323i restoration

[BurakB]

Hey r3vlimited,

Thought it was time to upload the work I've been undertaking in my spare time. Recently purchased a 1985 323i from a friend at work for $500. Drove the car home from my mates place to mine with the biggest coolaid smile :):)

This what the car looked like the night it arrived at my garage.



The E30 didn't stay like this for too long as the next night I began to strip her and look for the leaks and rust my mate had told me about.
























The plan for the car is to repair the rust, I've got the front end of a another E30 coming from the wrecker on its way and need to brush up on my TIG welding skills... Then the car is gonna be blasted and painted by myself.

Comments and any advice is welcome and appreciated.

[BurakB]

The current plan for the car is:

- Fix any rust/dents
- Recondition the m20b23
- Recondition the interior
- Upgrade and uprate chassis components such as bushings, suspension and steering

[BurakB]

Here's some better photos..

[BurakB]

Would anyone know what this colour is called? Saw it at the BMW museum in Munich last year and knew that was the colour I needed!



Going to the museum gave me lots of inspiration for the level quality that I'm aiming for.



Inspiring!

[Doughnut]

Great to see another Aussie e30 being brought back from the dead!

My 323i had rust around the battery tray also, be sure to relocate it to the boot!

Paint name and colour code should be on the left strut tower.

[BurakB]

Yeah I'll be sure to relocate the battery. It feels good to bring a car back to it former glory that was gonna go to the tip before I intervened.

[BurakB]

This is the rust I'll be tackling in the coming fortnight.

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Getting the hang of TIG welding on thick steel but need to practice for thinner pieces like the one above on the wiper arm.

[BurakB]

Does anyone know how to remove the mechanisms in the roof of the sunroof? Couldn't find a source online.

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[BurakB]

More rust....... :(:(:(:(

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[BurakB]

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I'm at the stage of welding up all the rust and working out the body work. I'm thinking of using a soda blaster, does anyone have any opinions or advice about soda blasting?

[ThatOneEuroE30]

starting to come along. I prefer to have my stuff media blasted but thats me

[BurakB]

starting to come along. I prefer to have my stuff media blasted but thats me

I thought soda was a type of media for media blasting? what sort of media have you used in the past and have the results been favorable? Cheers

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I thought soda was a type of media for media blasting? what sort of media have you used in the past and have the results been favorable? Cheers

Maybe it is I've always thought it was different.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Soda is a media. Prepare to clean soda dust out of unreachable areas, or just mask and blast what you need to.

[BurakB]

Soda is a media. Prepare to clean soda dust out of unreachable areas, or just mask and blast what you need to.

That's what I was thinking also, what parts of the car would you recommend sealed off? the only places I can think is the sunroof mechanism and the space where the wiper motors live.