E30 Zone

OK yesterday I went & spoiled myself with what I hope will be alot of fun.
1987 325i in rather nice condition & an engine that seems to like to go.



Saw it on Pistonheads - if any of you viewed it & found major problems please dont tell me!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/436042.htm
May need a little welding on the footwells but at £700 I thought I got a great deal (cheers Adam!)



Its going to spend the rest of its life transforming from Black Beauty to Black B*tch as I have bought it for some fun on the track. She's going to get some stick but I heard these cars can play rough and that sounded like fun.



115k on the clock - and just a few past keepers - 11 I think!
Its had a good respray (nice & shiny) which is a bit unnerving - hiding a multitude of sins?????
We'll find out if she shakes apart on the track.
I know a 2 door would be better but after looking for a month or so decided a good one was going to cost me & for a first â€Ëaproject' its just got to be fun.

I think most things work - lights, indicators, fogs and even the warning lights work as they are on - thats got to be a good sign...hasnt it?? Ignorance is bliss……



Well the clock has the right time!

Inside is cloth - average condition but this may all get stripped if she does well, well if she survives the first bash around Elvington



70 mile drive home yesterday by Doug at good speeds, a few skids, wiggles & slides + a slight misjudgment on the fuel gauge that meant abandoning her on the M18 her in search of juice.
Embarrasing maybe but she gets thirsty when you poke her. But no problems.

This morning I woke up at 5.30 with baaaaad thoughts. A short drive to work, just up to temp (just off half) —a parked - then noticed she was having a wee (no, no pictures!) but clearly a lady - she didnt lift her leg.
On closer inspection she was squirting out straight forward (I once had a girlfriend who could do this) - I reckon we might have done it yesterday with a stone into the rad - we got her well into 3 digits. Anyway after a quick pee, a rinse for the pictures & warming up a little more I thought I'd see if she liked to have fun & promptly joy rid her like a chav. Here's a little bit of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YljDHT490zo

Dreadful driving eh??! But she seemed enthusiastic despite the early hour - not a headache in sight. This evening we found ourselves unable to exit a fun roundabout & just as I went out of it she was gagging for petrol - it was on about a quarter & I suspect centrifugal forces stopped it from going down the pipe - anyone experienced this or I am just killing her??

Gonna get her looked at first by a car doctor I know, take her temperature & check her bits —a brakes & fluid, then its off to the track, treat her, show her a good time.

Hey man! Know where I can get some LSD???

I'll post more here as she goes. Oh! Summer of love!

looka tidy, mine spits n goes on rounabouts also, if its low on fuel n it goes sideways,

just made a note of the reg number, 11 carefull owners and 1 f@cking nutter

Nice one wheeler you got there, get an LSD sorted!

you so badly need an lsd

mate that is a awesome write up, and yeah you definately need a lsd.

dimebag_from_hell wrote:Nice one wheeler you got there, get an LSD sorted!

lmao... one wheeler.... she looks a lovely chariot

Tbh doggy, that looks like a very unmolested early car. Seems a bit of a shame to stick it on a track............ then again , maybe it would enjoy it.

looks like a nice car. got to agree though, crying out for an LSD. just so happens i got 2!! looking at 300 a pop though. contact me if interested

You'll fit in well here, you have the nack of being able to take the piss out of yourself/car, lost on many n00bies!

...Well that and a distinct lack of a slipper!

Good write up, I enjoyed the read.

I thought a welder was all the rage for 'motorsport' handling these days?!

i have a slipper that i will be letting go in a few weeks for £275. its a 3:91

Thanks for the welcome!

Here to have fun, but yes gooner it does seem to be a nice example & shame to be so cruel but the respray has me wondering (hopefully a doting owner & not a makeup artist) - but anyway she's gotta be good to take the punishment she will get - my man from Delmonte says yes, spider sense, y'know gut feel - but I'll do minimum damage (& work) until the track debut - then we will know.

Yeah sorry to inflict the poor attempt at sliding around - I blame her - but she says with a simple course of LSD she will be fine - I'm going along with her, she seems honest (but not quite trustworthy yet!) so I am very much in the market.

1 wheeler - I like it (ok - I'm learning)

Not sure that this is the place to haggle on this but I do have £200 ish - sam325i a 3:91 seems to be what is recommended - after previously trawling this forum - jp325i I hear you too - whats the ratio? (I havnt a clue what this is but I know I need good ratios!). Eager to please my Black B*tch so any offers or suggestions very much welcome. To me at the moment LSD is like the off-side rule - I kind of get it but dont want to play by the rules . Let me know

Thanks Jim Bob - it acted like no juice & I was 90% on it but that 10% nag said we were 'mismatched' Must not let her go so thirsty.

Left her at home today - missed her Ooooh this could be the beggining of something fun, expensive or just dangerous

nice looking motor, it needs a drop.

doggydoo2000 wrote: Left her at home today - missed her Ooooh this could be the beggining of something fun, expensive or just dangerous

How about all of the above


Looks a good example and it sounds like your going to have some fun with her, hope it all goes well mate

Welcome to the E30Zone track day clan

Looks very tidy but get it stripped!!! I bought a very tidy car 3 years ago and use it on the track and hill climbs, bought a sloipper off jonB on the zone for £250 - a great bit of kit, now needs re plating as the car's been used loads. Detail of spec and kit just click on my www button at the bottom of this post.

Get the car sorted and then have loads of fun at track days & hill climbs going much faster than cats costing 10 times what yours cost

This is my Ebay 325i arriving from Manchester to the ISle of Man
[img][img]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r117 ... ed2005.jpg[/img][/img]

And now not looking that different but with
The car itself (my first purchase off Ebay):
1988 E30 325i in White; Really tidy car with every reciept from day one.
Stripped out to a weight of 1055Kgs (standard weight approx 1200kgs+)

Upgrades and work with thanks to Dave Parry @ DGP garage, Port Erin, IoM:
Powerflex Poly bushes all round
Bilstein shocks and springs (lowered by 40mm)
Brakes: Braded hoses; Upgrade 5:1 fluid; Yellow Pads on standard discs
Sparco double strut brace; Air induction; straight through exhaust
2 sets of 15" wheels,
4 (dry)Toyo R888 195/50/15
4 (wet) Goodyear F1's 195/50/15 (really good £43 each)
E30 Zone Race Chip -
LSD 3.64 (thanks jonb)

Interior:
Two OMP RS seats
Willans 5 Point harnesses
OMP 6 point cage
Stripped out only the drivers door card remains!

[img][img]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r117 ... G_0711.jpg[/img][/img]

A good condition chromie! That's looks (in the photos at least) too good to track. Enjoy whatever you do though.

E30 works very well as a track tool even on stock sport springs was more than capable.
also very robust tracked mine and it always seemed to drive better on the road after a day thrashing round a track

think u will have lots of fun

cheers guys
Nice cars Lloydie & Toby - I preffered a whit car but it was just luck of the draw - but a fine bargain in the end. yep pretty much what I'm going to do eventually. I'm chuffed to bits with this so far & cant wait to strip the b*tch!
Ive got a 2000 330ci & the e30 isnt much slower & I bet it could nail it round the track.

I just gave up a 350z I had for 3 years from new, I took it around elvington a few times - first when just 1,000 miles on the clock & really caned it- I know how to treat a car!! Result: 2 new rears, new disks & new pads & some better brake fluid - was a bit pricey fine car & an absolutely lovely sound - I think this car can make some nicer tunes with a little work.

Again it is almost too good for the track - but you need something good to work on otherwise your throwing your cash away - however at this price I could use it abuse it & use it for spares...on an m3??????? mmmmmmmmm ....steady, first things first. Looking forward to all of it - except the cash flowing the wrong way

Can anyone answer my question here?

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=101861

for a 325i with a non sport gear box you want a 3:91 and im not just saying that because i have one for sale. i guess you could use a 4:10 but they are too vicious i think... i can do you a 4:10 if you like BUT it will cost you alot more than the 3:91 im selling for £270

It'll make a lovely track slag - mine did!! Where you from? You mention elvington have you been up there before in something else ?????

Sunny Donny. Yep as it says above took my ex 350z up there 3 times - good fun - in a way too much run off so you really hammer it as there's nowt to fear - not been on a proper circuit yet but thats next.

Its very good for running tyres down as well - the run off is a good thing - see my sig

Fcuk i must have been on the stella from reading my post and the pissprenunciation...

What the hell is a '...bought a Sloipper ...???

And...'going much faster than cats costing 10 times what yours cost' ..??

Jesus - I must stay off the stella and spiced run chasers..

Well got the car back from the mechanics - no real issues so all seems well - new pads - red stuff & fluid. Time to strip the b*tch. I was really keen to get stuck in - gaining info on here helped but mainly just made me really confident to do it.





It was quite nice inside...shame.....OH well if it makes us go faster I might even consider loosing a limb and a few fingers





Ist up was some aftermarket alarm in the engine bay. Then to the boot






Rear seat - get out!







Thank god I had a 17mm spanner - tools are a bit scarce here but dont try this without one.








"can we go to the park"
"NO! get on with it & get that front seat out"
Its nice to have a bit of help - didnt last long tho!


Seats out - then carpet








"can we go for a drive ?" He thought it would be cool to drive without seats. Well lighter at least.



Off with the door trims





Final results. Turned drive into a gypsy site.







Oh & lost 70kg - pretty much my weight - result. Most of this is the back seat & carpet. I'll get that black sh*t off sometime but I had a good 6 hours on it.

Went for a spin. I'd say it did feel leaner & slightly faster, certainly noisier! Good day & didnt bleed too much.

Next step (after a trip to the tip) is replace radiator (stop that incontinence), suspension, LSD, intake, chip, brake hoses, front brace...yeah & several pints..

hehe, looks like you're having fun! loving the free labour too!

perspex windows for all but the screen will save some weight - depends on how ratty you want it though!

yep, had fun today. Made a difference too.

i have located someone who sells the windows about £200 - gonna do that after the next step - providing the car is good. will post their details here soon.

Bit of an update”¦..

Changed the radiator today ”“ simple but a bit more challenging when you have few tools (stabbed myself with a chisel a bit, don’t ask, its just part of the experience for me). Bought a new one - £70 delivered ”“ better than risking a second hander. Got it done, just had to buy a couple of jubilee clips to finish off (no pics just see Haynes 2.3 ”“ great pictures if you can match em up to your car). Temperature resting approx half way on the guage ”“ not sure how its going to fare being thrashed on the track - I’ll look on here for more info, see if any way to keep the temp down, but if you have any ideas please let me know.

After much surfing of the zone and getting advice (thanks Ade!) went shopping on the net & more than doubled the ”˜value’ of the car. Bought:
Eibach pro kit springs
Koni Shocks (fronts adjustable)
Rogue Engineering rear strut mounts
Powerflex bushes for control arms
Tarox G88 discs front & rear
Goodridge braided brake hoses


Oh, I also bought:
Powertec SL1 induction kit
Chip from Ant

Yep I know the situation with inductions but if only it makes it sound nice I’ll be happy. I added an induction to the 350z & that just sounded lovely ”“ more than worth the cost to hear that. As for the chip”¦who knows but worth a go if nothing more than to make it ”˜more driveable’ ”“ I’m optimistic (poor now but optomistic - its all I have left).

Hoping to get some help fitting some of this but want to be hands on too and so will be a grease monkeys bitch for the day. Yep a lot of money spent when you can only drive like a tw*t.

Got a heat gun coming on loan this week to get the black stuff out & loose a few more pounds.

The LSD has been located”¦just gotta get my mitts on it”¦”¦mmmmmm my car is longing for LSD

Really been thinking about putting a cage in as soon as poss ”“ after taking the door cards off you can really see there isn’t much at all protecting you if you get T’ Boned. Looking for any advice on this if anyone can help”¦”¦.

Track day? It seems like we have quite a bit to do before that...

A spare few hours on saturday & did a bit more. Added the induction - it had real instuctions!




Got it fitted in under an hour. Very straightforward apart from some nuts that I had no spanner for inside the old induction - bring on second favourite tool - (mechanical purists look away) - the hammer!

Well during the tussel it bit me





But it was no match for the hammer & on it went




Took it for a spin - I would say it did feel more spritely & keener to rev - but then I would it cost 90 quid! It didnt make the car sound like a boyracer - but sounds a little beefier. No regrets & happy with it but will build a housing for it eventually to keep the air temp down.


Next step that black sh*t





After 3 & a half hours got 8kg out with a heat gun - easy enough, just dont breath the fumes - oh or melt those wires.

Worked out what the almost constant smell of petrol is - a hole just down from the filler inside the wheel arch - not sure its a good idea to weld it

So 78kg stripped - but need to add that cage, the flimsey doors are too scary to ignore

Next weekend putting the suspension & brakes on with the help of a man with many tools.

Getting there........

Oh yeah - 8keys of finest German sh*t - it smokes well but may kill you

When I saw the little person giving you a hand I thought Josh Hocking had started a new project

Progressing nicely. Theres another 10kg of excess weight in the bumper if you haven't found it allready.

When I saw the little person giving you a hand I thought Josh Hocking had started a new project

i wish lol

your doing a top job sir! nice one.
apart from spending lots of money on the car, this looks very much like a "your drifters" thread on trampdrift! lol!

Murran - including the child slave labour section?

Definitely looks good, contradictory to Murran - if you can afford the top end parts, then go for it! Nice write-up too, keep up the good work!

One thing with the slippers, you need a night tight one, if once you fit it and take it out for a spin, its still spinning the inside wheel, its old, worn, shagged, and needs rebuilding, so complain at the seller (this is not a dig at the seller, whoever they are), but something to be careful of.