Just been donated an E30!

[bailephib]

Hi All,

I've just been donated a 1993 E30 318i Touring. It's a four pot and it's kinda tatty, but hey! You don't look a gift horse in the mouth. I think the last owner kept sheep in it my the state and smell of the interior and there are a couple of rust patches. The upside is that it's got just 108k miles on the clock, a lot of history and it's got a nice set of BBS alloys on it too.

Here's where you can help me if you will. I need to source a new interior for it, seats, carpets, rooflining and door cards etc. Can anyone point me in the right direction and let me know if the rear seat on the touring is different from other four door models?

I'd also like to eventually put a 325i engine into it. Can you tell me if that's a difficult job or a straight swop out and in.

My everyday car is a 02 E39 525d touring, so the E30 will be a project car and then for weekends.

I'm based on the south coast of Ireland but am prepared to travel for the right bits!

Pics to follow when I pick up the car.

Ian

[BigBavarian]

We can help you out with a lot of the bits you need, engine swap is straight forward altho advisable to change gearbox and the rear diff. Touring rear seats are unique to tourings and so completely different from saloons. Any questions give us a call 07858151197

[leeparkes]

Welcome to the zone
got any pics of the car?
325i conversion is quite straight forward
interior if its not ripped get it valeted,
tourer rear seats are different to 4 door models!

[rubber_duck89]

touring rear seats fold down so they are split in the middle where as far as i know saloon ones are one peice.
anything you need just ask on here mate if you cant get it here you cant get it anywhere.

[bailephib]

Howya Lads,

Thanks so much for the speed of the replies. I'm well impressed! The information you've given me already is very useful so thanks for that. I'll be plaguing you for advice over the coming months while I get this baby back to her former glory.

I'm going to Bray in Co. Wicklow (near Dublin) on Monday to pick up the car and drive it the 120miles back down the coast to where I am living. I'll get a few pics up next week and do an assessment of what's needed. I had agreed a price of €400 to buy the car but the owner who is a former colleague of mine says he doesn't want money, he just wants it out of his driveway. He's been driving it up until last week so its a runner at least. That means I can invest the money I had put aside in getting it checked over and the basics done.

Big Bavarian, I'm going to check out your web site now and I will be in touch once I know what it is I need.

Keep the info coming!

Ian

[Brianmoooore]

Front seats can be from any E30, and it can occasionally be useful in a touring to have a folding passenger seat from a two door.
If you have trouble in finding an unworn driver's seat, a passenger one can be converted in half an hour (including tea break).

[Jesus325iTouring]

Front seats can be from any E30, and it can occasionally be useful in a touring to have a folding passenger seat from a two door.
If you have trouble in finding an unworn driver's seat, a passenger one can be converted in half an hour (including tea break).

And a smoke break lets not forget Brian

Or if your having trouble finding ANY seat,E28 ones will fit if you swap the runners,again,as before,30 minutes job inc breaks

Welcome to the Zone

[adit]

i've got a complete beige leather sports interior (inc. door cards) if/when you're interested bp. adi 07901 888019

[Speedtouch]

Watch you don't contract anthrax from breathing in spores from sheep's skins - some cockney bloke died of that last week after importing animal skins to make drums or summat...
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM ... 8yTt5pjfsA

[adit]

it's alright st, i think the seats are made from cow skin.

[bailephib]

Hi Adit,

I would be interested. How much delivered to RoI?

Ian

[Nay]

Good luck with the project mate.

People on here will help you out with everything you need. And any parts can sourced privately through here too! A 325i conversion should be no probs as long as you have all the parts you need.

[tom325sport]

Put some pictures up mate.

Whatever you need for your car - just put up in the wanted section.

Good luck with the project - tourings are cool!!

[bailephib]

Hi All,

I'm delighted with the response and the good vibes. It seems to be a nice bunch of like minded people here on the forum.

I'll put up pics in her original condition, warts and all when I collect it during the week and we can take it from there.

Thanks again,

Ian

[zaust]

There are plenty of zoner's in Ire as well, So you won't have a problem finding part's or advise. Good luk with it and welcome to the nut house.

[djk]

I may have a complete touring grey leather interior for sale soon, including carpets and boot side panels etc. Rear head rests and heated front seats as well! May be able to get the headlining out too without wrecking it. All in good nick, bit of wear to drivers seat but nothing ugly. Shipping might be a bit dear to RoI, but if you're interested maybe we can work something out.

Welcome to the zone, it's an absolute goldmine of information.

[bailephib]

hey djk. That could be very interesting. When uou're ready to move on it let me know. The interior is from a touring, isn't it? Some of the other forum members were saying that the touring back seat is different to the saloon and coupe. I presume there are other differences too. Anyway, keep me in mind and thanks for the message. Ian

[djk]

Yup, touring interior. Depends on whether I can repair the car reasonably cheaply, if not i'll break it. Should be in a position to make a final decision soon!

[bailephib]

That would be great for me and sad for you. I've just noticed that you did say in you're first reply that it was a touring interior. Pardon me! Writing on an iPhone with kids crawling all over you and the telly blaring obviously does have an effect on ones powers of concentration!

What's gone wrong with your touring that your considering breaking it?

Ian

[bailephib]

Hi All,

I took ownership today of my 93 E30 318i Touring, and I am well pleased.

Having driven it the 120 miles from Bray to Dungarvan I must say that for an old girl she's doing well. She's tappety and a bit rough around the edges but nothing a couple of hundred quid shouldn't sort out.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bailephib/NewE30Touring#

Ian

[e30bmlover]

get the three twenty five in there mate... dont listen to the four potters lies!!

[bailephib]

I'm going to get the cosmetics sorted out first but I'm definitely going to get six cylinders under the bonnet. Roundabouts are such fun even with the four pot wrongness. There are a couple of brothers near me who are BMW addicts, ones a panel beater, the other a mechanic. They run their operation out of a shed on the side of a mountain and are passionate about what they do. Keep an eye out for the fruits of their labours. I'll be posting as we progress.

[magpie]

looks ok m8 but i'd get the rattler m40 out 1st.ticky cams do my head in
i have an IS now but just broke up my 318i 2 dr as the inner rear arches were shot.
may pay you to check here on yours too m8.before you spend a mint.

[bailephib]

Hi Magpie,

Inner arches are perfect on mine, thankfully. She's out getting a good seeing to now including a respray of the bonnet and wings and all the other little spots including the boot are being sorted too. Next up is the interior. I'm on the lookout for a full leather interior preferably in black. I'll post on the wanted section and see what comes up.
BTW I did a basic oil and oil filter change and the engine is now running sweet as honey pie. Happy days...

[Morat]

That really doesn't look too bad... but those mudguards need to come off pronto so you can see what horrors are lurking and prioritise! The tailgate shouldn't be a drama, but get the sealing strip thing off from under the window and make sure there's no rust in there either. If you can't get the original one back in they're about a fiver from the dealer anyway.

1.8s aren't bad at all, and pretty good on fuel. As soon as I had one I wanted a 2.5 so I know what you're going through If you're considering an engine swap, you might want to bypass the M20B25 altogether and get an M50 out of an E36 or the right sort of 5 series (E34?) and use that for 24V goodness.