1990 Sterling - 333i Sport?

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JungleGus
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Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:55 pm

Finally got around to putting the new brakes on. I also have some competition pads to try (Tarox) on the track only - I think the issue is the sheer length of sessions at the Track days I'm going to 25mins + and the faster tracks I'm at. Next step is some cooling and then MAYBE a bigger brake kit (trying to avoid). Or stop getting lesssons from Pro GT car drivers...
Last edited by JungleGus on Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
RustyRuss
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Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:05 pm

Beautiful car mate great read
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Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:26 pm

Nice!!! The cars looking great!!! Real good to see its being used as it should be and not just sitting in the garage. Looks great
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xr666
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Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:09 pm

that car looks lovely :)
JungleGus
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Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:03 pm

Seems rude not to use her!

And here are the rear pads after 3/400 miles.

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Looking forward to getting her out at Brands Hatch on the 10th!
Last edited by JungleGus on Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
bss325i
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Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:47 pm

Gus, chose your time slot on the dyno thread please
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JungleGus
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Sat Nov 22, 2014 5:56 pm

A few recent ones from Brands Hatch GP - awesome track!

FINALLY didn't drive home with metal on metal brakes...had some issues at the start of the day with the wet track and the fronts not warming enough (Tarox Corsa, full race pad) so the rears locked up first. A couple of tellings off by the marshals....switched the Pagid Blues back in and happy days!

Probably gonna call it a day for the year and get some Brands Hatch (non-GP) ones in early next year since they are cheap and it's close to home. Also going to go back to the Mtech 2 wing and start on the list of small jobs that need fixing...fun and games!

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Last edited by JungleGus on Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
bss325i
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Sat Nov 22, 2014 7:50 pm

Great pics Angus! :cool:
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JungleGus
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Tue May 05, 2015 3:13 pm

So a few bits and pieces been happening....been fixing odd jobs around the car - cam sensor, oil change and servicing - all in preparation of a European tour. Am heading down the south of France in late June. Fingers crossed.....

I have some Dbilas cams and lug studs to install this weekend. And a recent pic:

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Still need to replace the gearbox with the whiny input shaft....but considering shelving that job till I can be arsed. Or it breaks.....
JungleGus
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Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:55 pm

Been a while since I've updated (and realised half my pics are gone, sorry...will try tidy up). So....

Got the Dbilas cams in, noticeable difference, much better top end. Prob need a remap too but she's running OK. Also put an M Coupe Diff Cover on and a few other random new bits and pieces.

Drove 13h to Biarritz in France for my birthday with a bunch of friends - made it over 2000 miles there and back easy without any issues whatsoever - v impressed!

Don't have a ton of pics but will find some more later - here's one from the lighthouse when we arrived. From 1pm to 4am (switching drivers), went straight to a bar still open, swim on the beach then watched the sun rise come up by the lighthouse. Then went for a bit of the hoon in the Pyrenees - beautiful roads!

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Drove back up the Atlantic coast stopping at Ile de Re and Noirmoutier before getting stuck at the channel tunnel for 4 hours on the way back...grr.

Last Monday took her out at Bedford for the first time, with a buddy of mine from NZ who races an E30 M20 3.1 in the BMW race series there - great track! Managed three laps before this:

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Turns out the pin connected the gearbox selector shaft to the knuckle had fallen out....the circlip was still on there so a bit bizarre how it either a) made it this far without falling out already or b) managed to get the circlip off (it's tough). Anyway - managed to get the machine shop at Bedford to make me up a new pin, got her back in and back on the road - phew! Can't say thank you enough to the guys there, they really saved the day. Went really well on the track - highlights include passing a 997 and track prepped WRX, but that may have just been the loose nuts behind the steering wheel.

And adding to my collection of E30's in petrol stations...(always funny seeing them compared to modern cars)

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Next plans include probably driving her very little over the next few months, getting a few bits and pieces sorted out and a spot of rust tidied (or a full respray - MTech 2 surprise) and some 16" Sport Evo wheels with R888R's once funds allow.
JungleGus
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Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:12 am

So in preparation for a few new pics on the way with the new wheels and ride height (spring pads) in the near future, some pics from the last year or two...

Late night pit stop on the way to Biarritz

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My castle for the weekend

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Home for a weekend in Austin, TX for SXSW

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E30 spotting in Texas!

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A really cool work trip where we hired the local Fiat 500 car club to drive us around Rome in 70+ Fiat 500's....amazing experience. A lot of heads turned!

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Little project and big project...what's been taking most my time!

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More to come once I pull finger and get tyres, wash her, and take some decent pics. May be a while!
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Griffffo
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Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:10 pm

hi guys damn shes beautiful but could somebody please tell me what was this model and what is the special parts? I have never seen it before
JungleGus
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Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:25 pm

325i Sport - M325i in NZ (and I think Oz - if it came there).

Or now...just a bunch of bits!
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Griffffo
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Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:45 pm

yep we had 323i sports wow so has that got the 15mm sports droped suspension?
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Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:18 pm

I don't believe a 323 sport ever existed in any market
JungleGus
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Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:28 pm

There was a 323i in NZ that came with the dogleg getrag for the m20, a small case LSD and probably some mtech bits.

The wiki probably has full specs but at a glance the 325i Sports came with LSD, 15" basketweaves, Mtech 1 or 2 kit, sport seats, black headlining, shadowchrome trim and probably a few other bits and pieces. Basically an optioned up 325i with a kit
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Griffffo
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Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 am

well it definitely looks nice
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Griffffo
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Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 am

are from America?
ross_jsy
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Thu Apr 07, 2016 1:26 am

A Sport is a UK spec package, however similar packages were marketed around the world under a few names
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Griffffo
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Thu Apr 07, 2016 1:34 am

ross_jsy wrote:A Sport is a UK spec package, however similar packages were marketed around the world under a few names
so what was in a 323is? but badged as a 323i?
Speedtouch
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Thu Apr 07, 2016 7:40 pm

Possibly a close-ratio and/or dog-leg gearbox, LSD, lowered suspension with stiffer dampers, sports seats, that sort of thing.
///M aurice
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Cypriotgeeza
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Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:23 pm

Very nice car mate! :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
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tha881
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Sat Sep 24, 2016 4:19 pm

Im in the A20 services sitting looking at this now lol. Have you sold it Gus it's being transported?
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JungleGus
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Mon Sep 26, 2016 3:51 pm

Hah - not sold, off to Barry for fixing...had a "slight" incident with the exhaust falling off. Haven't driven it a lot since getting a motorbike but hoping to revive things over winter! Didn't get it on the track once this year :?
JungleGus
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Mon Sep 26, 2016 3:51 pm

Hah - not sold, off to Barry for fixing...had a "slight" incident with the exhaust falling off. Haven't driven it a lot since getting a motorbike but hoping to revive things over winter! Didn't get it on the track once this year :?
JungleGus
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Mon Sep 26, 2016 3:51 pm

Hah - not sold, off to Barry for fixing...had a "slight" incident with the exhaust falling off. Haven't driven it a lot since getting a motorbike but hoping to revive things over winter! Didn't get it on the track once this year :?
tha881
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Tue Sep 27, 2016 8:44 am

Didn't think you would sell it after all the hard work put into it! The car will be in good hands at least. It looked really tidy mate glad your getting it fixed
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/// KAMI
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Sun Nov 27, 2016 12:29 am

Looks lovely
THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE
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Nathzz
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Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:20 pm

So fresh and so clean 8)
JungleGus
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Mon Feb 05, 2018 4:15 pm

Well...it's been a while. 2017 was a bit of a bust car wise with only 2 road trips and no track days - buying a motorbike and failing an MOT led to taking her off the road for the last 6 months to get new floors and one arch...will prob have to do something similar towards the end of this year on a much smaller scale, but she's back in one piece and driving which is lovely!

A few recent pics attached - I'm not one for mod lists, but I've outlined the broad strokes in case anyone is curious or thinking of doing the same. Big thanks to Barry @ BMPerformance for the copious amounts of time put in here.

Alpina 3.3 M52 Iron Block w VAC motorsports sump baffle
Stainless headers and exhaust - meant to be similar to the Fritz M50 system, BUT Longlife in Surrey had to remap the down pipes since the fitment was awful - 4"+ gap between system and the car!
ZF Box rebuilt by Allgears w CGMotorsport hybrid half paddle clutch & UUC shifter (a bit grabby, but not too bad...was getting slip with the E30 M20 item with the previous M52)
Mishimoto Radiator (which also needed entire new cooling system, sigh)
3.25 M3 LSD w M Coupe diff cover

Note - the Clio servo changes the E30 braking HUGELY for the better...would strongly recommend to anyone

16" Sport Evo basketweaves w Yoko A048
Long range tank fitted
Sparco strut brace repainted
e46 sport rack fitted to replace the Z3 rack with play
Tarox Discs and Pads (+ pagid blues/bmw pads for road)
E30 M3 sport Evo springs (Bilsteins + Eibach roll bars) - ride height is a little high but I love the extra clearance especially in London.

Next plans include fixing fuel leak from the new long range tank, going on the dyno + a remap, then a track day shake down at Bedford or Brands Indy once the weather warms up...then hoping for a big Euro road trip in spring.

Future upgrades - I want a lower diff, I have an 2.93 to go on but need the LSD unit and will likely rebuild w 40% lock. Bigger brakes will likely be needed - does anyone have experience w Massive Brakes (Lee) in Canada? Unsure if I want to go to a Wilwood caliper though for the street. I'll also likely pick up a set of H&R Race springs when I'm in the US but don't need them in a hurry given London roads. A full BTB system would be nice if I ever win the lottery...

And then...hopefully just enjoy the fucking thing!

Cheers,
Gus

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Steve
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Mon Feb 05, 2018 4:21 pm

Bloody lovely :thumb:
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Mon Feb 05, 2018 8:08 pm

JungleGus wrote: Image

This is still probably my favorite Zone picture of all time. :drool:
1990 320i Coupe SE

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JungleGus
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Thu Apr 23, 2020 4:45 pm

Well...it's been a looong time since updates, I just had a re-read through my thread and found it funny to see my thinking at the time...so thought I would update this so when I check in again in another two years I can do the same...

I haven't had an update as I moved to New York for work and have been there the last couple of years, so the E30 has been in storage somewhere (my mates dropped it off...genuinely don't know where it is). I think the last job was changing spark plugs (see new v old) and getting a dyno run (with an infuriating issue of a misfire around 6K RPM). I did a track day at Bedford which was a laugh. I put E30 M3 springs on there to deal with London speed bumps better...check the body roll. Pretty much been on ice since then...I'd love to chop up the S50 manifold I have with BTB and make a better exhaust system, a re-build of the brakes is needed, and a tiny bit of rust left to tidy up with an inner arch (I think I got one of the last ones, although they may have come back into production). Maybe a full engine rebuild needed as there is some oil consumption. And the long range fuel tank...has been a bit of a PITA as I think there is leak still, but need more time to diagnose. Defiinitely leaning much towards keeping it pretty much as it is for the forseeable...would be nice to get some use out of it at some point I guess...

Present day - I'm debating getting an MTech 1 Sport if it doesn't need too much work and keeping it far more standard, leave the M20 and refresh bits and pieces....TBC! I kinda miss something simple and cheap...although E30 doesn't really qualify as that these days.

Old V New Plugs
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Dyno Vid


Dyno Graph
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Body Roll Series

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DanThe
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Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:05 pm

First time ive seen this thread, great combination of parts!
Did you get the miss-fire before or after changing the plugs? The new plug in your picture could be longer than the original 4 prong version, ive noticed Alpina used the shorter 4 prong plugs on the 3.3 engine, perhaps for longer life but never looked into it
JungleGus
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Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:49 pm

It took a while to get em together and driving nicely, but got there. Only issue is that every time something is added, something else happens...such is life

IIRC, it was both (which is why I changed them and the ignitors)...but that's an interesting point. The 2 prongs were a LOT cheaper but could be worth investigating when I get the back in action...some time. Would be good to see the condition they are in. I have a feeling they will probably look the same as the old ones...
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