Hi folks, I'm slowly getting this car in good order mechanically and aesthetically, returning and keeping it as close to OEM as reasonably possible. Maybe a few modifications but nothing that can't be returned to OEM. Once I have finished emptying my wallet achieving this I can start to save for the full strip down, respray and rebuild.
Been a member on here for years as I used to have a 325i Sport. I went down the 5 series route as a family man and had numerous E34's, a couple of E39's and a fantastic E38.
So I have bought this 1987 325i cabrio.
It is diamond black with aftermarket Alpina wheels and a genuine M-tech II bodykit. Also has recaro bubble interior. I believe it has been owned by a couple of members on here and no offence to those owners but it is high time it was spruced up to make it what it should be.
It has many areas needing attention, mechanicaly it currently needs a new starter motor and fuel sender. The roof needs replaced as it is tatty and leaking. It requires a little welding in the drivers footwell. I am in the process of aquiring a Cardinal red sport interior. The indicators will be changed to clear ones as somone thought it fit to black out the front lenses and foglights! Not nice. it needs new bumper covers and a new aeriel. There are a few bits of the interior trim that i will be putting back to standard like the chrome handbrake handle, and light pull knob. There is loads if missing trim so I intend to find every little bit to make the car complete.
Bodywise it is very clean although it has obvioisly had some work, the passenger rear wing has ripples in the paint, and there are a few defects here and there that i will just need to live with for a few years until i eventually have a full restoration done with a complete respray. The wheels will need a refurb at some point as well although i will be on the lookout for a genuine set of Alpinas.
So here goes with some pics to start it off, A couple are from the original advert which make it look lovely but they hide a lot of required work and defects.
The 500 mile journey home was a challenge trying to limp home with a dodgy starter motor, unballanced wheels, fuel guage not working etc, but this is where it nearly all ended before i got started. This happened at 70mph on the motorway where i nearly hit the barrier and a couple of other cars. Thanks to a bit of experience and skill and a hell of a lot of luck I got it onto the hard shoulder. Unfortunately the previous owner had not left me with a spare wheel so had to call out the AA. Once at a really dodgy backstreet garage, the only one open on a friday evening i was on my way again.
A lesson to anyone thinking of buying cheap tyres. They were nearly new.
I've since had all the wheels reballanced and discovered the wheel spiggots were not the right size!! There was no balancers on the front wheels either.
The horn now works and the windows all work and lined up properly. The indicators work at normal speed and all the speakers now wired up properly.
