Vein's Vulcan Grey Improvement Project

[VeinAST]

So, after a thread only posted on Thursday I viewed this yesterday and today I bought it!!











Got a few plans for it to start but it's already lowered and has a scorpion twin exhaust (unnoticeable really).

Think I'm going to get rid of the council MTec pedals and handbrake lever and possibly swap the Richbrook knob for an illuminated one!

Thinking of a bit of carbon fibre instead just subtley.

Possibly a private plate too!!

She goes well for such a small engine too ;)

[cro320]

looks really clean

IS spoiler is a must

[darkchild]

Nice looking car. Best colour for an E30 IMO.

[Brianmoooore]

IS spoiler is a must

Needs a front lip of some kind - it appears to have gone missing!
First job should be to take the boot liners out (pull - they won't break) and the interior carpet, and to look for nasty little orange streaks.

[GC318]

well done fella, looks like a tidy example

[VeinAST]

Thanks people! Yeah the boot seems pretty mint. rix313 came round earlier and had a quick sweep over (him to thank for the pics) and I got the seal of approval!

There is an iS lip in the boot which was on the front but the previous owner hit something with force and pushed it off so it just needs reattaching!

[tonybtonyb]

Nice car!

[VeinAST]

OK, time for an update!!

Since buying it 12 days ago I've given the thing a cleanout, massive hoover out, check over for anymore rust (which is all good apart from the spot i know of), dechavved but still lots to do!!

Things done so far:

Chrome kidneys
Standard handbrake lever
got rid of mtec pedals
changed seat badges to the correct way
fitted a Sony headunit
got some standard Pioneer grilles from Ollie too but my current speakers wont allow them to fit so I'll be looking for a set of "flat" speakers to allow them to fit!!
Also got rid of the rear M badge.

And I've got a few more things planned so far but I'm going for the "period" look



Known rust spot - easy to fix?? Any help would be appreciated..

[inlovewithRWD]

Lose the remaining M badge, add an iS lip spoiler and it'll look spot on.

[VeinAST]

Lose the remaining M badge, add an iS lip spoiler and it'll look spot on.

Yeah I've been considering a black/white M badge for the front but I will think about it.

I have an iS lip but to be honest I'm not really fond of it!

Prefer the small black lip that came standard on the lesser models!

[500]

I'll swap you ;)

[E30BeemerLad]

the rust on the rear panel looks like where the battery tray joins, so it may be more than just grafting a bit of sheet in

[Ollie_bwoii]

That looks fantastic. Very nice.

Shame about the speaker grilles, they would have looked a treat.

[DanThe]

Not a fan of the M badges, seats or grill, but it looks like you will need a new gear shift lever Get a Z3 1.9 lever in there

[VeinAST]

Not a fan of the M badges, seats or grill, but it looks like you will need a new gear shift lever Get a Z3 1.9 lever in there

Thanks. I have a facelift non-leather knob to go in once I get the damned thing off! The collar round the bottom wont unscrew and I need to get it off to replace the ripped gaitor!

I don't have a rear battery tray, does this make a difference BeemerLad?

Also, seats are going to have holes in if I don't have the seat pins in there so might aswell keep them in

[josh-hocking]

Very nice!!

Just get that IS lip fitted!!!

[VeinAST]

Removed the front M badge!

Also ordered some pressed plates to clean the front and rear up and also fitted the plate holders properly as they were screwed in through the plates

Before

After



Also added a bit of retro chic with this tax disc, but made it myself in Photoshop rather than give £25 to britishtaxdiscs.co.uk
(I realise the date's a bit out but it'll do for the time being)

[DavieP]

Get that fookin iS lip on the front It will give depth and a more complete look.

You know it makes sense

[VeinAST]

I'm putting a normal SE lip on it! Just the valance is a little bent so I need it seeing to before I can fit anything atm!!

[VeinAST]

Small update again!

Got some new Alpine speakers yesterday so replaced the ugly JL Audio ones and also fitted the retro speaker covers to the rear.


Quick snapshot of my little OBC and standard gearknob.


I did fit the SE lip to it but the valance is slightly bent so I need that sorted out by a bodyshop at one point.


I'm also an avid Dr Who fan sadly so I saw this sticker on eBay and HAD to buy it...




And last but not least, my stereo wiring is fucking awfully bodged up and I will never get my head round it! But I did manage to wire my electric aerial in. I got so excited I took a video...

[capri_rob]

This looks so right

Noticing more and more E30's with the pinstripe coachlines - definately gonna get them put on my turd at some point.

Progressing very nicely fella - one thing you could do is put an oil cooler grille in the front valance instead of the blanking plate - shouldn't be too expensive or hard to find.

Those speaker covers look like the ones that were with the parcel shelf I sold Ollie last Year - glad they have been put to use

[Ollie_bwoii]

Yep they are those ones Rob.

I really liked them, But I had already brought some nice blaupunkt items, so used the instead, and as my headunit is blaupunkt I thought it was fitting.

[karimMSalama]

with rwd you are in the good way

[VeinAST]

Well, finally started driving this on Monday!

First drive was horrible as it had been standing since the first photos so needed a good run-in.

Got a new valance from magpie the other day so that is waiting in the garage until I have the time to sand, stonechip and spray it.

Had a look while at Morrisons underneath the car today and tbh it's pretty sound thankfully, although the rust on the rear is slightly worrying! (Anybody that can cure this I'd be extremely interested)





Also removed the heck spoiler today to find some small rust on the bootlid and around the screw holes which could do with some attention! Although the bloody spoiler fell down the bootlid and put a nice big scratch on it

[town325i]

all of that is standard E30 spec rust the battery tray in the rear is always shagged there

[VeinAST]

all of that is standard E30 spec rust the battery tray in the rear is always shagged there

You know anyone on here that'd be willing to fix it for a few crates ?

[kam325itouring]

You got rid of the jl speakers!! good progress on the car though

[VeinAST]

Latest update:

Front wheels are buckled - that explains the horrid ride!!

Got a valance from magpie but didn't realise one whole corner was extremely rusty so will be on the lookout for another!!

Was considering of getting rid of it but I think overall I will be happy with the car... just need to make it more "my own".

Rust will be welded somepoint soon and I will get the stereo rewired at some point too but it's all moneyy!!

[VeinAST]

Couple of recent updates!! Picked up my new front seats from an E36 328i last night
Will get these fitted soon when I can get somebody to make me some plates adaptors.
(And will get the rears retrimmed to match)



Got my stereo wiring sorted out by Sextons this morning and bought a headunit from Halfords and fitted it!! Extremely happy with it and in the flesh doesnt stand out although amongst the purists it's bound to be vile

[Andy325i]

Good work and well done for the dechav!

Keep the updates coming

Andy

[Ollie_bwoii]

Laurence, what are you thinking with the E36 seats? Before I say they are a downgrade I will listen to your reasoning.......

[VeinAST]

Laurence, what are you thinking with the E36 seats? Before I say they are a downgrade I will listen to your reasoning.......

Comfort, bargain, vgc, I sat in them and they don't differ for support at all, my car's not exactly going to win any races.

[VeinAST]

Rightt another update!!

Things purchased:

Brand new leather gear knob
Leather handbrake cover
Tech 1 Spoiler
2xAerosols of Vulcan Grey paint

Gave it a bloody good wash and polish today (Im no detailer so don't expect anything amazing) after all the fallout that's been giving cars a nice brown appearance.

Was hoping to have my plates for my seats here too but they've not turned up









Plastic part of the spoiler in primer:



And then it's first coat of Vulcan:



Trial fitting of the rubber part of the spoiler(pre-wash):





Leather knob and handbrake:



After wash:







Next update will be some pics from Castle Combe this weekend and then leather seats next weekend hopefully

[adit]

looking good Laurence. have you sorted anything out for the front valance yet? i.e. lip spoiler?

[VeinAST]

looking good Laurence. have you sorted anything out for the front valance yet? i.e. lip spoiler?

Thanks Adi

Yeah got an SE lip spoiler next to me at the moment but can't get it fitted until I have a straight valance