!

So.. pretty sure I can get the tube back out without removing the manifold. Will try some permatex around the oring and hope that finally seals it up.

After that, ITB tune, valve adjustment, parking brake pad replacement and giubo replacement.

Doubt I’ll get much drive time rest of this season

[bradnic]

Callie is still recovering from bitch tube (intake to block breather tube) oil leak repairs and is still waiting on a much needed valve adjustment. Couldn’t get to it without pulling the ITBs completely off... got everything back in after installing new o-rings, and of course the ITBs needed to be retuned again.

I’m the middle of retuning when I look down and ... oil leaking out of the bottom of the bitch tube. $&@$;&!

So.. pretty sure I can get the tube back out without removing the manifold. Will try some permatex around the oring and hope that finally seals it up.

Well took most of the day, but my breather tube oil leak is finally fixed. I did end up having to take the ITBs completely out again. It was unavoidable though - there was no other way to get the bitch tube out.

The culprit - destroyed a brand new OEM o-ring during install.


o-ring drops into the recess in the block.


After 2 installs I wasn't going to take any chances again. So I applied some Hylomar to the rings and seating surfaces. A couple of hours later she started right up. Quick ITB tune and... no oil leaks.

What a relief.

After that, ITB tune, valve adjustment, parking brake pad replacement and giubo replacement.

Doubt I’ll get much drive time rest of this season

Tune is set, but rest of it still pending. As she sits, with a trial fit of the new cover

[Staszek]

Looking good!

[bradnic]

new pics

90 degrees, 90% humidity. AC needs a recharge to keep up. but she looks great!







Pups went riding too

[e30m3s54turbo]

Car looks great....
You need Alpina B3 2.7 headers with those itb:D

[bradnic]

Car looks great....
You need Alpina B3 2.7 headers with those itb:D

Thanks Raúl. Yeah I haven't kicked off the 3.1 stroker project yet. That and having the synchos replaced in the tranny are the last major jobs to do. Also mounting the mtech1, the new slant top strömung and a windows+trim out respray. Not much at all really.

I have these RD long tubes sitting in storage.


I'm also still waiting for @fporro and Federico to deliver the 2nd batch of snake headers..
wrote this back in spring 2016

Still hoping the new RD group buy happens.. if so I'll move the [RD long tube headers] to the IX.

[Staszek]

Wow Brad it looks amazing!!