my e30 diamond swartz 1990

[madmax1410]

well ive been on here a while so i suppose i may as well stick up some picks of my baby!

its a 316i lux with a 325i engine fitted to it! its a low spec model but i hope to change that in time!

[madmax1410]

future plans are to bring it up to 325i sport spec! with all extra's and to fit a tech 2 kit! yellow headlights and fogs a custom interiour and maybe mesh wheels of some sort!

[madmax1410]

the engine conversion









the engine is a sport engine and gearbox is an ordinary 325 box so im told is there any way to tell its a sport box from the outside? this is the third e30 this engine has been in as the last car was a 320i 2 dr it was fitted to which died from rust!

[capri_rob]

Nice work - love the engine crane

[madmax1410]

Nice work - love the engine crane

thanks man! notting but the best equipment used around here lol!

[madmax1410]

i picked up a set of these uber retro recaro's today they should look good in the 30! mine are tatty around the bolsters unlike the one in the picture

[Jim320i]

They look different Should be cool once fitted.

[mercdriver]

Nice work - love the engine crane

+1 (Theres benefits to a farmyard I guess!)

[tonybtonyb]

It's coming along.

[madmax1410]

well i started back working on this machine the week before last as its time to get her back into action! i started of by cleaning up and painting the front light grills





then i fitted the passanger bronze tint window no pics of this in progress unfortunatly!



i then picked up a second set of recaro's which eventualy will be the base for the permanent seats using the center opel manta check pattern from the other recaro's

[kam-325i]

There is no such thing as a 325 sport engine, they are all the same, but if the gearbox is a sport box, it will have a dogleg pattern gear change.

[madmax1410]

so then i siad id remove the carpet to clean it up and dye it black and to also look for rust in the floor! well its all good news so far despite the carpet been very damp on the passanger side!












thats all the rust there is

[sunnyr83]

There is no such thing as a 325 sport engine, they are all the same, but if the gearbox is a sport box, it will have a dogleg pattern gear change.

A 325i sport gearbox has a dogleg gear pattern?? Do they?

Nice work by the way op.

[madmax1410]

some more pics of the carpet




very damp! so then it was on to waxoiling her!








second coat here.




doing inside the replacement drivers door

[madmax1410]

There is no such thing as a 325 sport engine, they are all the same, but if the gearbox is a sport box, it will have a dogleg pattern gear change.

yeah i found out there is no difference between the engine's shortly after getting the engine. The gearbox is an ordinary 325i box but ill be changing it as one of the gearbox mounts is broke of! dont know weather to go for another normal or sport?

i tought it was only m3 and some e21's that came with a dogleg box?

[madmax1410]

There is no such thing as a 325 sport engine, they are all the same, but if the gearbox is a sport box, it will have a dogleg pattern gear change.

A 325i sport gearbox has a dogleg gear pattern?? Do they?

Nice work by the way op.

thanks

[kam-325i]

There is no such thing as a 325 sport engine, they are all the same, but if the gearbox is a sport box, it will have a dogleg pattern gear change.

i tought it was only m3 and some e21's that came with a dogleg box?

i know the M3 had the dogleg box, but i have always thought that the sports box was dogleg also, along with the closer ratio's....

[sunnyr83]

Yes! The 325i sport gearbox is not a dogleg pattern. The m3 is but not sure on the e21.

Go for a 320i gearbox.

[macas]

There is no such thing as a 325 sport engine, they are all the same, but if the gearbox is a sport box, it will have a dogleg pattern gear change.

i tought it was only m3 and some e21's that came with a dogleg box?

i know the M3 had the dogleg box, but i have always thought that the sports box was dogleg also, along with the closer ratio's....

No,the sports box has the same pattern gear change as a standerd 5 speed box but with closer ratios.

[csl]

i tought it was only m3 and some e21's that came with a dogleg box?

i know the M3 had the dogleg box, but i have always thought that the sports box was dogleg also, along with the closer ratio's....

No,the sports box has the same pattern gear change as a standerd 5 speed box but with closer ratios.

IIRC....some 323i had the optional "dogleg" sport box.
If you want a 325i sport box,look for the markings HJ/TNN on it.

[madmax1410]

Yes! The 325i sport gearbox is not a dogleg pattern. The m3 is but not sure on the e21.

Go for a 320i gearbox.

yeah i read somewere that some e21's are fitted with dogleg box's but it may be just alpina one's?

here is some more pics of the car along with a couple of the other project im working on at the moment.






finaly got a front lip for her!


and a few better ones of the ae86

[madmax1410]

i know the M3 had the dogleg box, but i have always thought that the sports box was dogleg also, along with the closer ratio's....

No,the sports box has the same pattern gear change as a standerd 5 speed box but with closer ratios.

IIRC....some 323i had the optional "dogleg" sport box.
If you want a 325i sport box,look for the markings HJ/TNN on it.

thanks i must check the box i have incase its a sport!

[csl]

thanks i must check the box i have incase its a sport!

Just checked up in "the bible"...written by Andyboy on here....and there was indeed a 323i dogleg sport box(Getrag 245).An ordinary 325i box will have NW,TNW or ANB on it.
HTH.

Those check recaros are fantastic.

[madmax1410]

thanks i must check the box i have incase its a sport!

Just checked up in "the bible"...written by Andyboy on here....and there was indeed a 323i dogleg sport box(Getrag 245).An ordinary 325i box will have NW,TNW or ANB on it.
HTH.

Those check recaros are fantastic.

yeah i read it some where recently on here that some were fitted with dogleg's but its very rare apparently!

them recaro's are out of an opel manta gte if you want to get a set your self! they also came with the same check pattern but with tan bolsters which also looks great but are quiet a bit rarer!

[madmax1410]

so time for a long over due update! so basicly i keep buying projects 7 and counting! and as such ive been working on and off at the car for the last year and half! but now at last the end is in sight!

so to save on buying high spec parts ect.. i bought a donor car for the build which is a 2 door 1988 320i which had the following parts fitted

m sport suspention
shadowline trim
rear disc brake axle with 4.10 open diff
electric sunroof
rear popouts
4x15 bbs oem alloys
tech 2 rear spoiler
sport steering wheel
oem gearbox shield

it had but unfortunatly the previous owner removed it! a premium sound system with tweeter pods!

so whats happening with the car at the moment! Its going to get a new battery tray panel but the tray is been permantly removed also a new scuttle panel soon infact next week most likely when the panels come in!

the new spec of the car when finished with the parts im going to get for it/have there plus a respray in the winter will be please god!!

full 325i running gear
shadow line bronze tints
tropical radiator (i have this but i didnt realise what i had and almost sold it!)
tropical/aircon vallance
oem yellow tint hella headlights and foglamps
dye carpet/parcel shelf black
z3 short shift upgrade
13 button obc
maplight mirror
custom recaro's
e46 steering rack upgrade
battery in boot retro fit

oh and an lsd to at some point so ive still got a way to go! but at least ill have her on the road again in the mean time!

the donor as purchased


jurring its strip down/experamental stage






and now for the main machine!

[madmax1410]

with the kiddney's back where they belong!



and as she sits now!

[madmax1410]

got 2 new panels today for this

[madmax1410]

here's the last few pics before a few changes!






in the last 2 pics it may be hard to tell but she now has a full set of bronze tint window's!

some of the changes inbetween the next up date will be fitting

a cleaner bonnet and boot door
bronze rear screen and windscreen when i get one!
battery relocation kit
shadow line side glass trim
front bbs's with new rubber
new battery tray and scuttle panel
goodridge clutch line
x5 short shifter

and repainting

both mirror's
both bumper's
bonnet
boot door
lower front valance lip
and the centre of the kidney grill

[madmax1410]

well a little update on my machine! i had a bit of work done on it been the new battery tray and scuttle panel were fitted i also had the front bumper painted! i changed the bonnet and rear boot door also!

the car was compounded also before i got it back! i also managed to pick up a 13 button obc in new zealand but it isnt complete unfortunatly!

there isnt a massive amount to do to the car now before she is finished for the time been!

[si911t]

i picked up a set of these uber retro recaro's today they should look good in the 30! mine are tatty around the bolsters unlike the one in the picture

[bmandy68]

The Recaros i bet they are from a Opel manta GTE/GSI

[madmax1410]

time for an update seen as there hasent been one in over a year! well in the end i used the 88 cars paper work and reshelled it into the 90 shell with a brand new scuttle panel from the factory along with the battery tray the old rotten shell is going drifting most likely!

ive had the car on the road for nearly a year now with no big problems bar having to do the clutch which was my own fault the box and engine started to seperate because a few bolts were missing which ruined the clutch! other wise its been completely reliable!

i decided to swap out the tired 260 getrag for a nice tight 240 which seems so far to be a good swap! and works well with the 3.64 diff!

here is some pics of the parts i got along with mods/upgrades!
first up was replacing the exhaust gaskets and some fancy bosch wipers!

then i got some new real leather gaitors for the handbrake and gear surround!



then i picked up a new evo style bbs 15 for a spare wheel!



so i was getting fed up with the small case 4.10 diff which was great accelerating but gave poor motorway mpg so i got an open 3.64 which needed a little tidy up!

[madmax1410]

so i refurbed the light grills a few years ago but i never did the kidney grill so i went about painting it along with the scuttle panel covers!



i then went and got a 318is splitter from my dealer he told me it was the second last one left in germany thats not including dealers who may still have one or 2


and fitted for a few pics


so then came along nct time it failed on tie rod wear and front drop links! so another e30 owner recomended these as an upgrade so i ordered some there ford mondeo mk3 estate rear drop links and seem to be a better and stronger design than the original e30 ones!


so then as i have the larger tropical rad i went and ordered a new vent for the valence to increase cooling in the engine bay!


i was doing some research on the net on upgrades using oem parts and i came across these there e90 strut top hats which lower your car an extra 10mm a nice cheap mod!


and fitted! its not really obvious but when your driving there was definatly a difference as the nose of the car was down more and the suspention felt tighter!

[Mitchen]

Maybe it's my OCD but reading through this thread, all I wanted to do was give this car a bloody good wash!!

[madmax1410]

this one might upset the purest's the donor car had the rare m technic suspention option which used a 20mm front anti roll bar along with a 14.5mm rear one these were flaking so i decided to repaint them!


the color i decided to paint them is a tractor color david brown power red this is hard wearing paint so should hold up well and spruce up the appearance under neath her!



and here's a few pics of her out and about!