OEM Plush - Factory Fresh and Grounded

[racer86]

Hello all,

I've been a lurker for erm, well years, but I've finally given in and bought myself an E30; the right cart came up at the righ time and I jumped on it!







The car is beyond immaculate and has been in the care of the RAF all its life; basically it's been pampered and kept under a cover or in a garage.

It's also optioned up to the max for a 316i



















I did the decent thing as soon as I got it home and gave it a major service (not that it needed one, it has a full dealer history and every recipt from new!)



Yes, that is OEM BMW Underseal and I made sure the car was covered in the stuff!







Next on the to-do list was get it sitting right. Within days of it being on my drive BC coilovers, a sump guard and new rims were ordred:









I booked a couple of days off work so I had a long weekend to get stuck into it. It wasn't all smooth running (more on my blog: http://www.racer86.com), but I got there:













The result of all this:











Once it's settled this weekend I'm going to drop it a little more, but you get a good idea. The wheels are Axis OG2s which I have spaced out.

Anyway, I'll keep this updated as I go and look forward to getting in amongst it on the forum!

[ali50ferrari]

very nice man!!!

[schnaarf]

thats a bloody nice e30

[leeparkes]

That is very nice

Is it staying a 316i? also do you have any more pics of the wheels?

And errr... welcome

[Rav335uk]

Welcome, and nice coilovers.

[Ranchero]

You took your time .
Worth the wait though I'd say. Looks like a very clean example.

[oldroydsr4]

Alright Rob,

Looks like we have gone live at the same time.

Stunning e30

[Greeny]

me likes a lot

[VWinston]

Very very nice

[Duke137]

me likey

[Brinkland]

Nice nice

[bmwsport]

Engine conversion?

[Kemix]

Thats lovely matey, wish my engine bay was that clean

[Dafy]

verry good ! i like this car !

[ImysE30]

Very nice and clean

[euan]

nice car and love the wheels

[Nick325]

Nice car racer86.
Are those Axis OG's 15x8 ?
If they are do they have any clearance issues and what size tyres have you fitted?
I fancy a set for my cab, but in silver.

Nick

[racer86]

Thanks all. Yes they are Axis OG2s. I did have clearance issues with the rim and my coilover initially, but I'm running spacers so no issues now. Tyres are 195/50 Toyos.

No plans for an engine conversion right now. It's my daily driver and it's doing 37mpg! I do a lot of motorway driving so I don't need it to be fast; it sits at 80 all day in pin-drop silence so is pretty much perfect for me. I have a play car for going fast in...this is my cruiser. If I was going to do it I'd put an M44 in from an E36...The car is good enough for, and really deserves, an S14 though..

[TouringTash]

So a hanger find

Is this the first for an E30?

Welcome

[oldroydsr4]

I went with rob to view this e30; the condition of it is truely outstanding and can honestly be described as show room. A m44 would be selling it short IMO (Unless it was on throttle bodies with a carbon plenum)

[/// KAMI]

how much were the coilovers and also what wheels are they?

the car looks nice

[leeparkes]

Thanks all. Yes they are Axis OG2s.

[e30maddog]

that is the cleanest e30 i have ever seen!! wish i could see it in person.. like it just rolled of the prud line. my old chromie was immaculate but nothin like your ride dude. very very nice

[Dan320is]

I've seen the BC Coilovers a few times and not seen how they fit the E30's. Certainly a different method of fitting compared to sending your old struts away to be converted.

What offset are the Axis'?

[gooner1]

Specs are: 15x8 et25 with 20mm rear spacers and 15mm front. Tyres are 195/50s.

Hth.

[TouringTash]

This may sound silly but how great are the advantages of going this far with the suspension?
I'm on a budget to a fair degree and was looking at blowing a fair chunk on the brakes and just replacing all bushes and fitting Bilsteins and decent springs, with a 30-40 drop on the touring.

Then again I suppose the first question should be an approx cost.
I want to end up with a nice, rust free, comfortable E30 that looks standard (hence the willwoods as they go behind the bbs's)

Hope you don't mind the Questions Racer

[TouringTash]

PM goon

[racer86]

Hey Dan, I think they fit in the same way as when you send off struts, I just chose to buy the kit and fit it myself. Without wanting to flirt too much, your 320iS is awesome! Litterally saw it at a couple of shows this summer and it blew me away!

I'm pretty sure loads of people are going to jump on these wheels, so I'll have to change them next year!

[racer86]

Tash, I had to go this far to get it sat how I want. I'm all about the stance lol! I could have saved some money and made my own coils, but I wanted to do the car justice and it's perfect, so the sus had to be right.

As it happens it rides real nice. My last car was Roadster on Gaz coilovers and it was a bit on the jiggly side; the BCs are plush.

[TouringTash]

cheers bud.

More food for though. I may have to give up full time employment to able to spend the time needed on research.

[5six7eight]

Get some more pictures up, that looks immaculately clean!

[TouringTash]

Just a quickie I'm tempted with pouring my money into a little racing after I'm happy with my touring so not till 2012. I'm guessing by your name and the sus set up that you know a thing or two. Any tips for a noob? I'm going to get some tuition at Brands Hatch it's only two miles from me and have been pointed towards the pbmwc as I'll be on a budget and would like to start with enjoying looking at the rear of all the others

Been having a good look at your pics and compairing with other sorted E30s and finally get what you mean by stance. I take it this level of geometry helps make the car more planted and stable.

[racer86]

So, the weather has sucked the last week, but I managed to drop it another 15mm now it's settled. A bit of tweeking and it still rides nice too which is a bonus. I've also ordered some slightly bigger spacers so I can hand back the loaners I'm running now.





Sump guard runs pretty low now...






















Thanks for all the props too! As for the racing stuff...erm, no idea really (I did motorsport at uni too!). I'd check out some of the builds of the guys building track cars and stuff. Sorry I couldn't be more help!

[Cook318IS]

That looks proper awesome, i really like it! I was looking at getting some exip wheels for my e30 last year which look similar to your wheels, i sort of wish i did now! Your wheels have abit more dish than the exip ones though

[spook]

Very nice mate