E30 Zone

Well, as I've been lurking here for a few months now, occasionally posting in threads and buying stuff, I decided to start a build thread about my automatic 316.

I bought this car back in January (2012). I saw it in autotrader for £700 and it was close by, so I went to have a look. Never owned an E30 before, so I didn't really know what to look for, but being a mechanic helps. It quickly struck me that this was a welder virgin. Only bad bits were a couple of small patches on the bottom corners of the rear valance, the rear bumper was dented and there was a bit of a dent in the bonnet from a tennis/cricket ball and one of the gutter strips was missing.

Anyway, it got lowered etc etc, and this is how it looked pretty much after we lowered it:



Not as low as I wanted but it was an improvement handling wise.

Anyway, not a lot happens for a few months, until recently. I decided that being 26 years old, and to only of done 75k, most of the bushes would be original, and time is not nice to rubber mouldings. Also, I was craving for a manual again. So I set it upon myself to redo all the suspension bushes, bearings, drivetrain, brakes and gearbox, as well as a few engine bits. I didn't take any pictures during taking it apart, due to the fact that I just like to get on with stuff rather than taking pictures constantly, but I finally decided to have a go at doing a build thread.

Anyway, here she is looking in a sorry state waiting to be put back together:







Custom pipes made for an E36 rack:


Refurbing the gearbox shift linkage:


More photo's and stuff to come I supposed. Waiting for most of the suspension to be powdercoated and then I get back to working on it.

I dont usually like aftermarket wheels but that looks the tits

Are you changing the engine or did you just pull it out to be able to get at everything ?

Nice work - keep the pics coming

Cheers man

I'm keeping the M10, it's just once I had everything off to get the gearbox out, and the inlet manifold off, it was only 4 more bolts and a few electrical plugs to get the engine out. Cleaned up a few oil weeps and fitted new gaskets for the chain and sump. It's gonna have a Weber DGV 32/36 on it. Seems a waste of time to stick with the M10 but oh well...

I'm not a fan of the Borbet T's myself, but they were going cheap and look alright. Looking to get some Image F40's in the future but I'm slowing running out of money

Did a bit more today. Stuck the alternator back on the engine and torqued the crank pulley up. Accidently pulled the dowel out the flywheel side doing so...

Resprayed the backplates black. Didn't want to take too much rust off them or there'd be nothing left. Something to replace when I have a bit more money at some point I reckon.



I got a manual pedalbox, but it was a slightly different design to mine, and I knew all the bits on mine worked well, so I decided to convert my manual pedal box into an automatic pedal box. Very easy. Stuck it back in the car as well, I figured I can feed the clutch fluid resevoir pipe through the bulkhead and connect in place.







Also stuck my new steering wheel on. Only an OMP rep but the boss brings it out further towards me, which should make driving more comfortable

I got my suspension back from the powdercoaters on wednesday, but due to me starting at college this week, I haven't had much of a chance to work on it. Got friday afternoon off and I've done a few bits today.

I fitted the ARB and engine mounts to the front subframe and installed that. Also put my E36 rack on. Not too happy with the routing of the pipes I had made up, as they sit under the crossmember rather than in it. I'll have to see how much protection the engine gives them when it's in and try and bend them up a little bit. I'm also not happy with how the pinch bolt from the UJ from the coloum doesn't really sit in it's groove, but the way I see it, it's not going anywhere unless the rack falls out.



I also got my plates back from the laser cutter. These are to adapt the M10 manifold to accept the Weber DGV carb. A few holes still need to be countersunk, and I need to bevel in the manifold a bit so the airflow is smoother but they look like they'll fit together lovely.







Also managed to stick the flywheel and pilot bearing on, and put the backplates on the rear trailing arms. Going to get all my bushes and bearings pressed in on monday, so I can make a lot more progress.

Nice work, keep the updates coming.

capnmchl wrote:

I like

So the last few days have been a bit hectic. Struggled a bit getting the bushes back in, especially the trailing arm bushes. Might of had to order a couple more. On tuesday I manged to get the NSR suspension and brake in place, as that was the only corner I had completed parts for.

But on wednesday, things got into full swing. Put the rest of the suspension and brakes on, the rear diff and driveshafts (although the diff is only tacked on for now), bleed all the brakes, and get the engine and gearbox in. I must say the gearbox was a twat, using such massive splines on the input shaft. Probably didn't help I aligned the clutch with an 8mm deep socket and 17mm socket. Was a good fit though.

The problem is though, because I got into a right swing, I didn't give much thought to taking picture. I'm rubbish at these build/photo threads as a result.

These were some of the bits I got powdercoated. Other bits were already on the car by the time I got this photo. Couple of new brake pipes, clutch pipe and new tyres.


The NSR corner built up. Nice shiney brake drum, although I thought the padgid ones would be coated like the disks.


And the rest of the rear suspenion. See some more powdercoatery goodness.


I'll try and take more photo's, especially as the carb goes on etc.

Another good piece of news is that the exhaust looks like it'll fit past the steering UJ's now, but the pipes I had made up go under the subframe rather than in it, which is quite exposed. I think I might be able to flip them and make them run infront of the engine though. I'm having a break over the weekend though.

suchy wrote:

capnmchl wrote:

I like

+1

More pictures today.

Hogged out my manifold so the airflow is a bit smoother. Not the best job ever, but it'll do in my eyes. Better than it hitting a flat surface.







Here's my problem with the power steering lines. On a normal car they'd run inside the crossmember, but mine weren't made as I asked. I'm thinking if I bend them I can get them to run infront of the engine, but there's definately a risk of breaking them.





This has made me happy. Still need to bolt up the rear bearing/bush for it.



Fitted my choke cable. Looks tidy, but I've got to find a way to fix the panel back now. Had to mount it where the little stud went through. Might not be long enough either so I'll have to wait and see. I think it looks tidy there anyway.



Couple of engine in the car shots





And if you noticed in the pictures of the manifold up top, my workbench is looking like a tip, so I cleaned that up



A clean workspace makes more clean work

I like that!! Personally I don't think it needs to go any lower.

Cheers guys. I'm not too fond of that picture really as it makes the wheels look a lot bigger than they are. I don't think I'll be dropping it for a while anyway.

Anyway, today I made some gaskets for my carb plates and carb. Hopefully they'll do the job. They seem to match up to my perspex prototypes.

Printed out my autocad drawings and found some nice card that'll be perfect



Staple to the cardboard, trying to make the paper as flat as possible, and not stapling anywhere vital



Cut the rectangles out



Using a ticket punch, do the small holes. If it's a bit bigger than the punch, you can work your war around the outside of the circle.



Then the hard part, cut the big holes out. I used a pair of scissors at first but moved over to a craft knife about 2 minutes later. Either way it's tricky to get good looking circles so patience is key.



Rip off the paper and take the staples out and you have some good gaskets.

Should be getting some more done today. Might even get it started, but I'm still waiting on a propshaft donut unless it appears in the next hour or so.

Okay so the last 2 weeks have been pretty intense. All the ancillerys started going on, and the gearbox got bolted in place properly, as did the propshaft, diff, and exhaust.







After getting all the wiring hooked up, the clutch bled out and the oils in the gearbox, diff and engine renewed, I got the carb mounted on.





I tried starting it up last wednesday, but to no success. I found out on monday I'd hooked up the pipes to the fuel pump the wrong way round





After that it started fine, and I ran it up and it seemed okay. I wanted to take it out for a test drive yesterday, but the roller door where I'm working on it decided to crap itself and not open anymore, so the BMW is stuck inside till futher notice








So today I went to look at a few things whilst running. I noticed a water leak from the inlet manifold, but I just hadn't done the nuts up tight enough where the manifold and water pipe join up out the head. There's also 2 oil leaks. One is from the chain gasket, which I replaced, so that's a bit annoying. It's where the head gasket sticks out to seal the upper and lower chain covers, so I think I'll just have to sillicone that up somehow. The other appears to be from the rear crank seal, which I stupidly didn't change whilst I had the engine out. I completely forgot about it, and this is the price I pay.

I've also found another problem with the PAS pipes I had made up, the bore on the return pipe is too small to fit on the resevoir. Think I'm going to have to get some different ones made up again.

Here's a video of it running anyway. Not great, but it proves a point that it works

[URL=http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... G_0543.mp4[/URL]

Well, it's been a while since I updated this. I finished playing with the car around the beginning of october, and have been driving it since. Handles so well with all new bushes.

I ditched the Borbets for some 15" AC schnitzers, although tbh, they've seen better days. However, I prefer the look of the car on the AC's, just got to find some money and time to refurb them, and maybe put some tyres with a smaller profile on.

Anyway, my friend Lewis took some photos recently, so here goes:







There's still stuff to do to it. Hopefully picking up some 51mm front struts and a rear disc conversion for the real, so we'll see where that takes me. Looking out for a tech 1 spoiler to de-straighten the rear end from the side profile.

I do like that ACs, only ever seen 16s before though. If you go for smaller profile tyres the wheels will end up looking tiny, never looks good on BMWs.

I know what you mean, they do fill the arches well, but I can't stand the baloony look of the tyres. It's a bit of a dillema.

I've never been able to decide whether 16's or 17's are the perfect size for E30's.

Skinny tyres on 15" only works on small cars with which they still fill the arches. 17s are too big for E30 IMO.

The Borbets I had on before were 16's and I felt they looked a bit small sometimes, but then other times they looked perfect. I think 16's and a few more lows are needed for it to sit nice.

I'm not sure whether to save these 51mm struts for a possible M50/2 conversion, or make them into coilovers. Or both.

Mike all the parts are off for you.
Will give you a call tomorrow

Okay. Cheers for that!

Love early model cars and yours is beautiful!

capnmchl wrote:Well, it's been a while since I updated this. I finished playing with the car around the beginning of october, and have been driving it since. Handles so well with all new bushes.

I ditched the Borbets for some 15" AC schnitzers, although tbh, they've seen better days. However, I prefer the look of the car on the AC's, just got to find some money and time to refurb them, and maybe put some tyres with a smaller profile on.

Anyway, my friend Lewis took some photos recently, so here goes:







There's still stuff to do to it. Hopefully picking up some 51mm front struts and a rear disc conversion for the real, so we'll see where that takes me. Looking out for a tech 1 spoiler to de-straighten the rear end from the side profile.

liking this

Cheers guys. From the looks of things, this years gonna have a lot more suprises, so I'll try and keep this thread updated.

NIce work!! Was teh Webber worth it?

Loved reading this thread, top work and a lovely car, nice one. Keep the pics coming

Rosc0PColtrane wrote:NIce work!! Was teh Webber worth it?

Yes and no. I don't think you'd be able to spend £400 on physical "performance upgrades" for an injection car and get an extra 10hp and 20nm. And I'm positive if I spent more time on a rolling road and sorted out my ignition advance I could get perhaps another ten hp out of it. But then you can probably get that out of an injection model with a chip. What I don't know, is whether getting a DGV was worth it over the proper replacement carb which is a DMTL

However, tbh, I should of just saved my money up for a better engine conversion.

Cheers jim. I've been following your resto thread. Hopefully I'll never have to go through an awful rust hunt with this, but they all rust eventually.

I won what I hope is a tech 1 spoiler on ebay last night, but I have a feeling it's just a standard 318is one. Either way, it'll hopefully break up the rear end a bit.

So a fair bit has happened to this over the 9 months I haven't updated this thread. Started by getting a heckspoiler and some Astra GTE recaro's fitted. No fitted pictures (I'm useless with pictures) but here they are waiting to go in the car.



And then over august, I hit a rather large rock which bent the subframe so I replaced that. Whilst doing that I decided to pull the engine out and re-seal it as such. New gaskets everywhere including a head gasket to stem a series of oil leaks from around the chain covers.

Things have been a bit quiet since then really. Been a bit bored of the car. I find it too low and uncomfortable so I decided to splash out and buy some nicer suspension which will be fitted this weekend. New Bilstein B4's, Eicbach pro kit and new top mounts.





I'm hoping I'll find the car a bit more comfortable and enjoyable to drive now, rather than having to clench my teeth and bum cheeks every time I see a rough bit of road.

I'll post some before and after pictures after the weekend when I've fitted them.

Like how it looks. The new wheels look really good.

I had read in another thread, is it ok to just lop off one turn of the springs all around to lower it a bit (20mm?) and not really low?

Cheers. They're not so nice in real life but then neither is car. What I'd refer to as a 20ft car.

No and yes. Front springs you can get away (but I don't condone it) with if they're not dual rate (coils get closer or further apart along the spring) but then you end up with a soft spring with less travel, meaning the suspension is more susceptible to bottoming out which can damage shocks.

The rears are just a no no. The bottom coil is required to locate them.

Ah then much better to keep the current SUV high look.

TPS wrote:

suchy wrote:

capnmchl wrote:

I like

+1

+2

Automaton wrote:Like how it looks. The new wheels look really good.

I had read in another thread, is it ok to just lop off one turn of the springs all around to lower it a bit (20mm?) and not really low?

nooooooo! Chopping springs is not the way to lower your car mate!

That looks very

Cypriotgeeza wrote:

Automaton wrote:Like how it looks. The new wheels look really good.

I had read in another thread, is it ok to just lop off one turn of the springs all around to lower it a bit (20mm?) and not really low?

nooooooo! Chopping springs is not the way to lower your car mate!

Just asking.
Saw someone put it up here. I think from Eastern Europe? Sorry can't remember who it was.
Importing 15" alloys is frightfully expensive. So was thinking of keeping the 14" steel wheels, lowering it a bit and using these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Neue-Klas ... 3a883934d5.

Anyway, back to Capn's thread.

Nice thread, hopefully get to see it this Sunday at the Exeter services meet