1991 325i SE

[tha881]

It's been a little while since I left any updates on the car. I've been using it through the summer and it's proved as sturdy as ever

I changed the suspension out again, and decided to try the H&R 60/40 cup kit and I'm definitely keeping this setup long term

As you can see it's a lower setup than the eibach pro kit, the front springs are progressive so fairly compliant on small compressions and then when you throw the car in it stiffness up. Great steering feel through the corners and feels very capable it just adds confidence. For me the Eibach just didnt feel planted enough. The only negative is the need for careful navigation of speed bumps

I also fitted some brand new Bosch injectors and reverted back to a quiter exhaust setup with a standard centre section

Also in preparation for a road trip I swapped out the diff oil for some of this

Not too sure what happened but this made the diff very noisy, it turned out to be one of those things I should have left alone. It is definitely the correct grade so im really not sure what the issue was. Anyway I hadn't took the old oil (75w90 Gulf oils I think) down the tip yet so swapped it back over and it was back to normal

[tha881]

I had a couple of weeks booked off work in June and with some lovely weather forecast we took the car over to France for another road trip. Had some rain from Calais down to Reims but after that it brightened up and hardly rained again, the drive home a couple weeks later was in 40 degree heat which the car handled faultlessly

The first day was a long one as the first hotel was in Saint-Marcellin about an hour south of Lyon. However, to break up the motorway we came off the auto route and drove the D996 from Laferte-Sur-Aube to Dijon

Day 2 was where the fun really started. After stopping for the night we headed off into the Vercors national park taking in Combe Laval, Col de Rousset and then just kept heading south into Provence

The road a little south of here went through some lovely forest and was an absolute dream driving road

[tha881]

There was a visitors centre located on the route, dedicated to the communist jewish resistance during ww2 but we didnt stop as the road just kept getting better

The D76 then leads on to the D518, also known as the Col de Rousset, it was a fantastic descent with lots of hairpin bends

From here we kept heading south taking in the D61 (Col de Premol), the D162, D64, and through the Gorges de Aulan towards Sault, and then onto Mont Ventoux

[tha881]

This was a fantastic road with perfect surfaces as are many of the roads in France. The views were just breathtaking. Just had to keep an eye out for the hundred or so cyclists littering the route

From Mont Ventoux was a more gentle drive into Avignon where we stopped for the night, again a beautiful place with a great atmosphere and lots of history

[tha881]

The following day we were heading west with a destination of Villefranche-de-Rouerge. The only itinerary was to find the best roads in between. Firstly we headed towards Ales, and then took the N106 towards the Gorges de Tarn. This was a great road through canyons and although a national route it was extremely twisty, perfect surfacing and luckily devoid of much traffic

The Tarn gorge was beautiful and although the surfacing wasnt as good as some other roads the scenery was outstanding

The overnight stop was in Villefranche-de-Rouerge, you could describe it a ghost town the day we were there

It was still great to walk around and had a very medieval feel to the place

[tha881]

The last day of driving took us all the way to Charente-Maritime to stay with family, heading to Cahors and then north west through the Dordogne

The car was absolutely filthy by this point and had earnt a well deserved clean and rest for a few days. It didnt miss a beat the whole time, the engine was solid, being run hard for at least 6 hours a day. I was really pleased to have a quieter exhaust back on, especially when passing through the small villages. The handling was absolutley spot on, the cup kit felt great on the smoother roads

Not much else to add, MOT next couple of weeks then it will be mainly parked up through the winter months till next year, thanks for reading!

[parkin10]

Good post
Glad the car ran well

[martauto]

Thanks for sharing this with us, a truly stunning road trip with a fantastic car, well done mate

Mart.

[tha881]

Glad the car ran well

Me too! Touch wood an e30 has never left me completely stranded

[tha881]

Thanks for sharing this with us, a truly stunning road trip with a fantastic car, well done mate

Mart.

You're too kind Mart, glad I'm able to share it with you guys

[Brianmoooore]

Just read this from start to finish, and am extremely jealous. Haven't left the UK for European roads for well over three years now and am missing driving on those fantastic roads more than a little.
Never been stranded in an E30 either, although with a combination of a faulty LPG tank and a rapidly failing petrol pump, it came close on one two week expedition.

[30316]

Welcome back Brian. You have been missed.

[martauto]

Welcome back Brian. You have been missed.

Hello Brian ,I did tell them you were still "lurking around"

Mart.

[tha881]

Just read this from start to finish, and am extremely jealous. Haven't left the UK for European roads for well over three years now and am missing driving on those fantastic roads more than a little.
Never been stranded in an E30 either, although with a combination of a faulty LPG tank and a rapidly failing petrol pump, it came close on one two week expedition.

Hello Brian glad to see back on the zone. You should definitely take pride in knowing your past assistance may just be the reason my car has survived these trips!

I hope you manage to get back over to Europe yourself one way or another, all the best to you