E30 Zone

After many years of hankering after a Mtech 1, I finally bit the bullet and brought a shell from Ajay. It seems in good condition overall considering its age.

As this wont be a daily rather a garage queen I will take on this project at a steady pace spread over many many years. The plan is to fully restore the shell so its good for another 25 years and source a rotten 325i to gut for parts needed to for this to live.

The controversial part is I want to respray it Zinnobar Red


Here its being loaded onto the Recovery truck





On its way home



Finally home and parked up





I want this car to look like Joe's once finished

Great stuff, looking forward to seeing another one of these saved.

Why not drop an m52 in it?

Zinnobar with m52 would be epic

Indeed it would but period correctness in me wants to go with M20 or M30

Change of plans, I have been persuaded to keep this lach silver because apparently changing its colour would ruin it

Since I want to put my own touch to it I will be buying Alpina front valance and rear spoiler, so the end result will be similar to this:





Good thing I already have these rare beauties:

Well done mr. Ajay is a top bloke. I've seen that car numerous times and is a lot better than most of the dogs around.
The underneath was done not long ago. Congratulations

Yeh Ajay is a great guy, chucked in 2 wings and a sunroof tray which I wasn't aware of nor expecting and had already purchased a sunroof the other day which I will have to sell once it arrives.

He took good care of this car keeping it in his garage, was covered in dust he could have sold it as a barn find. Not much rust on it. Was expecting him to have an emotional farewell but he kept it in

Lovely BMW OP
Agree with keeping original colour as is more desireable that way.
Keeping original as possible is generally more desireable.
Good luck
Look forwards to you making this E30 better than ever

He owned the car for many years and it was always looked after.im sure you will enjoy.
I used to own exactly the same car. Seeing his made me buy mine.that car long gone now

Good luck with the project.

Glad to hear you are keeping it lachs as well.

OP is this really your first E30 ? I thought you already had one ?

Lachs is best to be honest, red would have been cool also

Looking forward to seeing this being built

What engine are you fitting, its got to be a period m20 2.7 I think

Yeh its my first E30, Priorities such as buying a house, making overpayments etc has meant it was starting to become a pipe dream but finally I couldn't resist no longer so 2 weeks into becoming a new dad and being in the middle of financially helping my brother buy his house I snapped this opportunity.

I have been surrounded by E30s my whole life as my uncle used to own these back in the 90s and would park them in our garage as they might get nicked on the streets and two neighbours on either sides also owning them therefore evokes nostalgia.

As for engine Im not sure if I should go with M20 or M30 for period correctness, weight/ handling and economical arguments not standing as I wont really drive it after all the work I would be scared to

I would stick with a nice lightened bottom end m20 2.7

Looks period and original but great fun to drive

I think the existing black spoiler and bbs' are much better! But each to their own matey

Congrats on a cracker!!

Are the mudflaps on this genuine? Never knew they existed for M-tech 1!

I'll keep the original spoilers to change back to if I have to return to stock.

Still keeping options open on the engine front. In two minds between M20 or M30. If I go M20 then I'll look out for a low mileage healthy M20b25 with btb, chip and a cam... should be good for 170-180bhp.

The thing that puts me off DIY 2.7/2.8 stroker is they aren't as rev happy like a 2.5 due to 130mm conrods used (correct me if im wrong here) as opposed to Alpina/ Hartge 2.7s which used 135mm conrods with shorter pistons.

For 200+bhp and low end torque I may as well anchor it as the car is used to a big donk anyway

Cheers Passion, not sure about the mudflaps myself but Im sure one of the experts will shed more light on it soon.

A 2.7 will be very rev happy, especially if you lighten the flywheel. They rev and rev and the great thing is they ask for more the more you rev it. Put in a decent exhaust, BBTB and a cam, it will be a little screamer.

Dare I say it......more fun than a M30 i'm afriad.

The M30 does pull well but I think the e30 chassis suits a lighter engine to make it more nimble and light to handle.

Just my thoughts of course, enjoy what ever you decide.

Where are you located by the way....you are welcome to try a lightened M20 2.7 and a M30 before if it helps you make up your mind.

Thanks Jimbob, I'm located in Wycombe so might pop down one day to give both a try before I decide on the engine front.

I take it a well tuned 2.7 really is an improvement over the 2.5.

Btw is the BBTB a worthwhile mod?

Cool, regarding " a well tuned 2.7 really is an improvement over the 2.5. " - Yes, i mean it only adds perhaps 25bhp but it's double the fun factor, much more lively.

BBTB, makes the throttle response better, gives you a couple of extra MPGs and sounds a little better also. For an M20, yes well worth while. For an M30 it didn't make any difference to be honest.

I am in Liphook, north Hants so not far.

Thanks for the advice Jim, I'll see when I can take the time off to pop by... see your awesome Tech1 heaven as well

Cool, don't get too excited, it's more like a tech1 scrap yard...........

Jimbo has 3 tech1 sports

Nice sport 87
Getting to original as possible would be my preferred option or S54 conversion

Plan on getting it back to high comp M20B25 and keeping the car original.

Mind after starting this thread I found out from a fellow zoner the E30 owned by my neighbour was the rare SA 333i.

Good move. Looking forward to watching the build if you post on here

Thanks Jim, I will post the restoration on here but it wont be till summer 2016. Plan for 2015 is to build a garage and keep an eye out for a donor E30 along with other morsels.

Picked up a E46 steering rack yesterday

You would have had to change a lot to make it like the Zinoberrot turd. Most things that make it a tech 1 in fact, that said.. I played with the idea of chrome bumpers at one stage

I wouldn't worry about changing it to a non oem colour, there is a Alpinweiss one local to me. Tech 1's aren't the crown jewels and the OEM sickness is a slippery slope. Hello my name is Robert and I am a...


Why don't you build a 333i of your own? You clearly have a sickness for them!

A 333i would basically be same as fitting BMW NA I6 3246cc S54

Wouldn't be as cool, a tech 1 with a m30 donk and some choice parts would be 87mtech27's very own 'doff of the cap' to the Saffers

I agree, a Tech 1 with a tuned up M30 would be the ultimate fun machine.

It's a stunning car this, so looking forward to seeing the drive train fitted out.

OEM is cool also.

Would like another pre facelift E30 down the line to drop the M30 anchor in for my very own 333i. This one is just too good to ruin so OEM it is.

Had a snoop at this while I picked up the steering rack from the seller. He happens to be the guy who won the Hartge 6 branch.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-classic- ... 0981837702

Its not in too bad a condition rust wise, needs a respray and a new interior.

The 333i in question is as described by Fal, White with lovely red leather interior and debadged, he rolled it around 1999- 2000

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... light=333i

jimbom30cab wrote:I agree, a Tech 1 with a tuned up M30 would be the ultimate fun machine.

There you go, King Tech 1 has spoken.

87mtech27 wrote:Would like another pre facelift E30 down the line to drop the M30 anchor in for my very own 333i. This one is just too good to ruin so OEM it is.

Come on now, to good to ruin? Sure you can put the m30 in and take it out later.