My 1983 320iA Coupe Chromie Rightness *Updated 26/04/11*

[RustyRuss]

Thanks Rob and bmw sport - VERY much appreciated Chromie FTW all the way!!! Thats me finally out the garage - 6.30am to 4.30pm cleaning - calling it a day at that lol. I have today:

1.) Meguirs 3 staged the entire paintwork
2.) Polished all chrome with Autoglym Super Resin
3.) Autoglym bumper cared every possible black bit.
4.) Had a wee clean under the bonnet.
5.) Polished the alloys with Autoglym Super Resin
6.) Cleaned all glass inside and out with Autoglym Glass Polish
7.) Hooverdd the boot / bootwells / interior of the car
8.) Polished the door checks with Autoglym Super Resin
9.) Polished all vinyl / dash inside with Autoglym Vinyl / Rubber Care
10.) Checked all lights and levels, put the tyres to the correct pressures.
11.) Polished the tyres. Hate the shiny stuff so i do it with a shoe brush and kiwi parade shine shoe polish lol.


Think thats enough for one day!!! Please see below lots of pics (please note interior shots done before any interior cleaning took place and the original stereo that came with the car will soon be retro fitted!!)and two videos of utter random sadness - but it had to be done!!! For those who dont know me yet im a total 80s timewarp and listen to nothing but 80s music!!!!

















































Music while you work is essential!!



So sad but had to be done!!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v39/R ... =028-2.mp4

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v39/R ... =030-2.mp4

Still lots to do, easily spend another entire weekend at it before im happy!!! Polish boot floor / spare wheel well and underside of the boot next i think, inner wings under the bonnet etc. Cheers for the support - this is one Chromie thats going be pampered forever!!

[capri_rob]

Nice work Russ

[RustyRuss]

Nice work Russ

Cheers mate!!! My arms and fingers feel like ive gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson but well worth it - its how you know youve done a good job!!! lol. Perfect day really finished off by a wee night out with the Mrs soon!!

[Alex]

What a stunner

only things i would change would be A set of fully refurbished 15" BBS and a twin exit 320i Exhaust with chrome tips

[RustyRuss]

Cheers very much mate, appreciated Im planning a stainless system at some point so may well have (small) twin pipes, but im a standard fetishist so sticking with the bottletops and getting them refurbed at some point!!

[Alex]

Cheers very much mate, appreciated Im planning a stainless system at some point so may well have (small) twin pipes, but im a standard fetishist so sticking with the bottletops and getting them refurbed at some point!!

fair play to you. if it was me i would fit a scorpion lemans with a 6 branch, ive always preferd the sound of a 320i over a 325i so much more smoother, they sing

[RustyRuss]

They do indeed sing mate know what you mean, ive had a 525i E34, 535i E34, 325i E30 and this (my keeper) 320i sounds better than the lot of them imho!!!

[Duke137]

Cheers very much mate, appreciated Im planning a stainless system at some point so may well have (small) twin pipes, but im a standard fetishist so sticking with the bottletops and getting them refurbed at some point!!

You can't beat a set of mint bottletops, especially on a stunning car like that Russ (don't worry you don't have to thank me for saying it, your polishing skills talk for you mate)

[johnl320]

Absolutely stunning, new bonnet insulation required if i was to be really picky

[bss325i]

So sad but had to be done!!

Awesome!

I too have a selection of tapes from the 80's for my E30 complete with the cassette holder in the cente consol and correct Blaupunkt Memphis head unit. I dont really listen to the tapes though as the Blaupunkt has an aux in so i can use my ipod, which has most of my music on, a big chunk of it 80s's.

As others have said, great that its gone to a good home with someone who will look after it.

BTW, a new header tank and a white BMW battery would transform the engine bay.

Keep up with the good work and keep the pics coming!

[oguz327]

Looks stunning

[Finto_316]

only things i would change would be A set of fully refurbished 15" BBS and a twin exit 320i Exhaust with chrome tips

^^^^^^

awesome

[suhinaffy]

Those are some of the shiniest bottle tops I've ever seen, Do they really need a refurb?
Your polishing skills are ace, I'll drop my car round at yours tomorrow and you can do mine....

[RustyRuss]

Cheers very much mate, appreciated Im planning a stainless system at some point so may well have (small) twin pipes, but im a standard fetishist so sticking with the bottletops and getting them refurbed at some point!!

You can't beat a set of mint bottletops, especially on a stunning car like that Russ (don't worry you don't have to thank me for saying it, your polishing skills talk for you mate)

Hey mate, very much appreciated Your right mint bottletops look absolutely amazing, much under-rated wheel!! Sign of a mispent youth spending hours in the garage polishing cars!!

[RustyRuss]

Absolutely stunning, new bonnet insulation required if i was to be really picky

Thanks very much mate. Agreed on the insulation - its on the to do list Ive replaced it on other cars and its been a pain to do...but at least this ones in 3 bits so should, in theory, be slightly easier - hopefully!!!

[RustyRuss]

So sad but had to be done!!

Awesome!

I too have a selection of tapes from the 80's for my E30 complete with the cassette holder in the cente consol and correct Blaupunkt Memphis head unit. I dont really listen to the tapes though as the Blaupunkt has an aux in so i can use my ipod, which has most of my music on, a big chunk of it 80s's.

As others have said, great that its gone to a good home with someone who will look after it.

BTW, a new header tank and a white BMW battery would transform the engine bay.

Keep up with the good work and keep the pics coming!

Thanks very much mate - much appreciated You cant beat 80s music - just goes hand in hand with the car I do love the idea of aux in though - such a good call. Im pleased the car has found me as well as i just like to keep things standard and how they were meant to be, i will look after the car for a very long time to come!! Totally agreed on the header tank and battery - deffo on the to do list!! Im a picture nut so take pics everytime the cars out so ill keep em coming!!

[RustyRuss]

Looks stunning

Thanks mate - much appreciated!!!

[RustyRuss]

only things i would change would be A set of fully refurbished 15" BBS and a twin exit 320i Exhaust with chrome tips

^^^^^^

awesome

Thanks mate muchos appreciated

[RustyRuss]

Those are some of the shiniest bottle tops I've ever seen, Do they really need a refurb?
Your polishing skills are ace, I'll drop my car round at yours tomorrow and you can do mine....

Cheers very much mate They are not too bad but on closer inspection could do with bits being refurbed so down the line when funds are healthier they shall get the treatment lol, still they come up well with a polish!!

Anytime mate anytime i love cleaning cars...esp e30s!!!

[Falkster]

Great looking original car mate!!!! Really really nice, and as said, you can tick the box that says 'crap your pants when sat in roadworks watching the temp gauge'.

[RustyRuss]

Great looking original car mate!!!! Really really nice, and as said, you can tick the box that says 'crap your pants when sat in roadworks watching the temp gauge'.

Cheers mate, much appreciated!! Yeah thats always a nice thing to know - ill be able to rest a bit easier next time we see a queue!!!

[RustyRuss]

Myself and Dad took the Chromie out for a spin today to South and North Queensferry seen as how the sun was splitting the sky, i try to get the car out at least once a week for a good run. Had a super wee jaunt awith various pictures below, then bumped into Mike from the Zone on the way home with his newly purchased Bronzit 325i from Ted. First time id met Mike, lovely chap - great to see another E30 out and about! His 325i is lovely!! Had a good wee jaunt

[P10mike]

It was good to meet you today Russel your chromie is absolutely stunning. Being one of the first built I was taken aback with all the little things you never see on newer e30's.
Stunning car, proper classic.

[TPS]

I remember seeing this car at Robs in Banbury, it was lovely & clean, I'm glad its gone to a good home.

[RustyRuss]

Cheers Mike it was really good to meet you too Absolutely adore your bronzit!! So nice to see another E30 out and about. Just bumped into Scott in the petrol station so two other E30's in one day!!

[RustyRuss]

I remember seeing this car at Robs in Banbury, it was lovely & clean, I'm glad its gone to a good home.

Thanks mate much appreciated, looked after it certainly is

[RustyRuss]

Couldnt resist a spin again today:

[capri_rob]

Lovely car this - much as I like period options this needs leaving exactly as it is

[Ollie_bwoii]

Lovely car this - much as I like period options this needs leaving exactly as it is

Have to agree. Not alot left like this.

Just needs to look exactly as it would have come out the factory, with original stickers, number plates, floor mats etc...

Just completely and utterly unmolested. That's the best way.

[RustyRuss]

Cheers Rob, much appreciated mate couldnt agree more it will be staying exactly as intended Sounds devine, i cant get enough of it, adore driving it and the best part is the no power steering it feels so in touch with the road you know exactly what its doing!!

[RustyRuss]

Cheers Ollie, much appreciated mate. Couldnt agree more. All orig stickers are present on the car under the bonnet and inside the drivers door, only ones missing is beside the tool tray and rear window sticker which im looking to get remade (Euromotors Kent). Iplan to get orig plates made up with Euromotors on them. I have the orig tax disc holder and am on the lookout for orig mats and euromotors keyrings too:-)

[RustyRuss]

Took a lovely run to Blackness Castle today with Dad, was a lovely day and a good jaunt, just love the car more and more each and every time its out. Was going over the Forth Road Bridge when a young couple in an Alpine White II H plate 318iS passed peeped and waved, sure it was someone from here as i think i recognised the car, need to try and find out who as the car was looking spanky!!

Some pics (as always!!!)

[RustyRuss]

Sun is a shining so couldnt resist another evening run, got to take advantage of the nice dry weather

[snakebrain]

How many knots does she get?

[RustyRuss]

Haha mate about 12 i think top whack lol, one of the few classics that ive had that doesent do a yaught impression around corners!!!