Steves E30 325i Vert project

[M3smudge]

Hi everybody, Im Steve from Hampshire, I own a E46 M3 that is my weekend and show car named ”˜Dark Vader’ and now I have recently purchased an 1991 E30 325i Vert, triple black with heated leather seats and air con.

The E30 is a project car that will be used as a daily, so I consider myself as lucky as iv got the my 2 favourite shapes and models.

Firstly a few pics of them both together.









A few from when I first got her























Start of the detail



























So then the next stage was to do all the electrics, none of the windows, fog lights or the rev counter didn’t work, but now they all do.

The last job prior its MOT was to adjust the tappets as it sounded really top end, so I visited Camberley and got these.



Removed the rocker cover to find this lurking beneath, pay attention to inlet 5.







Its also moved the collets further up the valve shaft so its off with the head.



The good news is though I picked this stereo up from Daryl who removed it from his M3 years ago, but with me going totally oem this will be cool.

So back up to date, today I removed the head and was pleasantly surprised to see the block and head in such good condition.













Thanks for looking

[Nobby_N]

hands up who lol at the nickname Dark Vader!

[gaszman]

where abouts in hampshire are you steve

[M3smudge]

hands up who lol at the nickname Dark Vader!

Mate you've got to have a little bit of fun and not take everything serious.

[M3smudge]

where abouts in hampshire are you steve

I'm just outside Andover a place called Tidworth.

[jimbom30cab]

Nice work mate, quite a few of us in hampshire, join the e30 zone hampshire facebook group, most of us are on there.

Car looks fab, where did you see it advertised?

[M3smudge]

Nice work mate, quite a few of us in hampshire, join the e30 zone hampshire facebook group, most of us are on there.

Car looks fab, where did you see it advertised?

I got the car from a good friend, Dips from Custom Cars.
I'll do that tomorrow, thanks for the invite.

[jimbom30cab]

Yer, I know Dips, good bloke, one of the many many in the collection, he should open a e30 museum

There is a good cylinder head place on limberline road , hilsea, but doesn't look like you need it To be fair

We use a top bloke called nick waistie for mobile welding if you need any on 07530351173

Shout me if you need anything

You live really close to John I think

Cheers

[M3smudge]

Mate that's awesome, thank you, I do need a little welding where the sills meet the B pillar.
Thanks again
Steve

[Kos]

[M3smudge]

Well today I decided to prep the engine bay ready for the head to be fitted hopefully next week.

I then decided to give the car a quick once over.

















Hope you like, thanks for looking

[M3smudge]

Do like a black vert! Nice rescue.

Do the cambelt/tensioner and check the water pump while you are at it.

All are already ordered mate.

Thanks guys

[bss325i]

Gloss black with black leather, A/C, switchable auto, OBC, and power hood. That's a good spec cabrio!

Odd that it has one heated seat switch though?

Original Hexagon BMW car as well?

Good to hear you are going totally OEM with it but its crying out for 15" BBS.

[M3smudge]

Gloss black with black leather, A/C, switchable auto, OBC, and power hood. That's a good spec cabrio!

Odd that it has one heated seat switch though?

Original Hexagon BMW car as well?

Good to hear you are going totally OEM with it but its crying out for 15" BBS.

That will be the only up grade, it's the part of the car that I hate and with them bring an Upgrade I'm still staying oem'ish.... Lol

[M3smudge]

Right been busy over the last few days so I better update the thread, hopefully it will be back up and running tomorrow, however, when I was removing the sump plug I noticed it wasn’t tight then it just dropped off! Yep you’ve guessed it, someone who had done an oil change last had snapped the plug of in the sump. A job for tomorrow.

Heres some pics from Thursday, cleaned the top end.













Then I painted the inlet and rocker cover.



I didn’t take one of the rocker however, I masked the letters and stripes and Aaron then set to work sanding the paint back of.





I also removed the number plates, front grill and rear plastics and sprayed them matt black.





Back on”¦ also with new wipers.









Friday I then got ready for the rebuild”¦.









The old and new valves to check the wear.



The work begins”¦.











Today (Saturday) it was rebuild day, I collected these from BMW and got started.



















Like I said Im hoping to finish the main work tomorrow, dependant on the sump plug”¦.

Thanks for looking

[Kos]

Good work Steve

[M3smudge]

Good work Steve

And don't worry those other bits are getting done tomorrow......

[Kos]

Good work Steve

And don't worry those other bits are getting done tomorrow......

Top man

[M3smudge]

Well what a busy day, the car is now ready for the MOT next week so fingers crossed, then I can get on with the enhancement to renewing bits and making them better but staying oem.
Well the engine work is finished, the bang on the front right lower valance has been straightened (only to take the eye from it, it still needs a new one) fog light fitted, indicator fitted, oem Bavaria stereo fitted, horseshoe locking correctly, interior conditioned (still needs more) and the boot sorted out. Like I said, a busy day.









Wife the help of Tray, she made a great job cleaning and conditioning the seats







Oem BMW Bavaria stereo (with tape player!)





I forgot to take one of the car with the hood down, but did get this one with the hood up.



Thanks for looking

[oomz1975]

Nice work

[povertyspec]

great car. i have a j plate in almost identical spec. air con, heated seats, black leather,sports suspension,switchable auto etc but in Brilliant red. think they upgraded a lot of cars to a high spec once the new 3 series was out as these suddenly looked a bit dated in 1991. my cars a keeper and totally stock on factory 15" BBS's but i wish it had been black like yours. you get lots of paint fade issues with red. im going to do the same engine detailing in black this winter.a perfect classic with 100mph cruising if needed and the right size to park in a city.

[cheffy]

Great job and a fantastic turn-a round, what detailing products do you use, even greater job gettin the wife to help there's NO chance my wife would help !
I'm into detailing tho, and spend many hours on our cars
Whats the milage on iy ?

[M3smudge]

Cheers guys for the great comments.
I used a DA with a Menz cutting compound. It needs another cut then I'll put a covering of poorboys black hole and seal it with Z8. The car has 97k on the clock with nearly full service history.

[cheffy]

Doesn't look as if it need s another cut, from the pics anyway ! PB BH is great I've used it many times, even on a silver car, do you go on Detailing world ?

[Gert_8]

excellent work

[M3smudge]

Doesn't look as if it need s another cut, from the pics anyway ! PB BH is great I've used it many times, even on a silver car, do you go on Detailing world ?

No Iv only just getting in to it , Iv always done my other car but that wasn't bad to start with. I keep ringing Kos for tips, lol.

Is there tricks of the trade on DW?

[M3smudge]

Well it went through the MOT with 2 small advisories, so now it's fully legal and I can start to enjoy driving it.

Taxed it today so I'll have some fun this weekend.