E30 Zone

I was on here a few years back with a 1991 316 in New Zealand. Loved the car but sadly had to sell quickly to move to the UK.
I've finally purchased another e30. Got this car on saturday for £2200 and spent the last week fixing little things and generally working out where to go from here.
Body work is pretty much mint. Has had the rear arches cut and re welded and under belly grinded and re sprayed along with the body. Still a little bit concerned they didnt do a thorough job on rust removal but I guess its better than most and only time will tell.
So far I've replaced the throttle cable which made a huge different, splashed a bit of redex in the tank and wired up a new head unit. Only have rear speakers and ocassionally a front passenger side speaker when it feels like it. Think later on I'll just wire up a new system.
I'm going to run the current m20b20 for this year until it gives me any major problems and will hopefully swap to a m52b28 if all goes well. But in the mean time I'm going to refurb the injectors, replace dizzy cap and find a tiny fuel leak coming from the fuel tank or around that area.
Just purchased some b8 shocks and spax 60mm springs from another e 30 member so will hopefully be fitting those tomorrow. Thought I'd get some photos up today so I can compare.

Nice!

Does the fuel leak only happen when you brim it? If so i guarantee it's the overflow pipe.. remove the rear seats and the inspection panel and have a quick look

Other than that I'm interested to see the B8 fitted pics as I'm considering fitting these shocks myself!

Look forward to updates!

Cypriotgeeza wrote:Does the fuel leak only happen when you brim it? If so i guarantee it's the overflow pipe.. remove the rear seats and the inspection panel and have a quick look

Yes! I thought that would be the case. Also fuel gauge fluctuates a bit from time to time. Not sure if normal as my last e30 only liked to tell me when it was empty. So was going to pop my head under the seats. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

pauljsc wrote:

Cypriotgeeza wrote:Does the fuel leak only happen when you brim it? If so i guarantee it's the overflow pipe.. remove the rear seats and the inspection panel and have a quick look

Yes! I thought that would be the case. Also fuel gauge fluctuates a bit from time to time. Not sure if normal as my last e30 only liked to tell me when it was empty. So was going to pop my head under the seats. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Fuel gauge could be the nut behind the gauge itself..they like to work themselves loose!

A quick nip up might cure that problem

Nice looking car that.

The reflection of the trees made the side look really discoloured in the photo looks like its had heaps of body filler and black primer sprayed all over it.

Thats a really lovely looking car

Went to put the new shocks and springs in sunday only to realise the strut housings were 45mm not 51mm that I needed.
Have some 51mm strut housings on the way including calipers so its a sort of upgrade. Figured I may as well sort them out if I have plans to swap engine in the future.

Hail the MOREDOOR! looks nice bud.

Was this for sale in Walsall ?

Yeah it was!
Whats wrong with the moredoor!? I love the look of 5 doors plus have a baby coming to it was a compromise ;)

5 doors?

Ben

A nice pre-facelift moordoor

shes going to be a beauty ;) sorting out suspension first then onto front and rear valance. I can see my spare wheel. It truly is a 4x4

goosiegander wrote:A nice pre-facelift moordoor

Is it pre facelift? it doesnt have chrome bumper? I'm finding it hard to compare and actually tell if mine is pre or post?

Yes, the facelift models came out in 1988/89 on the F-plate, so a D-reg 1987 will definitely be a pre-facelift.

Yours probably has 'shadowline' trim, which would explain the lack of bumper chrome, unless someone has painted them.

Other ways to tell are if it has L-Jetronic ignition (with a conventional distributor on the side of the block, rather than at the front of the camshaft like facelift Motronic) and the higher rear wheelarches compared to the facelift models.

does this mean my car is secretly rust city under the 4 inches of under seal that's been freshly applied by previous owner?

Only one way to find out - get poking about with a screwdriver and wire brush, if you're feeling brave.

Nowt wrong with it bud,

After two brutal attempts at trying to remove the control arm so I can remove the struts I have had to give up and book the car into the garage to get it lowered :'(

Facelift was August '87 E with last chromies on the E also.

Andyboy wrote:Facelift was August '87 E with last chromies on the E also.

My face lift E plate was registered October 87, did that mean it was just late registered or an ultra rare M3 money car I ruined through youthful abuse?

So finally got the car lowered.
60mm front and rear ebaich springs on bilstein b8 shocks. Also upgraded the front struts to 51mm and swapped over the already uprated calipers and vented discs. Had to get a shop (alltech garage) in tunbridge to do it for me because I couldn't remove the control arms to save my life! He even said they were tough to get off so no lost pride there ;)
So happy with the result. Rides still very comfortable. Obviously bumpy but the b8's do a great job at soaking up the brunt of it.
Now to get on to new wheels! Also going to invest in strut braces and a sump guard.

Another local zoner!

I was in Horley up until last year but now in Crawley down village.

Smart looking 4dr!

If you need someone local for work then shoot me a pm. I look after several zoners cars.

Nice motor Paul, i'm temped to get a 4 door next also now the kids are getting older.

Well worth talking to Barry (BSS325I) if you do need any work doing.