phenryiv1's 1989 325iC Project - SETA 2.7i Swap Complete and Running!

[phenryiv1]

I hereby introduce my new project. Not much in the way of details in this first post but I will add a few pictures to hold the place for now.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=BB13&mospid=47326

The car is a 1989 325i with some pretty significant suspension modifications. I would never have done this much work to the suspension of a weekend cruiser but that is how I bought it, so that is probably how it will stay. The Yellow Speed Racing coilovers are low- lower than I want them- and for now she is riding on a set of yellow-painted bottlecaps from my RallyX car.

That build thread can be found here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=257210

I started with this:




And as of September 2015 I have made it to this:



Details on the process cover the following pages. Enjoy!
















It also has some sort of body kit on it. I am still torn on what to do about that. It rubs on the garage apron so it may need to come off if raising the coilovers does not eliminate the rubbing.

In addition to coilovers the car has adjustable camber plates and adjustable swaybars. The camber plates are also Yellow Speed Racing and appear to be in great shape- supposedly the car has under 500 miles of street driving since the suspension install and from the looks of things, that is accurate.

Link to the coilovers: http://www.yellow-speed.com/dynamic-pro-sport.php and http://www.amazon.com/1982-92-3-SERI.../dp/B005CZL9LC

Also, the car had new tie rods and the front brakes appear to be pretty new. Interior is in great shape as well, though it needs a few small things.

The top is not in great shape but that can be rectified. One cable is snapped, so that needs to be replaced.



So far the only "mod" to it was the install of a quiet and known-good 3.73S differential with a clean cover and a new poly bushing.





It needed a new muffler so I ordered an OEM-replacement Walker stainless steel muffler. I also plan to get some other parts ASAP- skidplate, new shift knob, new steering wheel, and probably a new set of Motorsports Hardware wheel studs.

I have a set of TireRack Morotsports TRM C1 wheels wearing the new StarSpecs still on my tire rack. They were going to go on the track car but I may run them as street tires on this car. The black wheels (15x7) with sticky 205 tires would make for fun without being too harsh.

That is it for now- more updates coming soon.

Parking Lot (for links, parts, etc. that I might need later):

Cabrio plastic bumper swap: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=257693

Charcoal canister removal info: http://spece30.com/forum/43-fuel-sys...nister-removal

BMW ashtray storage: http://www.amazon.com/BMW-Genuine-As.../dp/B002GL4AY8

Parts needed:
Steering washer 33311125916
Steering nut 31106774714
Trunk seal 51711884149
Expanding Rivet (at trunk) 51481905599 (need 4)
Green Grommet (valance) 51711932996 (need several)
(White) Plug 51711927439 (need several)
Grille Clamp 51131872146 (need 4-6)
(Black oval) Grommet (valance) 51131840154 (need several)

Cowl seal 51711933992 (need 1)
Fender seal 51711933209 (need 2)

GATES # T131RB

http://www.walletwerks.com/products/bmw-alpina-bifold

Need 1 of each, rear window outer weatherstripping... 51131961794, 51131961793

Folding top cover gasket: 51712230857
Brake retaining screws: (4) 34111123072

Brake line replacement: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=165682

Convertible window adjustment: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=342229

Armrest: http://www.ebay.com/itm/260964559377

Seat back/bottom info: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...26&postcount=9

Seat repair: http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318isseat.html http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=347892

Rear Headrests: http://bmw.e30tuner.com/articles_rrest.php

DIY Soda Blaster: http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-o.../soda_blaster/

Electronics manual: http://www.armchair.mb.ca/~dave/BMW/e30/e30co_89.pdf

Rear brakelight wiring diagram: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...07&postcount=5

Brake light modification service: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=190578
Carpet: http://www.roadworksauto.com/carpets/bmw.htm

SI Board Battery: http://store.batteryspecialists.com/...cr14250se.html SI Board info: http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/i...hp/Instruments

Interior ideas:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=195498&page=3

Parts Needed:
Outer Window Weatherstripping:
Left Rear: 51131961793
Right Rear: 51131961794
Left Front: 51361933751
Right Front: 51361933752

(Reference: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...0&postcount=38 )

Steering shaft diagrams: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0448 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0427

Oil Pan Rethreading tool: http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/me...mpaignId%3DT9F

Mubflaps idea: http://www.sparcousa.com/product/mud-flap

Door speaker pod ideas: http://unqshop.com/bmw-3-series-spea...,number,660032 http://www.brrperformance.com/blog/?paged=9

Steering wheel recovering: http://www.instructables.com/id/Reup...heel/?ALLSTEPS http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14218/css/14218_243.htm

[phenryiv1]

So some updates:

I was in the process of building an '88 SETA coupe into a track car a few years ago (http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=155221) but sold it to buy a new daily driver (2011 WRX). When I sold it, there were a bunch of uninstalled parts that went with the '88. Last week I was trolling Craigslist and saw some shifter parts FS. Turns out they were the same parts that I included with the sale of the '88, only I picked them up for about 40% of what I got for them (and about 60% of retail) for all new parts.

New Z3 1.9 shifter
Rear Shifter bracket
All washers, circlips, etc.
New(sed) shift carrier

I also ordered a new exhaust. The car came without one and I needed something. Since the car will be a street car and will be used to drive my family around I was fine with a stock replacement. I got a stainless steel Walker stock replacement from RockAuto, just to get the car street-able. Price was dirt cheap, even with shipping.

I also ordered a weighted Bilstein shift knob. I have one in the rallycar and for $15 shipped it is tough to beat.

[torreira]

Car over all is nice but if i were you i would get started and fixing all that panel gap its pretty darn sloppy. Not trying to hate, just giving some constructive criticism.

[phenryiv1]

Car over all is nice but if i were you i would get started and fixing all that panel gap its pretty darn sloppy. Not trying to hate, just giving some constructive criticism.

I fixed the trunk gap later in the day (after the pictures were taken) and I need to get to work on the bumpers. Both are about 1/4"-3/8" lower than I would like. Also, the passenger door needs a little alignment. I got the car like this and have only had time to swap the differential (I needed to get it installed to be able to move the car around in the driveway).

The whole car will be re-sprayed once I am comfortable with the condition of the mechanicals.

[torreira]

Good luck with the car. Im in for some future updates


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[phenryiv1]

Shifter parts...still bagged up and in a box with my address on it. Small world. He even gave me back several folders of printed How-To threads and articles that I gave him whe nI sold him my (now totalled) '88.

[irish44j]

needs more camber, bro ;)

but seriously, not feeling that lip....looks too big compared to the rest of the kit, IDK. Interior looks pretty good though!

[phenryiv1]

needs more camber, bro ;)

but seriously, not feeling that lip....looks too big compared to the rest of the kit, IDK. Interior looks pretty good though!

As soon as I get the car up on the lift to install the exhaust I will be taking off the valance. I really like the stock "is" lip on the late model balance. I need to check the condition of what is behind the snowplow and go from there.

This will be a more, um, proper project in it's attention to detail )as compared to the rally car). To keep the spirit of the rallycar going, I kept the diff and the snow tires and ordered a Red46 Sump Armor skidplate.

[phenryiv1]

A few more pictures.

Who doesn't like new parts?!?



Installed a new hood roundel (still looking for a good trunk emblem):



Detail on the camber plates in the suspension setup:



And a better engine shot (man does it need some cleaning!):



Now for the bad stuff...

So apparently before I got the car someone tried to break in. This is what broke the tension cable and has led to a gap over the driver's side window. For some reason (maybe because the roof is not held in the proper arch) the driver's side window does not seat properly in the weatherstripping when the door is closed with the top up.





And the rocker dent is worse than I thought, upon further inspection...I may need professional help on this one.



Lastly, the "battery box" area (even though the vert only has a ballast block there). Not sure how it rusted with no sunroof drain line in that area but at least it can be fixed.

[phenryiv1]

A little more info...

Looks like a new top may be in order. The more I look at it the more I think that I need to just replace the top, the holddown cables (which are already en route to me) and the tension straps. Goodbye, $600.

On the positive side, if I install it right that should be a 1-time purchase.

Here is where I believe that the holddown cable is missing on the driver's side:



And here is what I think it is supposed to look like on the passenger side:



Some more parts did arrive:



BavAuto exhaust install kit (wow- what a great idea to sell all of the exhaust install parts in one place!!!) and a brand new BMW OEM hood release cable assembly. Of course, I found a used one for $11 right after I bought this one but for $30 it is probably not bad to go new.

Plans for this weekend are to install the exhaust and see how I like the sound of an actual muffler. While it is up on the lift I will also remove the front valance and rear apron. I considered keeping the rear one to cover the OEM rear where there was battery box rot (even though there is no battery) but I think that I will just do the repair and get rid of the front and rear kit.

Thoughts now are a stock "is" front lip and "is" side skirts.

[phenryiv1]

Reminder to self: Need 16 of these - 11127593376

[phenryiv1]

A few random pictures form this weekend:

[phenryiv1]

Parts, parts, parts...

Red46 Sump Armor skid plate:



BavAuto exhaust install kit:



'Vert top side holddown cables:



Bilstein (fake, damn it) shift knob:



'Vert toneau cover struts:

[phenryiv1]

Removed the front and rear body kit parts. Found that the plastic bumper swap was only done half-assed...old style valance, no bumper brackets. Why even bother?!?













I painted the spare tire tub black. It was covered in overspray and looked like ass.

[phenryiv1]

A couple close-up shots of the rear coilovers and swaybar.







More later on the exhaust install.