325i Cabby Project/Resto -Small update 18-11-10

[Alex]

Well some good and bad news

good news is i got engine running, i poured oil over the rockers since the engine has been stood for at least 6 month with no rocker cover, fitted fuel pump, oil filter, battery and it fired up after a fair bit of cranking. It also has half a tank of fuel, result

has a blowing manifold and tappets need adjusting, also it didnt want to idle but once it warmed up a bit it idled better, also the tappets quietened down too once the oil started flowing around




Bad news is its quite rotten. i removed a sill cover to find a nice bit soft patch of metal and when i descoverd the inner arch a had massive hole in i thought this is a money pit, However ive got plenty to sell of it which should fund a nice 320i or 323i chromie and ive got a b25 engine, so now i'am going back to my original plan of using all the running gear in another shell, still going to be an alpina replica i want that silver 320i in the fs section now for £200

enjoy











Oh well

[blackE30indy]

Shame it's rotten alex,u looking for another shell now
chromie coupe would be nice

[Alex]

Yep need another shell now

[Ollie_bwoii]

Holy cr4p thats rotten. Let me know of any decent chromie parts you may be selling.

That 320i chromie in the for sale section looks like an ideal base. I would say you can't go wrong at £200, but that cabby shows a different story.

[Alex]

Holy cr4p thats rotten. Let me know of any decent chromie parts you may be selling.

That 320i chromie in the for sale section looks like an ideal base. I would say you can't go wrong at £200, but that cabby shows a different story.

ive got my eye on it, thing is its like 300 miles away from me

[Ollie_bwoii]

Where abouts is it? It does look clean for the money.

[blackE30indy]

Depends on the condition,But looks solid

[Alex]

Where abouts is it? It does look clean for the money.

past london on the way to south hampton

[Blitz]

2 door sounds like a much better idea.

[Alex]

Well i spent a good hour looking around the car and i decided that its not as bad as it looks, no rot at all in the front end, arch liners are out and its perfect,

the rust along the side of the car which the side strip clips too is solid, i cannot get a screw driver through so this will be ground back to clean metal, inner arch on drivers side needs a patch and the lip of the arch could do with replacing as its rusted away in places, passanger side is mint, not a spot of rust on archs or inner arches.

the rot in the door shut will need another patch putting in, and the rear valance is going to need approx 5-6 patchs, and under boot lid needs both sids replacing, i'am thinking of cutting one out of a breaker and getting them welded in.

I dont think its as bad as i first thought, ive seen plenty of people restore sports etc which require more work.

so ive been busy sourcing parts, ive got a white cabby door organised and i should be getting that around April time, and i'am picking up 2x Alpine White cabby wings and a Blue check interior up for it.

also managed to spend £45 last night on screws and clips but i thought it wouldnt be rite putting it all back together with aftermarket screws

Found some rear light clusters on GSF for a pre facelift for £29 new, has anyone bought these???? are they as good as originals

got all the seals and a load of interior parts for it too.

I still havent got much done to the actual car as its locked at a mates garage with limited access but with a bit of luck my step dads cabby will run correctly and have new clutch master cly by next weekend so we will get it over to my garage.

I dug the carpet out of its boot and was supprised at the condition, although some of the plastic side bits had cracked and it has been cut around heater box

anyway ive given it a good clean with a wet vac and it looks really good, best condition carpet ive had.




Look at how clean the drivers foot well is




ive also finished the front valance and ive ordered all new screws etc to mount it and bought 2 new towing eyes, since with the owner fitted facelift bumpers to it, and they have been cut off






Also bought a brand new White BMW battery tonight



with a bit of luck it will all start to come together in a few weeks time and i can really get stuck into it

also got a lockset, a few boxes of bits like seat belts etc, tons of screws switches, steering coloum bits... the list goes on

[capri_rob]

Nice to see another one saved

[blackE30indy]

glad your keeping it now mate

[e30topless]

just got myself a council garage

a rusty E30 will feel right at home parked in there


I look forward to the progress piccies Alex this should make a nice cab , you sure you can handle the 6 pot power?

[Alex]

just got myself a council garage

a rusty E30 will feel right at home parked in there


I look forward to the progress piccies Alex this should make a nice cab , you sure you can handle the 6 pot power?

I need 6 pot power, i'am bored with the IS power now, this cabby is an auto but ive driven a few autos and i kinda like it, seems rite in a cabby. It needs a stainless exhaust too but i want one that looks OEM. The fritz Bits one looks nice

[gooner1]

Alex, the light clusters from GSF, do you mean the outer Lens part
If so that,s a bloody good price. Have some Rear inner arch parts should you need
them, brand new and OEM from Bmw.
Fair play for keeping and restoring it.

[Alex]

Alex, the light clusters from GSF, do you mean the outer Lens part
If so that,s a bloody good price. Have some Rear inner arch parts should you need
them, brand new and OEM from Bmw.
Fair play for keeping and restoring it.

i'am not sure, time vat etc is added its a bit more

look under lights

TAIL LAMP-LH E30 325i 85>90 Cabrio LH 29.00
TAIL LAMP-RH E30 325i 85>90 Cabrio RH 29.00

comes to £ 68.15 Deliverd

[gooner1]

Cheers Alex, post some pics up when you recieve them would you mate?.

[Alex]

Cheers Alex, post some pics up when you recieve them would you mate?.

If i buy them, not sure if they would be worth buying or wether they will be crap

[Alex]

Some more Progress, Its now in my garage so i can get out to it at a time that suits me. I was abandoned in an industrial estate for 45 mins like this



These came this morning, Plenty of screws, nuts and bolts for the front valance and other bits. Check out that alpina abay tat Keyring

the battery also arrived but thats on the car now.

its like a drug addiction



Car wont run no longer, its got a spark so the problem must be fuel related, I'am wondering if its something as daft as it being out of fuel lol

i have a feeling its the fuel pump though

spart plugs were well shagged, they were well rusted in and took some shifting, still havent got no. 4 out which is a bit worrying, oil black. Plugs were genuine bmw ones though.

Engine will get a good going over with new water pump, oil pump, timing belt + tensioner, rotor arm and dissy, oil spray bar and a good service.

[Ollie_bwoii]

Your Is looks to be sitting really low at the back?

[Alex]

Your Is looks to be sitting really low at the back?

The boot is full of shit and tools and a battery

[Ollie_bwoii]

Ah, I thought that may be the case.

Is that the load of clips etc... that set you back 80 odd quid?

Also did you tow the cabby home? Or use a trailer?

[Alex]

Ah, I thought that may be the case.

Is that the load of clips etc... that set you back 80 odd quid?

Also did you tow the cabby home? Or use a trailer?

the cabby was towed to my garage by the other 320i cabby

The battery came to £60 time VAT and what not was added and that lot came to £50

You certainly feel ripped off but its still addictive

i'am trying to figure out what facelift wrongness has been fitted for the front valance, if you look in the pic ive got some new towing eyes, rear end has had facelift bumper mounts bolted on

[Blitz]

Is your IS replacement Alex?

[Ollie_bwoii]

A convoy of 3 E30's.

Still a not bad price for a decent battery though.

I find it very addictive as well, just can't beat brand new stuff to BMW quality. I'm getting fed up of ebay brought items turning up in a condition that is bin worthy.

[Alex]

Is your IS replacement Alex?

Will keep them both

when this is finnished i'am thinking m50 the IS ???

going to empty halfrauds of waxoil on sunday and get all the wiring under the dash tidy and remove what looks like an old alarm system and whats left of the bmw alarm/immobiliser

[Blitz]

I'm thinking about pulling my trousers down and insuring the cabby. Wont have to spend any money buying a new car.

Very tempting, chromie with all that power and noise, top down cruising in the summer. Plus Imagine how many girls I will attract.

I'm dribbling at the prospect Just a wing and door resprayed along with a nice diamond black bonnet and bootlid would be enough for me.

[Alex]

My argument on using the cabby is that ive got a standard tin top e30 so whats the point of another?? its a b25 isnt it blitz, you will struggle to insure that, cabbys are exensive because there easy to break into, and if you flip them you dont have much chance, i struggle to insure a 320i cabby at the moment with 2 yrs no claims

but this car wont be ready till next summer anyway by then i will have 3yrs no claims

[town325i]

just got myself a council garage

a rusty E30 will feel right at home parked in there


I look forward to the progress piccies Alex this should make a nice cab , you sure you can handle the 6 pot power?

he made that IS move down the strip at santa pod last year

[Alex]

just got myself a council garage

a rusty E30 will feel right at home parked in there


I look forward to the progress piccies Alex this should make a nice cab , you sure you can handle the 6 pot power?

he made that IS move down the strip at santa pod last year

i wonder if the removal of the Tech 1 spoiler and Stainless exhaust affects downforce and power

[Blitz]

My argument on using the cabby is that ive got a standard tin top e30 so whats the point of another?? its a b25 isnt it blitz, you will struggle to insure that, cabbys are exensive because there easy to break into, and if you flip them you dont have much chance, i struggle to insure a 320i cabby at the moment with 2 yrs no claims

but this car wont be ready till next summer anyway by then i will have 3yrs no claims

£2000+ on the cabby and a 320i is near the same. This is on money supermarket. Even a 1.4 fiesta is £1600. This is with 1NCB.

I only paid £1500 when I passed my test.

That cant be right. I have yet to phone up insurers like adrian flux.

But I am getting a 6 pot chromie this summer, even if I have to use some of my uni grant to pay for it.

[Alex]

My argument on using the cabby is that ive got a standard tin top e30 so whats the point of another?? its a b25 isnt it blitz, you will struggle to insure that, cabbys are exensive because there easy to break into, and if you flip them you dont have much chance, i struggle to insure a 320i cabby at the moment with 2 yrs no claims

but this car wont be ready till next summer anyway by then i will have 3yrs no claims

£2000+ on the cabby and a 320i is near the same. This is on money supermarket. Even a 1.4 fiesta is £1600. This is with 1NCB.

I only paid £1500 when I passed my test.

That cant be right. I have yet to phone up insurers like adrian flux.

But I am getting a 6 pot chromie this summer, even if I have to use some of my uni grant to pay for it.

Sounds reasonable

[Blitz]

Was on compare the market and if I wait a few days with no car when I'm 20. 325i cabby £1587!!!

That seems more like for that my age. 4 months left.

[Alex]

Woooo i can now work on the turd

Spent a few hours on it today, Cleaned the inner wings with white spirit and painted with anti rust primer, also fitted front valance with new screws etc, i was annoyed to find that its going to need new towing eyes welded on

i hammerite'd the front slam panel in white too should hold back any rot

Also cleaned the floorpan out and fitted the carpet, also got door seals and a few other bits of trim fitted, quite pleased with what ive done, also removed aboout 2 old alarm systems

will be picking up an interior and 2 front wings up next weekend

excuse the crap picture quality





If your going to do a job, do it right





Anyone know what this is? also ive got a blue box with the ecu, is this part of the bmw alarm/immobiliser???



Also got a few more bmw bags yesterday morning, nice new bonnet release cable

think i will get a new bonnet for it too, its either had a crap respray before or something has reacted with it

are Cabby bonnets specific to cabbys??

[Blitz]

Great progress. Bonnets are all the same. I used one off a touring.

Alex do you think this Reg is good M20 LDN?