Ashley's Red 325i

Show off your pride and joy here

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Ashley1995
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Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:09 pm

Before I start, Hello All!

I had an E46 323ci for about 6 months that i spent a fair amount of money on doing bits and pieces. Then back in May it failed its MOT horrifically due to a corroded subframe and mounts.

So i could either spend 2 and half grand fixing her or do get something new.

I always wanted an E30 so here was my chance.
After borrowing another car for a while i broke my E46 down and sold it as parts. With the money from this and some savings and wages, i got together enough to start looking.

A friend of mine sprays cars for BMW and he had a friend who was selling his E30 so got me in touch, a week later i went to have a look and drove it home the same day.

Here she is, a 325i with 150,000 miles on her. She was resprayed back in December last year and a whole load of rusty patches had been sorted out at the same time.
Add on some Coilovers and some Schmidt TH Line alloys and there you are.
At the moment i haven't really changed anything apart from adding some HIDs as I'm saving the money up for a new exhaust and to make sure there is no more issues that need sorting first.

Anyway, enough talk, here are some pictures

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Cypriotgeeza
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Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:43 pm

Nice! 8)

Welcome to the Zone :D

Bet your glad the E46 failed its mot now that you have that machine!

Cant beat an old school BMW!

Good luck with it :thumb:
Check my M30 build threads:
Project Frankenstein: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=194154
Headgasket: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=165704
Clutch issues: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=172482
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Cypriotgeeza
dimebag_from_hell
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Wed Jun 18, 2014 5:58 pm

Welcome, good luck with the e30.
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SANDEEP_167
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Sat Jun 28, 2014 10:18 pm

Remember seeing this at DC14

Heres ones of my snaps :)

ImageDSC_0220 by JMatharu Photography, on Flickr[/img]
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Ashley1995
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Sun Jun 29, 2014 1:20 pm

Nice one! :D
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Ashley1995
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Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:18 am

And so it begins...

I have started stripping out the interior ready for the weekend when i plan to: fit the new alarm, sort some wiring issues, wire in new speakers and a new amp, clean the carpets and replace the heater matrix.

Pictures below, but first... i wondered why my headlight tilt wasn't working, well i found out why. Someone has cut the connections behind it, another thing to add to the list to sort. Any ideas?

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Also anyone know what this does, i found it disconnected behind the drivers side dash below the headlight switch

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B7
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Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:21 pm

I saw this the other day on the A23. Looked cleaner than clean! I will get back to you ASAP re those parts Ash.
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
bss325i
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Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:25 pm

That plug is for the OBC gong which fits to the trim panel above the pedals.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
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Ashley1995
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Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:10 pm

Cheers pal, nice one!

Ah I see, I don't have anything on that panel?
What do you mean by 'gong' ?
bss325i
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Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:54 pm

The gong is a small speaker which makes a "chime" noise during certain OBC function such as if the external temp drops below 3 degrees.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
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Ashley1995
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Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:33 am

Ah i see, hm didn't see one of these when i took the panel off.... will have another look
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scallyally
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Thu Jul 03, 2014 11:01 am

Headlight adjusters were fluid filled tubes, ie sealed hydraulic system. 99.9% of e30's have failed over the years so are disconnected , no worries :D
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Ashley1995
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Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:37 am

What an exhausting weekend. I wasn't expecting it to be a 5 minute job but a 3 whole days non stop and its still not all complete.
On the plus side, i was expecting to find big old rust holes under the carpet but i was really surprised at how clean it was underneath. There were two holes which have clearly been cut and welded with new plates. but other than that nothing to see really.

Everything came apart and out fairly easily, and after finally swapping the heater matrix it was fairly obvious the Heater Control Valve had died too. Luckily to change this its not as much work. I then found somebody had bypassed the heater matrix altogether so i have left it like this until i get a part sourced.

Installing the alarm was hard work, routing the cable wasn't so hard, it was understanding the instructions that was tricky. although all installed and the alarm works, every time i lock the doors they unlock themselves again straight away, so something not quite right there.

While the interior was out i ran new audio cables to the boot for my audio install when i get around to doing that.

The passenger seat, glovebox, centre console and other bits are not back in yet but it is drivable.

Pictures to follow!
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Ashley1995
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Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:38 am

Haven't got any pictures of how it looked once i had cleaned up in the corners and tidied the cabling, but you get the idea

ImageImageImage
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Ashley1995
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:59 am

The interior is almost all back together and I managed to source and swap the Control Valve easily enough.
Since fitting the alarm i had a slight Central Locking issue but this seems to have fixed it self and is now working perfect, Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones with perfect central locking..? :banana:

Then driving home Tuesday, get out the car and find a nice oil trail that has followed me down the road and is mysteriously making a big pool under my car...
A quick look and yep, there a nice hole in my sump :x

After a few issues i sourced a new sump for a great price off a member on here and he posted next day delivery, Finally got it swapped this weekend and the cars running again :beer:

Few pictures:

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Hopchop
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:35 am

Nice wheels, what size are they
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Ashley1995
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 11:33 am

15" mate
mattIS
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 11:59 am

Hopchop wrote:Nice wheels, what size are they
just cant bring myself to like em,my opinion tho
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Ashley1995
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:08 pm

mattIS wrote:
Hopchop wrote:Nice wheels, what size are they
just cant bring myself to like em,my opinion tho
If I'm honest I'm not 100% on them either, I will probably change them, but i want to get the car as mechanically sound first.
Then ill look and new wheels etc after
mattIS
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:57 pm

Ashley1995 wrote:
mattIS wrote:
Hopchop wrote:Nice wheels, what size are they
just cant bring myself to like em,my opinion tho
If I'm honest I'm not 100% on them either, I will probably change them, but i want to get the car as mechanically sound first.
Then ill look and new wheels etc after
always mechanicals b4 cosmetics 8)
sindako
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Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:23 pm

Well , That's One Nice E30 .
I Like The Red on E30's Makes them look even meaner .

Nice Ride Mate .
But i think you should go for front foggies (Fog Lights) .
other wise it's nice , nice wheel set too .

yeah , I've seen you car's Oil Sump .
i replaced mine 3 times , but the last time it was cracked i took it to a boat repair shop and he welded it for me for 10 quids . and it's like a charm no leaks .
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Ashley1995
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Wed Jul 16, 2014 8:36 am

Met up with Trev (B7) and got a couple of bits from him, Really genuine nice guy! :thumb:

Also went over to STS in Redhill and they quoted me £450 for a full custom stainless exhaust system :mrgreen:
Just have to think about it now
Not a lot else done until this weekend when I'm hoping to get all the interior back together and other little bits sorted out, so heres a quick pic

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Ashley1995
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Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:12 am

Have been tidying it up. I finally got a bit more of the interior together, changed the badges for new ones, changed the rear light seal as one was leaking and have removed the smoked tint from the headlights.
Hoping to get interior finished and back together soon, also have new engine mounts to fit, and new steering rack boots as one has a split in so will do that and the ball joints at the same time.
After that i want to tidy the engine bay up and finally go get some pictures with my DSLR and not just my iPhone!
Also my old E46 under the cover in the back ground

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bss325i
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Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:59 pm

I passed you in the opposite direction on sat morning in Horley.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
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Ashley1995
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Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:57 am

Any love for Yellow High Beams?

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Speedtouch
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Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:04 am

///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
Automaton
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Sat Jul 26, 2014 2:24 am

Great bunch of cars. All my favourites in one picture :cool:
Maneesh

1986 E30 M10 316 Manual Schwarz Chromie
1982 E28 M20 520i Henna Rot - Project
1988 E32 M70 750iL Schwarz - MASSIVE Project

1991 W201 190e Automatic Schwarz - Sold
1991 W201 190e Automatic Silver AMG Tribute - Sold
1993 E36 M40 316i Manual Brillantrot (RIP: rotting in peace)

Join other Carb Fanatics: E30 316 Carb - The Faithfuls https://www.facebook.com/groups/444263742439145/
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Ashley1995
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Mon Jul 28, 2014 3:20 pm

Pressed plates on and i finally got the audio sorted

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KIRIEIW
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Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:32 am

Looking good, tires need more meat though :cool:
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Ashley1995
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Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:31 pm

Well this evening has been rather unproductive, I've just spent over 3 hours working on the car all for nothing..

I started off by changing an indicator bulb, simple and it worked, great!
Next i had a crack and fixing my radio antenna, although i get signal the motor does not raise and lower it like it should. No luck here, think i need a new one.
Next up i gave the car a proper good wash and polish, only too have the ars**ole across the road have his daily bonfire ( yes daily ) and cover my car in ash.. not amused. :x
Lastly a few weeks ago i swapped the heater matrix and water valve but i never got around to actually reconnecting the water pipes, so i thought lets have a go tonight. What could go wrong..
Connect up the pipes, start the engine only to have my passenger footwell fill with water!
:x
Engine off, hairdryers and towels to get rid of the water and disconnect pipes and re-fit the u-bend that was in place originally.
Just when i thought 'oh at least that bulb worked' i lock the car and yep.. no light from that bulb.

So to sum up, I achieved nothing! oh the joys of owning an old car. Still had to take a picture before it got too dark though.
vImage
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Ashley1995
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Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:31 pm

Oops..double post
Last edited by Ashley1995 on Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jimbom30cab
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Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:34 pm

Sometimes you can't p1ss a drop !!
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Ashley1995
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Tue Aug 26, 2014 1:10 pm

I had planned on changing the engine mounts today, but thanks to the crappy weather I couldn't. Usually i would get it in the garage but with one being full of E46 parts and the other a complete mess while me and dad are rebuilding our workbench and storage space etc i couldn't. So i was sitting around with not a lot to do as the interior was all back together. Until i saw a build thread with someone who had used a sharpie to colour their speedo needles red.
So quick drive to Tesco to get a permanent marker, whipped the unit out stripped it down and coloured the needles. kept me busy for an hour or two so all good. :P

Before:

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After:

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M3Jim
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Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:01 pm

Thought I'd seen this car on here somewhere! Were you at the Jolly Farmers ford meet the other week?
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Ashley1995
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Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:51 am

M3Jim wrote:Thought I'd seen this car on here somewhere! Were you at the Jolly Farmers ford meet the other week?
I was yeah, thought id be the only E30 there until i saw that stunning M3 ( yours is guess)
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