The story: I bought this thing about 2 weeks ago with the intention of fixing it up and making it a gas saver/commuter on a budget, since I don't have a job. It is in very rough shape but runs and drives and cant beat it for $800. With that being said, I want to make it look more like the score it got on Auto check, which is 63/100.
I had to put my main project on hold due to shortage of funds, so now this is what I am focusing on.
I am a big hoarder of e30's and I have yet to find a cure...
Here is how it looked when i got it.
Both fenders and front bumper are toast and need to be replaced.
Headlights and Grilles busted
Mirror and trim needs to be replaced
Interior needs lots of pieces replaced and a good cleaning.
Driver seat and Dash cracked
Engine Bay looks nasty.
Join me on the journey of bringing this thing up in shape and making it an awesome gas saver while everyone seems to be putting s50s and huge turbos on their e30s
....
A quick trip to the local junk yard and I scored a clean seat and dashboard.
My attempt to complete the tool kit. :(
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2 Days later I came across this...
A 325is with pretty much all options, for 400 bucks I had it brought home.
Time to swap everything over...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
No more ugly airbag steering wheel.
Removed the driver seat to be replaced.I vacuumed it nicely but carpet needs a good cleaning.
Oh Yea! new seat in. My seat belt buckle now works too.
Next I pulled off the front crappy bumper and valence and put in a straight valence that I got from a friend.
Also decided to change the blown bouncy stock shocks and springs with some H&R I had saved a while back. The stock ones felt like I was on a boat.
Brakes looked decent.
Bushings.. Not so much
I only changed the front springs and shocks. I was too lazy to do the rear, but I will soon.
here is what it looked like with H&R front and stock rear.
Got a bumper for the front, but its terribly spray painted white, I haven't yet decided if i want to use it because it has a broken tab...
Dash Removal in Progress...
While I was doing that... I changed out the locks and ignition, because the ignition key was not working for the outside locks. That clip is a b**ch to take off.
You take this tool...
and grind this guy here...
To look like this.
Then you unscrew it and bam its all out. (I know i could have swapped just the tumbler, but i tried and it didn't work for me.)
After a few hours of hurting and lots of swearing... The dash was out.
This thing ripped while I was looking at it... (I got super powers maybe?):D
Also the sealant foam is crap. It would turn into play-dough if I touched it.
Good vs Cracked
This bracket is different because of airbag setup...
Vin # swapped over to new dash...
I went to HD supply and got this for 3 bucks...
Cleaned up the vents. and Started installing the weatherstrip
All cleaned up and finished. (I still have enough weatherstrip to do 1 more car)
Cleaned up the wiring mess.
Before and after...
Shoved the dashboard back in, Checked to make sure it sealed up well.
More wiring clean up...
Changed out the radio/climate bezel
Dashboard fully in, all was left is the smaller pieces.
New ignition lock and key.
Traced down where the Tweeters connect to..
Changed the driver door lock. BTW it's a pain in the a$$ on a sedan.
I had to remove the window and rail.
This past Friday I did the stereo / antenna.
Got this for 10 bucks at fry's last year. Its radio/usb/aux. Good enough for me.
After a little research and wiring, I had it all hooked up. The car is a mess and full of parts.
Next was antenna. It looked like this
The replacement was off the parts car.
A quick test to see if it works and then installed it.
I then tried a spot on my carpet to see how well it cleans up with hand cleaner. This picture is after I rubbed it on with a brush, Not vacuumed yet. Not bad, Will eventually have to do the whole carpet.
My personal helper... (I hate cats, but this guy is cool)
Was doing some testing for sub. and I found this under the rear seat. ugh!
AAAaaand this finally brings us to current day...
I will try to update this often, but I get lazy at times.
Preview of whats next...
I had to put my main project on hold due to shortage of funds, so now this is what I am focusing on.
I am a big hoarder of e30's and I have yet to find a cure...
Here is how it looked when i got it.
Both fenders and front bumper are toast and need to be replaced.
Headlights and Grilles busted
Mirror and trim needs to be replaced
Interior needs lots of pieces replaced and a good cleaning.
Driver seat and Dash cracked
Engine Bay looks nasty.
Join me on the journey of bringing this thing up in shape and making it an awesome gas saver while everyone seems to be putting s50s and huge turbos on their e30s
....
A quick trip to the local junk yard and I scored a clean seat and dashboard.
My attempt to complete the tool kit. :(
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Days later I came across this...
A 325is with pretty much all options, for 400 bucks I had it brought home.
Time to swap everything over...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
No more ugly airbag steering wheel.
Removed the driver seat to be replaced.I vacuumed it nicely but carpet needs a good cleaning.
Oh Yea! new seat in. My seat belt buckle now works too.
Next I pulled off the front crappy bumper and valence and put in a straight valence that I got from a friend.
Also decided to change the blown bouncy stock shocks and springs with some H&R I had saved a while back. The stock ones felt like I was on a boat.
Brakes looked decent.
Bushings.. Not so much
I only changed the front springs and shocks. I was too lazy to do the rear, but I will soon.
here is what it looked like with H&R front and stock rear.
Got a bumper for the front, but its terribly spray painted white, I haven't yet decided if i want to use it because it has a broken tab...
Dash Removal in Progress...
While I was doing that... I changed out the locks and ignition, because the ignition key was not working for the outside locks. That clip is a b**ch to take off.
You take this tool...
and grind this guy here...
To look like this.
Then you unscrew it and bam its all out. (I know i could have swapped just the tumbler, but i tried and it didn't work for me.)
After a few hours of hurting and lots of swearing... The dash was out.
This thing ripped while I was looking at it... (I got super powers maybe?):D
Also the sealant foam is crap. It would turn into play-dough if I touched it.
Good vs Cracked
This bracket is different because of airbag setup...
Vin # swapped over to new dash...
I went to HD supply and got this for 3 bucks...
Cleaned up the vents. and Started installing the weatherstrip
All cleaned up and finished. (I still have enough weatherstrip to do 1 more car)
Cleaned up the wiring mess.
Before and after...
Shoved the dashboard back in, Checked to make sure it sealed up well.
More wiring clean up...
Changed out the radio/climate bezel
Dashboard fully in, all was left is the smaller pieces.
New ignition lock and key.
Traced down where the Tweeters connect to..
Changed the driver door lock. BTW it's a pain in the a$$ on a sedan.
I had to remove the window and rail.
This past Friday I did the stereo / antenna.
Got this for 10 bucks at fry's last year. Its radio/usb/aux. Good enough for me.
After a little research and wiring, I had it all hooked up. The car is a mess and full of parts.
Next was antenna. It looked like this
The replacement was off the parts car.
A quick test to see if it works and then installed it.
I then tried a spot on my carpet to see how well it cleans up with hand cleaner. This picture is after I rubbed it on with a brush, Not vacuumed yet. Not bad, Will eventually have to do the whole carpet.
My personal helper... (I hate cats, but this guy is cool)
Was doing some testing for sub. and I found this under the rear seat. ugh!
AAAaaand this finally brings us to current day...
I will try to update this often, but I get lazy at times.
Preview of whats next...
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