New Car - 325i Convertible first steps...

[BadButter]

Hi there all, I am new to the forum having spent many years in the Veedub watercooled scene. I have been pining for a 325i convertible since I was about 16 but now at the age of 26 have decided it is finally time to get one before all the good ones have gone!

I was due to buy a MK3 VR6 Golf which I was going to supercharge but came across a beautiful original E30 325i convertible last Saturday which I just couldn't turn down. I have bought it from an old lady who is the 2nd owner and bought it from BMW as a 2 year old approved used car. She'a had it for 12 years! It is totally unmolested, has been garaged all it's life and is in fantastic condition. It's a 91 Jreg in Dark green with grey leather and an auto box. 81,000 miles on the clock with full history.

I spent most of my youth reading Performance BMW but have a little catching up to do so hope you may be able to help. I have a set of Porsche fitment BBS RS wheels on their way from the States which I bought for the VR6 but will now be fitting to the BMW (8.5 + 9.5x16). I will be creating a very clean OEM+ Euro look with my car so will keep it real clean but pretty low on the RSs. After that just performance!

I am no stranger to coilovers as used them on my last Golf and swear by them now. Are any of you using them on your cars and which kits have you gone for? I had FKs which were amazing but they don't seem to do an E30 fitment . Also from reading some of the threads you recommend not to use induction kits so what are the first steps to tuning a 325i. I am new to the car and BMWs as a whole so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Picking the car up on Saturday morning then subjecting it to a monster valet all day if the weather is good so I'll get some pics up shortly after. A big hello to you all, the forum seems like a good place and your cars are great too.

Any help on coilovers/suspension plus 325i tuning would be greatly appreciated...

James.

P.S. This was my last Golf...

[mrLEE30]

Firstly welcome to the zone, always nice to get another convert to the rear wheel drive rightness, i wouldn't post too many pictures of that golf thingie though as may upset some folks!!!

mate a 325 cab in green cant wait for the pictures, what the hell was an old lady doing with a cab anyway!!! sounds like a find of the century.

As for tuning an induction kit is a good start and supplimented with a chip will give you a few more ponies, then of course you can go for an exhaust etc but i am sure you a well aware of the basic tuning bits! anyway you will find the 325 kicks the arse out of a golf anyway, plus if you really want you can supercharge it too for big power (but big money)

As for shocks FK do have E30 coilovers lowering 50-85 mm and they are about 600 quid, Elbach also offer coil overs and they are around 700. you have to be specific that you are putting them on a cab as the cabs weigh different from saloon/tourings so the spring rate is slightly different, but saying that all fitting are common with exception of M3.check at BMtown etc.

As for BBS if they are four stud (4Jx100) then they will fit but offset may be different. You will also need to roll your rear arches which is pretty easy. 16inch are the rim size suited to E30's best for handling, and 17's fi inde the arches quite easy. bigger then that you would normally need to modify the arches slightly.

so there you go, welcome to the zone

mrlee

[Geeman]

I have FK coilovers on my E30. I found that you could lower the front so it was in the weeds, but the rear wouldn't go any lower than about 55mm... VERY frustrating! Ended up putting custom fixed rate springs in the rear instead. May I suggest that you reserach into a set og H&R coilvers instead...

Try this site: CLICK ME BABY! - A little expensive I know...

BTW, sweet Mk3... very nice.

[Simon]

Hi mate, welcome to the zone, best place for an E30 nut.

The car you've found sounds like a nice find, as for tuning the 325i, then it depends how far your wallet will stretch. The M20 isn't the easiest engine to get big power gains from, but the best option seems to be the 2.7 conversion, do a quick search, there's infinite threads on the conversion!

[BadButter]

A big thank you to all three of you. Thought I might get a little more feeback but I get the car on Saturday so let's get some pics up and take it from there hey.

Really looking forward to getting stuck into this car. As I said it's been a very long time coming and I really feel as if I have realised a dream buying this car. I don't ever see myself selling it as I think they are one of the most understated and beautiful converibles ever made.

No more pictures of the Golf Mr Lee, I promise. Just giving you an idea of what I like and therefore what I will do with this car. Very clean and very subtle.

Geeman, really interesting what you said about the FK coilovers. I rate them very highly but am amazed they stop at 85mm. I must have lowered my Golf just over 100mm allround and only stopped there because I couldn't get out the driveway. I'll look into it more...

Simon, I remember reading about the 2.7 conversion years ago so I'll start searching the forum for more info. What kind of gains vs. outlay (Ԛ£) are we looking at? It'll be a while before I consider it as the suspension will come first. Certainly interested though.

Thank you all for your help and no doubt I'll get to hear from/meet many of you over the next few months...

P.S. I'll get some pics up by Sunday...

[Simon]

Hiya mate, not too clued up on the conversion myself, there was a feature on it in Total BMW a few months back, and I did a quick search and found these posts..

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... conversion

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... conversion

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... hlight=2+7

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... hlight=2+7

[Geeman]

BB... I've lowered mine as far as I can lower it... it'll go another 15 threads lower, but the tyre rubs on the underside of the inner arch under braking if it goes any more! - it's already missing a large amount of the plastic liner and I've ground out the retaining threads to give more clearance!

The rears I was very dissapointed with. No matter what I did to the adjustable spring platforms, they wouldn't let me lower the rear anymore than 55mm... very frustrating!

Post some pics up when you get it... the cabby sounds like a really nice example!

Giles.