Panici's '87 325is E30 - Boosted In Bronze

[Panici]

nice work restoring this e30!

Thanks! It's not nearly done yet!

I still have a ton of work to do, but now at least it's mostly mechanically refreshed, so I can drive it without worry!

[iwantspeed]

nice work restoring this e30!

[Panici]

So I finally got my E30 to the track!
Went for a short 4PM-dusk session. I think I did alright for my first ever track session in a car!

Talk about fun, even the rain didn't put a damper on the situation (although it certainly did on the laptimes!)

• I've been accused of over-packing. I call it being prepared. I even had ramps!
• Started the tires at my street pressure (cold 33.5F, 35R)
• Managed two back-to-back 1:37s in my 4th (short) session before the rain started
• Never really had any brake fade, although I did start taking it easier (or pitting) when I started smelling them get hot. They are still mostly street brake pads after all, and I didn't want to cook them.
• Took off the centercaps part way through, seemed to help with cooling.
• Dropped tire pressures to (hot 30F, 30R) after my first rainy session
• Next time I will bring more fuel. As it starting getting low, the rear started getting really light, even in the dry.

Overall, i'm very impressed with the car's performance!
It's great that it handles this well, considering it's been primarily built as a comfortable street setup, on 14" wheels and 195 width tires, no less!

I wish I had my laptimes from the end of the day (after it started drying up). Based on how I remember corner speeds at the end of the day, I was probably running mid 1:30s. Next time i'll bring a camera charger.

I wonder how quick the car could run if I pushed the brakes harder/hotter? I guess I'll find out at the next trackday!



Fastest recorded lap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_kMTAj2gZk

Full 4th (short) session where I got both 1:37s back-to-back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC2t2-Mupoo

Sliding in the rain. Oversteer indeed!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLaqdVPD7Hs

Front tires afterwards (took pictures days later, it rained for a while!)


Rear tires afterwards

[Panici]

I know for my 1987is mt has 373, also had 87 vert with added lsd option and that was 373 too with auto transmission.. The auto late model i've had in past had 4:10 diff's gears.

That sounds consistent with what I've heard in the past.


I think an Automatic '87 iS is an uncommon model, but if possible I would like to hear from any other owners as to their gear ratio.

[fight4life28]

I know for my 1987is mt has 373, also had 87 vert with added lsd option and that was 373 too with auto transmission.. The auto late model i've had in past had 4:10 diff's gears.

[Panici]

After some recent lengthy drives, I was contemplating my fuel economy and final drive ratio.
I previously thought I had 3.73s, but now I'm thinking I have 4.10s.

• According to the optimistic onboard OBC, I was getting 7.6L/100km (31mpg) with the auto trans.
• Also according to the OBC, I am getting ~9L/100km (26mpg) with the 5-speed
• At 3000rpm (in 5th) my speedometer reads ~118km/h
• At 3000rpm (in 5th) my phone's gps indicates 109km/h
• If the speedometer was accurate, this would indicate 3.73 rear gearing
• If the phone's gps is accurate, this would indicate 4.10 rear gearing
• My VIN decode lists 25% diff lock, but no ratio
• Obviously the ratio tag on the diff was unreadably rusty.

Gear ratio calculator (with my values already in)


I know the '87 iS is kind of an oddball model.
Did the first Auto iS models usually come with a 4.10 rear end?



P.S. - Thinking long-term, if my car does indeed have a 4.10 rear end, there is zero chance I could use it with the M52b28 and ZF320. The 1:1 5th gear would put me at 3800rpm @ 109km/h.

[Panici]

Some exciting progress today.
After two years of actively searching, I FINALLY got my hands on some houndstooth interior pieces to fix my driver's seat.

I actually picked up an entire houndstooth sport interior, although one of the seats is pretty rough.

The seller even threw in a front bumper for free (mine is cracked)

Also, just in case you were wondering, it's possible to safely fit an entire extra interior into an E30 if you position it properly.

[Panici]

Balancing all that and pushing it up by yourself is a bear. I finally managed it balancing the whole mess on a floor jack - I think your method of blocking it up was smarter.

Is this the brake line called Cunifer? Copper nickel iron manganese. Seems to be very popular in restorations.

Nice work.

I actually used a motorcycle scissor jack that I mounted on wheels. This made it a one man job to work with the assembly.
The blocking you see was just to stop the axle shafts from hanging at full extension for any length of time.

Brake line was called:
AGS NiCopp - CuNiFe alloy tubing. CNC-325. SAE J1650. 3/16"


Thanks for the kind words :)

[LateFan]

Good news!
I finally got the subframe assembly bolted back onto the car!

Balancing all that and pushing it up by yourself is a bear. I finally managed it balancing the whole mess on a floor jack - I think your method of blocking it up was smarter.

Is this the brake line called Cunifer? Copper nickel iron manganese. Seems to be very popular in restorations.

Nice work.

[Panici]

Your car is looking great! :up: Are you bringing it to the maxbimmer cruise this weekend?

Thank you :) It's coming along that's for sure.

Not going to the maxbimmer cruise unfortunately. Maybe next year.

[Roadrunner]

Your car is looking great! :up: Are you bringing it to the maxbimmer cruise this weekend?

[Panici]

Car has been feeling good since the rear end swap.
I've put the rear end to the test with a few launches, and MANY chirped 1-2 and 2-3 shifts.
No more clunking on hard upshifts like there was before.

It looks "done" to me, especially since you're driving it now. What else is planned besides the cosmetic stuff mentioned?

Thanks! :)
But I still have a lot of work to do.

There is a TON of cosmetic work to be done (both restoration and upgrades).
Actually, I have barely done any cosmetic work to the car so far. I've been focusing on refreshing all the mechanical systems.

Longterm plans include building a turbo M52b28 (aiming for ~450hp, tuning myself with a megasquirt), all necessary chassis upgrades to handle the more powerful motor, full stripdown (possibly including a rotisserie and/or acid dip) and a full respray of the chassis and all panels.

-----------------------------

Today I successfully deleted the fuel cooling system.

I have a trackday planned, and I thought it would be prudent to replace the rubber fuel hoses in my engine bay.
All of these pictures of E30s with engine bay fires had me spooked.

What's a fuel cooling system you ask? Here is some info:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=170015

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=16_0301

For reference, I used 4' 1/4" (4.25 feet) of fuel injection hose (ID 5/16") to replace both lines.

The removed items weighed a total of 1.9kg, subtracting the 150g for the new hose, the total weight reduction was 1.75kg (3.85lbs)

I should note, that I had to remove the airbox and intake elbow, as well as put the car on ramps to allow enough working space.

Original configuration went across the engine bay, and interfaced with the AC system. It looked like this (each arrow is a piece of rubber hose) :
Supply hardline -> plastic joiner -> fuel rail -> fuel cooler inlet hardline -> fuel cooler -> fuel cooler outlet hardline -> Return hardline


Final configuration used two pieces of hose, like this:
Supply hardline -> fuel rail -> Return hardline


Here's a shot of the pile of removed parts.

[2mAn]

It looks "done" to me, especially since you're driving it now. What else is planned besides the cosmetic stuff mentioned?

[Panici]

I took my E30 to a shop (gasp!) to get my exhaust leak fixed.

Had them weld in some staggered stainless v-bands in place of the factory flanges.
The shop did top rate work as I wanted, but I sure paid for it.

No pictures of the flanges yet, i'll be sure to get some next time i'm under the car.



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I tired my hand at photoshop to help me decide the rear end look i'm after.
Compare to the original photo in the post above this one.
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Here is the euro rear plate filler, with the E28 535is pfeba heckspoiler I have planned.


And here is the plate filler + pfeba heckspoiler + Racing Dynamics rear valance (still looking to buy one of these)


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Some other edits of my photos, for your enjoyment.









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And a picture of my complete trunk toolkit, since I finally got around to mounting it. (except for the manual window/sunroof crank?)

[Panici]

Today I finally got a chance to take some decent pictures of my car with an SLR. It's been at least two years since I've shot cars, I forgot how much fun it is!

Here are my favorite shots: