My E30 Sport Restoration Project

[Captain_Tightpants]

Hi Everybody,

I recently had the fortune to buy an E30 325i Sport. I paid £800 for it, and it had been stood since 2007.

I had an E34 535i Sport about ten years ago, and loved it. A couple of my friends had the 325i Sports, and I really wanted one.

This one kind of fell into my lap really.

Anyway, pictures tell a thousand words:







I was going to use it as a track car to be honest, but it seems pretty good, so will probably use it as a daily for a bit.

Done so far:

I had to do brake lines and a few bushes for the MOT, and a number plate.
Changed all fluids
Cambelt
Repaired drivers seat
Sourced centre caps for alloys.

To do:

Repair front valance that seems to have come loose.
Source decent gearknob as the old one is knackered.
Has an annoying random non-start issue which I will get to the bottom of
Get various bits of paintwork done, where the laquer has come off.

Possibly:

Engine Conversion
Alpina style wheels

Not very interesting at the minute I know, but still!

Steve

[G-Bear]

Nice, a Steel at £800. Especially if it's not rooting underneath that kit.. Have you had a good look yet?

Welcome to the The Zone too .... Well sort of.. It's you first post at least.

[jimbom30cab]

very nice, great little project there, got a love an e30 winter project, especially that spec.

[Captain_Tightpants]

G-Bear, Thanks, hard to know what these sorts fo things are worth I guess, I wasn't even sure if it was worth that to be honest, but overall I'm pretty happy. No rust to speak of underneath thats for sure. Had it up on the ramp and looks to be pretty solid. Has a little bit of rust, about 50p size I guess by the rear number plate light, and a small scab on the roof near the sunroof. Thanks for the welcome, often browsing, never posting I guess!

jimboe39540i Cheers! I think the spec is about average? Would have like Air-Con!

Steve

[hennared323i]

a small scab on the roof near the sunroof.

You need to investigate that

[Captain_Tightpants]

Hennared323i, Certainly will. On my list of things to do!

[magpie]

good purchase ,it's a no lose car

[G-Bear]

As hennared323i says, that scab on the roof will need a looking at, they like to rot from the inside out, the tray for the sunroof is a popular spot and have a good poke on the rear panel behind the number plate and had one (still have it in a garage awaiting some love in the form of new steel) that was crunchy all the way along the rear panel.

Floss through this

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust

But either way it's a bargain with all the desirable bits attached that make it a tech 2, so good for the cash.

[Captain_Tightpants]

magpie, Hopefully yes! Thanks!

G-Bear, Thanks for the link, some interesting reading. Hopefully I won't have to do too much welding to it. So be it I guess if I do. I have to finish a few other things before I get properly stuck into this. Maybe a few weeks.

Steve

[tonybtonyb]

Looks like a great buy!Good luck

[craiggy]

looks good.

[Speedtouch]

Undo the trim clips that hold the bottom of the sill skirts on (they prize off with a small flat-bladed screwdriver) and open them a few inches and get a torch to inspect the condition of the sills, as they like to rot away under there.

Mine had gaping holes in the outer sills just under the A-posts on both sides!

I wonder at people who just leave a Sport sitting about for 5 years... Nice buy at £800 though!

[mani]

£800 now that a deal

[polsta]

You wont know how solid it is just on a ramp, check out jims thread with a similar car

[Captain_Tightpants]

tonybtonyb, Thanks!

Speedtouch, Thanks for the advice, I did that essentially when I bought the old girl. It's generally pretty solid on the bottom end. Probably could do with a set of wings at some point though to be fair!

It was at an old peoples home basically. I'm unsure of the exact story behind it as I got it from a friend who has had it in his garage for a year and not touched it!

mani, Hopefully yeah!

polsta, I have been looking through peoples projects on here for four years or more, so have seen where the weak points are. Thanks for the pointer though.

Slight update,

Did ten miles in it the other day, bloody water pump went! Had to replace that the other day. Took the time to helicoil the M6 bolt on the cambelt cover, which I had noticed was a bit dodgy when doing the cambelt.

Nothing other to report, other than three people and counting have sent me PM's to see if it is for sale!

Steve

[/// KAMI]

Black sport does look nice

[brizzer]

£800 now that a deal

definately not from Ebay

[Gert_8]

Get some more pics up, mate. Looks very good, and a bargain. As Magpie says, a no lose car.

[Morat]

congrats! If the roof is OK, you're looking at a real bargain there.
Don't track it, you'll make the other sport owners cry