E30 Zone

So picked up a new E30 just before new year, it was so cheap I couldn't say no, I could sell the interior and wheels and still make a profit.

So plan is to use it throughout winter then decide its fate once the nasty weather has faded.

The shell its self is very solid and non sunroof the only bit of rust of note is on the passenger side front wing, scuttle is solid as are the sills, battery tray arches etc. Even the boot lid is solid

Been with the last owner for 14 years and started off life as a 318 auto and is now a 325 auto I dont mind autos but will change it over to manual if I plan on keeping it.

It's had new suspension all round, & new tyres on 15inch BBS which the cost of that alone is worth more than I paid for the car

Bad bits are as follows....

• Auto Box
  Head lining starting to sag
  Clear coat gone funny on the bonnet and one of the front wings
  Intermittent mode on the front wipers gets stuck sometimes but all other settings work
  Heaters work but are very noisy
  Missing load cover and some trim from boot
  Missing front splitter and fog light blank

anyway heres some pictures...........



















Now being an M20 virgin can anyone tell me if the conversion looks to have been done properly?





engine runs and idles well, seems to pull well, can be a bit scary in the wet when you hit the kick down switch as the back end likes stepping out the only issue I have is that sometimes from cold it won't start first time but always fires up on the second attempt

Top hose clip missing
Plug lead holder broken
Wiring loom channel missing from bulkhead
Still has M40 AFM bracket, should have M20 one welded on
No bracket for DME/Fuel pump relays
Dizzy cover missing
O2 sensor plug in wrong place, should be under battery tray
Clips for fan shroud missing
Clip for expansion tank hose missing
Expansion tank looks too far forward

That's just from the hazy pics.

I bet there's some moris ital hose clip action as well!

bss325i wrote:Top hose clip missing
Plug lead holder broken
Wiring loom channel missing from bulkhead
Still has M40 AFM bracket, should have M20 one welded on
No bracket for DME/Fuel pump relays
Dizzy cover missing
O2 sensor plug in wrong place, should be under battery tray
Clips for fan shroud missing
Clip for expansion tank hose missing
Expansion tank looks too far forward

That's just from the hazy pics.

I bet there's some moris ital hose clip action as well!

Thanks for the input

Are any of those a huge concern that I should address asap?

Most of that is general tidying up of the engine bay.

The top hose clip missing could cause the hose to hit the fan.

The missing loom channel might cause the loom to rub on the engine and short out over a long period.

The missing dizzy cover might let a big splash of water allow moisture into the cap.

The missing fan shroud clips might mean it can jump out of its bottom slide mounts then hit the fan.

bss325i wrote:Most of that is general tidying up of the engine bay.

The top hose clip missing could cause the hose to hit the fan.

The missing loom channel might cause the loom to rub on the engine and short out over a long period.

The missing dizzy cover might let a big splash of water allow moisture into the cap.

The missing fan shroud clips might mean it can jump out of its bottom slide mounts then hit the fan.

OK good to hear so it is a bodge but not a bodge of massive proportions

Without seeing it in front of me i would not say if its a bodge or not but its not a very tidy swap from what i can see.

All easily sortable though.

Looks like an OK fragger for £200



PS Looking at the laissez faire standard of the 'conversion' the back end stepping out is undoubtably the 4.27 318 diff.

pacerpete wrote:Looks like an OK fragger for £200



PS Looking at the laissez faire standard of the 'conversion' the back end stepping out is undoubtably the 4.27 318 diff.

And the f ucked axle bushes.

pacerpete wrote:Looks like an OK fragger for £200



PS Looking at the laissez faire standard of the 'conversion' the back end stepping out is undoubtedly the 4.27 318 diff.

Thing is I turned up to buy knowing it was a shed but my money was safe in parts, and a couple of items could be used on my cab

its a disposable car for now but I can feel that E30 bug biting, despite never really liking the E30 in touring form but I'm already keeping my eye out for touring related morsels.

I am surprised just how solid the car is shell will be worth a wee bit more than scrap for someone who wants it for track use, the old no sunroof chestnut and all that.

bss325i wrote:And the f ucked axle bushes.

I have felt axle bushes on E30's before and had them fixed, admittedly never had a touring but it does feel nice and solid to drive no knocks or rattles over bumps, turns in well etc

My remark about the axle bushes was tong in cheek but with an element of truth to it as most cheap E30's have collapsed bushes.

bss325i wrote:My remark about the axle bushes was tong in cheek but with an element of truth to it as most cheap E30's have collapsed bushes.

You have a good point there, but that touring looks like it can be a really tidy e30, if given a little love...

bss325i wrote:My remark about the axle bushes was tong in cheek but with an element of truth to it as most cheap E30's have collapsed bushes.

Tell me about it, and its one of those jobs I would never handle myself and always costs at least 400 sheets to put right.

oomz1975 wrote:You have a good point there, but that touring looks like it can be a really tidy e30, if given a little love...

I'm tempted I really am

pac1982 wrote:

bss325i wrote:My remark about the axle bushes was tong in cheek but with an element of truth to it as most cheap E30's have collapsed bushes.

Tell me about it, and its one of those jobs I would never handle myself and always costs at least 400 sheets to put right.

£400?!!!!!!

I charge £150 including lemforder bushes!

bss325i wrote:

pac1982 wrote:

bss325i wrote:My remark about the axle bushes was tong in cheek but with an element of truth to it as most cheap E30's have collapsed bushes.

Tell me about it, and its one of those jobs I would never handle myself and always costs at least 400 sheets to put right.

£400?!!!!!!

I charge £150 including lemforder bushes!

in fairness that was the bill for the last time I had it done and that included changing and supplying a few other bushes and a service on my diff

I've always been lead to believe its one of those jobs you need a special tool for so despite getting cheaper quotes always went to the guy who had the kit to avoid any butchery

Yep, i have said tool and that's why its a fair price.

Pac, let me know if you are thinking about selling at any point. I could do with a non sunroof shell, thanks.

ROC wrote:Pac, let me know if you are thinking about selling at any point. I could do with a non sunroof shell, thanks.

I'll give you a shout, if I dont take a liking to it I'll be looking to sell around March time

bss325i wrote:

pac1982 wrote:

bss325i wrote:My remark about the axle bushes was tong in cheek but with an element of truth to it as most cheap E30's have collapsed bushes.

Tell me about it, and its one of those jobs I would never handle myself and always costs at least 400 sheets to put right.

£400?!!!!!!

I charge £150 including lemforder bushes!

+1, who on earth charges £400 for that? £150 is a fair price

I don't understand, if you would go to the trouble of converting why not ditch the Autobox and go manual?

Looks a shed to me, but then you paid shed money

What did you pay for it pac? I was debating on whether to have a punt on it before it disappeared.

Jim320i wrote:What did you pay for it pac? I was debating on whether to have a punt on it before it disappeared.

You mean as a breaker?

You still got the slaaag mate?

Duke137 wrote:

Jim320i wrote:What did you pay for it pac? I was debating on whether to have a punt on it before it disappeared.

You mean as a breaker?

You still got the slaaag mate?

For my old man, he's wanting an e30 still.

The slaaag is still going strong the missus has been using it for work for the past month so it's been getting some use. Needs few bits sorting on it but she'll remain

I'm pretty sure that oil filler cap on the rocker cover isn't a 325i one also - it's probably the 318i M40 one.

The M20 engines had a round cap with a handle moulded in.

Go stand in the corner Barry, how did you miss that?!

Jim320i wrote:What did you pay for it pac? I was debating on whether to have a punt on it before it disappeared.

half of what he had it advertised for, could have been cheaper but with a 12 month ticket 4 months tax and plenty of decent parts on offer I was happy with what I paid.

Been doing a few bits and bobs on the car today, when i got it the boot lock was not working on the central locking but just needed the link reconnecting so that's fixed now. The OBC was not lighting up so replaced the bulbs and its working again. O/S rear boot compartment the catch had fell apart just needed putting back together.

and also managed to source all my missing boot trim and a load cover from a guy just down the road from my work.

Before...........



After.........





Just needs a dam good clean now

While ypu are paedoing, You need to refit the rear seat outer 'bolsters' Being fitted badly is a sure fire clue to a council trim swap. They should fit flush with the rest of the rear seat. A bit of force is needed to get them to secure correctly and then a 10mm spire bolt (undoubtably MIA) to secure them at the bottom. An even better plan would be to remove the leatherz for serving and retrofit some cloth scrap. Demorseling FTW !

There is something therapeutic (and stupid!) about spending time desnagging a scrapper. I am currently wasting too much time on a £100 318 touring that I bought to frag . I must be getting soft in my old age

pacerpete wrote:While you are paedoing, You need to refit the rear seat outer 'bolsters' Being fitted badly is a sure fire clue to a council trim swap. They should fit flush with the rest of the rear seat. A bit of force is needed to get them to secure correctly and then a 10mm spire bolt (undoubtedly MIA) to secure them at the bottom.

I did notice that myself but not got around to sorting it yet, I was hoping it was poor fitment and not that the bolsters were bent out of shape

I wont be ripping anything out of the car just yet until I decide its fate, the more I dig the more I realise just how solid this shell is and the touring is growing on me.

I'm also quite surprised how good it is on fuel with it being an old 6 pot and an auto I was expecting it to be awful, just a shame it dont have cruise control

Any idea what comfort touring leather is worth? I know a sports interior can go for anything up to £500 in good condition but have no clue what comfort is worth, I wouldn't imagine alot.

I'm also quite surprised to see how much these are worth especially in non working order

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171205875019? ... 1423.l2649

I was given a full setup from the seller that was removed due it being an issue on MOT as N/S did not work

Bit of council activity today, fitted some pressed metal plates as the old ones were looking manky.




Also added remote central locking recently

little update on this one, paint work has had some restoration fitted various missing parts and replaced my exhaust due to the old one being held together with paste.

Still a total shed but a much nicer shed than it was previously.........









up next is to refurbish the bumper plastics, alloys and convert it to manual, not quite happy with how the new exhaust sits so may need to get it adjusted or change the tail pipes

A few people expressed an interest in this car being for sale, well it is I'll get a for sale thread together shortly still not sure if I should break or sell I know its worth more in parts than as a whole but depends what sort of offers I get to take it off my hands as it is.

touring is now sold and I'm E30'less for now, sold it for more than I paid so happy bunny the chap buying it is apparently doing a full resto and fitting the S14 engine have told him to get on here and keep us updated with the progress

Should be an interesting conversion...

Speedtouch wrote:Should be an interesting conversion...

Right up until he finds out how much it is going to cost !

Apparently he's already got the engine and owns his own garage so I could see it happening.

He was also willing to pay £650 for a touring that's a 1.8 on the log book with a 325 engine conversion, 189k on the clock, in need of a full respray and several dents removing so he realised its value in parts and how good the shell itself was (dents & paintwork aside)

I even advertised as no MOT as I thought it had expired, in reality I found out it had MOT till the end of the year but you see my point.

Had a barrage of people trying to make offers that wouldn't even buy a decent set of BBS wheels these days but this chap came through with the money, if he hadn't also had a BMW specialist offer to pay full asking price unseen but in the end it sold to the first person that came to see it.

It may have been a dog but structurally its most solid E30 I've owned and one of the most rust free unrestored/worked on E30's I've seen in a long while

Just shows how strong the value is on E30's at the moment