My Touring Revisited

[StuBeeDoo]

Been a while since I posted some different photo's here. So for those of you who haven't seen it elsewhere......











It's nowt to get excited about. It started life as a poverty spec. 320i. I've spec'd it up a bit, and added LPG, but I'm keeping the M20B20 until I find a set of pistons and the time to build an M20B23.

Thanks for looking.
Stuart.

[jaffro]

very nice mate.

[aceraf]

car looks really clean...

that last pic looks like it was taken in the 80's! Got a sort of green tint to it!

[fuzzy]

looking mate. id noticed you seem to be spending more time on here recently.
how much did your lpg set up cost you? i was considering it until i found that e30's were to old to qualify for the goverment grant for lpg fitment. is there any lack of power on gas or is the difference un-noticeable?

[320Touring]

looking good Stu!

Saw thics car in the flesh people-a credit to its owner

[E30BeemerLad]

MIM1900's

[billgatese30]

Saw thics car in the flesh people-a credit to its owner

yep, i'd have to agree with that

looking as good as ever Stu

[StuBeeDoo]

Thanks for the comments chaps.

looking mate. id noticed you seem to be spending more time on here recently.
how much did your lpg set up cost you? i was considering it until i found that e30's were to old to qualify for the goverment grant for lpg fitment. is there any lack of power on gas or is the difference un-noticeable?

All-in, it was £750 Fuzzy. The old "arse dyno" can't detect any power or performance difference. It's nearly 3 months since it's been up-and-running and already it's a third of the way to paying for itself.

[toby]

Why not build a 2.7 fella?

[StuBeeDoo]

Why not build a 2.7 fella?

Everyone's done a 2.7 and 2.8's are where it's at now. I'd thought about building a 2.8 before they became the new 2.7, but I'm very slow with these things as there's always something more important to do.
2.3 has always appealed to me - I don't know why. I just have this feeling that BMW left the 2.3 undeveloped when they dropped it and went to 2.5.
A few have done Motronic 2.3's but I've yet to hear of one in a Touring.
It's just about being slightly different, without going to the extreme of a complete engine transplant. It's got to stay M20.
I'm happy enough with the 130+bhp for now and if I see 160 from the 2.3 when I eventually get it built, that'll do for me. I'm not a power-maniac.

[toby]

But if you are starting with a 320i, it is a fairly simple block change from a 525e plus ancillaries and no machining. I'm sure you know all this but think of an E30 2.7 that's also more economical than most other E30s. Also the torque of the 2.7 suits the weight of the touring.

[StuBeeDoo]

But if you are starting with a 320i, it is a fairly simple block change from a 525e plus ancillaries and no machining. I'm sure you know all this but think of an E30 2.7 that's also more economical than most other E30s. Also the torque of the 2.7 suits the weight of the touring.

525e's aren't exactly 2 a penny these days, if they ever were.
I know all the arguments, I've heard them all before.
Look at it this way.....
M20B20 Motronic engine, strip the bottom end, rebuild with 2.3 crank (which I already have) and pistons, suitable chip (Ant can do one) - job done! No machining other than normal engine rebuild work. Torque should be roughly the same as a 2.5 (stroke's actually longer).
Like I said above, I'm not bothered about the power aspect - I'm actually quite happy with it as it is, that's why I'm in no hurry to build the 2.3. Economy doesn't bother me that much either since I fitted the LPG.

[toby]

I see your reasoning.

[saqi]

i do like a touring sweet ride mate

[StuBeeDoo]

[johnl320]

looking good Stu!

Saw thics car in the flesh people-a credit to its owner

Me too, I miss mine Stu . Loving the mims

john

[StuBeeDoo]

I miss mine Stu

I miss mine too John! Not allowed to drive for at least two weeks.

[old_skool]

That steering wheel is ace!

[gareth]

you just need a matching leather case for your shades now!
very nice mate

[StuBeeDoo]

That steering wheel is ace!

Raid (Type 1??) 360mm. £6.99 eBay special. Would have been rude not to..... I really wanted a 370mm MTech1, but you know how difficult they are to find.

you just need a matching leather case for your shades now!

Good point Gareth! Have made mental note.

[StuBeeDoo]

I see your reasoning.

I'm big on theory!
Personally, I feel the biggest failing - from an output point of view - of the M20 is the short stroke. IMHO, that's why the 81mm stroke conversion is so popular.
I did some calculations a while back, on M20 bore/stroke ratios.....
1990cc = 1.21
2316cc = 1.04
2494cc = 1.12
2554cc = 1.09
2693cc = 1.04

[Simon13]

Looking good there stu, everyone talks a good 2.8 but only know of 2 in existance!

[StuBeeDoo]

It started life as a poverty spec. 320i.

I recently got a print-out from my $tealer. Not only was the car poverty spec., it left the factory with beige interior!
That would probably explain why a previous owner fitted Anthrashite cloth from a '93 318i Touring. I suspect the same donor gave-up its 15" BBS, as they were date-coded 93.

[aceraf]

Need to do this on mine...sick of the standard buttons.

Do they close the windows all the way with 1 push?

[StuBeeDoo]

Do they close the windows all the way with 1 push?

No, they aren't one-touch. I don't know if you can actually do that on an E30.
The reason that I did it was the E36 switches don't need a heavy push - just a light touch is all that's needed. Doesn't bother me that I don't have one-touch.

[aceraf]

Do they close the windows all the way with 1 push?

No, they aren't one-touch. I don't know if you can actually do that on an E30.
The reason that I did it was the E36 switches don't need a heavy push - just a light touch is all that's needed. Doesn't bother me that I don't have one-touch.

I know what you mean...getting fed up with mine, you have to press really hard, and they still end up stopping half way if you move your finger slightly.

[StuBeeDoo]

Time for a couple of updates methinks. Here's the first one - Silber cloth Recaro interior.....



I recently found out that the car originally had "Natur" (ie beige) comfort interior. I know it's not to everyone's taste, but in some ways I sort of wish it was still the original colour.

I should have a couple more goodies to show-off in the next few days.

[josh-hocking]

thats nice!!! those seats

[Fal_325i]

Those seats are lush

[toby]

They turned out very very well those seats from the look of them!

[StuBeeDoo]

OK, here's the latest upgrade.....

Glass sunroof panel





So, that's it. 4-and-a-bit years and I've finally got it just about how I want. A set of 16" Hartge's could be tempting, if the price is right, but I'm not actively looking. Same goes for an MTech tailgate spoiler.
Next year, a few small bodywork issues will be addressed and when they are, it will gain an MTech2 front spoiler.

Thanks for looking and for the comments.
Stuart.

[Chris-W]

Nice one Stu

[Simon13]

I like seats!

Stuart it never ever ends!

Glass roof retract?

[vinni]

Looking good Stu mate, keep up the good work.

[StuBeeDoo]

I like seats!

It's a good job I'm not any taller, my napper nearly touches the headlining! Other than that, I'm happy with them. On advice from another E30 nut, I've convinced myself that they're "faux-leather".

Stuart it never ever ends!

Yep, you're probably right.

Glass roof retract?

Sure does. Works exactly the same as the steel one. Everything is original except the panel itself.