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I rescued this gem from being scrapped. Feels good to be back

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    I rescued this gem from being scrapped. Feels good to be back

    So I had my first and only E30 about 7-8 years ago, a 1989 Alpine White/tan leatherette auto 4-door that I bought for $800. It drove great but had no a/c, no front or rear bumper covers, Bronzit front valence, faded black hood, dented to hell driver doors, no cluster, etc. I somehow found an identical car at a junkyard with mint body panels so I took all of those then added little things Euro trim, Euro clock, Euro grills, a bs radio, and a bunch of other stuff that I should’ve used the money for to do better things with it. Then I threw on E38 Style 5’s with 20mm adapters and slammed it on BC coilovers while it was still automatic with no a/c *cringe*. I then sold it for $2,200 to buy an even worse S13 because drift car *harder cringe*. That’s when I thought I was out, even though since then I’d always think of my E30 as the one that got away.



    Fast forward to a few months ago...

    I’m driving a 1999 Grand Cherokee I bought off Craigslist for $850 so I wouldn’t have a car payment. I hated it. Then one day, I see a beautiful E30 parked at work that I’d never seen before. I heard that some new hires started today so I hunted down the owner. He said his grandpa had the car garaged for over 10 years under a cover and gave it to him a few months ago so his wife wouldn’t sell it. The current owner said he hates it and can’t wait until he starts getting some paychecks so he can ditch it for a “newer car with Bluetooth and stuff.” I then stressed to him that he must let me know when he plans on getting rid of it and I would buy it from him. Then, a few weeks ago, I ask him how the car is doing and he tells me that it out of nowhere got “obnoxiously loud” and he’s so over it that he’s going to sell it asap or scrap it and use the money for a down payment. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing so I offered him cash on the spot, he backtracks, says he has to get a fair value for it, then comes back to me with a price of $1,750. I couldn’t shake his hand hard enough. I sold my Jeep a few days later and now, finally, I’m back in the game.



    So..... here she is :)





    -1990 325i sedan
    -140,XXX miles (working odometer)
    -Gletscherblau
    -Indigo upholstery 0271
    -Automatic
    -Factory LSD
    -All original keys and manuals
    -No check lights on dash or check panel
    -Full tool kit
    -Full service records and Carfax
    -Sunroof crank still attached
    -Uncracked dash
    -100% intact hood lining


    Issues:
    -Rusted through muffler
    -A few dents here and there
    -Looks like someone dried the car with steel wool
    -No history of timing belt service
    -$32 Kenwood radio and driver side speakers don’t work
    -Overspray on rear valence when rear bumper cover was replaced
    -FCABs are shot
    -A/C not working
    -Driver door lock not working (central locking works from the trunk)
    -OBC backlight is out
    -Antenna is stuck about halfway up and the grommet is shot (I put masking tape over the hole so water doesn't seep into the car)


    Already ordered/scheduled:
    -Timing belt service and related (just done)
    -5-speed swap in May scheduled
    -Vibrant muffler
    -New antenna mast and grommet
    -Euro grills
    -Euro clock
    -US ellipsoids
    -New OEM is lip with clips and splitter (not mounting the splitter for a while, painting the lip black until I can get matching side skirts and rear valence, probably AC Schnitzer for both unless I can find better, then I'll paint it to match the car)
    -Llumar Air80 tint all around including windshield (helps preserve the old man look of the car while keeping heat out)
    -Refurbished OEM BMW Alpine CM5908 slider radio with Bluetooth from bradnic
    -E82 rubber floor mats
    -Full paint correction later this month
    -Treehouse style FCABs
    -Premium sound speakers/tweeters front and rear


    Coming later:
    -Coilovers and camber plates (haven't decided which ones yet, it's between TCK and Ground Control)
    -Euroweaves with 225/50/15s
    -All new bushings and such. Haven't decided which ones yet aside from the Treehouse bushings
    -Brembo blanks with new lines and oem pads
    -Euro trim
    -S52 swap or a simple turbo kit for the M20 if I can keep a/c and not hack too much of the front end
    -Front bbk after swap/turbo
    -370mm Mtech 1 steering wheel


    I'm ecstatic about this car and I can't wait to get working on it. This is my chance to make up for my mistakes with my last car. This one will be kept as period correct and OEM+ as possible (aside from under the hood) and I plan on keeping this for a long time. It’s nice to have a car I truly enjoy driving and looking back at after I park it.
    Last edited by tk-421; 03-25-2019, 02:00 PM.
    1990 E30 325i sedan - Gletscherblau (280) over Indigo cloth (0271)

    #2
    Originally posted by tk-421 View Post
    -$32 Kenwood radio and driver side speakers don’t work
    I chuckled at this.

    Congrats, looks like you scored a good one!
    Originally posted by kronus
    would be in depending on tip slant and tube size

    Comment


      #3
      Really nice find! Love the direction you're planning to take it too. Can't wait to see the transformation...


      Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

      Comment


        #4
        sounds like you got a steal!

        Not gonna lie, I'm jealous. I love this color combo and late model sedans are rad.
        1984 Delphin 318i 2 door

        Comment


          #5
          Why don't people like to tint older cars?

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by jeenyus View Post
            Why don't people like to tint older cars?
            I gave my reasoning in my post. I think fishbowl windows give older cars a more authentic look, especially on lighter colors.
            1990 E30 325i sedan - Gletscherblau (280) over Indigo cloth (0271)

            Comment


              #7
              Solid

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by tk-421 View Post
                I gave my reasoning in my post. I think fishbowl windows give older cars a more authentic look, especially on lighter colors.
                different folks different strokes. Could use a nice used tape deck too I suppose.

                Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

                Comment


                  #9
                  Nice car. My Cirrusblau ‘89 has the same interior and I love it. If you ever decide to sell the m20 please let me know. They’re hard to find around here.
                  My son has the 1987 325e, 2 door, 5speed
                  I daily the 1989 325i, 4 door, 5speed

                  Comment


                    #10
                    nice score...

                    sent from hell using Tapatalk
                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                    '90 325i sedan daily driven
                    '85 325e coupe also a daily

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Nice score ! Love the color combo! Had the same blue cloth in the car I just did for my gf.
                      -His-
                      87 e30 325i
                      87 e24 m6
                      05 e83 x3
                      94 e32 740i 5spd
                      -Hers-
                      89 e30 325i
                      18 f48 x1

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Nice color! ;)

                        COTM

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by N2MYE30 View Post
                          Nice color! ;)
                          Yeah, I’ll second this motion.

                          My son has the 1987 325e, 2 door, 5speed
                          I daily the 1989 325i, 4 door, 5speed

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Really well done. Great buy.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by agent View Post
                              I chuckled at this.

                              Congrats, looks like you scored a good one!
                              Lol those thinks irk me to no end. And thank you!

                              Originally posted by BMWBrat View Post
                              Really nice find! Love the direction you're planning to take it too. Can't wait to see the transformation...


                              Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
                              Thank you! I'm pretty excited about my plans for it.

                              Originally posted by wworm View Post
                              sounds like you got a steal!

                              Not gonna lie, I'm jealous. I love this color combo and late model sedans are rad.
                              I definitely did - still can't believe it! And I agree 100%

                              Originally posted by kings View Post
                              Solid
                              Originally posted by jeenyus View Post
                              different folks different strokes. Could use a nice used tape deck too I suppose.

                              Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
                              Don't worry it'll be in there hopefully tonight or tomorrow. It's such an eyesore (to me, at least).

                              Originally posted by 325e '87 View Post
                              Nice car. My Cirrusblau ‘89 has the same interior and I love it. If you ever decide to sell the m20 please let me know. They’re hard to find around here.
                              That's sweet! It was never my first choice but I've also never seen it in person and now I'm never changing it. Also I doubt I'll swap out the M20 because I'll try to boost it after going R134A if I can get everything to fit.

                              Originally posted by cheffy30 View Post
                              nice score...

                              sent from hell using Tapatalk
                              Thank you!

                              Originally posted by hendrixvodu View Post
                              Nice score ! Love the color combo! Had the same blue cloth in the car I just did for my gf.
                              Sounds like a lucky gf for sure ;D

                              Originally posted by N2MYE30 View Post
                              Nice color! ;)
                              I've seen your sig forever and just now realized that I've got the same color ;) makes me even more excited about it.

                              Originally posted by 325e '87 View Post
                              Yeah, I’ll second this motion.

                              :eeek:

                              So beautiful - well done!

                              Originally posted by e30RS View Post
                              Really well done. Great buy.
                              Thank you! It's just getting started.
                              1990 E30 325i sedan - Gletscherblau (280) over Indigo cloth (0271)

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