This true story will make you weep... E30 M3 3.2 Conversion

Post Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:57 pm

d6dph wrote:There are pics there Andy

They wern't showing earlier but are now

Post Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:00 pm

They kinda appeared then went, then came back? odd!

Car's looking good tho.

Post Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:22 pm

come on we want to see the engine

Post Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:24 pm

More pics!

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:40 am

Happy New Year to all E30-ers

Well the eagle eyed amoung you who happen to have seen it elsewhere will know that this car is ALMOST ready to hit the road... I got a second hand bumper carrier at BMC and a new windscreen fitted (Ã‚£160) other than that, it's all been small parts such as plugs and clips to source/purchase.

It should be out sometime next week, I'm hoping tuesday or Wednesday.

When is the first meeting/show that I could attend with the car this year?

I can hardly believe it myself like most of you on the Zone, when I sat in it and started her up and drove up and down the workshop I must admit to feeling a bit like i was starring in an episode of the Twilight Zone to be truthful!

Watch this space... the journey and this journal is almost over!

MFree

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:47 am

Good to see it's nearly there mate.

Guildford meet on the 10th (if ready in time) Lakeside meet on the 20th, Ace Cafe on the 29th ?

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:58 am

Jesus... I've had 8 cars while this has been going on!

Glad to see it's 99% finished and nearly on the road. A lot of blood, sweat, toil and swear words have been put into this project. Will be good to see the finished article.

Be prepared for both critisism and praise when people actually see it in the flesh though. I'd like to think there'd be much more praise than negative comments.

I bet you're getting pretty excited about getting it on the public road and eventually driving it. Please be careful and don't have an accident in it... that WOULD really make me weep!

Congratulations fella... a long time coming!

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:51 pm

bet you're getting pretty excited about getting it on the public road and eventually driving it. Please be careful and don't have an accident in it... that WOULD really make me weep!

Man, how awful would that be? I've read this whole thread recently and am really in awe of your perseverence MFree. I think I'd probably have set fire to the car, several different garage businesses and quite possibly myself if I'd gone through all you have. You've ended up with what looks to be a stunning car at the end of it all though, so I hope that's keeping you happy.

Can't wait to see a proper photoshoot on this car once it's out in the real world. I should think you'll be fighting off the mags to feature it.

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:58 pm

Has anyone on the zone got Ground Control suspension?

My car has the front strut conversion as per the full race kit sold by GC - but on full droop the springs hang off and dislocate from the hats at the top of the shock... I need helper springs to keep them in place even though maybe im worrying unduly about suspension travel given its going to be a maximum of about 6-8 inches!

Just thought id ask in case anyone knows about this...

MFree

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:07 pm

I'm suprised that you don't already have helper springs when you got the kit. Seems odd for a coil-over kit to come without them... hope you find some or sort the problem out some other way. But like you said it's not as if you're off rallying or jumping hump-backed bridges or anything... erm, are you?

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:12 pm

but it will fail the mot if the springs dislocate from the mountings.helper springs can be purchased from www.demon-tweeks.co.uk at whatever spec you require.

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:05 pm

True true - but although as yet unused, you gotta remember i purchased this conversion kit in erm.... 1999? something like that and now of course its been through many iterations, helper springs welded onto the existing ones, proper bump stops, threaded sleeves for the strut casing... all need to be retrofitted - dont get me wrong, you cant even buy the kit I got now, its all rose jointed and fit for a track car but it cost a fortune...

Its details really.. can you believe Eibach race tech guy didnt even call back? the springs are 3 1/4 inch i think. Demon Tweeks huh? I only need them for the front, no need for anything stiffer than about 10-20ft/lb because the travel in the suspension is too small to allow progressive rate springs to make any differenece i think...

I shall give em a call....

The brake pedal got pressed today and the err... fog lights came on...

Details details....

lol

MFree

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:15 pm

Try Faulkner springs. They can do pretty much anything you want, and are not expensive either.

http://www.dfaulknersprings.co.uk/

Ian.

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:52 pm

but it will fail the mot if the springs dislocate from the mountings.

only a fail if they fail to locate themselves once dropped back down, not an issue with the 2.5" ID springs.

I'm an MOT tester too BTW :lol:

flame suit donned !

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:08 pm

How close is it to being on the road? Bonnet and boot painted? Interior in?

Post Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:19 pm

whats the chances of this being finished in a few months?, or have i got more of a chance sprouting a cunt on my forehead.

Post Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:29 am

The springs I also thought were 2.5" but apparantly they are 3 1/4???

The measurement of 2.5" cannot be the outside to outside edges of the spring though as im certain thats not 2.5"???

www.groundcontrol.com - check out the E30 M3 kit and someone please end my apparantly ignorant moment!

Anyway I shall try those numbers - cheers Ian.

The only part of the car not painted is the bonnet - because I never had one originally that was good enough. mark (Macau Blue Evo II M3 who also sold me my 325i Touring) kindly gave me his bonnet as his M3 (which is supercharged and VAC Motorsported to hell and back) has a carbon item - the bonnet is being painted monday and I expect to go with it to the MOT station on wednesday or thursday. This car creates a kind of illness in whoever is working on it see - they immediately find themselves really short of time and have to start juggling stuff to work on it!

But keep yer hair firmly on as shes comin round the mountain - i have a proper bet with a good friend of mine who like you lot doesnt actually believe this car exists who i stupidly gave 10:1 odds on it being done by the end of the month with a Ã‚£10 bet...

MFree

Post Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:08 am

isnt it the inside diameter of the springs?mfree,never bet hard cash when your having to rely on someone else doing the work as its in the hands of the gods then especially after the never ending grief youve had.

have you worked out a rough cost of this car from start to very long drawn out finish? i reckon it'd dwarf maxfields dads car now for costs

ant,i was failed for an mot because the front springs hung loose when the car was jacked up,i dont use that garage any more though

Post Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:30 am

Who saw the 3.2 Engined E30 M3 in BMW Car this month?

Makes me wanna start all over again...

you think I spent alot of money... that looks SICK!

MFree

Post Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:00 pm

See I know you all love those jokes about dying before this is done etc but you have to remember how much of the car was missing, it isnt the big parts its all the small stuff that holds you up, every clip, hanger, cover everything - Front bumper for example, indicator pods, lenses, repeaters, fog light brackets, fog lights, carrier, bolts, front splitter upper/lower, fixing kit - see what i mean?

Anyway, the bumper just has to be put on and the side skirts and its off to get its MOT.

At long last...

MFree

Post Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:02 pm

poor poor Phil i bet he has loved every minute of it!

Post Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:03 pm

almost there !!!

Post Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:07 pm

MFree wrote: Anyway, the bumper just has to be put on and the side skirts and its off to get its MOT.

At long last...

Well done mate. Nice one for keeping at it

Post Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:10 pm

looking good but you will be drawing a pension and pissing your self before you can drive it............

Post Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:42 pm

Im not gonna even comment on the last comment...

cheers chaps for the support...

Labour of Love... not arf.

All I can say is Big-Up CPC and also

Andy... AMW - looked after every MCar I ever owned (a good few) - stirling work

The car is back to me on friday next week (why? Again more detail like all the covers for all the fixings on the bumpers and trim... all needs buying painting and laquering

Fuckin pain in the arse.

And I broke one of my patented Angel Eyes too... What a jip...

They do look the Dogs Nadgers though... unlike all others on the market.

Shame it takes about 4 hours to make each set.

The car is then off to K2 Racing (my old mate who used to run my Formula Ford race car back in the day) to get an airbox made (fancy going down the middle on the thing Ian?) and to be set up on the flat-floor and then we are good to go.

Gotta get them helper springs though... hump backed bridges beckon me you see...

Any of you with doubts... this is how good the M3 really was...

(I got to seem them do this in the flesh too and drove one of the Prodrive GroupA cars)

(Freeze it on 13 seconds)

MFree

Post Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:54 pm

that is one nice video lol

Post Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:46 am

MFree wrote:The car is then off to K2 Racing (my old mate who used to run my Formula Ford race car back in the day) to get an airbox made (fancy going down the middle on the thing Ian?)

What sort of design are we looking at, and approximate cost ?

Cheers,

Ian.

Post Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:59 pm

rob, i've got my cage at home now, if you want to pass by and look at it before you make you mind up you are welcome, just call me

its a full safety devises one

kos

Post Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:45 pm

i like it, but im not sure on those wheels...

Post Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:05 pm

I'm with you on that one stuart i think maybe the profile is too high on the tyres ?

Post Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:11 pm

yeah, theres just something about them that doesnt look right...

i dont like the split rim part, as the spokes look far too small, and they actually look cheap.

a much better choice of wheels would be style 5's or the BBS RS

Post Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:18 pm

The wheels look nice IMO but there is something about the profile of the tyre on the back

but all in all looking good

Post Sun Feb 04, 2007 4:58 pm

stuartgallafant wrote:yeah, theres just something about them that doesnt look right...

i dont like the split rim part, as the spokes look far too small, and they actually look cheap.

a much better choice of wheels would be style 5's or the BBS RS

as nice as the bbs's are, too many people have got them

if you sort out the tyre on the AC's they will be fine, and in the flesh they are a stunning wheel

Post Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:08 pm

ian332isport wrote:
MFree wrote:The car is then off to K2 Racing (my old mate who used to run my Formula Ford race car back in the day) to get an airbox made (fancy going down the middle on the thing Ian?)
What sort of design are we looking at, and approximate cost ?

Cheers,

Ian.

sounds interesting

Post Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:26 pm

buster wrote:
ian332isport wrote:
MFree wrote:The car is then off to K2 Racing (my old mate who used to run my Formula Ford race car back in the day) to get an airbox made (fancy going down the middle on the thing Ian?)
What sort of design are we looking at, and approximate cost ?

Cheers,

Ian.
sounds interesting

Uh Oh,

That does sound interesting