Best Upgrades (Mods) For A Tourer (318)

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
Bluto
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: NW

Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:32 pm

Right, got round to actually doing something to the tourer, replaced the seats with ones without holes/rips in them, and fingers crossed should have it insured this month.

So what upgrades/mods should I be looking at doing?

Its a dog carrier not an daily driver/track car, but I do like my cars to go around corners quickly.
silversideofthemoon
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 498
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: near a river in the north west

Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:33 pm

touring .
User avatar
Bluto
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: NW

Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:51 pm

nah just sticking local.
User avatar
vendetta
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 917
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: newcastle

Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:53 pm

:hammer:
charlE30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3818
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Warwick
Contact:

Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:56 pm

Bluto wrote:nah just sticking local.
:teehee:

Start with the handling side of things.... what's your style and budget?
BMW E30 344i track car :banana:
BMW F31 335d xdrive
User avatar
Bluto
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: NW

Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:08 pm

Oh come on, that was funny!

I drive vigorously, however my partner dosnt.

Just looking for best bushes, springs, dampers and similar.

Budget is £300 (not inc fitting)
charlE30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3818
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Warwick
Contact:

Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:21 pm

Bluto wrote:Oh come on, that was funny!

I drive vigorously, however my partner dosnt.

Just looking for best bushes, springs, dampers and similar.

Budget is £300 (not inc fitting)
OEM bushes available on here from cotswolds in the geniune section, M3 eccentric front lower control arm bushes inmprove the steering no end and I think are the same/cheaper than the standard bush (£23ish a pair IIRC). This is the one thing that you should always buy from BMW. The best springs & shocks would be Eibach springs with Blistein shocks.. may push your £300 budget though
BMW E30 344i track car :banana:
BMW F31 335d xdrive
Chris
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1093
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Clacton, Essex

Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:12 pm

What he said.

Put as many new BMW bushes under it as you can and it will make one hell of a difference. Then start looking at springs and dampers. £300 wont go far here though i'm afraid.

Chris
Image
User avatar
toby
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3609
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:33 pm

Bilstein dampers are great and are really good value from Euro Car Parts and some lowering springs, maybe Apex, also from Euros, should be in your budget. I run this set up and quite like it, especially considering the cost.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_3 ... -Absorbers
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_3 ... ng-Springs

Check for any worn bushes, especially subframe bushes.

HID system headlamp bulbs are a great E30 upgrade - so you can see the corners better!
Image
User avatar
Bluto
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: NW

Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:18 pm

Just sorting prices for oe bushes, surprised no trader offers em as a pack yet :)
User avatar
grantfk10
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
Posts: 2926
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: UFOland, Central Scotland

Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:33 am

Brakes upgrade might be next on the agenda.....?
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:07 am

grantfk10 wrote:Brakes upgrade might be next on the agenda.....?
It's a touring. Already has the brakes!
As most of the above have said, really. Get it running and handling as it did when it left the factory should be the priority on that budget.
Daddycoo1est
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 126
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Halesowen, West Midlands, England

Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:11 pm

As well as replacing all your bushes, don't forget to check the steering rack for play at the ball socket on the control arm .... Undo & slide the the steering rack boots towards the wheel to reveal the ball joint and make sure it is tight, these are easy to replace on the E30 and you would be suprised the difference from just replacing them I know I was when I did mine and they had only just started to wear.
Post Reply