My Chrome bumpered Bronzit E30 Arches Done!!!

[richy187]

Hi all,
just bought my first BMW on Sunday off Kevo, from this forum, its a 1987 325i on a D plate. I have to say, I'm really impressed, the car is a real pearl, with only a couple of little bits of rust to sort out. Everything else has been sorted, its got an E36 power steering rack, a 3.91 (I think) LSD and a Scorpion alarm, with remote central locking, perfect! Its like a cool old car with all the mod cons!









No real plans for it yet, just sort the rust, get some BBS 15's and keep it tidy

[jamie323i]

Nice one!

looks a nice example,chromies are cool

[Ollie_bwoii]

Awesome chromie!

IMO bottletops are better than BBS on a chromie But hey its your lovely motor!

[eko]

Nice buy,enjoy it

[ImysE30]

Looks lovely nice

[richy187]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=126157
Heres the original ad with it sitting on BBS's

[richy187]

So gutted I had a alight prang in this last saturday on my way to santa pod



I just got caught out in very greasy conditions, but after a week of agony, I have pretty much sorted it













Its not pefect, some of the paint needs touching up and the chin spoiler is missing ther vents for the oil cooler but I will get it sorted, but really I was Very lucky. My mate managed to sort me out with a wing, bumper(with Irons), valance, chin spoiler, and indicators in the right colour for £90!!! Turned out we didn't need the wing anyway but what a result, I must be the luckiest man to ever crash a car

[Blitz]

Great jib and lovely car.

[OBs]

Nice car mate, Ive got a big soft spot for chromies, my first was a stripped out chrome bumpered 'IS'
great fun

Do you need a N/S fog light?
Got one for sale if you do

[OBs]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[richy187]

Ha ha, no thanks mate, I'm really amazed how little damage the car took, the chrome bumper did its job and took all the impact, so it just needed a new bumper and valance

[OBs]

Lucky really

[GrindCulture]

Welcome to E30 ownership

[richy187]

Lucky really

Very Lucky, here it is polished up and with a new number plate, just a little red rash to clear up and she's good as new again!!!






for anyone who may be interested the bumper plastics were revived using morrisons branded black liquid shoe polish

[powelly]

Looks loveley, bottle tops look very

[capri_rob]

Looks good fella - just like mine minus the rust

[richy187]

Looks good fella - just like mine minus the rust

Dunno about that, theres always a few spots to deal with on a car that old

[Ollie_bwoii]

Shame about the accident but i'm very glad its getting fixed!

This has got to be one of my favorite zone cars! Bronzit and Bottletops are look sooo awesome! So very

[richy187]

Thanks for the comments chaps!

Because this is such a nice example I will always maintain it in its original looking condition, I actually still need a 325 chin spoiler as the one I have is off a Diesel and doesn't have the vents for the oil cooler, so if anyone has one to swap....

[LeonNewton]

Good car, good find and good work

[Ollie_bwoii]

If its so very original then you should be ashemed of drifting it!

[richy187]

You caught me!!!!

I was only going to spectate, but after the accident I thought it might teach me a bit better car control as its my first RWD car. I won't be drifting it again though

[richy187]

Been outside for the last couple of days tring to get rid of the rust eating away at my car,






Back to bare metal...







Primered, and day 1 over. Its only the second time I've attempted repairs like this so I'm a bit slow...

Loads of rubbing down and another coat of primer followed with more rubbing down and cleaning, and I started painting...










Now I've completely ballsed up the lacquer and called it a day. At least its sealed though and can wait until next weekend, just hope the weather holds

[richy187]

Right, I've had this car for a year now, so I thought I'd better update my thread. Most of the exterior rust was sorted last year, still a bit round the rear arches, and some inside the boot but I will sort that out when the weather cheers up a bit, but in the 12 months I have had the car I have done:

Ӣ Fitted new Halfords extreme brilliance bulbs to the dipped beam
Ӣ Fitted my old Alpine head unit
Ӣ New fuse box cover fitted (Genuine BMW)
Ӣ Aluminium Front Strut Brace fitted (eBay Special)
Ӣ Oil and Filter changed
Ӣ Second hand BBS Cross Spoke alloys fitted with Dunlop SP9000 Tyres
Ӣ New BMW logo's fitted to centre caps (eBay Special)
Ӣ ATF added to engine oil for 100 Miles
Ӣ Parcel Shelf speakers replaced (Pioneer)
Ӣ Crash Repairs
Ӣ Second Oil and filter change
Ӣ Fuel filter changed
Ӣ Air filter changed
Ӣ New Spark plugs
Ӣ 5mm Wheel Spacers fitted to rear wheels
Ӣ New Aero style wiper blades (Bosch)
Ӣ Repairs To Rust on bottom of drivers door
Ӣ Drivers door removed and whole bottom panel sprayed
Ӣ New thermostat housing to radiator bottom coolant hose fitted (genuine BMW)
Ӣ New front ARB Bushes (Powerflex )
Ӣ New front ARB drop Links (eBay Special)
Ӣ Repaired wiring on illuminated gear knob
Ӣ Replaced Steering Rack with another E36 rack (Genuine BMW)
Ӣ Reset SIL
Ӣ Re checked and adjusted valve clearances
Ӣ New Shocks Fitted (Bilstein gas filled OEM)
Ӣ New suspension springs fitted (Apex 30mm Drop)
Ӣ New top mounts fitted all round (GSF)
Ӣ Fit New exhaust rubber on back box


This year I intend to replace all brake pads and rear discs, fit new lollipop bushes, (this weekend weather permitting as the parts are taking up room in the kitchen) fix a blowing exhaust, repaint inside the boot, and fit more new front ARB drop links.

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy ARB drop links off eBay, they have only lasted about 2000 miles on my car, but seeing the quality when they arrived I kept the old ones as they weren't too bad any way. No pictures at the moment I'm afraid as my server connection seems to be playing up, but I'll update tomorrow with some pictures when I can get at them,

Thanks for reading

[capri_rob]

Glad to see this is still around

[richy187]

Was just reading your thread actually Rob, I can't believe how similar our cars are.
I'm only coming to the midlands meet to see yours in the metal

Here she is anyway...





A bit dirty but its too dark to tell, I think it looks fantastic though, they just don't make cars like this any more....

[Ollie_bwoii]

That is just as nice as an E30 can get.

[richy187]

Couple of "snow pictures as well

[richy187]

And the illuminated gear knob...

[Rav335uk]

Welcome, and take it your from up Norf' then

[richy187]

Nope West midlands mate

[Rav335uk]

LOL, looked at the snow pics and todays date= snow up in Scotland.

[richy187]

No sorry, my mrs took them the other day

[richy187]

More pictures...


Bilstein Shocks and Apex springs already fitted



Spring comparison


New rear discs and pads....


Knackered exhaust rubber


And some powerflex lollipop bushes all waiting to be fitted this weekend hopefully if the weather stays fine

[richy187]