Well its time for me to finally make one of these threads. I'm Daniel, a BMW tech in Central Fl. My first car was an '87 325is, which ignited a fire for BMW that still burns (I have lotion for the other spots...). I went to a 2-year automotive program at my CC and started at the local BMW dealer, working up from the car wash to Master Tech in about 8 years. During the past 4 years now, I've been working on my own E30 project that seems endless at times, but is finally to the point where I'd like to share my progress.
Feel free to be critical, I wont mind ;)
This car will be my weekend track car to destroy at HPDEs, Sebring/Daytona, and maybe a few Auto-x's. I've kept it street legal to get to/from events but will most likely need a truck/trailer in a few years....
Major Specs-
BMW M52 2.8L block
Stock bottom end
OEM S52 camshafts
413 OBDI DME with TRM chip (for now)
Dr. Vanos Stage II
ARP head studs with OEM headgasket
Ebay headers to custom 3" exhaust
OBDI intake manifold
21.5 lb injectors
Riot Racing BBTB
Bav Auto OBDI ignition coils (lol)
No A/C or Power Steering
Fidanza 11lb flywheel with OEM E36 M3 clutch
ZF320 Transmission
Ground Control Coils with ST sways
Kirkey seat(s) with Schroth 6-pt belt(s)
VSR roll bar
15x9 et0 Dubfelgenwerk CCW reps (requires 3mm front spacer to clear strut)
225-45-15 BFG Rivals
A couple other things...
When I first got it, no drivetrain and mismatched (but relatively nice) interior:
Found myself an M52 that needed love:
Cleaned up, painted, coated, and resealed everything:
Rebuilt cylinder head with a few new valves, valve job, hot-tank, S52 cams, and Dr. VANOS stage II:
Shaved the engine bay, repainted with truck bedliner finish, and dropped the drivetrain in:
Took an engine bay break and started on the interior:
Flocked the dash:
Had fun with wiring, due to the PO doing god knows what to it. Then decided to gut everything unnecessary and move the fusebox to the driver's footwell:
(Still needs to be cleaned up at this point)
Riot Racing BBTB that couldnt wait to get installed!
Made an intake-
Engine bay shot at that point:
Headed back inside to work on safety stuff:
Made a seat mount bracket (one of the first fab/welding projects for me) :
Then had to make an exhaust (also first attempt, I know it sucks):
Seat installed, dash installed, now messing with interior misc stuff:
Made a flocked door panel:
Cluster:
Had enough of the stock rubber, so had to upgrade (15x9 et0 Dubfelgenwerk wheels, 225-45-15 BFG Rivals tires) -
new vs old
Which then prompted the immediate replacement of the entire suspension, because this is supposed to handle!
Which more or less brings you up to now (5/11/04) -
Gotta roll the rear fenders...
Will post more later...
Feel free to be critical, I wont mind ;)
This car will be my weekend track car to destroy at HPDEs, Sebring/Daytona, and maybe a few Auto-x's. I've kept it street legal to get to/from events but will most likely need a truck/trailer in a few years....
Major Specs-
BMW M52 2.8L block
Stock bottom end
OEM S52 camshafts
413 OBDI DME with TRM chip (for now)
Dr. Vanos Stage II
ARP head studs with OEM headgasket
Ebay headers to custom 3" exhaust
OBDI intake manifold
21.5 lb injectors
Riot Racing BBTB
Bav Auto OBDI ignition coils (lol)
No A/C or Power Steering
Fidanza 11lb flywheel with OEM E36 M3 clutch
ZF320 Transmission
Ground Control Coils with ST sways
Kirkey seat(s) with Schroth 6-pt belt(s)
VSR roll bar
15x9 et0 Dubfelgenwerk CCW reps (requires 3mm front spacer to clear strut)
225-45-15 BFG Rivals
A couple other things...
When I first got it, no drivetrain and mismatched (but relatively nice) interior:
Found myself an M52 that needed love:
Cleaned up, painted, coated, and resealed everything:
Rebuilt cylinder head with a few new valves, valve job, hot-tank, S52 cams, and Dr. VANOS stage II:
Shaved the engine bay, repainted with truck bedliner finish, and dropped the drivetrain in:
Took an engine bay break and started on the interior:
Flocked the dash:
Had fun with wiring, due to the PO doing god knows what to it. Then decided to gut everything unnecessary and move the fusebox to the driver's footwell:
(Still needs to be cleaned up at this point)
Riot Racing BBTB that couldnt wait to get installed!
Made an intake-
Engine bay shot at that point:
Headed back inside to work on safety stuff:
Made a seat mount bracket (one of the first fab/welding projects for me) :
Then had to make an exhaust (also first attempt, I know it sucks):
Seat installed, dash installed, now messing with interior misc stuff:
Made a flocked door panel:
Cluster:
Had enough of the stock rubber, so had to upgrade (15x9 et0 Dubfelgenwerk wheels, 225-45-15 BFG Rivals tires) -
new vs old
Which then prompted the immediate replacement of the entire suspension, because this is supposed to handle!
Which more or less brings you up to now (5/11/04) -
Gotta roll the rear fenders...
Will post more later...
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