So I got me an E30! :)

[ZedOne]

As title says, I now have an E30 325 Touring sat on my drive....

Bought from Graham (Gcorky) and picked up at the weekend. VERY pleased!

The spec is GREAT!

Malachite green
16" Hartge alloys
New H&R Cup kit
BBTB
Hartge steering wheel
Grey leather interior (with rear head rests)
Retrimmed front sports seats in matching grey leather
13 button OBC
Cruise control
Original BMW alarm
4 x electric windows

The car came with a 'few' spares, so it was a good job I hired a transit and borrowed a friend for the day! 4.5hrs each way would be a long way to go to find you couldn't fit everything in! (luckily we did )

We literally FILLED the van with all the spares and virtually filled the Touring too with anything that wouldn't go in the van!!

3 x engines (including a 2.7!)
2 x gearboxes (don't think there is a sport one?)
1 x 3.73 LSD
2 x spare front wings
1 x spare tailgate
1 x brand new H&R ARB package
1 x brand new quickshift set
2 x brand new front discs & pads
2 x brand new rear discs & pads
2 x brand new front wishbones
2 x brand new drop links
2 x brand new tweeter pods
LOADS (3 carrier bags) of brand new gaskets, seals etc....
1 x fully polished rocker cover
1 x fully polished inlet manifold
Lots of switches and other 'bits' he has collected for the car.

Oh - and a full Tech 2 kit already colour coded to the car and complete with all brand new clips and fittings!

.....and a Touring Tech 2 rear spoiler

I'm sure there is more, but the garage is SO full of stuff that I just can't account for everything!

Graham certainly loved this car as his collection of parts shows! I am really sorry that he has had to sell it under such difficult circumstances, but rest assured it has gone to a good home.....

I have already ordered a Hartge gear knob to match the steering wheel and a set of black leather gaiters have been ordered with the stitching in the Harge colours! When I can afford, I'll be getting some Hartge mats for it too....

I am fitting a stainless exhaust next week (the one on there is shot!) and hope to pick up a genuine Hartge tailpipe for it to keep the theme going.

There are some rust issues (18yrs old...so knew there would be) but to start with I am going to strip the paint off the spare front wings and get them zinc plated to stop them from rusting for a LONG time! Might get the spare tailgate zinc plated too as well as any other spare body panels I can pick up (doors etc...) When painted, you'll never know they've been done, yet will give peace of mind on the rust front! Probably won't be doing this just yet due to finances.

For now I'm just going to run the car and enjoy it!

I'll post some pics up when I've had chance to give it a clean and a hoover....

Regards for now,

Bruce.

[maxfield]

I know this car was going cheap aswell!

Sounds you got a great deal!

[jonny320is]

Sounds like you forgot the kitchen sink?!?!

[320Touring]

Excellent Bruce

Welcome to the touring brotherhood

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Didn't take you long Bruce, welcome to the fold. Good choice in car and a hell of a package!!!

That 2.7 and LSD is worthless scrap, let me have them and I'll chuck you a case of beer for your troubles!!

[ZedOne]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I'll keep an update of anything I do to the car, but it won't be a full on restoration because the car is going to be my daily runner. I just want to make it as solid and tidy as possible whilst still keeping it on the road.

A full resto will probably happen in a few years though because I know how I am about cars and I'm already fond of this thing despite owning it for only a few days!

Cheers for now,

Bruce.

P.S. First mod was to add some E30zone stickers....

[ZedOne]

That 2.7 and LSD is worthless scrap, let me have them and I'll chuck you a case of beer for your troubles!!

Hmmm - let me have a think about that one....

[maxfield]

Those ARBs will ruin the handling send them up this way

[munky30]

give me the tech 2 boot spoiler, they're worthless anyway.

[iDreamBeemer]

Didn't think it would take you long before you became a convert! Looks like you managed a bumper shop there, quite an impressive list of goodies. You'll have to bring it along to one of the next meets so we can all have a butchers.

[Morat]

It was you! Damn, I'd even got approval from t'other half to buy that.
Ah well, at least its gone to a good home

[ZedOne]

give me the tech 2 boot spoiler, they're worthless anyway.

As I said to Blatant, I'll have a think about it! (any guesses what the answer will be? )

I am thinking of selling the LSD, but all the other bits are going to find their way onto the Touring (MY touring - not yours Joe.... )

What is the standard diff ratio on a 325i Touring? I'm looking for economy/motorway comfort over balls out acceleration....

Regards,

Bruce.

[tailoutcharlie]

nice buy bruce. does this mean you can come to mees in the rain now then

[Rosc0PColtrane]

That 2.7 and LSD is worthless scrap, let me have them and I'll chuck you a case of beer for your troubles!!

Hmmm - let me have a think about that one....

2 cases??

[ZedOne]

You'll have to bring it along to one of the next meets so we can all have a butchers.

nice buy bruce. does this mean you can come to mees in the rain now then

Oooooooooh Yesssssss....

.....I'll be attending future meets in it come rain or shine! (but if it is TOO sunny I might still inflict the Zed on you.... )

Had it up on ramps today - underside looking OK, but its booked in for the ARB's, front wishbones, drop links, all 4 discs, quickshift, exhaust etc...to be fitted very soon.

Fuel filler neck is looking a bit ropey, but the spare one that came with the kit of spares will be zinc coated and fitted at the same time.

Petrol tank is a bit suspect.....so will be looking for a replacement real soon (do GSF supply these or has anyone got a good one for sale??)

Cheers for now,

Bruce (No longer the odd one out!)

[e30bmlover]

i will take the slipper off of you hands.

[eko]

Nice buy Bruce,gcorky looked after that car well
Didnt take you long though eh,month or so.
See you at a meet in it soon

[Gortour]

Well done Bruce.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Touring ownership. You have a lovely car there by the sound of it, and a worthy pile of spares. Congrats on an excellent buy.

[march109]

little tip do not ever sell that tech 2 touring spoiler!

Nice choice of car too, and sounds like a bargain. Even if she isn't so sweet to you doesn't look like you'll need to pop down BMW dealership for a while.

And you have that 2,7 engine you wanted for the Z1, the one you were after a while ago, and you don't even have to build this one.

[tbmw]

didnt think it would take you long to get one bruce

sounds like a good purchase to

[ZedOne]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Touring ownership.

Thanks Gordon,

Been grinning quite a bit since getting it.... Will be grinning even more when I get the exhaust sorted (LARGE hole in the centre box = barry boy soundtrack! ) I knew it was there before I picked the car up (Graham warned me about it) but I think the 4.5hr journey back with the car made the situation a bit worse!

Didnt take you long though eh,month or so.
See you at a meet in it soon

Yeah I know - I was looking pretty much straight away after the Wellington meet! I've always loved E30's and felt there was room in my life (and on my drive) for one. I chose the Touring because of the dog and it made a better argument with the G/friend when explaining why I wanted to get "another" car!

didnt think it would take you long to get one bruce

sounds like a good purchase to

Thanks Tony,

You guys did a pretty good job of convincing me that it was the way forward! Now we can do a proper convoy to future meet rather than you having to follow/lead a car with no doors!

Thanks again for all the kind comments guys.....

Bruce.

[Andy335Touring]

What is the standard diff ratio on a 325i Touring? I'm looking for economy/motorway comfort over balls out acceleration....

3.91 is the standard diff which makes them a bit revy on the motor way, the 3.73 should be better for what you want or if you find a good deal/swap on a 3.64 from a tech 1 sport go for that.

[ZedOne]

It was you! Damn, I'd even got approval from t'other half to buy that.
Ah well, at least its gone to a good home

Sorry about that Morat!

Good home it has gone to though! The car will be very well looked after and the 2.7 will more than likely find a space to rest in my Z1 once I get it built to how I want it.

I hadn't even got approval for the car when I put the deposit down, and the other half didn't know that her car was going to be turfed out of the garage to make way for the wealth of spares and goodies that came as part of the sale!

She likes it now though because she has lots of things to play with on the dash to keep her quiet on long journeys! (OBC is quite a novelty to her!)

Regards,

Bruce.

[ZedOne]

little tip do not ever sell that tech 2 touring spoiler!

Not intending to - but thanks for the warning! I'll make sure I keep a close eye on it when that Simian of the dark side is around though!

And you have that 2,7 engine you wanted for the Z1, the one you were after a while ago, and you don't even have to build this one.

You got it! Well remembered...

I will have to built it 'of sorts' because it came in quite a few pieces as follows:

I got 3 engines as part of the deal;

A fully rebuilt 2.5 with all new internals (rings, shells, pump etc) which just needs the rebuilt head attaching to the block and the sump fitting.

Then there is the 2.7 which is completely in bits

Lastly there is a 2.0 which is also in bits.

Gcorky's plan was to get the 2.0 bored out to accomodate the new 2.5 components and fit the crank from the 2.7 then fit the rebuilt 2.5 head. This would result in an engine with fresh bores and new internals.

I'd still be left with a 2.5 to put back together for 'spares' and a load of 2.0 parts to use as landfill....

The hard part is that I've never built an engine in my life and don't know where to start!

I LOVE the idea of doing it myself, but need someone to help/advise/guide me! Anyone in Bristol area fancy acting as a mentor/tutor for a 2.7 build for my Z1??

I know Graham wanted to put the 2.7 in the Touring eventually, but as you rightly pointed out, I've wanted to fit one to my Zed, so the opportunity is finally there for me to do so!

Any/all advice welcome...

3.91 is the standard diff which makes them a bit revy on the motor way, the 3.73 should be better for what you want or if you find a good deal/swap on a 3.64 from a tech 1 sport go for that.

Many thanks for that. I think I'll stick the 3.73 in for a bit and see what 'real world' difference it makes. Maybe then I can decide if I fancy going further with a 3.64 (if anyone wants to swap for a 3.73 I'm all ears?? )

Thanks again for the advice - nice to have some clarification on something so new and exciting!

Bruce.

[Tusker77]

nice

[munky30]

Engines are just nuts and bolts.. invest in a socket set and a torque wrench, buy andyboys book... job jobbed.

Oh and if you fancy getting rid of that pesky useless obc just give me a shout, I'll take it off your hands.

Same goes for that cheap worthless tech 2 spoiler.

[HairyScreech]

another touring owner, oh yess, we shall take over.

[tailoutcharlie]

buy andyboys book

what books this then

[munky30]

the e30 restoration bible.

I refuse to buy it myself as I know it will just line his dirty greasy palms with more money. But apparently its pretty good.

[tailoutcharlie]

just get him to bring a copy to newquay and drunkenly barter it for a tin of spam, or even better wager it on the karting track...then cheat

[470813]

I reckon munkey & others are right so I'll take a chance & give you a tenner for the lot if you deliver and buy the beer.

[SamiS]

Fairly impressive list of extra toys to play with!

I've got a brand new tank in my car, litreally 7 days old. Cars a write off so im parting it shortly. Would you be intrested?

im just east of oxford, so not to far from bristol...

[E30BeemerLad]

I always admired that car, sounds like you got a killer deal with all the spares and goodies

[ZedOne]

I've got a brand new tank in my car, litreally 7 days old. Cars a write off so im parting it shortly. Would you be intrested?

im just east of oxford, so not to far from bristol...

Hi Ill Monkey,

Sorry to hear about your car being written off!

Many thanks for the offer of the tank - I am certainly interested.

Is it a 63L one? If so then please let me know how much you'll want for it and I'll see if I've got enough sheckles in the piggy bank....

Many thanks,

Bruce.

[Morat]

It was you! Damn, I'd even got approval from t'other half to buy that.
Ah well, at least its gone to a good home

Sorry about that Morat!

Good home it has gone to though! The car will be very well looked after and the 2.7 will more than likely find a space to rest in my Z1 once I get it built to how I want it.

I hadn't even got approval for the car when I put the deposit down, and the other half didn't know that her car was going to be turfed out of the garage to make way for the wealth of spares and goodies that came as part of the sale!

She likes it now though because she has lots of things to play with on the dash to keep her quiet on long journeys! (OBC is quite a novelty to her!)

Regards,

Bruce.

hehehe, no worries at all
I would have felt guilty selling my touring on to be honest. I'll just have to get it up to spec the slow way! Lets keep as many as possible on the road!