Tech 1 restoration

[BMracing]

Hey guys,

I've had my tech 1 for 9 months now and i've decided to properly get cracking on restoring it.
It was in ok condition when I bought it but i knew some areas needed attention, particularly the bodywork. So far I haven't got very far mainly from lack of time and money and not having anywhere to work on it. The only paint its had so far is the rear panel and bumper, however the bodyshop made a complete hash up of this so it needs doing again. After that bodge up I was thinking of selling the car as a project but I soon realised things aren't that bad, and its so nice to drive.
This forum has been a big motivator in getting me to do it, i've noticed a few tech 1 restoration threads in this section! Also I hadn't realised that they're getting quite rare and had such a following, or were as valuable as a tech 2. Only people on this forum and a few well trained others seem to appreciate them, a couple of locals have told me my car is 'not a real sport' (an ex tech 2 owner i might add)!
Anyway, since i've had the car it has had:
- a new cambelt as I had no real proof of it being changed in the last 5 years
- a rebuilt starter motor, cheap and the only real reliability issue i've had with the car since i've had it
- a virtually new ECP fuel tank courtesy of Spadge to replace my rusty one
- A new 2x2 inch exhaust system up to the manifold which i'm not totally happy with, may change this or get it modified.
- replaced all the brake pipes and fitted braided hoses at the same time
- replaced rusty metal section of rear bumper with genuine part, had the rear panel resprayed at the same time, BADLY!
- A virtually new rad thanks to my mate at carrera
- another tech 1 steering wheel in good nick courtesy of shedrool83
- an oil catch tank from carrera
- welding last month in the n/s/f footwell/wheel arch/bulkhead at carrera

The only serious rust is now sorted then but the rear wheel arches still need doing as well as 2 very small holes underneath and some on the rear panel that has come back already after the bad respray. So i'm looking to get all that sorted by the end of the summer as well as getting the bonnet resprayed as its chipped and doesn't match the front wings which have been replaced quite recently i think.
Also this year:
- new airflow meter
- o/s/f foglamp (cracked)
- replace/repair the worn drivers seat
- replace dash (out at the moment) and other scruffy trims
- tidy the wiring nightmare behind the dash and replace the all the ICE with a decent head unit and 4 speakers. Nice and simple
- repair the alarm which is playing up and draining the battery or rip it out, not sure yet
- Fit my 16" bbs rx wheels which are currently on our 4 door and sell the azevs
- complete suspension overhaul, springs, shocks, roll bars, anything else thats worn, not sure which bushes to get yet
- probably have to replace the rear spoiler as the rubber is perishing
- smiley headlights with HID's
- maybe smoked front indicators/side repeaters, not sure yet

I think thats everything for the moment!
I may look at engine mods/replacements after all this but I want to make a clean, solid, tight handling car first.

Here are some pics of it:

The stripes have gone now


As have the nasty light brows






At pod


This one shows up the different coloured bonnet nicely! Another thing i'm hoping to sort soon


Terrible photography skills i know

[BMracing]

And the before and afters of the welding done last month:

From the wheel arch


Bulkhead inside, tyre visible!


Footwell inside


Footwell after


Bulkhead

[BMracing]

Oh and i'm looking for a new dash! Thats the most important thing for now. I've posted in the wanted section



I'll keep you all updated as this car progresses

Cheers,

Max

[oakey]

Good luck with it mate! Going by the pics it looks well worth the effort

[BMracing]

Thanks mate
I noticed your new car, its stunning, got to be one of cleanest tech 1s there is.
Its my benchmark!

[oakey]

Thanks.

I would advise that (if you havent already) you remove the metal cover that bolts into the drivers side rear inner arch. As that helps rot out the inner arch nicely Im replacing the one on my new one soon as its started going rusty. Also where the filler neck attaches to the same inner arch is another place that will probably need to be attended to otherwise it will go at some point.

[Ajay325]

Beautiful Tech1, 1st time i've seen a tech1 with Azev's, they really suit the car. Good luck with the resto.

[BMracing]

Thanks for the tips oakey, they're on my list!

Thanks Ajay
I like the Azevs but i'm set on swapping them for my other wheels now

Cheers

Max

[Alex]

looks lovely hope the hard work pays off

tech 1's look so much better than tech 2's

[dom-1984-320i]

Always nice to see a Tech 1 getting restored! Good luck with it all mate am sure it will great when all complete.

[ricey46]

Woohoo another Tech1 being saved!!

Iwas gonna remove my stripes too, but some muppet had laqured over them in the past so I've become quite attached to mine,lol., but hae ho!!

Nice car Btw!!

[BMracing]

Thanks for the kind comments guys

Woohoo another Tech1 being saved!!

Iwas gonna remove my stripes too, but some muppet had laqured over them in the past so I've become quite attached to mine,lol., but hae ho!!

Nice car Btw!!

Thanks dude, oh dear!
I had a bit of a nasty surprise when I removed mine as I discovered some clown had painted up to them on both rear quarters! Obviously a previous wheel arch repair. I would have thought it would have been a better idea to blend it into the crease. Its no biggie though as both of those panels are getting sprayed anyway

[oakey]

keep the stripes

[CustomX]

I have a mint dash and another dash with a very small crack where it usually goes on the top shelf part above the glove box.

PM me if you're interested.

[ricey46]

Thanks dude, oh dear!
I had a bit of a nasty surprise when I removed mine as I discovered some clown had painted up to them on both rear quarters! Obviously a previous wheel arch repair. I would have thought it would have been a better idea to blend it into the crease. Its no biggie though as both of those panels are getting sprayed anyway

I found that on mine too, that's when they've obviously laqured over my stripes!!

I'm hopefully gonna resto mine towards the end of the year, got a few rusty signs seeping through, I had hoped to have started by now, but t trip to NZ for a family wedding saw those plans go out the window!!lol.

Car's looking sweet tho!!

[BMracing]

I have a mint dash and another dash with a very small crack where it usually goes on the top shelf part above the glove box.

PM me if you're interested.

Hi there,

I'm interested in the mint dash!
Where are you?

Cheers,

Max

[Simon13]

Oakey is talking about a cover which covers the breather pipes for the fuel system. They fill up with sh!te over 20 years of driving. You might find the cloth type pipe has gone hard and crusty aswell. playing with all this can be a can of worms so be warned to replace more pipes than you thought as poss find more rust! It's not silling money for fuel pipes etc from bmw though. It's the fuel filler pipe where the rust starts on alot of E30's on the inner arch not this im my experience. Mainly where the brackets are welding on to hold all the breather/filler neck pipes in place

looks a nice car and some good work keeping her going!

[BMracing]

Thanks Simon.

I helped my mate replace the fuel tank a couple of months ago. We replaced the bent rubber/cloth pipe with a genuine item and all the sections of hose above the tank.
However the tank has leaked fuel since! Only seems to happen when its very full. We checked underneath and it seems to be coming from above the tank, so it will have to come off again. I'm worried it might be the something to do with the sender as this didn't fit very well
When its up in the air again i'll check specifically in these areas you and Oakey have mentioned.

Cheers guys.

[jbh]

lookin good glad theres anouther tech1 being saved.. im up to my eyes in mine will need to start my own thread.. but also need to get the drive clear so i can get pics.. ive also got a mint dash but im a bit away from you but im sure it can be courierd if need be. im in the middle of a reshell on mine i got another tech 1 sport shell which was good which dosent need as much work. drivers rear arch/ passengers inner arch/ re wired body work tidied up and painted where as my old shell was needing inner and outer a pillar jacking points rear inner arches both sides outer rear arches both sides lower rear qtrs and the list goes on

[zaust]

Good on you fella. I have a near mint dash that I bought for my tech 1 resto, but metal worm has got more than I thought. See parts section..

Can't wait to see it finnished.

[hammoj28]

Looks a really good resto.

[Simon13]

the fuel tanks can rust on the seem lip where the top and bottom parts join. My touring has this problem so i can't fill it right up. 50 litres max otherwise it leaks and theres a strong smell of petrol around the car!

[BMracing]

Hi guys,

Here we are over well a year later and after much procrastination and half hearted money saving, this resto is well underway.
Here are some pics of the recent progress and rot discoveries, sorry most are with the phone, but you get the idea. I'll get some better quality ones up in due course.


The B25 comes out, looking to use some of its components for a 2.7 build which is underway



Not happy with this, was looking for the source of a water ingress in the n/s/f footwell. Found it to be coming from above the metal plate that I had welded on the n/s of the bulkhead, about a year ago. Wasn't cheap either. Will need doing again.




The situation inside now. That's a 63l fuel tank in the box, looking to combine this with the facelift dials from my breaking 4 door.
Took a fair while to rip out the ancient glitchy bodged in alarm/immobiliser!





And the car cancer... Found this under the windscreen seal



The drivers door has had it really thanks to this


and this



Front wings aren't tragic but the sills are a bit mangled on both sides. The rust isn't too bad tbh


Worst areas on the rear arches...





In the boot on the n/s, it's not too bad under the battery on the other side



Behind the rear bumper



The rear panel had attention from a 'bodyshop' only 2 years ago, was supposed to have all rust removed, here it is now!




The paint finish is shocking as well



May need a new boot seal, water had collected underneath the battery.



Stripped down the eta lump the other night








Ready for the bodyshop here




And there she went on Tuesday!



So engine/drivetrain, servo, exhaust, complete fuel system, brake lines, complete interior - dash, head lining, bumpers, skirts, lights, and all glass have been removed beforehand to save some dollar and make sure that all rust is discovered.
The car will be gone for a month or so, in the meantime we're going to concentrate on the 2.7 build.

I'll get some more info on the plans for the car on here soon. Hoping to get it done for the autumn!

Any questions, hints, or tips.. feel free!

Cheers for looking,

Max

[oakey]

I eagerly await piccies upon its return!!

[skipunda]

nice one, man, we await the return!

I believe you have all the same problems I am going through now, especially the bulk head. i've sort of worked out how water manages to collect there, but it's a bit of a no-brainer I guess
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... &start=100

[Blitz]

Great resto. Is that a Audi dealer bodyshop?

[Jim78]

Working for Audi has it's perks I guess... Are they cool with you doing bits and bobs in the workshop - guess if you're not busy they can't rally have a go? Keep at it mate - look forwards to seeing the finished article........

[BMracing]

Thanks for the comments, i'll get some pics up of the shell as soon as it's back.

I saw your thread skipunda, great work. I do like silver tech 1's.

Thanks Blitz & Jim78, we stripped it down at my work which is indeed an Audi dealer/workshop. We are actually the busiest we've ever been at the moment.
Me and my mate, who is a tech, have only been able to work on the car on Saturdays. I have taken the engine away though so can work on the new build in the evening.
The car has gone to Brockford which are our approved bodyshop. Their standard is very good and i've been very impressed with the work i've seen on some of our customers cars. They have promised me a great job, quality is my priority, although the estimate went up today!
I am obviously getting a substantial discount, but a lot of small repairs are required to get it perfect and with the engine build the costs really are starting to soar! It'll be worth it though.

[BMracing]

Could I have some opinions on these Lenso wheels, I doubt i'll stick with the Azev's.

http://www.euroband.info/bandenservice/ ... -bsx-g.jpg

They'd be in 16x7.5, bit cheaper than bbs splits, and a bit easier to come by!

[Jim78]

.....they'll look good with the faces painted to match/compliment the colour of the car.

[RSTurbo50]

Fantastic mate, all credit to you, can never understand how people prefer the Tech 2 over a nice Tech 1......

All the best with it..

Stu

[dano0]

well done another one being saved .
the thing with a resto is the money you think it will cost x amount but really you can double it and then double it again im 3500 grand in and still climbing and thats not including the price of the car because one you start you cant stop.
i call it the pringle effect.
good luck hope its every thing you hoped for i no mine is
danny

[tristan325]

Sniff, I miss my tech 1

[whiterhino]

im really feelin them lenso rims.theyve got them in a shop near me and i think they look great.the purists would probably disagree coz there not bbs.you cant please everyone.your restoration is lookin good also.cant wait to see pics of the finished article crack on son

[josh-hocking]

those lenso's will look the dogs bolloks mate!! - great resto btw