Finally did it - '86 325i

General E30 related discussions -
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Nay
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Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:50 pm

Look for cliffybabe's car, but dont go that far. You may have to get your sunnies out though!
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Uni is killing the project.
bss325i
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:32 am

Poor chromie!

Its also a dead rinnger for my first E30.
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Ollie_bwoii
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:34 am

IIRC correctly a previous owner saved it from a breakers yard, and put it back on the road! With all that effort it now stands to be councilled! :cry:

But hey its your car so do what the f*** you like to it! :D
George
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:47 am

Congrats on the purchase. :)

Sounds like you are planning to spend some decent cash on this project.

Do not fit these imo:
E30NutUK wrote:
And the mirrors..

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Whatever you do to the rest of the car, these will not suit.
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Sold: 1986 E30 325i Cabriolet, Alpine White :(
stevemed
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:08 am

imo do what YOU want to YOUR car - i would lose the chrome too.....each to there own i say. when i win the lottery i will re-create a e46-m3-e30 frankenstein car with the shell of an e30 and EVERYTHING else e46 (then get horsepowerfreaks to tune it to 1000bhp!!!) :D it will then be the best car in the world! but people on here will still hate it cos its not 'proper' :roll:

I have these rear clusters for sale and these WILL fit, PM me if your interested, they are going cheap!!

as fitted on my cabby (clusters only two months old btw!! & genuine reason for sale)
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Last edited by stevemed on Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
e46 330cd
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:53 am

IIRC correctly a previous owner saved it from a breakers yard, and put it back on the road! With all that effort it now stands to be councilled!
I'm not planning to 'council' it. Just because it may not be to a certain persons taste, it doesn't mean I'm destroying a car. I would say I have a true passion for these cars, and although i may not have extensive knowledge or history on certain aspects to support it, I am willing to learn. I'm also actually considering keeping the chrome on a tech 1 kit if possible. Still waiting for a pic of this!! will try find one on the net later..

Everyone has an image of what they want their car to look like. I am merely describing and showing you the outcome that i would like. Love it or hate it -its a marmite thing.
Do not fit these imo:
I actually thought these would look good? Getting them today so will have a look.
imo do what YOU want to YOUR car - i would lose the chrome too.....
Im in two minds about the chrome now! I understand its a rarity - the whole car, so I'd like to keep that aspect with a personal touch :D - not to everyones taste which i can live with - I have to drive the car, no one else :D
when i win the lottery i will re-create a e46-m3-e30 frankenstein car with the shell of an e30 and EVERYTHING else e46 (then get horsepowerfreaks to tune it to 1000bhp!!!) it will then be the best car in the world! but people on here will still hate it cos its not 'proper
I do actually keep my eyes open for any cheap engines going, as i actually have a few mechanic (one who is my brother) friends who would help with the conversion. This was my initial idea - buying a shell, a powerful modern reliable strong BMW engine - but after driving this car about, the engine is ace! I love it. I haven't ruled out a conversion just yet, but maybe later on down the line..if and when i get bored of this beauty :D
I have these rear clusters for sale and these WILL fit, PM me if your interested, they are going cheap!!

as fitted on my cabby (clusters only two months old btw!! & genuine reason for sale)
Thanks Steve. I've seen these about and are not to my liking. Do not suit the car imo. I prefer the top smoked..
oakey
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:07 am

If you fit a tech1 kit just I reckon the bumpers should be colour-coded rather than chrome. Nothing criminal about de-chroming a chromie. It was a factory option surely?
My advice is to stick to OEM styling. No need to add funky rear lights or wingmirrors etc. and if you do want to replace these things then wait a while until the rest of the car is sorted fully.
For this car money best spent (IMO) would be a suspension freshen up- new shocks, springs and bushes all round and some bodywork to eliminate any creeping rust (there will be some somewhere), an e36/z3 steering rack. Then supercharge it :twisted:
IMO you would then have a thoroughly awesome e30!
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pnd
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:31 am

spend the money on maintenance not ruining the aesthetics of what looks like a good early car. It will look better run better and be worth more in the end if you spend the money keeeping it properly maintained and not chavving it up.
m_jermyn
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:09 pm

oakey wrote:If you fit a tech1 kit just I reckon the bumpers should be colour-coded rather than chrome. Nothing criminal about de-chroming a chromie. It was a factory option surely?
My advice is to stick to OEM styling. No need to add funky rear lights or wingmirrors etc. and if you do want to replace these things then wait a while until the rest of the car is sorted fully.
For this car money best spent (IMO) would be a suspension freshen up- new shocks, springs and bushes all round and some bodywork to eliminate any creeping rust (there will be some somewhere), an e36/z3 steering rack. Then supercharge it :twisted:
IMO you would then have a thoroughly awesome e30!

mmmmmm supercharged E30.... Got some ideas Oakey?
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:49 pm

For this car money best spent (IMO) would be a suspension freshen up- new shocks, springs and bushes all round and some bodywork to eliminate any creeping rust (there will be some somewhere), an e36/z3 steering rack. Then supercharge it
IMO you would then have a thoroughly awesome e30!
That sounds like a plan :D. How would the engine cope with a S/c?

I see people saying i will ruin the asthetics of the car, chav it up etc...how?! I don't want the typical lights..i don't want a big bumper bodykit..Im after a discreet slick finish which looks a little apart from the OEM look. I do agree that the maintenance should be first though!

I need more details on this supercharger :twisted:
oakey
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:58 pm

There are a few options but the rotrex kit is the one I'd go for. Good for over 300bhp and great power delivery.
It'll cost you a few bags though :D
I'd concentrate on getting it up to scratch first. You'd be surprised how good that car will look with a subtle drop, some 15" bbs, mudflaps removed, painted wingmirrors, new driver's seat etc. :cool:

@ stevemed- would you mind removing your link as it's messing with the page :wink:
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:15 pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0357741142

would this fit on my e30? The original is broken!
bss325i
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:48 pm

Wood and E30's do not go together!
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stevemed
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Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:43 pm

stevemed- would you mind removing your link as it's messing with the page
sorry :o: didn't realise.
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creat1on
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Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:27 am

The exterior looks amazing as it is man.
DavieP
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Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:25 am

bss325i wrote:Wood and E30's do not go together!
Hate to do a +1, but it's really not a good look in an E30. If you've got a busted selector handle, there are so many on here that have ditched or are converting their automatics to manuals (poor deluded fools winkeye ), that there must be a load of these lying around. Put an add in the wanted section you shouldn't have to wait for long ... or have or pay more than a few quid if that. Glad to see that you seem to be taking on board some of the comments made about your plans.

Of course it's your car and you can do whatever you like, but it looks to be such a good pre-facelift/chromie that it would be a crying shame to deface it with non-original add-ons. It has the potential to be a head-turning example if carefully and tastefully up-dated. It will gain you far more kudos than if you stick on the wrong (and quite frankly, pug-ugly) M3 style door mirrors and try to obliterate its true identity. If you want a body kit, Tech 1 is the way to go. It's a much cooler look that is more sympathetic to the shape of the E30 than the anonymous 'euro-look' of the Tech 2.
Dave in Torquay

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Nay
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Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:47 am

^^ Well put. +1
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Uni is killing the project.
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Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:08 pm

Davie,

I appreciate your comments! I don't think anyone could've put it any better :D.

I will take on board what you guys have to say. Mind you, I have a lot to learn and always am open to suggestions/comments.

Al.
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Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:28 pm

stevemed wrote: I have these rear clusters for sale and these WILL fit, PM me if your interested, they are going cheap!!

as fitted on my cabby (clusters only two months old btw!! & genuine reason for sale)
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sorry but those clusters are proper Chav - reminds me of the afterburner style lights that got fitted to clios, etc :cry:

I would rather have standard lights than that crap
Breaking 4dr 325i SE - pm me for requirements
Nay
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Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:20 pm

The euro style lights dont look "that" bad....
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Uni is killing the project.
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Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:59 am

I think the smoked top half don't look too bad...

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1st day of the summer - 2007 :D
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