My Imolarot II E30 bulid Thread

[respected_beggar]

Update

So school has been taking a lot of time from me lately, but its ok I got some goodies in the mail and worked on a few things! New fuel filter, spark plugs, cap and rotor, water pump, thermostat, belt and tensioner, radiator hoses, valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, ect... I figured its been 4 years since the last time any of these things were replaced and it was time for a good tune up, and hey why not she treats me good ;D



came alittle late but still I got it!!



I had to get a new oil pressure sensor as well mine was pouring out oil new vs old. When I saw the amout of oil I was leaving everywhere I parked I felt like a ricer :( and needed to get that switch changed over quick!



and while I was under there I thought it would be a good Idea to swap over the new fuel filter as well along with some new fuel hose and clamps.



sorry for the blurry photo thought I took more? but that was the only one



Got the fuel filter in and the oil pressure switch as well, the switch stopped the leaking :nice: and the new fuel filter has given me a few better mpgs.

Well thats the start to this up coming weekend, hopefully should have it all done by saturday the lastest! and she should be all good to go. :D Also a few things took a crap on me this past week to make it worse :hitler: like my A/C compress frezzing up on me. In this florida heat it sucks not having A/C and it sucks even more when it rains!! Well if that isnt bad enough well my right front braided SS line took a crap on me as well:tsk: its still useable for now, not keeping it replacing with OE brake line friday :(. The crimp at the top of it where the line connects to the fiting gave up and is leaking brake fluid from there. It sucks those lines aren't even 3 years old so I guess its time for an upgrade? UUC maybe stoptech but I'll see the OE lines are going to have to last a while untill I can find some replacements.

[respected_beggar]

Update

Sorry I've been busy and havent had time to post what I did this weekend. Well I finaly did my first timing belt water, pump, cap, rotor, ect... ever. Well I say it was an experiance not to hard to do just alot of steps to do it right and not mess anything up. This is the most major thing I've done to the engine, my dad payed for the timing belt and everything else through a local shop which did a good job... 4 years ago. So I finaly said it was time for me to grow a pair and do it myslef well needless to say I did it and I think I did a good job for my first time, I mean it did turn on and is running really good a whole lot better and I'm getting 24.2 mpg!! wish I wouldve done this sooner its much better than 19.1 mpgs, this is going of of the OBC of course. I started friday around 5 and left a 9. then there all day saturday 8-10 then sunday 8-2 and sunday was the fun day, no pun intened my father came by this day to help, well he did and lets just say I have an e46 fuel pump instead of an e30 now!;D wish I would've gotten some pics while he was doing it because the pump fit perfectly into place???? I don't know how but it did. Well needless to say my car was given me a hard time to start up whenever it was cold? I thought it was leaky injectors, or bad check valve? Nobody had a soild answer for me. So sunday after everything was back toghether we couldn't get the car to start, and then thats when he went all mad scientist and made a believer out of me haha:-D Well back on topic everythings going good adn all I need to do is tighten my power steering belt just alittle more I'm getting a small squeak when I first turn her on but other then that she's good. :pimp:

Ok let me stop boring you and here are some pictures...



made sure everything was TDC
\




old vs new cap



Old vs New cap



needless to say they were way past due for a change!:hitler: and while I was in there I said might as well clean everything up.


Got to say really happy with how clean my head is!



And thats where she stayed for two nights :(



took some time and cleaned up the front as well everything was greasy and dirty now im even able to see the label on the power steering pump :D



slowly going back together...





just about done just need to bleed the system with coolant and she was done well I thought she was... then that lead to the whole fuel pump ordeal and yeah... other then that everything is good! couldn't be happier with the out come and her great, learning experiance btw.


Up next oil pan gasket and heli coil my drain plug!

[respected_beggar]

Update

so I haven't posted much, alot of things have happened over these past few months.... well first off I found some minty front door cards, the backings on mine where falling apart, they weren't black but brown. I hated that I had to paint them, but it was the best I could do and 50$ later I'm very impressed with the out come.:D



I thought I took a picture of the drivers door but I didn't... it was a few months ago so I don't know. Any way I finally got time during winter brake to put in the z3 rack and TRH CAB's in. I don't have a piture with the THR CAB's installed, I put them on durring my lunch brake at work and didn't have time to take a piture.

Old rack out


old rack vs Z3 rack, new inner and outter tie rods, and yes I did put the boots on after the picture was taken. ( I painted it sliver where the aluminum was showing)



sterring linkage modded



and insalled, only have the one picture sorry its so crapy:neutral:



after I got it installed and was able to drive it, I must say I feel stupid for not doing this sooner. There will never be another e30 I will own without this rack and THR FCAB's installed. It is honestly what an e30 should've been like out of the factory IMH. OH and BTW when you have a 5 lug swap you should get THR's FCAB's my wheel now sits more centered and also dosent rub agasint the front fender anymore. 8-)

I also had the car compeletly resanded and buffed for a mirror finish by my co-worker all I had to do was get him clear corners and side markers for his e36.:D He did a great job and I learned that I can never be in the body shop business, im way to picky over little things but like I said the she looks soooo much prettier now, that ceramic clear coat was worth every penny.

back on top... well I got these... E46 black electric sport seat...



well its a tight fit but they fit!

test fitted



brackets all made up... what a hell of a time drilling through 1/4 inch steel



and in the car testing the passangers seat with a battery



So I was able to finsh up and make all the brackets along with get the wiring figured out in day 1, well day 2 came around and well long story short while using the drill it twisted out of my hand and fracted one of my bones in my hand... needless to say I had to call in the calvary, in others my old man. He had to do the whole drivers seat by his slef, I could barely hold anything in my right hand. the funny thing is, when you hurt yourself you tend to hit the spot or do something to make it hurt, well that was me all night. :neutral: So my father finished it up and I took even more crapy pictures with my left hand, well tried to any way... ;)



no pics of full install but everything is all wired in and working great, I've almost had them in for a week now and I must say they sit much higher then expected and they do not hold you like e30 seat. they are very comfrotable though I must say and thats what I was going for. the fact that they look brand new too is just a plus.

and just alittle teaser of whats to come....



they are only for the rear ( im trying to sorce some GC e36 m3 front struts now ) already installed and I also intaslled the sold RSM's with the z3 reinforements that are studded. The gc are stiffer than the e36 m3 h&r race spring which is nice, but the fact that I can go lower in the rear is the best part:D. problem now is I'm rubbing again... either thinner tires are in order 205/40 or I'm going to have to install rear camber and toe plates....

[zumjosh]

Hey Instagram buddy! Good to see the progress photos! I'm installing Ireland Engineering camber and toe adjuster kits on the rear subframe for the 5lug conversion. But I'll disclose more info on my entire setup when it's completed because I want to run Style 5s with 235 wide tires and no spacers but I want to work out all the kinks before I disclose my secrets! Keep up the good work dude!

[Ray Smoodiver]

Awesome build so far!

[respected_beggar]

Zumjosh - yes hello there IG buddy, honestly I can't wait to see you run 235 on your 5 lug swap, that's going to be impressive. How well built are those rear camber/toe kit from IE?

Ray Smoodriver - Thanks man

[zumjosh]

Zumjosh - yes hello there IG buddy, honestly I can't wait to see you run 235 on your 5 lug swap, that's going to be impressive. How well built are those rear camber/toe kit from IE?

Ray Smoodriver - Thanks man

Honestly they're thicker gauge than the original subframe mounts and once you weld them it's really solid. You do want to make sure though that your welds are clean. And cut out the the sides that are vertical and drill out the sections that are horizontal. I have pictures already taken but I don't have them uploaded yet. You'll see them in a few weeks when I post the build. ;)

[respected_beggar]

Honestly they're thicker gauge than the original subframe mounts and once you weld them it's really solid. You do want to make sure though that your welds are clean. And cut out the the sides that are vertical and drill out the sections that are horizontal. I have pictures already taken but I don't have them uploaded yet. You'll see them in a few weeks when I post the build. ;)

Ok I'll wait then it's going to be an awesome thread !

[respected_beggar]

Update 3/30

Sorry for not updating in such a long time, school and work have been taking all my time and what ever is left goes to the e30.


Things done
- e46 seats
- Rear GC coilovers
- THR lolilpops
- painted grills and headlight rings
- IS lip installed
- new O2 sensor
- e36 window switch upgrade


The e46 seats are great I love them, use the same brackets as the e36 seats and everything fit in like a glove. my only complaint about them is the fact of how high they sit, even in there lowest position they are much higher then e30 seat. Other then that I think they fit the e30 well not great but ppl who don't know think they are factory lol.

here are some pics







The GC rear coilovers are amazing, the adjustably is amazing even though I'm rubbing im sitting even! no more rake!!! the springs could be a little stiffer so in the future I'll up grade to 750 or 800# rear springs. My only problem now is finding some GC e36 m3 front struts, no one wants to only sell half kits...







Well I also mentioned that the THR lollipops where installed, yes they are silver I had them painted that color because the original green paint was flaking off.




After seeing my grills and noticed they looked faded I said why not, and paint them with the headlight rings, much better should've done it much much sooner.




Installed




Eurotripper was around the conrner, A local car show, I needed to do a few things one was a IS lip along with claybaring the car, ploishing, waxing, lowinger the rear again about a 1/4 inch more, ploished my wheels and something else I forgot...



An a crazy cool Instagram pic :rofl:





So after the show i left her alone for awhile just dove her and loved every Psecond of it. then a week ago my W/P and alternator belt fell off.. No idea how long story short I replaced it and it was much better dodged a bullet there, that could've been much worse. Then the next day the car started acting up bogging while while cruising an a bad idle reall bad 400-600 and she would want to almost shut off. Well I thought it was the Temp sensor, bought new one and it didn't fix anything. Then I thought it could either be my CPS ( didn't think it was bc its only a year old and i bought it from BMW) or my TPS. Then I herd it could be a ground isue? so I had no idea what it could be that was causing all these problems. So the frist thing I go and check is my engine ground... there was atleast 1/4 of play in it???? no idea how or what could've caused it but once I tightned it down and started up the car it was back to new :D

While I was in there a new O2 sensor went in as well, i think it was time for a new one...




Then something great happened.... I found all my e36 white and blue base window switches!!!!!! Needless to say I took the 30 min and installed them as well. By far one of my favorite upgrades interior wise. Yes I know I have a 4 door center consule... just another thing on the list to get....





And for those who don't know The shop I work at just got one of these!!!!! im so jelly its not funny



euro e30 mtech 2 wagon on 15 inch basket weaves

coolest thing ever.... I'm not allowed to drive it the boss man thinks I won't come back but I think he's right lol

[Alpina]

What a great car,, and nice mods + upgrade

[MJCRO]

Those E46 seats look great in an E30, nice job.

[respected_beggar]

What a great car,, and nice mods + upgrade

Those E46 seats look great in an E30, nice job.

Thanks guys!

[respected_beggar]

Update 5/2/14

So decided to try something alittle different... by different I mean adjustable and by adjustable I mean Koni's for the rear. I always loved the bilsteins but wanted to see if they were worth it. Now heres the different part, the koni's are off of an e46 m3... I know this seems crazy but they were free and look brand new, less then 5k miles new. So I ditched the bilsteins and put the Koni's on. First thing I did was put them on there softest setting which will work for now I'll go stiffer in the future.

Now pics!





I was able to get a good test drive on them tonight, and I must say that I love them already the car handles so much better. I'll give it one more week or so before I make up my mind before adjusting to a higher stiffness.

So since I was changing the rear shocks and I had to take the wheels off to get to them, I noticed something strange about my tires..... Camber wear and looks like a bit of toe wear as well




New tires are on the way... They were ordered monday and got here today but since no one was home to sign for it the tires were sent back to the fedex wearhouse. Hopefully I'll get them them tomorrow if they ship on saturdays??


Next is something I've been wanting to do for along time and well I finally got a coupe center consule! It's an early model so only 2 holes cut out! Its alittle damaged but much better then all the extra swithces. I need to get a picture of it installed but heres some befores and afters.

[respected_beggar]

Update... Kinda 5/5/14

Not much just a few things

First off the center console installed




Also got these in the mail :D







Not what I wanted but they fit the budget lol, I really wanted some BF goodrich G - Force tires but maybe towards the end of summer....

Also my co-worker gave me something to try out on the car, its called liquid glass. Never herd of it and unlike regular wax you let this bake on to the car then wipe if off?? So I went ahead and tired it and to my surprise it worked amazingly!!



I wish I took more pictures, it rainned really hard that night and you can see how well the water beaded up. The sides were dry as if it never rainned. By far the best product I ever used on my car as far as wax, even tho its not wax... anyways really please with the product and thought I'd share.


Big update this weekend hopefully... :twisted:

[respected_beggar]

Update 5/14/14

Ok so here we go, first off I was able to score a few things

Rear Parcel Shelf
Sunroof Panel ( guess thats what its call)
New used regulators (left and right)
Scratch free front glass (drivers and passangers)
New used door seals
Brand new A/C clutch (Came broken)

I'm trying to figure out what material I should wrap the rear shelf in? Also how I should wrap it, I saw how CAtunned redid there shelf and well I like that idea alot. So we'll see but I'm leaning towards leather and suede???
I was also able to get a sunvisor panel ( I guess thats what its called). The vinyl was sagging so I pulled it all off, and going to wrap the panel in whatever I decide to wrap the rear shelf in.



It's now stripped and I wish I had pictures because it wasn't what I was expecting....







I was also able to score some new to me window regulators along with scratch free front glass!!! Thats code for window tint!! Its a need here in Florida lol

old




New





and the Glass

old on the left and new on the right




While I had everything taken apart I went ahead and reassembled both the drivers and passengers door centeral locking assemblies (only have Pictures of the drivers side)




Next is the new to me door seals







Now for the A/C clutch, Which got broken durring shipping:hitler:




The plastic peice which holds the wires broke, I'm going to try to fix it.