Let's go back. Way back. The year was 2006. I was fresh out of Highschool with an infatuation for speed, loud sounds, and German build quality. The Honda's, Chevy's, etc. that i'd see in the HS parking lot never really appealed to me. Sure, occasionally you'd see a lucky kid that gets to drive Dad's E46 M3 SMG to school but I saw through all that. That didn't mean anything to me.
At the time, VW's were the big thing in my area. Mainly MK1's and MK2's. I ended up picking up a 1983 VW GTi for 200.00. I was told the engine did not run, due to a bad rod knock. I towed the car home. I lived on a hill at the time and decided i'd try my luck compression startintg the GTi. Low and behold, it started up and I was driving it around the neighborhood on and off over the weekend. The engine did have a bad knock and eventually punched a hold into the side of the block. I don't have pictures of the carnage but do have a few photos of the car. I ended up throwing another 1.8L 8V from another GTi into it and selling it off before I got it running.
After the GTi, I picked up a 1986 VW Jetta 5spd. Typical VW problems, never ran right. Some DB chopped the springs before I got it... but it was only 600.00 and it got me to and from work.
A friend of a friend picked up a 1987 325e coupe/5spd that he had for a few months and could not for the life of him figure out why he couldn't get it started. After talking with my good friend about the car he convinced me to pick it up and that we would get it running for next to NOTHING. I said okay and offered the owner of the 325e 375.00. He signed over the title and the 325e was mine!
We got the car home and started poking around the engine bay. The first thing we noticed was that the ground cable from the oil pan to the body of the car was barely tightened down to the car. I finger tightened it down as best as I could, and turned the key.. she started right up! Idled well enough, and even moved under her own power. I also learned that the car had Euro Grilles, Valence, and Lip Spoiler! I couldn't believe it. My friend Shawn, who had an 88 325iX at the time (The red one that my roommate bought and is now still in my garage.) preached to me the importance of the Timing Belt, and Water Pump, how it was imperative to have them replaced if you DIDN'T know the age of those components. We replaced those with brand new units and the 325e became my daily driver. I was 19 at the time with little knowledge of actually working on cars, so the first year or so of ownership with this car was really a shame on my part. I learned alot, and definitely got alot of inspiration from my VW friends (Not sure if that's a good thing.). Two things ended up happening with the car that i'm REALLY not stoked about. One night after too many shots of 151 my friends and I decided it'd be a good idea to paint the car Flat Brown (I also shaved off the rear roundel. First attempt at body work ever). That's all i'm going to say about that.
The car really started to become a good runner when I got a job at a local European Car Shop. I left my job at a Ford Dealership as a Tech and started washing and parking cars at this little indy shop. Little did I know that it would be one of the best decisions i've ever made in my life. I learned alot of my coworkers about how to REALLY build a car. How to do it right. What should be important in a car you drive everyday VS. something that is just nice to look at. I learned alot about prioritizing and legitimitizing what is really important to what you want in a car. I did things here and there on the Eta to make it MUCH more reliable and enjoyable to drive.
- First things first was the shoddy "Side Exit" straight pipe exhaust HAD to go. I needed tabs and at the time the car still needed to pass Emissions Testing. I ended up buying a 325iS exhaust from the manifolds back from local PRO3 driver that was parting out a convertible. 220.00 well spent. Installed with new hardware, band kit, and hangers. Felt good to do something to the car and pay attention to Torque Specs, use the right tools, and the piece of mind was incredible. The car sounded GREAT! Passed emissions without a hitch!.
- The tires had DEFINITELY seen better days. I bought a set of Sumitomo Tires from Tire Rack for a great price and had them mounted and balanced at work. Felt so much more comfortable on the highway with new rubber. Much harder to break that one tire loose. ; )
- The upper Radiator neck broke right where the hose meets the radiator while waiting for the light to turn green on the on ramp... : / Got it towed home (Helps to have Tow Truck buddies) and replaced the Radiator, all the coolant hoses, new thermostat, sensors, pretty much everything that should be replaced in the cooling system got replaced.
- I had a set of 325iX Dinan Spring laying around that I decided to install in the Eta as the ride was really bouncy with the blown shocks and worn out stock springs. I had a set of Bilsteins laying around that went in at the same time!
After all that work I was really getting to a point with Greta where I could start focusing on FUN stuff. You know, nice paint, wheels, engine upgrades, interior work, etc. Sure she was rough on the eyes, but she was incredible where she needed to be. Like a white chick with booty.
It was one day that I walked onto the lot that changed EVERYTHING.
At the time, VW's were the big thing in my area. Mainly MK1's and MK2's. I ended up picking up a 1983 VW GTi for 200.00. I was told the engine did not run, due to a bad rod knock. I towed the car home. I lived on a hill at the time and decided i'd try my luck compression startintg the GTi. Low and behold, it started up and I was driving it around the neighborhood on and off over the weekend. The engine did have a bad knock and eventually punched a hold into the side of the block. I don't have pictures of the carnage but do have a few photos of the car. I ended up throwing another 1.8L 8V from another GTi into it and selling it off before I got it running.
After the GTi, I picked up a 1986 VW Jetta 5spd. Typical VW problems, never ran right. Some DB chopped the springs before I got it... but it was only 600.00 and it got me to and from work.
A friend of a friend picked up a 1987 325e coupe/5spd that he had for a few months and could not for the life of him figure out why he couldn't get it started. After talking with my good friend about the car he convinced me to pick it up and that we would get it running for next to NOTHING. I said okay and offered the owner of the 325e 375.00. He signed over the title and the 325e was mine!
We got the car home and started poking around the engine bay. The first thing we noticed was that the ground cable from the oil pan to the body of the car was barely tightened down to the car. I finger tightened it down as best as I could, and turned the key.. she started right up! Idled well enough, and even moved under her own power. I also learned that the car had Euro Grilles, Valence, and Lip Spoiler! I couldn't believe it. My friend Shawn, who had an 88 325iX at the time (The red one that my roommate bought and is now still in my garage.) preached to me the importance of the Timing Belt, and Water Pump, how it was imperative to have them replaced if you DIDN'T know the age of those components. We replaced those with brand new units and the 325e became my daily driver. I was 19 at the time with little knowledge of actually working on cars, so the first year or so of ownership with this car was really a shame on my part. I learned alot, and definitely got alot of inspiration from my VW friends (Not sure if that's a good thing.). Two things ended up happening with the car that i'm REALLY not stoked about. One night after too many shots of 151 my friends and I decided it'd be a good idea to paint the car Flat Brown (I also shaved off the rear roundel. First attempt at body work ever). That's all i'm going to say about that.
The car really started to become a good runner when I got a job at a local European Car Shop. I left my job at a Ford Dealership as a Tech and started washing and parking cars at this little indy shop. Little did I know that it would be one of the best decisions i've ever made in my life. I learned alot of my coworkers about how to REALLY build a car. How to do it right. What should be important in a car you drive everyday VS. something that is just nice to look at. I learned alot about prioritizing and legitimitizing what is really important to what you want in a car. I did things here and there on the Eta to make it MUCH more reliable and enjoyable to drive.
- First things first was the shoddy "Side Exit" straight pipe exhaust HAD to go. I needed tabs and at the time the car still needed to pass Emissions Testing. I ended up buying a 325iS exhaust from the manifolds back from local PRO3 driver that was parting out a convertible. 220.00 well spent. Installed with new hardware, band kit, and hangers. Felt good to do something to the car and pay attention to Torque Specs, use the right tools, and the piece of mind was incredible. The car sounded GREAT! Passed emissions without a hitch!.
- The tires had DEFINITELY seen better days. I bought a set of Sumitomo Tires from Tire Rack for a great price and had them mounted and balanced at work. Felt so much more comfortable on the highway with new rubber. Much harder to break that one tire loose. ; )
- The upper Radiator neck broke right where the hose meets the radiator while waiting for the light to turn green on the on ramp... : / Got it towed home (Helps to have Tow Truck buddies) and replaced the Radiator, all the coolant hoses, new thermostat, sensors, pretty much everything that should be replaced in the cooling system got replaced.
- I had a set of 325iX Dinan Spring laying around that I decided to install in the Eta as the ride was really bouncy with the blown shocks and worn out stock springs. I had a set of Bilsteins laying around that went in at the same time!
After all that work I was really getting to a point with Greta where I could start focusing on FUN stuff. You know, nice paint, wheels, engine upgrades, interior work, etc. Sure she was rough on the eyes, but she was incredible where she needed to be. Like a white chick with booty.
It was one day that I walked onto the lot that changed EVERYTHING.
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