Project finished - 'MY22' 318is - bare metal, nut and bolt restoration

[Jordan]

I've reached out to all of my contacts high up in BMW about putting them back into production, doesn't look to be happening any time soon. Jon & I also found out who... and reached out the company that actually manufactures (or did) the last batch of E30 dashboards from BMW and offered to buy a very large quantity of them to put the tooling back into service. They never even replied to the emails.

[digger]

I got the 2nd last dash in 2017....wasn't that bad price wise

[econti]

I just might be disabled.

I did ask BMW to do more, but no response. I do not believe they plan to, unless E30s become a big part of the heritage side.

I did also find a company who do reproduction dashboards, but they wanted a brand new one to make a mould from, and in the process the new one would be destroyed. A bit rich for my pockets to throw down 15k+ for the whole process to then have to sell things to E30 owner, most of which don't want to pay for the parts to do an oil change.

[Melon]

Yeah man, I had a few choice words for the heater core hose gasket, even installing it as you mentioned (inside-out) it's still a pain.

[mbonder]

There is a trick to installing the rear side glass, maybe PM Jordan, I know he mentioned it in his build thread

[Tzantushka]

Nice progress as always.
We need to petition BMW to do another run of RHD & LHD dashboards!

[burkey001]

did the phrase 'new dash' give it away?? :)

yes, last new RHD dash in ze world. worth more than most complete e30s :)

[econti]

Is that a new dash?

[burkey001]

Minor update

Was practicing to rope in the side windows. (with old window seals, no interior trim and a car you’re not worries about scratching) surprisingly very easy.
For a car you DO care about not scratching and one with interior trim and new window seals… I don’t think it’s a one person job. I need to recruit someone to push the glass in an down from the outside when I try again. I can get it *half* installed, but the its not quite right.
Still, learning experience is a good experience



This gasket was causing me grief, I was installing it from the engine bay side and it kept migrating out once I installed the HVAC box…. Turns it I was doing it wrong. Looked at another 30 and realised it’s installed from the cabin side. Problem solved!


Getting somewhere with this now… dash going in.
Hot tip – dash goes in easier if the steering column is not installed.


Amazing how much more complete it looks when you put a dash, console and steering wheel in… Do like the Evo 3 wheel.



Have a minor dilemma forming, or formed, because the dash is new, as is the console and all the other stuff but I cant find a ‘new’ glovebox. New as in “e36/46 pattern and colour” that the newer production date stuff comes in.
Old glove box, regardless how clean it is will look crap because it’s a different texture, gloss level and colour. So, may reach out to Relicate and see if they can do a half hide colour and texture match to the dash and get it subtly trimmed

[burkey001]

That new wiper linkage assembly is niiiice, but I doubt it will help with the wiper judder though. That is typically caused by hard dried up grease on the motor contacts. Its easy enough to rebuild the motor and get it working slick again, or of course just install a new one.

That is interesting, thanks for the tip. I am going to pull it apart now and take a look.

[econti]

Are new motors dealer available? I've run out of good used ones of my spares

[Jordan]

That new wiper linkage assembly is niiiice, but I doubt it will help with the wiper judder though. That is typically caused by hard dried up grease on the motor contacts. Its easy enough to rebuild the motor and get it working slick again, or of course just install a new one.

[burkey001]

Dash wise, some new bits to go here and there.
New gaskets for the pedals and column to the firewall. These are OLD OLD stock.. one was perished straight out the packet





I didn’t want to put my old wiper assembly back in, as I recall that sometimes the wipers would judder. Not out of the way to suspect something like this that full of pivot points would be a little worn after 30 years. Amazingly, OEM stock available…





New fracture bolts for the column. Always wondered what thee would look like. I will fracture them off when im sure im finished!


Wiper assembly going… what a pain

New bungs and gaskets and spacers and stuff.


Pardon the shifter… couldn’t find a 22mm to snug them up




And all done, waiting for glass and new wipers




I should go take some pics of the other side of the firewall. The HVAC gubbins, pedals and such..

[burkey001]

Minor update as a couple things have been happening. Quite slow as I have been building a new house like I’m building this car

Have been working to get the dashboard installed. So have been working on steering column, pedal assy, booster linkage and wiper assembly.

Have also been working with trimmer to plan the interior, which has presented the challenge of too many options. SO that’s taken some time to work through

Trim first. So we’ve been sketching on paper, seeking inpso and drawing on seats in chalk. We’re making progress

So many options have been tried. With different patterns. The same pattern with different stitching styles. Same both but with different colour threads… Too many options!
example

Also ‘various levels of puff’
Lots of puff

Some puff

No puff


All this is just vinyl for testing.

The seat base is decided.


Bolster options begin..




And I think we’re getting close

[econti]

I think that's a fantastic choice