1986 Euro Spec 318i: The Legend of Brünhilde (pic heavy)

[merklenerkum]

Hello all! I'm Michael from H-Town,TX where the roads are terrible and its hot as hell. :D

Part 1: The Spark

My E30 story begins with a 1984 318i Coupe I picked up from someone in Austin.
This is the original ad pic





Picked her up with an extra set of Bottlecaps painted black with some decent rubber.

Tow hitch included haha



Body was mostly straight with a few moderate dents. Some rust in expected places too. The interior came out of another car P/O said.



"Whitney Houston" Dash

At this point I got it started with a new battery and drove it around the block and we knew something was wrong. Caramel fluid comes from my oil pan...mmm.
Head comes off and I find a crack so a new head comes in.


Craigslist find of the day $30 driver side fender already painted!
What a dirty trunk.
Afternoon project.



Went to the pick a part and got lucky with this crackless dash!





From here I went with the quick solution bumper tuck, still looks good with the exception of the bacon plastic shrouds.






Heres a pic of my bagged xB incase any of you were wondering ;)

So there it sits as we try to get it going but as of now it starts and dies right after. Suspicion of ICV comes to mind.

Up next Part 2: The Legend is Discovered

[CorvallisBMW]

How long did it sit? How's the fuel quality and fuel filter?

[merklenerkum]

About 9 months. (spring and winter) We jumped the fuel pump relay to pump out the existing gas and replaced with new gas. Fuel filter was replaced as well.

[jprastrullo]

I too am in need of a driver's side fender.... Lucky find! As well as a crack free dash... what did you pay at your local junkyard?

[merklenerkum]

Part 2:

Craigslist searching one day looking for parts eventually searching individual model years to find whatever I could.

An ad came up for a 1986 318i Euro model listed for $2500.
I send a message inquiring the extra parts the ad listed and asked for a price and the guy replies with "car has cracked block, car and parts for $650". Depending on the completeness of this car I could swap my engine/trans into it and keep it alive.

I changed my pants and called the next day..

Fortunately it was less than an hour from me so I wanted to take a look before I jumped.


Authentic Zender front spoiler but badly cracked.







Single owner, imported in 1986 and routinely maintained.
I left and said I'd call him in a few days.
That blue interior lingered in my mind the whole time.
I quickly got the funds together and picked it up the next week.


Got the trunk open and had a great surprise in front of me!



Found this loose in the side trunk well. Pretty cool but doesn't work.



Pulled everything out from inside (there was more than it looked like in there)




And there sat the beautiful Pacific Blue seats










Took me 3 times sitting in the front seat to notice the instrument cluster...
WTF>>>


Also I found her bra..


Gave her a bath to rid all the mildew. The paint is waaaay better than I expected. Car must've been garaged for a while or waxed regularly its whole life to look this good.



I ran the VIN and got all the specs, this car is all original from factory besides the Zender. What a gem of a car...
I plan to swap my m10 and manu. trans. from the coupe to this one.

Took the front bumper off to see how everything was attached and to see if i needed any screws/bolts/etc. And replaced the grille and kidneys too.


And buttoned all back up!



Update*
BC racing Coilovers were ordered today!:mrgreen:

Thanks for looking!

[merklenerkum]

I too am in need of a driver's side fender.... Lucky find! As well as a crack free dash... what did you pay at your local junkyard?

I have an extra driver side fender now but its unpainted.
Dash was $20!

[2mAn]

are you going to swap over your fenders and hood from the M10 car?

[merklenerkum]

are you going to swap over your fenders and hood from the M10 car?

no I want to keep this car original, and they are both m10's

[HennaE30]

Dude I love the cluster. And damn the Dark Side of The Moon tapes are awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xLukas]

Looks like a fun project for you!

[Rdreas]

You should hit up harbor freight and get a plastic welder and take care of that zender lip. I'm jealous not 1 but 2 e30s . looking forward to seeing more!

[Old city bimmer]

That's got be the coolest mod with the Tach. That's what happens when you start drinking expired beer. You don't know what you end up doing...lol
What up with the side marker lights...that's not Euro. I don't have any on my 323i

[merklenerkum]

That's got be the coolest mod with the Tach. That's what happens when you start drinking expired beer. You don't know what you end up doing...lol
What up with the side marker lights...that's not Euro. I don't have any on my 323i

The gauge isn't modded, came from factory like that because its an automatic.
Ive seen a few 2002's with the same side markers. I happen to know someone who imported cars in the 80's and he said its actually a Jaguar part number. The car was federalized by Auto Haus Kaiser so I'm assuming they were the ones who applied.

[Old city bimmer]

Interesting on the federalization as mine was imported in California and they never tagged it with side marker lights.

[merklenerkum]

The Zender front spoiler is the original foam/rubber material, very flexible off the car but bolted up it holds rigid. I have seen a few painted but I'm wondering if anyone else has had experience painting this. Maybe a flexing agent in the paint would help...