1983 323i Henna "no. 45" (UDP260Y) UPDATE :)

[daimlerman]

Mike's 'UBL' is a thing of beauty,and a tribute to his skill and patience in getting this car to the level it is at today.Snag is,that to keep a car to this level is a huge commitment,means that the car becomes nothing more than an ornament!

If everyone felt like that Malc, and continued to use them in anger, there would be none left. Yes use them but we need to be preserving them also.

I totally agree,Trevor,just pointing out the commitment that needs to be made to get a car to show standard and keep it there.
Old car movement is a very wide 'church',some like polishing,some like tinkering,and some like driving the things.

E30 is at the cusp of becoming fully accepted as a classic,if not for guys like Mike,Steve Bostock and yourself,there would be even fewer shiny ones for us lesser mortals to admire!

My POV is that I built my two to my spec. with a view to running them for at least ten years,this gives me far cheaper and more entertaining motoring than buying a much newer pair of cars and watching them lose value

[capri_rob]

I'm quite glad my touring is still a bit rough round the edges - if it was done to the perfectionist level some of these cars are getting to I don't think it would get driven at all

As it is it will only be taxed for the summer months and won't see rain again.

If the rare/early/unusual cars that are left all get chequebook nut and bolt restorations yes they'll be preserved but won't get driven for fear of devaluation and/or something happening to them.

I think there is still a place in the E30 world for these turds to get sympathetic resto's without going concors-paedo ridiculous so that you can actually put a few miles on it each year without worrying about it.

Trailering a perfect car to a show and putting mirrors underneath so everyone can see how spotless it is before trailering it home again ain't for me

[Gortour]

Agreed Rob. Mirrors are for ceilings, not putting under cars.

[Simon13]

tis true, i've gone too far on my 2 door and well its too late now but if i knew what i did now back then i might not have taken quite the same route. It might of even sold it by now!

[Grrrmachine]

Considering we have UK's oldest E30, Oldest press car and first Touring in this thread alone, is there anything else we should be looking out for? First Cab, First 325i, that sort of thing?

As for Duke, he deserves his own icon for preserving what should be a monument of UK E30 history.

[Simon13]

i'm fairly sure my touring was the last C2 2.7 built worldwide.

[Duke137]

Small update:

Have done fook all graft on this, not had time. However, I picked up a few parts for it.

I went to see Kedge and picked up a few bits including a Medium case diff (3.46:1) Don’t know if that is going to be ok yet but, trial and error will do. Also got 2 exhausts to choose from, one with a twin pipe exit and one that is 2 into 1 before the mid box. The latter is a Bosal VGC one so I am unsure which to go for yet.




This morning I went to see RichIS and the sorry ”˜BDG’ Turd.... That thing is in a bad bad way lol but a deal was done on a few items and I bought the full interior (minus the ripped carpet) for a good price even if it is looking a little tired.

I know some of you may think WTF with the interior but this car is never going to be concourse in my ownership, and i think that the interior adds a bit of character to the car. The passenger seat is great so I will keep an eye out for a replacement or something I can use for fabric for the drivers seat. Comfort seats look so right in there, I have never been a fan of leather so we will try these out and go from there. At the end of the day I had to buy these really due to the fact that the very early seats are different to the majority of E30’s (Rear bench).

Sadly the rear door cards don’t match but again, the car has been round the block to say the least so it’s got to be better than it was! I picked up the front carpet speaker covers, again early cars had these and the parcel shelf so it should all come together.

Still need a couple of bits yet but getting stuck into the shell is definitely next on the list!

They need a clean, don’t pick faults but here are a couple of pics, I threw it in loosely to see what it looked like:






And the drivers seat, not the best but it is original and will do for now. Beats a bucket and harness set up anyway.



I know it is a long shot, but if anyone has any fabric or old seats they can offer me I am willing to listen just let me know what you have.

Sorry for the shit pics, camera is a cheapo thing and the flash highlights the seats to look manky which they aren't!

Cheers for all the positive comments so far.

[bss325i]

Another passenger seat to use for the covers and some careful cleaning will see this interior right.

And it is right for the car.

[TPS]

Considering we have UK's oldest E30, Oldest press car and first Touring in this thread alone, is there anything else we should be looking out for? First Cab, First 325i, that sort of thing?

As for Duke, he deserves his own icon for preserving what should be a monument of UK E30 history.

Wasn't there a Zoner who had a M Reg. Touring? , Mugello Red I think.

[csl]

I'm quite glad my touring is still a bit rough round the edges - if it was done to the perfectionist level some of these cars are getting to I don't think it would get driven at all

Its a very good point that.
Im all for nice condition/new parts but you can get to a point where your worried about driving it! I had a totally original RS500(panels/paint etc)with very low miles to,however taking it out was a gamble.....would someone run in to me?...and then thats all the originality gone! I bought it to enjoy on nice days but in the end it was more of a liability.

[Kedge]

Fabric is totally different to the stuff i've got stashed somewhere Ferg.

So the list of things you still need from me are that bast*rd rear belt, fog light brackets and that clock? Sure there's nothing else before the shell goes?

[csl]

Considering we have UK's oldest E30, Oldest press car and first Touring in this thread alone, is there anything else we should be looking out for? First Cab, First 325i, that sort of thing?

As for Duke, he deserves his own icon for preserving what should be a monument of UK E30 history.

Wasn't there a Zoner who had a M Reg. Touring? , Mugello Red I think.

There is indeed a Mugello red Mreg Touring.Nice car by the looks of it.
Theres also a red cab and another white touring. Would love to hear of any more?

[Duke137]

Fabric is totally different to the stuff i've got stashed somewhere Ferg.

So the list of things you still need from me are that bast*rd rear belt, fog light brackets and that clock? Sure there's nothing else before the shell goes?

Don't think so mate just them bits. The other henna car offered up a few bits but it had been stood 10 years so didnt fancy claiming many bits if i am honest.

Still finding a donor passenger seat may prove difficult please dont hold back anyone if you see one! Its 0150 anthracite cloth.

Some nice info coming through and csl you are right about having a car that nice you end up scared of it! This will be restored but useable.

I could do with a plain mushroom type gear shifter does anyone have one or are they cheap at the dealer? Nothing mtech though.

By the way thanks to the zoners who have pm'd and pointed me in the right direction for parts and info. It is appreciated

[Duke137]

Fabric is totally different to the stuff i've got stashed somewhere Ferg.

So the list of things you still need from me are that bast*rd rear belt, fog light brackets and that clock? Sure there's nothing else before the shell goes?

Don't think so mate just them bits. The other henna car offered up a few bits but it had been stood 10 years so didnt fancy claiming many bits if i am honest.

Still finding a donor passenger seat may prove difficult please dont hold back anyone if you see one! Its 0150 anthracite cloth.

Some nice info coming through and csl you are right about having a car that nice you end up scared of it! This will be restored but useable.

I could do with a plain mushroom type gear shifter does anyone have one or are they cheap at the dealer? Nothing mtech though.

By the way thanks to the zoners who have pm'd and pointed me in the right direction for parts and info. It is appreciated

[Kedge]

Rav definately told me that the plastic mushroom knobs are about £12, but then you have to buy the sticker and i think the non M ones are meant to be bloody rare.

[Ollie_bwoii]

AFAIK those rear door cards are actually correct fergus.

Out of interest, does anyone know what number of cars were built before the launch...? As I have an original invitation to a dealer launch of the 323i, and the car featured is not in Henna red.

My guess is that there was quite a number made before the launch? I.e. a number of 316, 320 and 323's?

Interesting stuff though this UPD car.

[Duke137]

Thanks Ollie, I got the front cards from the other car to and they are straight black, mine are like this:



You might find some 320i's were next as I think 316's were later, Andyboy knows better than me but he did say something about it when popped over for a chat last week.


BTW, I checked realoem would this car have had the "2 into 1" exhaust system with single pipe exit?

I think that is what I will go for anyway.

[jlb]

Twin pipes straight through... Double exit angled iirc

[Simon13]

keep it 2 pipes right through. The early 323's were 139 bhp and a bit sh!t. BMW revised them quick and most were 150bhp versions. I'd want mine 150bhp and balls to original in this case.

Everett will know more, they have a different cam iirc.

[Duke137]

keep it 2 pipes right through. The early 323's were 139 bhp and a bit sh!t. BMW revised them quick and most were 150bhp versions. I'd want mine 150bhp and balls to original in this case.

Everett will know more, they have a different cam iirc.

Yeah he told me that story too, tales of them collecting cars and replacing cams and exhausts etc in a day....

twin pipe it is then, the other can go on egay.

Cheers for the info

[Ollie_bwoii]

You could only get all vinyl rears in the early models. So the above fronts and vinyl rear are actually correct for a 6 cylinder car.

4 cylinder cars had all vinyl fronts.

[Duke137]

Anyone used these guys before?

http://www.westtrading.nl/overzicht.asp ... anguage=UK

Can anyone pick out what they think is the correct fabric???

Might have got lucky?

[jlb]

Very early cars have slightly different log manifolds, the stud configuration for downpipe connection is slightly different, which doesnt make things easy as 323 box's are not always readily available, so depending on what you have or want to run...a good alternative is a early preface 325 system, this can be made to work with slight heat shield modificaton, but you will require a 325 log manifold as early 323 ones are not compatible or were not on mine when I came to change them.

[Duke137]

Very early cars have slightly different log manifolds, the stud configuration for downpipe connection is slightly different, which doesnt make things easy as 323 box's are not always readily available, so depending on what you have or want to run...a good alternative is a early preface 325 system, this can be made to work with slight heat shield modificaton, but you will require a 325 log manifold as early 323 ones are not compatible or were not on mine when I came to change them.

Cheers, I have a 323i exhaust system from Kedge

They differences between the very early cars and the rest is quite significant really!

[pacerpete]

ALL 323s had the twin pipe system. IIRC the only major differences between the very early 139 cars and the 150 turds was the camshaft and ignition timing/ distributor related.

[Duke137]

Had a day off today so whilst little’n was at nursery I thought I would go and see if I could do a few bits...

First off jacked it up and had a look underneath. Rear arches aren’t very good at the bottom unfortunately but that will be tackled in due course.

Noticed the exhaust centre box didn’t look quite right, I realised someone had chopped a couple of inches off the tail end of it so basically it’s scrap.



Sacked that off, as I have a replacement with the correct flanges etc



Realised my hangers are too small so I will have to get hold of a new larger one? Didn’t have chance or time to sort it today so it only has the downpipes on for now.

Next up was attempt to swap the welded diff out for the 3.45 medium case (open) I bought from Kedge.

What a job, scrabbled round on my back for some time juggling it into position, adjusting the prop to suit the different length etc etc.... Anyway got there in the end so happy


Old Welded (left) VS Replacement Open (right) ”“ Diffs are diffs though lol



Medium case in situe ”“ Drive shafts needed bolting on I know!




So that was that really lol Happy now that the welded diff, bucket seats and harnesses are history it doesn’t feel like a tramp-drift car as much now!

Still plenty to do though obviously

Fooking hate satin black.

[DanThe]

I wouldnt get too carried away bolting that diff on until you know your gbox ratios!

This looks like your trim? -

http://www.westtrading.nl/detail.asp?Id ... uage=UK&t=

[Duke137]

Don't worry Dan, I just wanted the welded diff out full stop. I have a couple of other diffs in stock if it doesn't work out.

I want to MOT it before it gets resprayed so I can move it about as it needs to go to my brothers work to get sprayed. Wrong diff ratio is least of my worries anyway, feels like I have been playing scrapheap challenge today!

Yes I saw that trim shade, the 'green' description confuses me a bit though....

[DanThe]

Did the car come with that trim from new? Simple phone call to a dealers gets you the trim code

[Duke137]

Did the car come with that trim from new? Simple phone call to a dealers gets you the trim code

0150 anthracite apparently, both this and the other rotten car had this trim.

I had the rotten turds interior

[Andyboy]

The original diff for this car would have been a small case 3.23. But a med case 3.45 would work well.
The medium case diffs started being fitted mid 1984 iirc.

[DanThe]

The original diff for this car would have been a small case 3.23. But a med case 3.45 would work well.
The medium case diffs started being fitted mid 1984 iirc.

I was thinking about the box swap and it will possibly be too long geared

[Andyboy]

It'll be okay, honest! They were all 3.23:1 and the early automatics were the 3 speed 3HP22. The 323i box was the same as the later 325i, 0.81 fifth gear.
320i's had a 3.45 diff and the 316/318i were 3.64. 3.23 is a bit long geared really so a 3.46 will give it a bit of a boost.
I reckon the welded diff that Ferg removed was the original.

[Duke137]

So do I, RE original diff

I think Dan means the gearbox might be a later M20 one??

EDIT: Just read your response properly Andy lol

[Andyboy]

AFAIK those rear door cards are actually correct fergus.

Out of interest, does anyone know what number of cars were built before the launch...? As I have an original invitation to a dealer launch of the 323i, and the car featured is not in Henna red.

My guess is that there was quite a number made before the launch? I.e. a number of 316, 320 and 323's?

Interesting stuff though this UPD car.

No idea how many cars, probably 2-3000. Colours of the original cars were Henna red, Opal green, black, Bronze, Baltic blue and Polaris silver.

What date is on your invitation? That will be the UK launch date!