Newbie,, got a few questions???

[rudi78]

Hey folks,, first off great site I'm a newbie to the site and to BMW's... anyways i've recently got my hands on a 1990 e30 (320i) always loved the shape of them, but the engine is dead, now the car itself is mint, the previous owner has kept it in storage since the engine gave up on him and i managed to buy it for much cheapness..
Now i'm thinking along the lines of putting in a 325i engine and am wandering what modifications if any are need for this engine to go in?? would the original 5 speed box in the car go on the 325 engine??
Also it has a full stainless exhaust system on the car already, would this still be suitable for the bigger engine??
Another quick one is after a wee bit of hunting around the net i've found i can get an e36 grey leather interior no probs but can't find an e30 grey leather interior anywhere.. would this be able to made fit into e30 with some minor mods or are they totally different??
I do have some mechanical knowledge but have a few mechanic mates that can help with the really tricky stuff and i also have a mate who's an upholsterer who can help with the interior..... just want to get as much info as possible before i go spending my hard earned..
Anways thanks for reading and i hope you's can help me out....
Here's a pic of the car


cheers..
Rudi..

[whipsey]

nice looking car mate welcome to the zone
where are you located bud

[DaveD]

nice car and welcome...

why not recover these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E30-M3-Recaro ... dZViewItem

[Brianmoooore]

The 325 complete engine will fit straight in place of the 320 with no mods at all, although the 320 has a different (slightly weaker) gearbox to the 325.
It's the rest of the car that's the problem, if it's a saloon.
A non ABS 320 has inferior front brakes, front struts, rear suspension and rear brakes to a 325, and the diff is too tall for a 325.
E36 front seats will fit in an E30 with mods to the mountings.

[Dave_M3]

Im sure, there'd be a 325 box and rear axle lying around in some scrap yard though, Friend of mine has a 325 touring for parts which had all the option boxes ticked 1st day, leather seats, heated door locks, AC, the lot. was stolen and recovered then was behind a shed for a few years until he got it for 200euro. And its alot harder to find them in Ireland
Discs off an iS would do too, could get uprated suspension then for the 325 egine, by using 325 shocks or treat her to a set of Bilsteins all round. Very nce looking car so I think it deserves it after being hidden away with a broken heart for a while
Are thoes SE skirts btw, just curious as I'm spraying ones that colour during the week

[rudi78]

Not sure about the skirts Dave as i just got the car and i am not that well versed on them yet,, but i'll get there.. with the help of the good folks on this site hopefully first plan is off to halfords for the hayne's manual...
cheers for the input folks keep it coming..

[HairyScreech]

there not se skirts. look aftermarket to me.

wouldnt bother with the haynes manual theres a few others that have been recomended before though.

[rudi78]

Ok then folks can someone give me a list of everything i would need to convert my car from the way it is now into a 325i.. it would be a great help... and be much appreciated.. this way i can start sourcing/buying the parts i need.. I'm keen to get started...

cheers

Rudi

[gra325i]

welcome rudi will be looking out for you ..i work at bus garage in montrose im lovin how many e30s are popping up round here eh?
conversion parts as follows..
engine,ecu,diff
bilsteins
preferably a brake conversion
exhaust will be fine as long as its a twin system iirc

p.s any chance of a price from your mate to recover my front seats as my leather is cracked and splitting

[rudi78]

Cheers for the welcome... you probably wont see the car going about for a few months yet... by the time i get the work done and get it road legal again.... but will keep an eye out for ye
as for my mate i'll ask him see what he says but dont think he'll recover them as he works for reid's furniture going around doin repairs and i'm not sure if his van is set out for doing a full recover's,, i more meant he could help if i had to do any cutting to get the rears to fit in properly.. but like i said i'll ask him...
Totally newb question but how do i tell if my exhaust is a twin system iirc one..

[Brianmoooore]

Totally newb question but how do i tell if my exhaust is a twin system iirc one..

Eh! Count the pipes!

[whipsey]

Totally newb question but how do i tell if my exhaust is a twin system iirc one..

Eh! Count the pipes!

lol

[rudi78]

doh! , go easy folks, like i said i'm a noob and learning more about the e30 every minute... lol

[Dave_M3]

Just go under neath the car aqnd see how many pipes are going from the engine to the back of the car. Its two you want.
Those skirts look well anyway, look abit deep and kinda a step in them in the second pic arite for SE ones. You'll need an iS Lip spoiler too to finish her off me thinks. Looks sweet too all colour coded.

[rudi78]

cheers Dave, canna wait to get her up an running, unfortunatley gonna be a while yet..