E30 Zone

Hi everyone. I have been a member of the zone for a few months now, and seen as i have finally worked out how to get my pics on here from my iphone using photobucket, i couldnt resist.

So heres how the story goes...




So heres pretty much how it started out, these are the earliest pics i have. Its no super sporty 325i or anything, but never the less i love it. Its pretty much a standard 318i. Quite high miles at 166k when i bought it, but had f/s/h, and the owner before the bloke i bought it off was an independant bmw specialist b and m workshops, who owned it for about 7 years and used it as their courtesy car, so they kept it well maintained and carried out lots of work on it to keep it in the nice condition its in. So the good condition and f/s/h didnt put me off with the high mileage, it still drives and pulls superb, and everything worked as it should. The paintwork is still lovely and shiny no major bodywork issues except the usual small ammount of rust on the rear arches. The only difference in these pics from when i bought it is the wheels. When i bought it she was sitting on the bmw bottle top wheels which wernt really to my taste, so i bought and put the bbs on.

Since ive had it i have had a couple of oil leaks fixed, replaced a blown speedo bulb and given it a good full service which i done myself with the help of the trustee haynes manual. This included all the standard oil and filter change, new plugs, fuel filter and and i put a pipercross panel air filter on aswell. Ive also put a tech1 wheel and gear knob on aswell, i know some people wouldnt agree to but hey ho.

So i really got the e30 bug.......and then....



Yes, i know not everyones cup of tea, but i couldnt resist a set of alpina reps. I just really like the way they look on e30s. They could do with a bit of a refurb, which is on my to do list.

I always like to get the trustee jam rolls to give her the once over once a week. 10 quid you cant go wrong.



Had the cambelt done, as looking through my service history is was well over due. Thanks to bss325i for that.

Then a few weeks back one of my springs snapped, so after speaking to barry bss325i and getting a bit of advice i decided to upgrade the whole lot. And was probarly a good idea because looking at what came off the motor they was probarly the same bits it came with when it rolled out the factory. So it was new/second hand 51mm struts, new dampers and top mounts, new second hand bilstein b4s done around 100miles, again sourced by barry through one of his contacts, and brand new eibach pro kit springs which lowered it about 35mm.




This also helped with the massive gap between the tyres and front arches with the 17" wheels.



Then the finished product. The pic doesnt really do it justice, but i was over the moon with the result. Just need new centre caps for my wheels as the ones i got with them were a bit worse for wear and missing clips.

I have done a few other little things including super bright headlight bulbs and a new head unit.



The head unit i had i it was pretty old. The same one i had second hand in my first car when i started driving 7 years ago, so i just wanted something a bit more modern. Id recommend this one for anyone who wants to update theres. Nothing fancy but pretty good for the money. My dad himself it, and when i saw it and heard how much he payed for it went and got the same one. Sony xplod mex-bt4000u, brand new for £105. With cd, 2 pre outs, usb, iphone/ipod compatibility, aux in and bluetooth connectivity and handsfree, and a remote, in my opinion you cant go wrong. Just need a decent set of speakers to top it off now.

Theres still a list of things i want to do to it to get it how i want it. Im picking up a full set of sports interor from a IS next weekend which will be going straight in, so i will get some pics up when its in. Then as my discs and pads aint got much life left in them, they are going to be getting replaced and upgraded with new vented discs and bigger better calipers. Also got new number plate lights to fit. Got to the wheel alignment, tracking and balancing done aswell.

And then heres a pic i took from on the scaffold at work which i think is pretty good.



Feel free to let me know what you think, comments or advice, just be nice lol. Cheers for looking and reading.

Very nice! I like the alpina rep look good as long as you can keep the caps from getting nicked!

PS think this thread should go to the members e30s section - one of the mods can move it over for you.

Moved

lovely car mate, nice work also

My first e30 was a 318i 2-door that I put reps on, loved it.
Some se side skirts would be a nice touch.
Nice car, enjoy it.

looks super i love a red facelift like that, although you should get them bbs back on they looked much nicer and more importantly will give a much better drive, more so with the new suspension it will be a very nimble and fun car with them 17"s in the bin (keep an regular eye on the rear tyres inside edge if you keep them on)

..or some Borbets. Red facelift + borbets

Cheers for all the positive comments guys. Proper feeling the e30 love from my fellow zoners lol.

I have got all 4 caps mo, but 3 of them are missings clips and move about so im just leaving them off, then when i get the wheels refurbed im going to get 4 news caps and badges. Get them looking fresh

Cheers for moving my post TPS. Sorry about that, my bad.

Cheers jim, just a shame i was too late on getting my hands on nice powerflow zaust somene had for sale hey lol.

Nice one oomz. I might have a look in to some of those side skirts. Was it making you remenise on your first e30

I have been considering putting the bbs back on polsta. But they need new tyres. Didnt really they had wrong size tyres on the till i spoke to a zoner who does all my work. When i had them on i thought the backs had bigger tyres than the fronts. Then i had a look and 2 of them were 195/60R14 and the other 2 are 195/65R15. So what ever spanner put them on odv didnt have a scooby. I was told i need 205/55R15. Might get 4 new tires of the right size and put them back on. Not sure yet. And cheers for the heads up on the tires, ill make sure i keep an eye.

Nah i aint keen on the borbets at all rh306. Not my cuppa tea.

Cheers for all the positive comments guys. Proper feeling the e30 love from my fellow zoners lol.

I have got all 4 caps mo, but 3 of them are missings clips and move about so im just leaving them off, then when i get the wheels refurbed im going to get 4 news caps and badges. Get them looking fresh

Cheers for moving my post TPS. Sorry about that, my bad.

Cheers jim, just a shame i was too late on getting my hands on nice powerflow zaust somene had for sale hey lol.

Nice one oomz. I might have a look in to some of those side skirts. Was it making you remenise on your first e30

I have been considering putting the bbs back on polsta. But they need new tyres. Didnt really they had wrong size tyres on the till i spoke to a zoner who does all my work. When i had them on i thought the backs had bigger tyres than the fronts. Then i had a look and 2 of them were 195/60R14 and the other 2 are 195/65R15. So what ever spanner put them on odv didnt have a scooby. I was told i need 205/55R15. Might get 4 new tires of the right size and put them back on. Not sure yet. And cheers for the heads up on the tires, ill make sure i keep an eye.

Nah i aint keen on the borbets at all rh306. Not my cuppa tea.

iS front lip along with SE skirts would finish this off nicely, reps or not!

I have been half keep my eyes open for a IS front lip spoiler sunny, if i find one thats a bargain ill snap it up. Didnt really think of the side skirts but i might have a butchers aswell.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=235238

1 for sale here. They usually go for around this price.

^^ is worth snapping up ! thats all you would need really for a nice clean loook, not se skirts, spend the time and money ensuring the car is tip top and 100% free from rust and preservation- like a full waxoyling etc

polsta wrote:^^ is worth snapping up ! thats all you would need really for a nice clean loook, not se skirts, spend the time and money ensuring the car is tip top and 100% free from rust and preservation- like a full waxoyling etc

I havent really got the cash spare for that atm because got to pick up my new interior on satday. When i got the cash spare i will keep an eye out. Yea i have spent a bit on making sure its kept nice e.g. Cambelt, service, new suspension, but i dont want to spend to much money on it that i will just loose, as this is just a stepping stone for the mean time until i can get a 325i, so i only really want to spend money on stuff i could take off and put on another e30 if that makes sense. The rear arches have got a bit of rust/rot as usual, but in not really sure if its worth sorting as like i said it just a steping stone to a 325i, and also because of the high mileage on the car and the fact i didnt pay too much for it. Could you tell me more about the waxoyling? Ive heard about it but dont know anything about it.

Nice car, Barry will see you right with advice/tech help etc

Nice money pit, i mean car

kangman wrote:Nice money pit, i mean car

Confused mate. Dont know what you mean there??

Duke137 wrote:Nice car, Barry will see you right with advice/tech help etc

Cheers duke

You will understand when u finish spending money on bits for your e30 and add up how much have spent on it.

Ive spent nearly 3k on mods and have only owned mine for 7months hence the money pit comment

Oh i see what you mean now mate, and totally agree lol. Had mine about 6 months and i have already spent more than what i payed fir it on it, with more to come lol. I dont regret it mate, its the labour of love!

Rich2388 wrote:

polsta wrote:^^ is worth snapping up ! thats all you would need really for a nice clean loook, not se skirts, spend the time and money ensuring the car is tip top and 100% free from rust and preservation- like a full waxoyling etc

I havent really got the cash spare for that atm because got to pick up my new interior on satday. When i got the cash spare i will keep an eye out. Yea i have spent a bit on making sure its kept nice e.g. Cambelt, service, new suspension, but i dont want to spend to much money on it that i will just loose, as this is just a stepping stone for the mean time until i can get a 325i, so i only really want to spend money on stuff i could take off and put on another e30 if that makes sense. The rear arches have got a bit of rust/rot as usual, but in not really sure if its worth sorting as like i said it just a steping stone to a 325i, and also because of the high mileage on the car and the fact i didnt pay too much for it. Could you tell me more about the waxoyling? Ive heard about it but dont know anything about it.

sell the car to me and buy a 325i , what new interior have you got for it ? (and what one is in it now ?)

waxoyling- you could buy the waxoyl/chosen product yourself, and then get someone like barry to carry it out, waxoyl the chassis and cavities , with car up on a ramp in a work shop is the best place to do it, so you can use an air line to blow it through the chassis etc, wouldnt take them too long to do it,and will protect the car , did he inspect and comment on the rear arches ? expoensive to sort if real bad, but if not too bad maybe better to act now , or just sort them so they dont get worse

A smart looking car

polsta wrote:

Rich2388 wrote:

polsta wrote:^^ is worth snapping up ! thats all you would need really for a nice clean loook, not se skirts, spend the time and money ensuring the car is tip top and 100% free from rust and preservation- like a full waxoyling etc

I havent really got the cash spare for that atm because got to pick up my new interior on satday. When i got the cash spare i will keep an eye out. Yea i have spent a bit on making sure its kept nice e.g. Cambelt, service, new suspension, but i dont want to spend too much money on it that i will just loose, as this is just a stepping stone for the mean time until i can get a 325i, so i only really want to spend money on stuff i could take off and put on another e30 if that makes sense. The rear arches have got a bit of rust/rot as usual, but in not really sure if its worth sorting as like i said it just a steping stone to a 325i, and also because of the high mileage on the car and the fact i didnt pay too much for it. Could you tell me more about the waxoyling? Ive heard about it but dont know anything about it.

sell the car to me and buy a 325i , what new interior have you got for it ? (and what one is in it now ?)

waxoyling- you could buy the waxoyl/chosen product yourself, and then get someone like barry to carry it out, waxoyl the chassis and cavities , with car up on a ramp in a work shop is the best place to do it, so you can use an air line to blow it through the chassis etc, wouldnt take them too long to do it,and will protect the car , did he inspect and comment on the rear arches ? expoensive to sort if real bad, but if not too bad maybe better to act now , or just sort them so they dont get worse

Mate i would buy a 325i in a heart beat, if i had the money and it wernt for the the bloody insurance. That why im having to settle for the 318i for the mean time. I been driving 7 years but as named driver, aint had my own policy so they all still want to sting me for insurance. Get a year or 2 no claims in my current beauty then get a faster beauty. Im just getting a IS interior for it, sports seats and door/quarter cards. Its just got a light bluey grey comfort interior/seats with some different grey cards, they dont match the seats, so i dont think seats are original. But there in good nik even though there not matching.

Yea i might look in to that waxoyling, dont sound like a bad idea if it aint too expensive. Yea, i asked him aboutvthe arches and he said depends what my plans are for the car, at which time i wernt too sure, and i dont think much more was said about it after that.

if your after a IS lip mate the volvo one is near identical think its the s70, and goes on ebay for about a £10 or theres normally a few in the scrappy. all that is required is trimming the ends and it fits in the original clips

nice car

Rich320I wrote:if your after a IS lip mate the volvo one is near identical think its the s70, and goes on ebay for about a £10 or theres normally a few in the scrappy. all that is required is trimming the ends and it fits in the original clips

nice car

Cheers rich. I think ill get the proper is lip eventually. Theres a long to do list with my motor. A work in progress shall we say lol. Im not in a rush for the is lip, or anything for it as it goes, all the time its running sound. Slowly, slowly catchy monkey lol. Thats just my lame excuse for being to poor to do everything in one hit.

my opinion mate is it would be boring if everything got done at once, what i like to think of it as is time and development stages.

basically the development stage is me saving some money to buy the next thing, saying that it does give you chance to think through any modifications etc before buying or fitting them.

Does anyone know a thing or to about car audio for e30s? Basically im looking to upgrade my speakers. Im looking to upgrade my speakers in the front foot well and back parcel shelf. I dont want to do any cutting out or changes in to the shell to the front or parcel shelf. I dont know if maybe anyone could tell me what size speakers the e30s take and also recomend a decent set. I love my tunes and the speakers in my motor are proper naff and blown and poping since i bought it. Any advice would nice. Cheers.

Rich2388 wrote:Does anyone know a thing or to about car audio for e30s? Basically im looking to upgrade my speakers. Im looking to upgrade my speakers in the front foot well and back parcel shelf. I dont want to do any cutting out or changes in to the shell to the front or parcel shelf. I dont know if maybe anyone could tell me what size speakers the e30s take and also recomend a decent set. I love my tunes and the speakers in my motor are proper naff and blown and poping since i bought it. Any advice would nice. Cheers.

Hello,

First off nice car mate. Looks good. Better with the bbs but as you say hey ho...haha

With the front speakers your looking at a component system. So the footwell speaker is 13.5cm or 5 1/4". That's your midrange. And in the door pods are your tweeters, the cross faders is behind the dash above the glove box and if its standard they are preamped there as this is where I found myn on exact same car colour spec except my turd is 316i Lux. If not follow the wire I guess.

Good brands for component systems would be 'JBL' / 'Infinity'. If you can afford it then 'Focal' are not bad as well as 'Hertz'. The JBL / Infinity sets for decent ones are approx £50ish and Focal / Hertz is £80+, I have infinity in myn and sound awesome. They are amped as well. So it'll be worth it when done.

Rears are 16.5/17cm or 6". Around £40-£50 I'd recommend and brand wise JBL / Infinity / Hertz are good especially in these sizes they have very good bass.

Now if you have a nice stereo it will sound good, try and look for 4x50 watts, usually good quality stereos carry that sort of power.

Let me know if you need help explaining or specific models to go for.

As for pricing check out caraudiosecurity.com very good I'd recommend them strongly.

Good luck,

Tan.

Nice one tan. Ill let you know how i get on.

My new is interior should be getting delivered on wednesday. i cant wait.

My beauty died a painful death. RIP my first E30. Loved every minute of it. But ill be back in the game next week with my new purchase watch this space. Pics to follow