My little project

[themaverick999]

hi all

blog address : http://projecte30-325i.blogspot.co.uk

Also will be posting what i blog straight into her for those who prefer it that way. There will be a good influx of posts today

[themaverick999]

Well about me:

Im 29 soon to be 30 which Im thrilled about !! Work shifts but not going to say where as later on when moaning about it i might get my self knee deep in trouble. Im married and have the wife to thank for this project, Bless her took enough nagging

That will do for now ...

So why a BMW E30 325I I hear you ask!!

- I have wanted one from college some 12 years ago
- Wanted RWD
- Wanted a toy / track car
- Sick of modern cars

After hunting for months and months and months and months ...... you get the idea. going through stages of frustration not being to able to find anything worth having in budget and debating whether to get a E36 OR MX5 , one finally popped up on a forum and I was on my way to buy it in days , the bloke was fantastic and the car taking into account is 21 years old had very few issues.

Being picky at this stage as want to document everything and I have probably forgotten the odd thing

Issues:

- Worn leather and mismatch rear seat but by far not the worse I have seen
- Rust on one rear arch (very minor)
- Random electrical issue meaning passenger side light stays on all the time unless take bulbs out obviously as its not magic!
- Requires 4xShocks
- Bearings in heater blower shot
- Needs service to be sure
- Kurbed wheels
- Blowing Exhaust - Due to lows!!

To say its done 140K ish its spot on.

Drove it home was a right laugh, went with mate as otherwise would have A) Got lost , B) Got bored to tears especially as had to use public transport !!

So some pics from when picked her up:











and then the restoration / modifications began .....

[themaverick999]

As started this today this is not correct date or time but is in order that things have been done that took pics of anyways

- Heater blower replaced, was lovely job to be honest no dash out job like on modern vehicles, no pic at this stage as wasn't thinking of doing a build thread / blog

- Removed sun strip and some vinyl as wasn't to my taste

- Tried to fix electrical issue with fuses and relays - FAILED so still working on that one!!

If anyone can help the sidelight on the passenger side front and rear stay on and there is a constant drain on the earth for the battery if the circuit is complete ?????

Least got some premises now and some tools etc

Pretty boring lets be honest and been working loads to fund project and taking Mrs away for birthday.

This isn't going to be a quick project where its done in month its self funded and may take a while hahaha

Simon

[BenHar]

If anyone can help the sidelight on the passenger side front and rear stay on and there is a constant drain on the earth for the battery if the circuit is complete ?????

Are you sure you haven't left the indicator stalk switched to left turn? This turns on the side lights for parking at night.

Ben

[themaverick999]

To start with I don't have any patience!!

So i set about turning this :





into something that was A) Black B) Had no holes in, plus it had to match something that was getting picked up

Trial fit to make sure got enough alcantara / faux suede



Shortly after this , I lost patience so didn't take any pics and have never done this before so heres a random pic of my dog Maisy chilling



So the finished product:







Not that bad to be fair for a 1st attempt

That was it for this week to be honest due to wife turning 30

Simon

[themaverick999]

well i bought some fly eye for my daily drive after a headlight tint disaster and had some left over so of course it made its way onto the BMW

this was done ages ago just didn't take pics so popped out to take some now





Needs a clean

Sat next to daily drive




Simon

[themaverick999]

Same as last time something was bit tatty had some alcantara left over and guess what still no patience so ...

From this :



To this:





Pics of the new interior fitted too when get hands on keys to take pics of it


So that will do for now house work to do and dog to go pick up

Simon

[themaverick999]

So this was fitted a few days ago with my ever faithful mate, very few pics as was in a huge rush and one of mates from work popped over to have some bulbs changed and was a headlight out job

Damn you FIAT

Anyways when took the Mrs away for night to a spa hotel and Beamish for her 30th , managed to arrange to meet a guy at hotel and pick up a seriously immaculate leather sport interior, just as i wanted without rear headrests, so fitted that and the alcantara rear shelf

Pics






Bad pic due to camera phone and sun - no complaints with sun mind better than snow or rain!!




All bolsters are this tidy too

Whilst was there took picture below of steering wheel that will be replaced by something much nicer due to my friend Ebay



Will be gone when new ones delivered

Other than that not much to tell been doing some window shopping and will hopefully be making my alpinas look like this shortly :



Further window shopping means that in month when my dreaded 30th arrives i will be doing quite a few upgrades audio and suspension wise and might just throw in a IS Splitter for good measure

That will do for now as cant really do a lot , dog sitting after she had surgery so thats my job for next few days then back to dreaded work.

Simon

[themaverick999]

If anyone can help the sidelight on the passenger side front and rear stay on and there is a constant drain on the earth for the battery if the circuit is complete ?????

Are you sure you haven't left the indicator stalk switched to left turn? This turns on the side lights for parking at night.

Ben

No was one of 1st things i checked, its driving me insane

[themaverick999]

Almost forgot , new door cards on route today .......

[themaverick999]

and, just to get the grey matter in overdrive who is the guy on this forum who is clued up on turbo conversions as has done one, want to see whats involved and expense one got the project 90% finished

[Gert_8]

Seats are mint!

What's the stuff on the headlights? I don't like the "brows", and I think your car would look much better without them.

[themaverick999]

Seats are mint!

What's the stuff on the headlights? I don't like the "brows", and I think your car would look much better without them.

its fly eye , basically a tint, not to everyones taste i guess, but i love it as its legal, on the astra too

love the brows , guess personal choice, they are staying for now, might take off to see what look like without next week

[billgatese30]

Car looks tidy, although I'm with Gert, would look better without the eyebrows, but thats just a personal thing.

Where abouts are you from if you took the Mrs to Beamish?

[themaverick999]

Car looks tidy, although I'm with Gert, would look better without the eyebrows, but thats just a personal thing.

Where abouts are you from if you took the Mrs to Beamish?

im from york area mate , yourself?

[billgatese30]

Washington, so a little closer to Beamish than you I'm about another 5 mins up the A1 from where you would have turned off to head for Beamish

[Rtaylor2208]

The cars looking good, the interior looks to be a great find. Not many leather seats left in that condition.

[themaverick999]

Washington, so a little closer to Beamish than you I'm about another 5 mins up the A1 from where you would have turned off to head for Beamish

next time go might give you a shout out

[themaverick999]

Quick random update

Been lucky enough to locate some door cards in mint condition without holes etc so they are on route asap and will be fitted next week, still need some rear ones at some point and thought would do a shopping list of stuff over next few months:

- Satin black paint for Alpina Rims
- Bluetooth , Parrot Head unit
- Vibe Co-Axials (hidden behind kick panels)
- Vibe 6X9s (will be hidden under shelf like ones got at minute)
- Coilovers
- Service parts

......and depending on money over next few months some paint for the Astra Daily

Future mods and restoration:

- Sort electrical issue out if not sorted when doing audio install
- 2 x new rear arches
- 2 x new front arches
- Respray in same colour
- IS Splitter
- Alcantara headlining
- Engine chip

Simon

[oomz1975]

Nice car, had one similar in silver.
An 'is' lip spoiler would finish the front off nicely.
I like what your doing with the interior, just doing the headlining in mine...
By the way, turning 30 ain't no big thing.

[themaverick999]

Nice car, had one similar in silver.
An 'is' lip spoiler would finish the front off nicely.
I like what your doing with the interior, just doing the headlining in mine...
By the way, turning 30 ain't no big thing.

feels like the end of my youth but the wife turned 30 she isn't bothered now lol ,

i know its just funds at min need to get coilovers and electrics sorted for mot in september , may seem along way away but will be here before i know it and got to mot the daily

have to see how things go next month

[themaverick999]

Quick update been working so not fitted much stuff ordered a ecu chip that looks promising and a replacement steering wheel has arrived, needs bit of tidying but got idea for that







Also think these are nice in 16s as may have changed mind on Alpinas

[themaverick999]

Well got work out the way and got a few bits in post and some stuff just hadn't had time to fit so got on with it today.

Bits took with me today:





First alcantara under steering wheel panel





Then door cards







Sure this will help someone



Then onto the wheels or should i say wheel as borrowed one to trial fit. fits but will need spacers so on the hunt for a bargain



thats it for now

[scott180gtb]

Where abouts in York are you buddy?

Im over in Pocklington.

Interia looks good. Where did you get it done?

[themaverick999]

im not too far from pock lol

[GooneriC]

Quick update been working so not fitted much stuff ordered a ecu chip that looks promising and a replacement steering wheel has arrived, needs bit of tidying but got idea for that





Also think these are nice in 16s as may have changed mind on Alpinas

What wheel is that ? Specs please , size /offset/brand ?

[themaverick999]

It's a cades can't remember now as got other ones

[sweep]

coming along nicely

[themaverick999]

Will be a beaut just after some serious conversion info for a v8 or maybe some Nos

[themaverick999]

now see here!!!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=