My 320i..
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:42 pm
I've never really updated from previous threads what I've done with my 320i auto, so thought I'd start from scratch. This isn't really going to show much in the way of work going on, just snippets of the journey. Hope you enjoy the read..
So I always wanted an E30 but was never in a position to own one due to long commutes being expected from my cars due to work. Wasnt uncommon for me to do 40k a year in my cars, so getting a 25 year old motor wasn't an option, unless I wanted to run it in to the ground after 6 months.
However due to a change of job and circumstances, after all of these years I finally had the chance to get one and use it as my daily runner that would want for nothing.
Fortunately I came across an ebay ad from an old zoner that had a done a part resto on a 1990 320i in diamond schwartz. He brought it from an old doctor who had owned the car since pretty much new, and had become too old to drive. He had only put 5000 miles on the car since 2008 yet had always took it to BMW's in Banstead and got oil changes, cambelts, you name it! Even when he hadn't driven it! The service booklet is literally full to the stage where i only had one space for an inspection II that was due when I acquired it.
The doctor eventually got too old to drive in 2012 and the previous owner brought it off his daughter with the intention of fragging it.
For some reason he decided against it, and instead replaced inner and outer arches, done all the welding required at the time, and then gave it a full respray. He changed the interior for full leather although left a two tone dash.
I traveled across London to my old stomping ground of Isle of Dogs to meet my future love (the car). The exterior looked brilliant, however the interior didn't fair so well. A few of the electrics didn't work, the handbrake was loose, the brake pedal felt very spongy. The underdash panel was hanging off, roof lining was filthy. Battery was finished... the list went on. There was also a very dodgy stereo set up that looked like it would short circuit all the electrics at any stage. Shame I didn't take any snaps of the interior when I got the car, mostly through embarrassment I suspect. It was literally like two different cars, the outside looking brand new and looked after, the inside looking like a 25 year pile of s**t.
Any how after taking delivery of the car that evening, I got a new battery, and run it to work for a few days to size up what was wrong. I had a list of bits needing changing, and took the car to B&W's up in Hayes to get the car looked over. This was the make or break as to whether I'd brought a patched up banger or was on to something good.
First thing that stood out to him was the rear subfame bushes had gone and the subframe plates were missing entirely, instead replaced by someone plying it with some sort of black sealant to cover it up
How this got through it's last MOT I have no idea. From looking at it on the ramp, it could of collapsed at any stage. Anyhow that was done, along with a load of the electrics being sorted and a check over revealed it was clean and free from rot 
I ran the car for another month before taking it to BMW Chiswick for it's inspection 2. I'm used to taking cars for services and getting a list as long as my arm of things that need fixing, so I was prepared for the worst. It came back from the service and I'll be damned they didn't have a complaint to make, came through the service with no advisories
I then set about tidying the interior and although it came up pretty sweet, the cream two tone interior wasnt my cup of tea. I also found the leather wasnt upto standard either.
So I decided to tear it all out! It went from this..
to this...
The new Jap stereo came out in favour of an original BMW stereo. Plan is to connect the Sony through the glovebox and leave the tape head unit in the dash just not hooked up to anything. I will need to get everything rewired though, which will come at a later stage.
I then got some fresh sports seats from a member off the zone, just need the door cards next! (give me a shout if you have any spare)
Then came the interiors finishing touches
Including a set of OEM mats from Z3I, nice bloke. They needed a slight scrub, but came up a treat
I still want a new steering wheel, probably just an SE one to keep it original, although good looking ones do seem to be extremely rare. Also need a new auto gear lever. I will get there when I come to terms with handing over the 150 odd quid that they cost. But other than that, I think the interiors where i want it to be now.
Mechanically! I recently replaced all the brakes, discs, pads, cylinders, shoes and drums.
I've tried to keep the car as standard and as true to the original Bavarian engineering it was born in to. I've always tried to use original new BMW parts where needed, and only gone with good quality aftermarkets when it's been absolutely necessary, i.e. Bilsteins for the shocks, or temporary service parts like brake discs. Any work on the engine bay has always been and will always be done with original parts... no matter how brassic it leaves me
Fortunately a very good friend of mine is a mechanic at Berry Chiswick so he's also taken a personal interest in it.
I've still a list of things I need to replace, and if I had a money tree I'd do it all now, buttttt I don't. So I'll replace and update this thread as i go along. My next update will be a lot more to do with the engine! Keep tuned!
So I always wanted an E30 but was never in a position to own one due to long commutes being expected from my cars due to work. Wasnt uncommon for me to do 40k a year in my cars, so getting a 25 year old motor wasn't an option, unless I wanted to run it in to the ground after 6 months.
However due to a change of job and circumstances, after all of these years I finally had the chance to get one and use it as my daily runner that would want for nothing.
Fortunately I came across an ebay ad from an old zoner that had a done a part resto on a 1990 320i in diamond schwartz. He brought it from an old doctor who had owned the car since pretty much new, and had become too old to drive. He had only put 5000 miles on the car since 2008 yet had always took it to BMW's in Banstead and got oil changes, cambelts, you name it! Even when he hadn't driven it! The service booklet is literally full to the stage where i only had one space for an inspection II that was due when I acquired it.
The doctor eventually got too old to drive in 2012 and the previous owner brought it off his daughter with the intention of fragging it.
For some reason he decided against it, and instead replaced inner and outer arches, done all the welding required at the time, and then gave it a full respray. He changed the interior for full leather although left a two tone dash.
I traveled across London to my old stomping ground of Isle of Dogs to meet my future love (the car). The exterior looked brilliant, however the interior didn't fair so well. A few of the electrics didn't work, the handbrake was loose, the brake pedal felt very spongy. The underdash panel was hanging off, roof lining was filthy. Battery was finished... the list went on. There was also a very dodgy stereo set up that looked like it would short circuit all the electrics at any stage. Shame I didn't take any snaps of the interior when I got the car, mostly through embarrassment I suspect. It was literally like two different cars, the outside looking brand new and looked after, the inside looking like a 25 year pile of s**t.
Any how after taking delivery of the car that evening, I got a new battery, and run it to work for a few days to size up what was wrong. I had a list of bits needing changing, and took the car to B&W's up in Hayes to get the car looked over. This was the make or break as to whether I'd brought a patched up banger or was on to something good.
First thing that stood out to him was the rear subfame bushes had gone and the subframe plates were missing entirely, instead replaced by someone plying it with some sort of black sealant to cover it up
How this got through it's last MOT I have no idea. From looking at it on the ramp, it could of collapsed at any stage. Anyhow that was done, along with a load of the electrics being sorted and a check over revealed it was clean and free from rot I ran the car for another month before taking it to BMW Chiswick for it's inspection 2. I'm used to taking cars for services and getting a list as long as my arm of things that need fixing, so I was prepared for the worst. It came back from the service and I'll be damned they didn't have a complaint to make, came through the service with no advisories
I then set about tidying the interior and although it came up pretty sweet, the cream two tone interior wasnt my cup of tea. I also found the leather wasnt upto standard either.
So I decided to tear it all out! It went from this..
to this...
The new Jap stereo came out in favour of an original BMW stereo. Plan is to connect the Sony through the glovebox and leave the tape head unit in the dash just not hooked up to anything. I will need to get everything rewired though, which will come at a later stage.
I then got some fresh sports seats from a member off the zone, just need the door cards next! (give me a shout if you have any spare)
Then came the interiors finishing touches
Including a set of OEM mats from Z3I, nice bloke. They needed a slight scrub, but came up a treat
I still want a new steering wheel, probably just an SE one to keep it original, although good looking ones do seem to be extremely rare. Also need a new auto gear lever. I will get there when I come to terms with handing over the 150 odd quid that they cost. But other than that, I think the interiors where i want it to be now.
Mechanically! I recently replaced all the brakes, discs, pads, cylinders, shoes and drums.
I've tried to keep the car as standard and as true to the original Bavarian engineering it was born in to. I've always tried to use original new BMW parts where needed, and only gone with good quality aftermarkets when it's been absolutely necessary, i.e. Bilsteins for the shocks, or temporary service parts like brake discs. Any work on the engine bay has always been and will always be done with original parts... no matter how brassic it leaves me
Fortunately a very good friend of mine is a mechanic at Berry Chiswick so he's also taken a personal interest in it. I've still a list of things I need to replace, and if I had a money tree I'd do it all now, buttttt I don't. So I'll replace and update this thread as i go along. My next update will be a lot more to do with the engine! Keep tuned!
