jhaurimn's 1989 325i - progress thread (now 24v)

[jhaurimn]

As of 10/9/13, heres how she sits
1989 BMW 325i

Engine
Late model M20B25 motor, odo reads 205215 miles
New spark plugs, intake boot, air filter
New windshield fluid pump, hose, t valve
Suspension, Steering & Brakes
New front rotors and pads, reman. front passenger caliper
Interior
Customized gauge cluster with aluminum trim rings, painted gauge needles
Remanufactured SI board from Greg///M
Odometer gears replaced on 6/2013
E30 M3 front and rear seats (rear seat not currently installed)
Pioneer Headunit
Rear parcel shelf dyed black
OE BMW Floor mats
German Check Panel
Maplight Rearview Mirror
New Battery Tray
370mm Mtech 2 Steering wheel in Alcantara w/ leather horn button
LED Trunk lights
Exterior
15” Euroweave wheels (waiting for refinishing/tires)
IS front lip spoiler
Zinnored painted side mirrors
RobertK Motorsport door handles

-------------------------

Hey guys!
Allow me to introduce to you...my new e30 :)

Its an 89 325i, odo is stuck at 204,000 so its got plenty more then that im sure, but the amazing thing... ZERO RUST!!!!
Definitely a rare find in MN. The person (I think is on here) just bought in from cali so thats why. I plan on washing the car and making sure rust stays away over the winter. Interior is in pretty good shape, and exterior is ok (still way better then other e30s ive checked out)

Things done:
New oil and oil filter
New air filter
New intake boot
New fuel filter
New clutch slave
New spark plugs

Things on the to-do list:
-vcg with valve adjustment
-put in new injectors
-Timing belt and tensioner
-Water pump/thermostat
-new trans and diff fluid
-Fix glovebox (loose)
-Get new seats (normal 'i' seats SUCK)
-refresh suspension
-change up the wheels

Ill keep this thread updated as I do stuff. And ill have more pictures soon, I just picked it up yesterday and it was dark by the time I got back.

First time seeing it.


Now I'm my ownership...it started its life banished to the street :(

Heres how the interior started out. Passenger seat leans all the way back and has no lever. no floor mats, ripped up shift boot...

Sitting next to the m3:

[butters]

haha soon you'll realize that you're doing it wrong... modern car = winter car. E30 is the one to protect!

nice cars, I'm just jelly of the M3. drive safe out there

[jhaurimn]

haha soon you'll realize that you're doing it wrong... modern car = winter car. E30 is the one to protect!

nice cars, I'm just jelly of the M3. drive safe out there

Thanks :)

Id have no problem taking the m3 out for the winter if it wasnt too low to take to the wash to get the underbody sprayed! But I will definitely protect the e30 from rust as best I can. I think weekly washes should keep the salt away with a REAL underbody wash in the spring. :D

Also last winter with my 330 I had almost bald tires and I somehow survived. My work is only 4 miles away so I think I should be alright

[jhaurimn]

Changed the oil and filter tonight...was a little tricky getting the oil filter out but I figured it out and had an extra hand from my bro (thanks zach)


As I was finishing up my friend pulls up in this 82 320i that he just bought for 500$! Runs ....that's about it lol needs some tlc but he is very good with cars so I look forward to seeing what happens.

I have a bunch of pictures but can't upload them anywhere on my iPad....I'll do my best to get more pics.

Things on my to do list (if you have any info plz lemme know)

Cutch pedal has excessive play before I feel pressure (brake fluid above min level)
Glovebox needs to be put back in correctly
New air filter
New wipers

(my progress is lame compared to all the engine swapping and shit going on lol)

Anything else that is easy to switch out that I should look into?

[semaj4712]

I grew up in Wisconsin with cars attempting to keep them salt free in the winter, I found that an underbody spray once a week was mandatory and if I was ever bored and felt like freezing my ass off, a quick spray every few days was a good idea

[jhaurimn]

I grew up in Wisconsin with cars attempting to keep them salt free in the winter, I found that an underbody spray once a week was mandatory and if I was ever bored and felt like freezing my ass off, a quick spray every few days was a good idea

What kind of underbody spray in particular did you use?

[jhaurimn]

Hope someone can give me some insight

I have a lot of play in my shifter and I did my research and learned its pretty common, especially since the car has 200k+ miles. So im looking at this rebuild kit from pelican parts that includes:

Center Shift Bearing
Shift Arm Bearing
Shift Arm bushing
Shift Arm Bushing Clip
Spacer Washers
Circlips
Shift Coupler
Shift Coupler Dowel Pin
Also thinking about getting a shift lever from a z3 1.9 to shorten the throw a tad.

My question is can I get to all these parts without taking off the exhuast and driveshaft?

[mctenold]

Glad the car went to a good home! Excited to watch this thread Jon!

[jhaurimn]

Thanks.

So I got an air filter fuel filter spark plugs intake boot new clutch slave and brake fluid in the mail. About to to do the top of the engine stuff this week and get to the clutch slave and fuel filter this weekend. Bought a reverse bleeder to making bleeding a breeze. Also purchased a new set of upgraded e36 m3 injectors which should come in hopefully this week.

Looking to rebuild the shifter components soon as its getting tough to shift especially which the what im suspecting bad clutch slave.

[dude8383]

It may be possible to do the shifter rebuild but dropping the driveshaft would make it a whole lot easier.

Welcome to the e30 world ;)

[jhaurimn]

Thanks ! My friend has a lift so I think detatching the driveshaft would be worth it.

Things done today:
New air filter
New intake boot
Cleared clogged elephant drain that caused some water to leak inside the car at the wash

It's tough to get a lot done when u get off work at 4 and it gets dark at 5... Plus the cold :/

[jhaurimn]

Things that will be done today or soon:
New injectors (thanks mpheh!)
New fuel filter
New clutch slave
New plugs

[jhaurimn]

Going to keep track of everything here if I need to go back for anything.

12/2 the new slave went in
12/4 new fuel filter went in

engine feels like its running a little better with the new filter. I plan on ordering a new vcg so either this weekend of next so i can adjust the valves as well as swap the injectors.

Also purchased an e30 sport steering wheel to replace my original 4 spoke one (im keeping it though as I still like it) as well as a mint dash for a steal thanks to a very cool guy i met. (thanks rick!)

Things are going to stay pretty slow until spring...

Replacing the slave and inspecting underbody for rust. Couldnt find any

And the mint dash

[jhaurimn]

Put the new plugs in today...don't know why I waited to do it as it couldn't be any easier on the m20. I'll post up pictures of the old plugs tomorrow, they looked pretty old. Next time I change the plugs I'll have compressed air to clean up the passages real good.

The one in cylinder 2 was looser then all the rest, and was making noise I think because the engine is running a lot quieter now! Now to get those injectors in ...

Plugs werent looking too hot

[jhaurimn]

Ordered a new clutch master cylinder, valve cover gasket, rocker plugs, and front sway end links (mine are GONE). Also ordered some redline ATF D4 that I will be putting in the transmission to cure some cold morning shifting issues. Nothing serious but I figured I would try swapping it out before it gets really cold. Also purchased an unlimited car wash package at a local place so my car will be staying clean over the winter.

Time to shift money spending away from my car and to chirstmas gifts. Really hoping someone buys me a bentley for christmas :)