Part I
I've decided to resurrect my old project car that has been sitting idly by for the past five years or so. I'm planning somewhat of a tandem project on both of my E30's. After selling my E46 I decided rather than buying another car to replace it, I'd use the money to do some work to my primary E30, ( 88' Lachsilber 325is, a totally different thread will be created for that car) and attempt to bring this 87 (88) Bronzit 325is back to life, I thought of hunting down another E30 that was ready to go as a commuter for work but I saving a roughed up E30 that I already have seems like much more fun to me. I tend to be rather cynical but taking a car like this and giving it a new lease on life is something that makes me giddy. :)
Not being able to find another E30 for sale locally also factored into that decision. Sadly I feel rather alone in my part of the country when it comes to E30's and Euro cars in general.
This car came to me in terrible shape and I'm sure there are many cars that would make better starting points but my goal isn't to create a show car but to take this busted and abused E30 and give it a second life. For starters, getting it back in fit enough condition to drive will be my first goal, once that is achieved I can move on to more fun things. Though when I started the car did run rather well, fuel pump is dead at the moment but I've got one on order and I'll be installing that on Saturday if all goes as planned. Once I do that I can get some current pictures which aren't going to be pretty. Those will commence in Part II.
This build will be on a budget so if I'm going to be in the market for some items in the near future. Looking for used Billy Sports, HR or Eibach springs, Wheels in 15" or 16", Plastic Bumpers, and more as I figure out what direction I'm going with this thing.
I'll preface the first pictures I'm posting by saying these were all taken around 4-5 years ago, I was pulled away by other projects and responsibilities and the car was left to sit and collect that grimy film that cars collect up while sitting dormant.
On the the car:
This car is a 88 facelift car but it is listed as an 87 model on the title, Bronzit, 5spd with all "IS" options excluding the trunk lip spoiler. Circa 140k miles, Body is rust free aside from the typical spot by the battery and a small place on the passenger floor, body was relatively straight aside from some minor dings and scrapes.
How the car came to me:
If you look really closely you can catch a glimpse of those sexy whitewall tires, I didn't take a photo of the side on the first day I brought it home just to save the poor car some embarrassment.
Some of the fun things that were done by the previous owner:
1. The interior was black but the rear seat had been replaced with a blue cloth seat.
2. The car had about three different tire sizes on it. I don't think it was driven that way as the front tires where so big I don't imagine how they even turned. The best part were the two whitewall tires that were about three sizes too big.
3. Floor mat glued to the drivers side carpet. The logic of this escaped me, protecting your carpet by adhereing a floor mat to it with silicone adhesive, in turn ruining the carpet you were protecting with a floor mat.
4. The dashboard had been covered with truck bed liner
5. The aux cooling fan was being run by a switch that had been powered by a wire that ran into the trunk and was spliced into the 12v wire for the trunk light. Not sure how that ever worked because the only time I ever turned it on the wire became so hot it almost melted.
6. The facelift valance had been replaced with one from a 84 318i as well as the bumper and plastic surrounds.
7. Impact on the drivers side bumper shock mangled up the end of the frame rail.
8. More weird stuff as I once I think of it.
9. The knee bolster was of unknown origin. They cut it in the proper shape and went with it.
More photos, Keep in mind these were taken a maybe 4 years ago, maybe more.
This is just the start, I've got a plethora of photos from back when I started this little project that I'll be uploading soon.
I've decided to resurrect my old project car that has been sitting idly by for the past five years or so. I'm planning somewhat of a tandem project on both of my E30's. After selling my E46 I decided rather than buying another car to replace it, I'd use the money to do some work to my primary E30, ( 88' Lachsilber 325is, a totally different thread will be created for that car) and attempt to bring this 87 (88) Bronzit 325is back to life, I thought of hunting down another E30 that was ready to go as a commuter for work but I saving a roughed up E30 that I already have seems like much more fun to me. I tend to be rather cynical but taking a car like this and giving it a new lease on life is something that makes me giddy. :)
Not being able to find another E30 for sale locally also factored into that decision. Sadly I feel rather alone in my part of the country when it comes to E30's and Euro cars in general.
This car came to me in terrible shape and I'm sure there are many cars that would make better starting points but my goal isn't to create a show car but to take this busted and abused E30 and give it a second life. For starters, getting it back in fit enough condition to drive will be my first goal, once that is achieved I can move on to more fun things. Though when I started the car did run rather well, fuel pump is dead at the moment but I've got one on order and I'll be installing that on Saturday if all goes as planned. Once I do that I can get some current pictures which aren't going to be pretty. Those will commence in Part II.
This build will be on a budget so if I'm going to be in the market for some items in the near future. Looking for used Billy Sports, HR or Eibach springs, Wheels in 15" or 16", Plastic Bumpers, and more as I figure out what direction I'm going with this thing.
I'll preface the first pictures I'm posting by saying these were all taken around 4-5 years ago, I was pulled away by other projects and responsibilities and the car was left to sit and collect that grimy film that cars collect up while sitting dormant.
On the the car:
This car is a 88 facelift car but it is listed as an 87 model on the title, Bronzit, 5spd with all "IS" options excluding the trunk lip spoiler. Circa 140k miles, Body is rust free aside from the typical spot by the battery and a small place on the passenger floor, body was relatively straight aside from some minor dings and scrapes.
How the car came to me:
If you look really closely you can catch a glimpse of those sexy whitewall tires, I didn't take a photo of the side on the first day I brought it home just to save the poor car some embarrassment.
Some of the fun things that were done by the previous owner:
1. The interior was black but the rear seat had been replaced with a blue cloth seat.
2. The car had about three different tire sizes on it. I don't think it was driven that way as the front tires where so big I don't imagine how they even turned. The best part were the two whitewall tires that were about three sizes too big.
3. Floor mat glued to the drivers side carpet. The logic of this escaped me, protecting your carpet by adhereing a floor mat to it with silicone adhesive, in turn ruining the carpet you were protecting with a floor mat.
4. The dashboard had been covered with truck bed liner
5. The aux cooling fan was being run by a switch that had been powered by a wire that ran into the trunk and was spliced into the 12v wire for the trunk light. Not sure how that ever worked because the only time I ever turned it on the wire became so hot it almost melted.
6. The facelift valance had been replaced with one from a 84 318i as well as the bumper and plastic surrounds.
7. Impact on the drivers side bumper shock mangled up the end of the frame rail.
8. More weird stuff as I once I think of it.
9. The knee bolster was of unknown origin. They cut it in the proper shape and went with it.
More photos, Keep in mind these were taken a maybe 4 years ago, maybe more.
This is just the start, I've got a plethora of photos from back when I started this little project that I'll be uploading soon.
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