'88 325i Touring #001 resto - 03/2012 rimz porn

[Kedge]

Looking good Rob!! I know how much you hate anything remotely 4pot related but an iS front lip would finish it of nicely I think.

[capri_rob]

I was thinking that today mate - maybe when it gets painted I'll get one

[kieran325]

I like it but not keen on the Alpinas for some reason, it was nice and original with the 15"BBS.

[DanThe]

Non standard now! You HAVE to get some elec windows in there

[Duke137]

I can help you with the electric window issue Rob from my 4 door SE.... Centre console, looms motors, glass... Only thing I don't have is the matching door cards.... but bmwe30mtech has I think

[DanThe]

This wont need glass Ferg, just motors, switches and the windows/c-locking section of the loom

[Duke137]

There you go, its all tested and working and a low mileage car

[kieran325]

Without sounding like an OEM homo, I think this car has to stay original as close as possible with it being 001, IMHO of course

[DanThe]

Too late now

[Alex]

Fooking superb, Best wheels you could of choosen

[G-Bear]

Looking grand...

[Rtaylor2208]

Looks Ace Rob, nice work on this one.

[Dezzy]

Good luck keeping them wheels clean

[DanThe]

They are better for cleaning than BBS at least Dezzy, I really ought to have some Alpinas on mine, but the cleaning puts me fookin right off

[Dezzy]

They are better for cleaning than BBS at least Dezzy, I really ought to have some Alpinas on mine, but the cleaning puts me fookin right off

I remeber saying that very thing to you while fitting the boots to your current choice of wheel.

[Speedtouch]

Without sounding like an OEM homo, I think this car has to stay original as close as possible with it being 001, IMHO of course

I'm with Kieran on this. It's a piece of timewarp iconic history that needs preserving as it is.

Besides, keep-fit windows are a novelty nowadays!

[Duke137]

Yeah but he has put sport seats in it and if you wanted to get picky the headlining is no longer OEM either, not to mention the VDO gauges. Well not to the original build sheet for this car anyway. In my eyes Rob has saved this turd and improved it further, why not go on to give it electric windows as well?

Well done I say, top job this one

[Kedge]

In my eyes Rob has saved this turd and improved it further, why not go on to give it electric windows as well?

You would say that, you're trying to sell the kit to him

[e30topless]

phat rimz Rob , looks great

i would stick with the keep fit windows the wiring is a pain

[capri_rob]

Cheers for all the comments people

I knew the changes I've made might upset some true OEM homos, but a full concours 100% OEM resto was never what I set out to do.

Theres very little that can't be reversed if I ever do want to go down that route but TBH bottletops, comfort seats & bus steering wheels just arent me - and going down the full paedo route of stuff like fabricating and welding on replacement "jacking pads" is for people who trailer their turds everywhere and put mirrors underneath them at shows Its done 144k - its not some low-mileage garage queen.

The car is what it is, and IMO the stuff I've done just improves my enjoyment of it whilst sticking with an OEM/OEM+ theme.
The only "Custom" bits I guess are the headlining ( which is better than standard anyway IMO ) and the VDO Gauges which I really like and are more use to me than an Ashtray
I have no intentions of ever selling it so I want it to last and I want it to be nicely specced.

@ Dan & Ferg - keep fit windows are staying lads - I really do like them and they're proper retro

@ Dezzy - I've had BBS on all my E30's - I'm used to cleaning fiddly wheels

[bss325i]

It looks well Rob, certainly has come a long way from when you first rescued it!

[Dezzy]

It looks well Rob, certainly has come a long way from when you first rescued it!

Hasn't it just!

What about a plough to go with the Rimz?

[capri_rob]

It looks well Rob, certainly has come a long way from when you first rescued it!

Hasn't it just!

What about a plough to go with the Rimz?

Bit too much I think - if I can stomach the 4-pot connection an iS lip may be on the cards but nothing more than that

[bss325i]

That iS lip was optional on other turds.

I had a bronzit 325i with one.

The 1989 E30 brochure has a 4dr 325i with one on it.

[capri_rob]

That iS lip was optional on other turds.

I had a bronzit 325i with one.

The 1989 E30 brochure has a 4dr 325i with one on it.

That'll do for me then

[Rav335uk]

Nice rimz Roberto

[B7]

iS lip on a touring does look well. Si's diamond black C2 wears one for daily use and it looks the tits.

Perfect compromise over not wanting a plough but wanting something different.

You've done well on this Rob. It's looking really nice now. Personally, I'd have gone BBS 15's but the 'pinas do look nice..

Everything you've done is reversable so theres no show stopping dramas really.

Worth remembering as well, the work is more than skin deep. You've really gone through this one. Nice job!

[tonybtonyb]

Very nice ..

[capri_rob]

Started the turd today for the first time since the tax ran out at the end of August - no dramas thanks to the Ctek battery conditioner

Took it for a cheeky run round the block and then thought I'd try and tackle the chugging at idle when its warmed up ( seems to run better cold )

So up to temp, sprayed WD40 onto all the areas I could think of where there could be an air-leak and nothing

It would seem I've eliminated the sprung metal pipe as being the culprit so glad I dont have to take it all to bits again but I'm at a loss now.

Manifold gaskets all new and tight
AFM bellows new-ish and no splits
Rubber cap under the throttle body intact
New seals on the pipe from the block to the underside of the inlet manifold
New breather pipe from cam cover to throttle body
Checked multiplug wiring under manifold - all good, no corrosion and sprayed with WD40 to be sure

The only other thing I can think it might be now is the valve clearances ?

When I had the head refurbed the machine shop told me they had all been properly set but I havent checked this - just bolted it all back together
Can poorly set clearances give an uneven idle ?

it runs lovely at anything other than idle speed

Its doing my head in

[daimlerman]

Some years ago I posted that I'd set valve clearances with the head off and I was well flamed for doing so!

Upon asking why,I was told that the head will change shape as it reaches it's correctly torqued position.....

These engines run/idle better with the valve clearance set a little 'wide'.

[capri_rob]

Been a while since I updated this thread - mainly because the turd has been sat in the garage on SORN !

It will be MOT'd in the next week or two and depending on cashflow may be taxed and insured again from 1st March or 1st April if i can't get the dosh together before then.

Plans for 2013 are to sort out the remaining bodywork issues which basically means some further welding to the tubs behind both rear arches, dent repairs to most of the panels apart from the roof and new paint

I am seriously in 2 minds whether when its painted to Tech 2 kit it at the same time

All the rust will be gone by then, its garaged, waxoyled to within an inch of its life already and won't see rain or winter again so why not ?

[B7]

I am seriously in 2 minds whether when its painted to Tech 2 kit it at the same time

NOOOOOOOO! this is a car with some history. Leave as is.

[capri_rob]

I am seriously in 2 minds whether when its painted to Tech 2 kit it at the same time

NOOOOOOOO! this is a car with some history. Leave as is.

Just mulling it over Trev

[Kedge]

Now I like a tech 2 kitted touring but listen to Trev!!! Bad bad bad bad idea due to what this car is!

[capri_rob]

OK OK !

Was just an idea