Let's make an E30 M3! (M3 S14 cabrio clone project)

[rzerob]

Glad to see this project is moving again.

[Skarpa]

Awesome project, subbed.

[george graves]

That car has more ground clearance then a 1984 318i with an empty tank and no passengers!

[Alpina]

Amazing project

[flyboyx]

what did you do with the tow hooks on the front to allow the bumper to mount?

[jhaurimn]

Is the gap between the bumper and trim because of the E30 M3 specific liners?

He still needs to weld brackets to the inside of the fender/wheel well area for supporting the bumper. The brackets the bumper bolts to could probably use some adjusting as well.

[IronJoe]

Is the gap between the bumper and trim because of the E30 M3 specific liners?

Cant wait to see this done. Hopefully I can drive up for the picnic this next year

He still needs to weld brackets to the inside of the fender/wheel well area for supporting the bumper. The brackets the bumper bolts to could probably use some adjusting as well.

jhaurimn got it right, but yes there is a gasket between the bumper and the body. My bumper originally had the stock US spec gasket, but I sourced the evo one-piece gasket a while back so I'll be running that on this car along with my hood gaskets (which somehow survived the accident)

I am looking at buying a new welder which should make things easier for me. Lots of little things to tack on like the bumper brackets, radiator supports, and that pesky battery tray.

[IronJoe]

Finally got this thing transferred over, all legal and tagged. It might seem like a trivial thing but I had some issues getting the paperwork all approved. I've bought and sold lots of cars but somehow this one gave me the most trouble.

I also got my rear plate filler installed - doesn't make that much difference on a black car, but I wanted one.

Ordered a new exhaust, Rogue Engineering Diablo cat-back. And a new UUC evo 3 shifter assy is on the way, I couldn't pass up the Labor Day deal.

More to come!

[spiDmang]

Nice progress brother! Cant wait for us to roll out, tops down, listening to ITB goodness :up:

[DER E30]

Nice progress brother! Cant wait for us to roll out, tops down, listening to ITB goodness :up:

I know you don't have itbs Brad lol

Looks great!

[robrez]

I was talking Byron D. about your project at Octoberfest/Dorkfest. He told me he knows you from WA, and wasn't surprised I was fawning over your car. Sorry, I never got back to you about moving the battery to the trunk, but I'm sure you figured out how to do in the most OEM way possible.

Any special plans for the interior?

[IronJoe]

I was talking Byron D. about your project at Octoberfest/Dorkfest. He told me he knows you from WA, and wasn't surprised I was fawning over your car. Sorry, I never got back to you about moving the battery to the trunk, but I'm sure you figured out how to do in the most OEM way possible.

Any special plans for the interior?

Funny, small world Rob!

No worries on the battery, it was actually an incredibly simple swap over from the M3 shell to the cabrio. A little fish tape later and it was all done, using all the factory stuff.

As for the interior, nothing special. OEM original schwarz leather seats, Mtech 1 steering wheel, crack free dash, OEM leather shift boot/E brake boot, ZHP shift knob (all from the henna car).

For some reason I'm not a huge fan of reupholstered seats in an old car, looks too "new" compared to door panels, dash, etc unless you go all the way and do everything. I'm probably in the minority here, but I prefer the look of good condition original interior. I'm reusing my front seats from my M3 and sourced a set of near-perfect rear seats from a member here who was willing to help out.

[IronJoe]

Got a few things done this weekend. Welded up my (third) broken sport seat base and got the driver seat reinstalled. I now have a mostly functioning interior! (I'm waiting on the UUC shifter install to put the center console back together)




I also refinished the valve cover in wrinkle black, still lots of polishing to do on the lettering but it's a good start. (Sorry about the bad lighting)




Other than that, I'm spending my time making BMW parts suppliers rich with all my ordering :p

[2mAn]

I get a little chub when I see updates on this project :up:

btw thanks for the crock-pot, my wife is determined to get me fat

[IronJoe]

I get a little chub when I see updates on this project :up:

btw thanks for the crock-pot, my wife is determined to get me fat