E30 Minor car restoration work needed for MOT

[RTTBMW]

Hi Folks,

The E30 finally failed MOT reluctantly as was told by the MOT Centre. Brake pipes need replacing in places.

The two areas under the car have holes now too bad, so I now have to get them fixed. I have parts from Valcas garage I ordered last year. Now I need to order more bits and bobs.





I have stripped the car of the front and rear bumpers, as the front and rear valances are not bad but not great! These were never done during the first restoration, as you can see from this next picture. Why I will never know!



Now I have removed the front completely.



The Rear valance has got too thin it actually needs cut out on the lower half and not the whole section.


There is a soft spot also on the drivers side which needs cut and repaired.



I'm praying the passenger side repairs will not be too severe!



I have the car booked to get this work done.

regards

Richard

[RTTBMW]

I am removing the side skirting next weekend all being well. I have order new expansion rivets, clamps, clips and screws for the front rear, and skirtings. Everything comes in 10's and 20's, so if anyone needs screws and clips etc, I should have few left over.

These screws in the picture below are not for turning!





First question, is it hard to remove the drivers front wing! The scuttle is blocked and I want to investigate, while I have stripped this far.

Secondly, Do I need to remove electric cabling etc, or just move away as far as possible. I did take out the ECU for the central locking and the speakers!

Thirdly, the drivers front tray below the water bottle is a little rusty and I have ordered a section for this to be replaced. Is it hard to remove the engine as the driver side of the sub frame is a littlle rusty and I wanted to get that dress up. But I am thinking I may as well do the whole engine bay while I have gone this far. The bonnet will have to be remove and is that tricky job to do?

I'll stop at technically 4 questions!

regards

Richard

[RTTBMW]

Here is the old valance! Looks okay but the sides are rusty on the inside.

[TriggerFish]

Looking like a nice thorough job!

To remove the front wing you can check out this guide https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.php/Front_Wings

[AlexD911]

Nice Job, engine removal is pretty easy, even easier if you do the removal radiator support mod

[twenty]

Nice Job, engine removal is pretty easy, even easier if you do the removal radiator support mod

Where are you based Alex? Maybe you can do my engine removal hahaha!

[AlexD911]

Nice Job, engine removal is pretty easy, even easier if you do the removal radiator support mod

Where are you based Alex? Maybe you can do my engine removal hahaha!

Im in Portsmouth lol, it was easy for me because i had already removed the radiator support so could easily pull it straight out from the front.

[twenty]

Nice Job, engine removal is pretty easy, even easier if you do the removal radiator support mod

Where are you based Alex? Maybe you can do my engine removal hahaha!

Im in Portsmouth lol, it was easy for me because i had already removed the radiator support so could easily pull it straight out from the front.

Lol a bit far from me in London. I’ve removed the radiator, hoses, alternator etc. but running out of energy. Plus I don’t have the right equipment.

[AlexD911]

You can, pull the whole lot in one go. Keep a look out for a cheap engine hoist on facebook or gumtree. Think i got mine for £80 or something. Might want to grab a load balancer as well to help you angle it on the way out. My brother would come pull it out if you paid him, doubt it would be cheap though lol

[RTTBMW]

Well I have the side skirts off and body trim too. Didn't break any clips! Two new front wings required! Not going to be cheap! All parts came today except those wings are on back order!

[RTTBMW]

Well All,

Still waiting for the front wings on back order! Brian does not want to do this in bits and pieces, so I have to wait till I get all.

[RTTBMW]

Hi All,

Well, this has stalled a bit. Awaiting BMW to have front wings. So far no luck. Any suggestions. Prefer new to suit the Mtech 2. All stripped and ready to get her fixed.

regards

Richard

[flybynite]

Well, this has stalled a bit. Awaiting BMW to have front wings. So far no luck. Any suggestions. Prefer new to suit the Mtech 2. All stripped and ready to get her fixed.

How bad are the front wings? from what is in the photos they are repairable. Be warned the BMW wings are not great, much better than much of the tin-foil rubbish out there but definately not to the standard of what was there originally. They may be changing their suppliers for the better but would not hold my breath. Time spent fettling new wings is much the same as repairing old ones.

[Dlb26]

Valcas do repair pieces, not used them as i wasn't aware of them until after fabricating my own to modify saloon wing to cab wing.
As flybynite says any new wing will probably need adjustment BMW or pattern so these will likely be less work ultimately.
https://www.valcasgarage.com/product/e3 ... ender-kit/

[RTTBMW]

Thanks for that! Body repair garage said he can fix the wings, so I have ordered the Valcas parts.

Next project I have is to take boat engine out of my fishing boat and service outdrive etc. It is a D4 Volvo diesel engine with duo prop! Has to be fixed before end of March. There always something. Oh yes bathroom and WC being gutted and revamped! Balancing act with the misses!

regards

Richard

[martauto]

Best of luck Rich

Mart.

[RTTBMW]

Thanks! I'll need it.

[RTTBMW]

Hi All,

Well, I have all that I need to get this done! So I had another vehicle (work) getting done and was told if I had any engine bay work that needs doing take the engine out.

I do have some minor work. I'm picky, so he is right. Is this an easy task? How best to to take it out? Please let me know and what to look out for! What do I replace while I have it out. I know drivers' side scuttle is blocked, so that may need attention. Is the bonnet hard to remove?

regards

Richard

[flybynite]

Is this an easy task? How best to to take it out?
Is the bonnet hard to remove?

Bonnet first: pop the bonnet so it slides forward, DON'T lift it. Look underside the bit that hangs over the grille you will see the bolts that hold the bonnet to the hinge mechanism. Undo them and the bonet will lift off. Car takes the weight while all this goes on.

Some do it with the bonnet all the way up, it is fun to watch.

Engine - 3 ways - with subframe, with gearbox, without gearbox, Ideally Get an early Haynes manual (E21 on the front)

Without gearbox - easy out but a pig to get back on the gearbox when putting back

With gearbox - just about enough room to get it out, pull foreward, tilt it up and lift but need good high crane and ideally car lifting for a bit more floor clearance when tilting.

With subframe, everything comes off and you lift the car off the lot, put the subframe on a jack/dolly and pull it forward from underneath the lifted front end. Can be done with 2 good trolley jacks. Ideal if short on height and space.

HTH

[RTTBMW]

Thats great thanks! I have not looked at the car for a while, but are there lift points if I use a engine hoist?

[flybynite]

Thats great thanks! I have not looked at the car for a while, but are there lift points if I use a engine hoist?

Yep front and back of the head, but you will need some means of allowing it to tilt as you lift it if using a hoist.

[Cloggy Saint]

I'm a fan of the last method, undo everything including subframe and suspension and then raise the car.

[RTTBMW]

Anybody having trouble creating posts with images. E30zone keeps crashing, due to internet issues. I'll keep trying, if this short post works!

[RTTBMW]

Hi All,

Happy New Year!

Well, going to do this in short posts due to failure to do large post!

Been off this week and I managed to get closer to removing the engine!

[RTTBMW]

Removed engine oil and oil radiator cooler, Air intake and filter, Solenoid, coolant and reservoir, washer bottle and pipes.
Then removed bonnet! Removed radiator! Disconnected ECU! Do I just pull hard to get the cable out or this a two man operation!

[RTTBMW]

Rear exhaust removed, but having issues untightning the bolts from the header to the front exhaust pipe!

Bought this little seat for working underneath. Very handy when moving with tool!

[RTTBMW]

Finally Engine out after unbolting the gearbox. The engine mounts are rotten too, so replacement ordered!

Going to take steering to pieces and overhaul the rust and repaint!

[RTTBMW]

Hi All,

Been a while since my last post. Quick question! Best place to get front floor pans? Finally going to workshop.

Thanks

regards

Richard