E30 Zone

Hello Everyone,

New member from London.

I’m hopefully picking up my first E30, an alpine white 325i cab in a couple of days and excited to join this lively forum.

This would be my first really old car so I’m sure I’ll be asking lots of questions.

Right now my priority is to get the car (obviously), get necessary preventative maintenance done (hopefully through shaz at JustE30Z), seats and door cards done (Andrew at Colour Glow) and revert to BBS wheels (currently it’s fitted with Alpina reps, which look nice but I just want that original look).

Once that’s finished, I’m up for suggestions and inspirations! For example fitting in the Blaupunkt Bremen SQR, cruise control, LED headlight bulbs...

Thank you and enjoy the evening.

Nice - shoot us through some pics when you get the car.

It's my first E30 as well, and I can vouch for the expertise and knowledge here.

Pics needed! Use Imgur or something similar

Welcome aboard - where in London are you? If you haven't come across him yet, Barry (bss325i) at BMR Performance does great work and is where I go (I am in N1).

Thanks. Will do.

Tzantushka wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 25, 2020 5:59 am

Nice - shoot us through some pics when you get the car.

It's my first E30 as well, and I can vouch for the expertise and knowledge here.

Nice! I’m in N19 so we’re effectively neighbours.

WRT BMR, are you asking a north Londoner to cross the river to venture into the unknown? Jokes aside, I’ve spoken to Charlie (Barry wasn’t available) for a check next Wednesday. Thanks for the tip.

JungleGus wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:01 am

Pics needed! Use Imgur or something similar

Welcome aboard - where in London are you? If you haven't come across him yet, Barry (bss325i) at BMR Performance does great work and is where I go (I am in N1).

Picked it up finally. Requires more work than expected. But at least made home safely.

Looks nice! And welcome to E30 ownership - it'll probably always need something!

I'd look into picking up a set of 15" basket weaves - it'll drive a lot more nicely than the 17s. Feel free to ask any advice or guidance on here, there's a wealth of information that makes these cars easy (well, relatively) to keep running. Enjoy!

Thanks.

By basket weave did you mean these?

I’d love to get them as they look a lot better IMO.

Right now the priority is to find a local BMW specialist as BMR performance is just too far away for day to day stuff!

JungleGus wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:49 pm

Looks nice! And welcome to E30 ownership - it'll probably always need something!

I'd look into picking up a set of 15" basket weaves - it'll drive a lot more nicely than the 17s. Feel free to ask any advice or guidance on here, there's a wealth of information that makes these cars easy (well, relatively) to keep running. Enjoy!

twenty wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:08 pm

Thanks.

By basket weave did you mean these?

I’d love to get them as they look a lot better IMO.

Right now the priority is to find a local BMW specialist as BMR performance is just too far away for day to day stuff!

JungleGus wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:49 pm

Looks nice! And welcome to E30 ownership - it'll probably always need something!

I'd look into picking up a set of 15" basket weaves - it'll drive a lot more nicely than the 17s. Feel free to ask any advice or guidance on here, there's a wealth of information that makes these cars easy (well, relatively) to keep running. Enjoy!

Thats the puppies

I wasn't able to find anyone more local but let us know how you get on - I've had a few odd jobs done over the years but it's often easier/better to learn to DIY (depending what needs doing and facilities). Working on the side of the road in London is a bit of a PITA. Every single time I'm working on it random people come up and chat. Always fun when you're halfway through taking a strut out...

rix313 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:27 pm

twenty wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:08 pm

Thanks.

By basket weave did you mean these?

I’d love to get them as they look a lot better IMO.

Right now the priority is to find a local BMW specialist as BMR performance is just too far away for day to day stuff!

JungleGus wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:49 pm

Looks nice! And welcome to E30 ownership - it'll probably always need something!

I'd look into picking up a set of 15" basket weaves - it'll drive a lot more nicely than the 17s. Feel free to ask any advice or guidance on here, there's a wealth of information that makes these cars easy (well, relatively) to keep running. Enjoy!

Thats the puppies

Would you know what would be the fair price for a set? Worth going for the originals or get new reps (assuming there are reps).

Thanks a lot.

https://shop-eu.maxilite.ch/index.php?k=74&lang=eng

By the time you buy a used set of bbs and get them refurbed it may be wiser to take this route, bbs at the bottom for 150 euro a piece

tha881 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 10:29 pm

https://shop-eu.maxilite.ch/index.php?k=74&lang=eng

By the time you buy a used set of bbs and get them refurbed it may be wiser to take this route, bbs at the bottom for 150 euro a piece

Awesome, thanks!
Used ones go for around 200 a set without caps, then another 200 for refurb, add caps and I see where this is heading...

By the way, what tires would would you use? 205/55R15?
EDIT: Yes is the answer

JungleGus wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:01 am

Pics needed! Use Imgur or something similar

Welcome aboard - where in London are you? If you haven't come across him yet, Barry (bss325i) at BMR Performance does great work and is where I go (I am in N1).

Went to BMR Performance last week. To say the guys know their stuff is an understatement. Superb professionalism and standards.
Within an hour Barry and Ross listed all the issues with the car and I have a prioritised list. Wanted to leave the car over there but they are fully booked to end of July.
Waiting for quotes on essential work and while I wait, will do some generic stuff like changing the pads/rotors and wheels as they are all in really bad condition and the car probably shouln't even be driven at this stage.

Thanks again for the recommendation. It was worth the almost two hours drive.

Agree on the BBS ending up super pricey, I almost went for the Maxlite wheels but ended up buying Ronal LS instead as they were available new and with tyres. As JungleGus said, there is always something else to do! Everytime I've 'finished' something else has needed doing sometimes as a requriement and other times just to make it look nice.

Thanks

Went on the longest drive since my ownership started last year. 300 miles covered altogether with no issues. All the preventative maintenance paid off I guess

Lovely looking car mate and prevention is better than cure .
Is that your place

Mart.

martauto wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:47 pm

Lovely looking car mate and prevention is better than cure .
Is that your place

Mart.

Thanks! It was my place for 4 days haha.

twenty wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:02 pm

Went on the longest drive since my ownership started last year. 300 miles covered altogether with no issues. All the preventative maintenance paid off I guess
IMG_0915.jpeg

That’s awesome.
Once things are sorted these cars love the drive.

Interesting combo of Alpine white with the Natur interior.
Most of the white E30 cabbys we have here in AUS are white with black or blue interior.

How are the Maxlite rims treating you?

Tzantushka wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 28, 2021 12:23 am

twenty wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:02 pm

Went on the longest drive since my ownership started last year. 300 miles covered altogether with no issues. All the preventative maintenance paid off I guess
IMG_0915.jpeg

That’s awesome.
Once things are sorted these cars love the drive.

Interesting combo of Alpine white with the Natur interior.
Most of the white E30 cabbys we have here in AUS are white with black or blue interior.

How are the Maxlite rims treating you?

Indeed, the combination of white and natural leather is a bit of an odd one. I double checked the original spec sheet just to confirm it hadn’t been a victim of interior swap. I prefer this as the black and white is synonymous with weddings.

The Maxilite wheels have been great - no complaints so far. I’ve been eyeing BBS RS split rims lately, but that’ll be the last thing I do. Plenty of bits and pieces to sort out in the meantime.