Hey guys! I figured I'd post a thread on my running WIP.
(For those who don't wanna read, TL; DR Bought an old E30 that was rough around the edges, but is turning out nicely so far.)
Here's some images:
I bought this fairly well maintained E30 cabby a couple months ago as my early Christmas present for $2800. Came with a set of XXR 531 CCW reps on like-new sport tires. Has minimal rust, but I still need to peel back the carpets to make that full call. The undercarriage is clean, trunk has a few spots of surface rust, and there's a small bit of surface rust on the hood that I don't notice unless I look really hard. Bet that's rare in Colorado, huh? I thought the whole deal was going to go smoothly with the car having no problems. My dad helped me inspect the car before we bought it to make sure it was alright, and had me test drive it. Me being 19, I haven't experienced a RWD car other than my dad's E60 M5. I opened it up on the highway and it drove nice and smooth for a car with an awkward suspension setup. PO had the front on lowering springs and the rear on stock. Stereo was a big step up from my DD '97 Sentra, and that's funny, considering it's a good six years older than it. Interior was well worn. I definitely need to get some upholstery done. Cracked dash. The tach didn't work, but that's expected. The auto box pulled fine, didn't slip out of gear. A shame I couldn't get a manual, but this is gonna be my cruiser/DD for now, not some gymkhana king or autox star. I do intend on getting a 5 spd Getrag later on once I get everything all sorted and have the income to do it, and once I learn how to drive stick, lol.
Ended up taking it home with me, a big smile on my face. I tried some further tests, the lights being one. The moment I pulled the headlight plunger, my stereo decided to shit itself and the dash started smoking. After some inspection, it turned out that the headlight switch was fried and I had to buy another one to replace it. There was also a few instances of shitty wiring as apparent by the stereo and hideous DEPO angel eyes, which I found to have been glued in, since the PO broke the adjusters. So I can't drive it at night. I took it to my local mom 'n pop mechanic and they said the car was mechanically sound except for the valve tick, and that it was mostly electrical gremlins. They adjusted my valves, replaced the valve cover gasket, changed/flushed the tranny fluid and oil, replacing an o-ring that was causing a small leak from the oil pan, switched out my indicators for clear ones I bought aftermarket, disconnected my OBC because it wasn't working (not that they ever do from what I hear lol) and informed me of a few other issues:
1. The Driver's side foglight housing is all rusted and corroded, the wiring exposed, so it would need to be replaced.
2. There's a short that's preventing the right side running lights (tails, turn indicators, parking lights and license plate lights. Fuse 23 kept blowing every time they tried to replace it. I believe 23 also controls my instrument cluster lights.
3. Cam lobes are starting to show signs of wear.
4. Suspension up front is a little too low. They suggested I get stock springs all around.
Otherwise, the car is in pretty good shape. I have a few plans in the long run for my new baby. Gonna get some yellow fogs, lamin-x the high beams, get a set of basketweaves or Borbet Type As at some point, get the stock headlights back on there, front and rear strut braces, new sway bars, a Magnaflow or Remus exhaust kit, a shit ton of bodywork to make it look factory new, and I may consider getting it resprayed in Technoviolet because I really love the color.
I hope to get plenty of advice and meet all sorts of cool enthusiasts here in Colorado Springs, and on these forums!
(For those who don't wanna read, TL; DR Bought an old E30 that was rough around the edges, but is turning out nicely so far.)
Here's some images:
I bought this fairly well maintained E30 cabby a couple months ago as my early Christmas present for $2800. Came with a set of XXR 531 CCW reps on like-new sport tires. Has minimal rust, but I still need to peel back the carpets to make that full call. The undercarriage is clean, trunk has a few spots of surface rust, and there's a small bit of surface rust on the hood that I don't notice unless I look really hard. Bet that's rare in Colorado, huh? I thought the whole deal was going to go smoothly with the car having no problems. My dad helped me inspect the car before we bought it to make sure it was alright, and had me test drive it. Me being 19, I haven't experienced a RWD car other than my dad's E60 M5. I opened it up on the highway and it drove nice and smooth for a car with an awkward suspension setup. PO had the front on lowering springs and the rear on stock. Stereo was a big step up from my DD '97 Sentra, and that's funny, considering it's a good six years older than it. Interior was well worn. I definitely need to get some upholstery done. Cracked dash. The tach didn't work, but that's expected. The auto box pulled fine, didn't slip out of gear. A shame I couldn't get a manual, but this is gonna be my cruiser/DD for now, not some gymkhana king or autox star. I do intend on getting a 5 spd Getrag later on once I get everything all sorted and have the income to do it, and once I learn how to drive stick, lol.
Ended up taking it home with me, a big smile on my face. I tried some further tests, the lights being one. The moment I pulled the headlight plunger, my stereo decided to shit itself and the dash started smoking. After some inspection, it turned out that the headlight switch was fried and I had to buy another one to replace it. There was also a few instances of shitty wiring as apparent by the stereo and hideous DEPO angel eyes, which I found to have been glued in, since the PO broke the adjusters. So I can't drive it at night. I took it to my local mom 'n pop mechanic and they said the car was mechanically sound except for the valve tick, and that it was mostly electrical gremlins. They adjusted my valves, replaced the valve cover gasket, changed/flushed the tranny fluid and oil, replacing an o-ring that was causing a small leak from the oil pan, switched out my indicators for clear ones I bought aftermarket, disconnected my OBC because it wasn't working (not that they ever do from what I hear lol) and informed me of a few other issues:
1. The Driver's side foglight housing is all rusted and corroded, the wiring exposed, so it would need to be replaced.
2. There's a short that's preventing the right side running lights (tails, turn indicators, parking lights and license plate lights. Fuse 23 kept blowing every time they tried to replace it. I believe 23 also controls my instrument cluster lights.
3. Cam lobes are starting to show signs of wear.
4. Suspension up front is a little too low. They suggested I get stock springs all around.
Otherwise, the car is in pretty good shape. I have a few plans in the long run for my new baby. Gonna get some yellow fogs, lamin-x the high beams, get a set of basketweaves or Borbet Type As at some point, get the stock headlights back on there, front and rear strut braces, new sway bars, a Magnaflow or Remus exhaust kit, a shit ton of bodywork to make it look factory new, and I may consider getting it resprayed in Technoviolet because I really love the color.
I hope to get plenty of advice and meet all sorts of cool enthusiasts here in Colorado Springs, and on these forums!
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