Inkeys '87 325i cabriolet

[martauto]

Hell.......go for it mate !!

Mart.

[Satan]

That little piece that covers the join in the weather strip used to be about £20......

[inkeys]

May as well go for it!

[Satan]

Its getting colder, maybe you need a hardtop ;o))))))

[inkeys]

I'll use my coat

[Satan]

Spoke to my youngest he just sold his last one. This one I store for my eldest with a nice original hoist.....

[inkeys]

Spoke to my youngest he just sold his last one. This one I store for my eldest with a nice original hoist.....

Looks like a properly good setup. One for my futures list I think

[inkeys]

SGS rear boot strut arrived today and fitted. Now don't have to hold onto the boot when I open it.

Also new bonnet sound insulation and hood side caps arrived too, from Cotswold BMW

[Satan]

Looking good.

[inkeys]

Started stripping the old foam off today. Was like some kind of brittle dust and disintegrated on touch. Messy and decided the easiest and least aggressive way to remove was with on of my kids tools

Next up, get busy with the WD40 and remove that glue, before fitting the new sound insulation.

[inkeys]

I also took a look at the roof gaskets. Passenger said is fine, but drivers side is a bit gappy. Seems that the roof frame itself maybe sits a lit;e too high against the window line. If I press down it makes a much better seal. Front corner is an issue too but am gummi-phlege-ing like crazy and slowly manipulating the seals back I think.

Rear quarter gasket has come away from the frame. Why would people recommend to glue back in with? Black silicone sealant?

[Satan]

Have you adjusted the window glass?

[Gavla]

That looks like the roof "frame" needs to be a dusted slightly...

To me it looks like it needs to move forward a tad...

[inkeys]

First off, its great to have the site up and running again. Even as a newby here I was starting to exhaust my E30 search options and reading material across YouTube and R3VLtd. Great job with the new Zone, Steve.

Figured what better way to to start integrating with the new look than to update on my 325 cab resto and add a few photos.

It's been a busy couple of months since I bought the car back in September. Many of the jobs I had earmarked have been completed and - as many of you more experienced members quite rightly pointed out - even the tidiest looking of cars can have its issues. Last month was the most jobs intense, as the car was treated to the following things - some absolutely required, some more preventative. Plus I do like a bit of future proofing and given this car had been in storage for a number of years, it seemed like common sense.

- New Bilstein shocks and springs all round - the fronts that were on there were the wrong 318 or 320 shocks with cut down springs?!
- Various new suspension bushes - wishbones, beam etc.
- New top mounts and ARB links
- New fuel lines - although the smell of petrol is still there when full so further investigation needed.
- New gear lever link bushes and knuckle - honestly the most noticeable night and day job of the lot!
- New head bolts and gasket.
- New cambelt, tensioner, alternator and power steering belts
- New water pump
- New temp sender
- New fan coupling
- New distributor cap and rotor arm
- Fitted a missing exhaust mid-pipe bracket
- New heater hoses
- Repaired drivers seat tilt cables
- Replaced the front seatbelt stalks - old ones were cracked and without red plastic.
- New rear quarter glass seal/weather strips
- New front windscreen chrome trim
- New flat plastic roof caps for the horseshoe
- Full Inspection 2

Next up I need to investigate the fuel smell a little more, plus get the idle control valve cleaned as its occasionally a little 'pulsey' on tickover.

The roof is relatively leak free as I found out during a particularity nasty downpour, but it does obviously have some hefty gaps so I'm going to adjust the roof and fit the 2 x new rear quarter window guide rail rubbers I bought from Cotswold (=stupid expensive). These need to be riveted in, so I'm taking to a specialist near me that can deal with old Beemer verts. The roof release handle is cracked too, so I'll need a new passenger door handle and possibly a cable soon too.

At some point I also want to replace the 'modern' JVC headunit with either something more vintage or subtle. With a speaker upgrade too.

Lastly, SGS supplied me with a new boot strut which I fitted but raises the boot a few millimetres too much on that side. They've been brilliant though and after a few photos back to them are looking into a custom strut for my car with the right pressure (300nM) but a slightly reduced barrel length.

I'm doing all of this because part of the charm of owning a classic car for me is helping bring that car back up to a standard. I always knew E30 ownership wouldn't be a walk in the park but thats half the fun. She's is a joy to drive and the best to response to me selling the M Coupe I had before. I absolutely love taking her out on these sunny winter mornings whenever possible - the sound and analogue feel is addictive!

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the last few weeks.

[inkeys]

Central locking module got fixed today, as did the gearbox output shaft seal and sticky idle control valve. Fuel smell remains though and after investigation its looking like I'm going to need a new tank. OEM is obviously quite expensive so need to look at other options.

This is going to end up being one of the most sorted 325i cabs out there when its all finished

Update: ECP had one of their discount code things on. Ordered a pattern replacement fuel tank for £227 (OEM = £880).

[inkeys]

Just back from third set of jobs sorted in 6 weeks (!).

New fuel tank is in and it's amazing how great the drive is now the car doesn't smell of fuel! New heater hose fitted too, plus a few other niggly jobs sorted out.

Coolant light still comes on but there's no leak so I need to try and source a new sensor.

Other than that though she's great....just in time for the winter

[Billy1972]

That is one nice cab,well done ! You need to get the plastic cap to cover the front bumper mounting nut and ditch the bottle tops for a set of bbs cross spokes unless your after originality.

Cheers! Bumper cap kindly ordered through Brutus. Wheels I actually quite like!

Hi, I need one of those black bumper caps, where can I order one from please?

[inkeys]

That is one nice cab,well done ! You need to get the plastic cap to cover the front bumper mounting nut and ditch the bottle tops for a set of bbs cross spokes unless your after originality.

Cheers! Bumper cap kindly ordered through Brutus. Wheels I actually quite like!

Hi, I need one of those black bumper caps, where can I order one from please?

Brutus can probably help you out. Otherwise there are a few on eBay usually.

[inkeys]

Spent today fitting a new interior drivers door handle, kindly supplied by Magpie. Original was...well, original - and cracked to the point where it no longer functioned. Replacement in and all working fine again.

I also sorted my coolant level warning light out. Replaced the sensor a few days ago but the light remained on. Turns out you need the expansion tank filled near to the max mark (it was at the centre seam beforehand). Added around litre of Comma G48 and so far so good; the light hasn't come on again.

[inkeys]

Update on the car. Bought and installed a set of new Pioneer rear speakers, plus a more subtle and Bluetooth enabled head unit I found on eBay. Also fitted 4 x new Uniroyal Rainsport 3 tyres as the car came with old Runway tyres - the oldest of which was 2006?! Lastly, I've made a custom magnetic holder for my phone. It's the little jobs that keep you busy in the winter months!

Managing to drive once a week when I can and with the majority of the work now complete, she drives like a dream and I'm counting the days until springtime.

[martauto]

Lovley looking car you have there I hope you use it to the hilt
Great choice in head unit, I have the same in my 330 sport and it bounce`s

Mart.

[inkeys]

Lovley looking car you have there I hope you use it to the hilt
Great choice in head unit, I have the same in my 330 sport and it bounce`s

Mart.

Thanks Mart. It's definitely grown on me in the last month or two now it's all pretty much sorted. Still need to replace a few roof gaskets and I haven't yet fitted the rear window guides, but am enjoying ownership.

I got for a steal on eBay and I think blends in pretty well. Hooked up the phone mic via the trim too, so it's all sorted. Not that I'll be taking calls as I breeze along the country lanes this summer