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

[2mAn]

How cold were you driving with the top down ? Blasting nips in the pink shirt?

[IronJoe]

How cold were you driving with the top down ? Blasting nips in the pink shirt?

Wasn't so much the cold but it was such a windy day, side winds on the freeway hammered my eardrums. Had me wishing I'd put the windows back in first!


I took her out to run errands yesterday, taking stock of all the little things that will need work.

-Gas gauge is intermittent. Assuming a sticking fuel level sender.
-Check panel is lighting up with a few things I no longer have connected (3rd brake light, for one). Is there an easy way to trick it using a resistor so it doesn't light up on that circuit?
-Heater is intermittent - works when the car first starts then the blower dies as soon as I start driving. Resistor, or some sort of short?
-H&R Race/Bilstein sport is wayyy too harsh for this car. I'm going to try to source a set of H&R sport springs instead.
-ABS and brake lining light are on. No clue as to why, must be electrical for the brake lining light at least because my pads all have lots of life left since I changed them
-I also found that the side skirt bottom mounting is very different on the M3 coupe and convertible. The clips I bought for the coupe don't work, and I actually need clips shared with the euro Mtech 1 convertible side skirts. Five dollars a clip, of course...

As for the body work, I couldn't find the exact type of filler I like for the skim coat so I am waiting on an online order. In the meantime here are a few photos from after my drive.

P1010041 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


I really hate these black grilles.
P1010043 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


P1010040 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


P1010044 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

[AwakenNoMore]

So tasty. Loving the progress of this build.

[berndt]

Awesome. I miss Dick’s (grew up in Seattle area). Gas gauge may be as simple as loose nut on the back of the gauge cluster. At least that’s what it was for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MR E30 325is]

Dwamn!

[2mAn]

-Check panel is lighting up with a few things I no longer have connected (3rd brake light, for one). Is there an easy way to trick it using a resistor so it doesn't light up on that circuit?

I know some people have used the Z4 side marker/ emblem to incorporate a third brake light, might be worth looking into.

Ive been playing wack a mole with my check panel too. Fix one, and another one goes on. Im determined to have the panel full functioning and NOT have random bulbs on for no reason... I miss being young & dumb when I would solve the problem by pulling the bulb :rofl:

[bradnic]

digging the front 3/4 view.

let me know if you have any issues securing the vert side skirt clips.. I'm sure you know euro parts require a euro vin to order.

[parkerbink]

When I first got my '92 all the lights were on. ABS & brake pads were some genius cut the sensor wires, spliced all good. I replaced everything in my brakes yesterday, one of the sensor wires I had not looked at were fraying explaining my intermittent light.

[flyboyx]

I know some people have used the Z4 side marker/ emblem to incorporate a third brake light, might be worth looking into.

this is an interesting idea. i assume they put this where the roundel goes on the trunk lid? i didn't think the roundel itself lit up? i was thinking it was the amber plastic between that and the fender?

[IronJoe]

Not much of an update but I finally got my Sport Evo kidneys and installed them. Incredibly minor difference that no one will ever notice but me, but I like that kind of stuff.

Sport Evo grill by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

Sport Evo grill by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


What you can't see in this picture is the passenger door is removed and on sawhorses, working on smoothing and sanding. Lots of that tedious prep work to come!

[e30lyf]

the kidney grill more narrow and rounded. euro grill for non AC i guess. :)

[Staszek]

Not much of an update but I finally got my Sport Evo kidneys and installed them. Incredibly minor difference that no one will ever notice but me, but I like that kind of stuff.

Sport Evo grill by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

Sport Evo grill by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


What you can't see in this picture is the passenger door is removed and on sawhorses, working on smoothing and sanding. Lots of that tedious prep work to come!

That looks great! Does that fit the regular grills on the side?

[gte175x]

Where'd you get that awesome key fob? Amazing dedication - I couldn't finish one of these projects in a lifetime...

[IronJoe]

Amazing dedication - I couldn't finish one of these projects in a lifetime...

Thank you! It's been a two-year labor of love!

Where'd you get that awesome key fob?

Check out my man Matt-B at http://www.2mshiftboots.com/ for his handmade collection of key chains, shift/ebrake boots, etc. I have three of them and counting in different BMW fabrics :devil:

[IronJoe]

Micro-update, I got all new under-trim for the rear bumper. This was supposedly created to help air flow underneath at the rear of the car. Spendy for pieces of plastic but worth it!

Untitled by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

Untitled by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr