E30 Zone

Hi all

I've recently purchased a 1988 E30 318i 4 door in white which I have known about since my teenage years, the car belonged to a family friend who now no longer drives. It's a 2 owner 58k car and in fairly good condition.

It failed its MOT in September on brakes, tyres and screen washer which are all small jobs. The one other item it failed on was corrosion to rear inner arches.

I'm going to get both sides sorted, inner and outer as they are both showing their age but apart from that, it's a solid little car.

I'm going to be after other items, whether they be new or used so if anyone has parts available, please let me know. I'm after items such as sunroof mechanism and panel, drivers side back door outside handle, gear gaitor, washer bottle cap, brake or clutch reservoir cap, rear light cluster drivers side, front seats in blue cloth, alloy wheels, bonnet strut, inner and outer rear arches, exhaust brackets.

Probably more things but that's about it for now, looking forward to getting stuck in!

Cheers all

Welcome to the Zone.

Great first post There are plenty of members on here that can help you out with parts !

Get some photos up of your pride and joy.

Hello and welcome
Any pictures

I'll get some photos and post them up over next few days. Been busy buying and researching bits lol. Like a kid at Christmas lol. Still struggling to find rear inner arches though

Another guy from "God`s own earth "

Welcome to the zone mate, if you need bits then post away in the wanted section, loads of good guy`s on here to help you out.
Jon from Cotswold on here is really cool as well.
Leeds is a good place, you near??

Mart.

Will do, just been taking out the sunroof tonight as I've got a replacement coming. Going for the manual to electric conversion so I'll see how that goes.

I'm near Knottingley so 20mins from Leeds, if anyone is local and fancies sharing their knowledge, call for a cuppa!

ok so pics added jthat were taken by previous keeper. All looks great in pics but there are a few issues, usual items such as inner arches, sunroof trat etc but I'll get it sorted. Started to put cash into it now so no turning back!

need to sort out a sunroof tray but most other items sorted now..... apart from the wheels!

Lovely

damers2000 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 12, 2019 5:24 pm

IMG_0638.JPG

Sexy looking chromie

Looks lovely in white and chrome!

Paul

Looks like a great car. Nice to find a car that has not been passed from pillar to post and that you've know the car for so long. Hopefully see you driving around W Yorkshire in the near future? Enjoy.

ocde30 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:23 am

Looks like a great car. Nice to find a car that has not been passed from pillar to post and that you've know the car for so long. Hopefully see you driving around W Yorkshire in the near future? Enjoy.

What more can I say ??

Mart.

My first E30 had a bit in common with your fist one,very first pic
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=278584

bit of an update, the car is booked in to the bodyshop 22nd February so nt long to go....... once the bodywork is sorted, just need to get the MOT done then finally get to drive it! Are there any E30 specialists in West Yorkshire

Its been a while since I updated my original post and the car has been through a bit of a transformation. I had her refurbished and back with me during 2020 where I attended a couple of meets. All the bodywork was carried out by Common Lane Restorations but everything else, I decided to take on. Not being a mechanic and fitting in between work and also being a Dad, it's taking a bit of time but enjoying doing bits when and where I can. Over the Christmas period, once the kids were happy etc, I refurbished the suspension on the car and fitted new HR lowing springs, along with new wheels. During this period I also refurbished the head lights along with the cooling system and also repaired a running issue, which resulted in replacement of FPR, refurbed injectors, new coolant sensors, new plugs, new coil and ultimately, new AFM which was the issue. I can't wait to get in the car and take it out for a spin, should drive completely different to when it was last on the road. Hopefully, all the graft has paid off but I do love the new look.

Next job is to refurb the brake system, and also investigate an oil leak but that can wait until Christmas 2022 I need to get her out on the road and put some miles on the clock, maybe a visit to the Motorist Hub at the top of the road

Looking very cool mate, quite different as you say

Mart.

martauto wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 4:48 pm

Looking very cool mate, quite different as you say

Mart.

Cheers Mart, really enjoyed working on the car, one job leads to another but enjoyed every minute especially after buying an electric heater for garage

Would be good to meet up again at Wakefield or even Sherburn at some point

I hope you're keeping well

All well and yours ???
Both venues were great for me so when I can walk and function and see, anything above 15c is fine for me lol.

Mart.
Wheels are cool

Mart.

Looks really good, nice and subtle. Big change from your painted steelies.
Once the weather picks up and we get a bit more daylight we could meet up at The Motorist.
The NY 500 near Pickering is also a good cafe meet venue - not far from the Mathewson auction showroom.

martauto wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 5:52 pm

All well and yours ???
Both venues were great for me so when I can walk and function and see, anything above 15c is fine for me lol.

Mart.
Wheels are cool

Mart.

cheers Mart, we'll get something sorted. Walk and function...... what have you been upto?

ocde30 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 31, 2022 6:19 pm

Looks really good, nice and subtle. Big change from your painted steelies.
Once the weather picks up and we get a bit more daylight we could meet up at The Motorist.
The NY 500 near Pickering is also a good cafe meet venue - not far from the Mathewson auction showroom.

thankyou, I do like my steelies and have kept them for now but can't see me putting them back on, the wife would probably kill me

I was at the motorist a couple of weeks back, not many there and it was freezing so pretty much came straight home, definitely need the warmer weather

damers2000 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 7:03 pm

Walk and function...... what have you been upto?

JUst the bloody cold thats all mate !!

Mart.

damers2000 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 12, 2019 5:24 pm

IMG_0638.JPG

Can I be a purist and say it looked sooooo good on the standard wheels

I adore a clean chromie, very nice motor!

rix313 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 03, 2022 11:33 am

damers2000 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 12, 2019 5:24 pm

IMG_0638.JPG

Can I be a purist and say it looked sooooo good on the standard wheels

I adore a clean chromie, very nice motor!

Haha yes you can, and it did but looks so much better now

Seems to be a well kept car. You say it is a 1988 car but appears to be a pre-facelift chromie. I thought the last of the chromies were around mid 1987. Would be interested to know which engine have you got in your 318i - is it an M10 or M40 engine?

Much as i loved the steelies on my chromie I love alloys a little more

I must admit steelies look awesome on our MX5 and I won’t swap em!

Let me know if a Motorist meet is in the offing.....

Some steelies look nice, but not E30 versions, especially with hub cap fitted

Looks much better IMO, a little wide maybe, any tyre/arch contact?

E30Derbyshire wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:08 pm

Much as i loved the steelies on my chromie I love alloys a little more

E6DACDCE-397B-4264-9F9D-0DE2D21D1889.jpeg


I must admit steelies look awesome on our MX5 and I won’t swap em!

Let me know if a Motorist meet is in the offing.....

Mine came originally with steeliest but I changed them to bottle top alloys. I felt that it rode better with steelies than alloys. May be it’s the combination of tyres and different tyre sizes/aspect ratios!

30316 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:02 pm

Seems to be a well kept car. You say it is a 1988 car but appears to be a pre-facelift chromie. I thought the last of the chromies were around mid 1987. Would be interested to know which engine have you got in your 318i - is it an M10 or M40 engine?

thankyou, I've spent quite a bit of time over the past few months upgrading \ refurbing various parts.

it is a 1987/07 pre facelift but registered March 1988 and purchased from Sandal BMW in Wakefield, its a 318i M10.

The car belonged to my friends Mum and was destined for the scrapyard in 2019 but ever since I first saw this car, circa 1992, I always said I wanted the car. It took some time but got there in the end

DanThe wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:17 pm

Some steelies look nice, but not E30 versions, especially with hub cap fitted

Looks much better IMO, a little wide maybe, any tyre/arch contact?

the steelies were just too thin and, as much as I tried to improve the look, never really satisfied with them.

there does'nt appear to be any rubbing etc and clearance looks fine but not covered many miles at all. The wheels are 16x8, et20 so should be ok, fingers crossed.