Back in an E30: 1989 325i Convertible

[camcc]

Around 8 years ago I bought my first car, a 1987 E30 320i. I sold it a year later to fellow E30 Zone member eko.

I then had a couple of E36s; a 318is and a couple of 325is, all Coupes, then a Z4. The Z4 was an amazing car to drive, I regard the M54 3.0 engine as one of BMW's best, but it wasn't that old, everything worked, it was a bit boring (if you know what I mean)!

So, late last summer I bought another E30, a 1989 325i Convertible. Only 2 previous owners (last owner for 15 years), serviced every year with 3,500 miles between services on average. Bodywork is okay, there are a few parking dings, stone chips and a bit of rust. I could have found better to be honest and I'm a little annoyed at myself for going on service history over body work, as clearly this is more difficult and expensive to sort out!! But hey-ho!

I've spent 6 months enjoying the car and browsing the E30 Zone (which I hadn't done for a few years). I've also compiled a long list of issues which I'm going to slowly work through. They are as follows:

RUST
I want to find someone who will strip the entire care and locate / quote for rust resolution prevention. Known rust:

• - Front passenger front wing at the base nr. door
  - Few flakes around the rear arch lips
  - Panel behind rear mudflap
  - Tiny spot on the sill at the base of the drivers door
  - Underneath looks solid, no previous welding that I can see.

EXTERIOR

• - Drivers side window catches on hood when opening / closing door.
  - The above has caused the drivers door to bend slightly so the top of the door / bottom of the window no longer aligns with the rear quarter panel / rear window.
  - Both front windows continuously rattle/squeak against the back windows (the most annoying issue by far!)
  - Replace windscreen with genuine item and also as rear view mirror has come off!
  - Sort out erratic windscreen wiper motor
  - Replace windscreen surround trim (chrome dis-coloured)
  - Replace bonnet badge
  - Replace / refurbish exterior chrome trim (excluding bumpers which are mint)
  - Replace passenger tail light which is cracked
  - Remove mud flaps (like the look of them but I think they are too much of a rust causer, no?)
  - Full re-spray at some point, or at least a bloody good machine polish!

INTERIOR

• - Replace cracked heater panel in dash
  - Replace front section of centre console due to air bubble in plastic
  - Replace back section of centre console due to mobile phone cradle screw holes
  - Sort bubbling of vinyl on roof compartment horse shoe
  - Fix front and rear window rattling
  - Re-trim 370mm m-tech II steering wheel
  - Re-trim, refurbish or replace front leather seats

MECHANICAL

• - Running a bit rough / hesitant to rev only when cold
  - Suspension overhall

Exhaustive list right!? Perhaps I should have kept the Z4?

1987 320i


1994 325i



2003 Z4 3.0


1989 325i Convertible






Hope you like - let me know what you think!

Chris.

[Gavla]

Nice car mate!

Work through the list at your own pace, get all of it sorted and you will a beautiful chariot!

I am also based in London so keep me posted on all that you do with costs and contact details.

[Craggy73]

Lists are good. It's a nice feeling when you start ticking them off

[tonybtonyb]

Very nice,good luck

[Funnybear]

I also have one of them. A bit lower than yours and running 17 alpina reps. Reading your list I'd get those 'few' rust flakes on the rear arches looked at asap. The rears arches are double skinned so you don't want it to get through inside if you can help it.

Also, LIFT THE CARPETS!! Especially passenger side. I've had to have some wieldling done in there as it get soaked. No idea where it's coming from, but from what I've read they are prone to leak from behind the dash. And that is waaayy to buryed for my expertise to root out.

The hood catching on doors is a common problem, there are workarounds about the place so check them out.

I've also done the water pump, fuel tank, rad, belts, rear bushes, diff refurb, rear brake lines, new roof, and various cosmetic derusting and rattle canning. You don't say exactly how many miles yours has done. Mines up to 137000 and still going strong.