SEP 2017 EDIT: I'LL BE UPDATING THESE PICS SOON, FOCUSING ON THE FOURTH CAR
YET ANOTHER CHANGE IN PLANS BACK TO A LACHS 88 COUPE, THIS TIME WITH CARDINAL INTERIOR
Jump straight to the 4th car here
A little history of my IX coupe adventure...
THE ORIGINAL CAR THAT STARTED ALL THIS CRAZINESS:
88 IX 5 Speed Lachsilber / Grey
Minnesota
Mechanically restored, but too much floor pan rust to save.
It's now my mechanical / spares / learn to weld parts car
2ND CAR
90 IX 5 Speed Coupe Zinno / Black
Washington State
Completely rust free but with a horrible paint job and some missing bits
Lasted a whole week before we decided to sell it!
3RD CAR
91 IX Auto Coupe Alpine White / Black
New Jersey
127k miles
Some rust but clean floorpan. a real looker and best AC I've ever had in an E30
Son drove it all summer
Planned a 5 speed conversion and full de-rust including new panels
Sold to a friend so I'm still in touch with current owner.
See post 43 for details.

4th AND HOPEFULLY FINAL CAR
88 IX 5 Speed Lachsilber/Cardinal
PENNSYLVANIA
101k miles
fully resprayed, not sure color is exactly right
clean floor pans, interior and engine bay
mostly unmolested
rust repair needed for both fenders, driver quarter needs replacement, battery tray
bondo evidence in some places

BUILD HISTORY FOR THE ORIGINAL CAR - NOW MY PARTS CAR
Been working on this for about a year now. Picked it up in St Paul with 160k miles. All original, matching VINs and no accidents on record, but of course plenty of rust to deal with after 25 years up north. Most of the mechanical restoration is done, but the body has a long way to go. Hesitated to post anything until there was something worth looking at.
Like all 88 IX coupes, this one came fully loaded.

It was missing the armrest rear and ski bag though, but I've managed to source those. Also have chased down brand new heated door lock setup, heated outside mirrors and heated washer nozzles. I may be putting an HCS setup on this car too if I can find it. Exactly the type of vehicle that will use headlamp washers.
I'll be cleaning up this initial post over time. I'll also make sure I have recent pics right on the first post.
as it looked last week

interior pics



Plans for the car:
- mechanical restoration (1st phase almost complete now)
- complete vehicle disassembly, clean/repair
- full body de-rusting, panel replacement where necessary
- plastic bumper swap
- clean up interior (one seat bolster needs work, leatherique treatment, full carpet clean
- refinish IX wheels (already have new caps)
- new paint (same color)
Work done to date:
- tank/surface head, 3 angle valve job, new camshaft, eccentrics, seals
- timing belt and water pump
- new coolant and evap hoses
- new cap, rotor, platinum plugs and bmw perf wires
- new starter and reman a/c compressor
- PORd strut housings, sway bars
- new OEM control arms, offset CABs, tie-rods, top hats
- new stabilizer links, bushings
- new H&R sports and billie HDs all around
- new pads, rotors, e-brakes, splash shields (so rusted in rear I couldn't mount ebrakes)
- reman calipers and ss lines (install in process)
- new PS hoses (not all installed yet)
- wheel alignment
Work planned/pending:
- wheel bearings
- rear subframe and diff bushings
- camber/toe kit for rear subframe
- camber plates for front (it's barely off-spec now b/c of H&Rs)
- finish r134a A/C conversion (flush, o-rings, leak fixes, drier, expansion valve)
- install new radiator support, tail panel, inner rockers (if I can find them)
- cut and replace rust areas (plenty of them)
- replace both fenders and doors
- tailight and trunk gaskets
- hood insulation
Some mech resto pics







strut housings were absolute hell to deal with - pb blaster, torch, pipe wrench, sledge and sweat




Rust areas that I will be dealing with





























YET ANOTHER CHANGE IN PLANS BACK TO A LACHS 88 COUPE, THIS TIME WITH CARDINAL INTERIOR
Jump straight to the 4th car here
A little history of my IX coupe adventure...
THE ORIGINAL CAR THAT STARTED ALL THIS CRAZINESS:
88 IX 5 Speed Lachsilber / Grey
Minnesota
Mechanically restored, but too much floor pan rust to save.
It's now my mechanical / spares / learn to weld parts car
2ND CAR
90 IX 5 Speed Coupe Zinno / Black
Washington State
Completely rust free but with a horrible paint job and some missing bits
Lasted a whole week before we decided to sell it!
3RD CAR
91 IX Auto Coupe Alpine White / Black
New Jersey
127k miles
Some rust but clean floorpan. a real looker and best AC I've ever had in an E30
Son drove it all summer
Planned a 5 speed conversion and full de-rust including new panels
Sold to a friend so I'm still in touch with current owner.
See post 43 for details.

4th AND HOPEFULLY FINAL CAR
88 IX 5 Speed Lachsilber/Cardinal
PENNSYLVANIA
101k miles
fully resprayed, not sure color is exactly right
clean floor pans, interior and engine bay
mostly unmolested
rust repair needed for both fenders, driver quarter needs replacement, battery tray
bondo evidence in some places
BUILD HISTORY FOR THE ORIGINAL CAR - NOW MY PARTS CAR
Been working on this for about a year now. Picked it up in St Paul with 160k miles. All original, matching VINs and no accidents on record, but of course plenty of rust to deal with after 25 years up north. Most of the mechanical restoration is done, but the body has a long way to go. Hesitated to post anything until there was something worth looking at.
Like all 88 IX coupes, this one came fully loaded.

It was missing the armrest rear and ski bag though, but I've managed to source those. Also have chased down brand new heated door lock setup, heated outside mirrors and heated washer nozzles. I may be putting an HCS setup on this car too if I can find it. Exactly the type of vehicle that will use headlamp washers.
I'll be cleaning up this initial post over time. I'll also make sure I have recent pics right on the first post.
as it looked last week
interior pics



Plans for the car:
- mechanical restoration (1st phase almost complete now)
- complete vehicle disassembly, clean/repair
- full body de-rusting, panel replacement where necessary
- plastic bumper swap
- clean up interior (one seat bolster needs work, leatherique treatment, full carpet clean
- refinish IX wheels (already have new caps)
- new paint (same color)
Work done to date:
- tank/surface head, 3 angle valve job, new camshaft, eccentrics, seals
- timing belt and water pump
- new coolant and evap hoses
- new cap, rotor, platinum plugs and bmw perf wires
- new starter and reman a/c compressor
- PORd strut housings, sway bars
- new OEM control arms, offset CABs, tie-rods, top hats
- new stabilizer links, bushings
- new H&R sports and billie HDs all around
- new pads, rotors, e-brakes, splash shields (so rusted in rear I couldn't mount ebrakes)
- reman calipers and ss lines (install in process)
- new PS hoses (not all installed yet)
- wheel alignment
Work planned/pending:
- wheel bearings
- rear subframe and diff bushings
- camber/toe kit for rear subframe
- camber plates for front (it's barely off-spec now b/c of H&Rs)
- finish r134a A/C conversion (flush, o-rings, leak fixes, drier, expansion valve)
- install new radiator support, tail panel, inner rockers (if I can find them)
- cut and replace rust areas (plenty of them)
- replace both fenders and doors
- tailight and trunk gaskets
- hood insulation
Some mech resto pics





strut housings were absolute hell to deal with - pb blaster, torch, pipe wrench, sledge and sweat




Rust areas that I will be dealing with






























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