Beemerlad's M52 Chromie

[gareth]

ooh, goodies! what rubber is that?

nice pink stripes too

[GeoffBob]

I am sporting a bit of an English abroad tan. Been at a family BBQ all day so better not start welding now.

I know the feeling Dezzy. I have the weirdest wrist tan from where my gloves and jacket sleeves don't meet. Dangerous machines MIG and TIGs.

Looking forward to those exhaust pics.

[Dezzy]

The manifolds will be ready for brother Lee to collect tonight. I havent fimished them yet as have been really busy at work.
I will let Lee put the pics up.

I am pleased with the way they came out, They are manifolds and down pipes in 1 that sleave straight on to his scorpion E30M3 system just after the arb.

See you tonight Brother

[Dezzy]

ooh, goodies! what rubber is that?

nice pink stripes too

Maxxis MAV-1's mate. Trust you to find something homo with them matey

[E30BeemerLad]

Well a quick trip up the road this evening and I now have the wheels & tyres sorted and the exhaust manifold to fit. Also picked up the rear M3 seat.

Sincere thanks to Dezzy for all he has done, legend mate, legend.

Couldn't resist fitting the rear headrest kit to the M3 rear bench, was a nervous feeling sticking a knife through the top of the seat back but all went well. I was actually going to have a go at fitting the manifolds when I got back but about 2 mins from home it started absolutely lashing it down, so that will have to wait for another day.

A day spent on this now finishing off the odd jobs and she'll be ready for the road.

[rob0r]

Looks like a very tidy engine install (especially compared to my M50'd E21 turd!), great job.

[blitz877]

coming along nicely mate

[E30BeemerLad]

Cheers, hopefully ready for a bimble down the road & back this weekend.

[E30BeemerLad]

Well I got stuck in tonight when I got home from work and got a few jobs done.

I now have something resembling a brake pedal, which is a bonus. Fitted the wheels too. I have fitted 20mm spacers on the front in preparation for the Wilwoods further down the line. I needed some spacers anyhow as the mims hit the 325 calipers but there was no way I was going to use some dogshit non-hubcentric 3mm crap.

The fronts really poke out (but the tread is still within the arches). I'm going to have to get some for the rears though as they look a bit lost in the arches.

Then I had a play with the exhaust manifold. I don't know why, because I'm waiting on some heat wrap to arrive, but I've fitted it anyway. I HATE fitting exhaust manifolds when the engine is in the car, they are just such a chew, especially having to do up 24 faffing bolts.

Weather is supposed to be dry tomorrow so I'll get the system fitted up and see what she sounds like, can't wait.

No pics I'm afraid, but will get some sorted tomorrow.

Not that much left to mess about with now, dare I say it, a tax disc next week?

[leeparkes]

dare I say it, a tax disc next week?

The last stretch is always the best, keep going your on a roll

What offset are the Mims and how wide?

[E30BeemerLad]

they are 36 offset and are 7.5" wide. Could have gone 225 on the rubber but went for 215. The boots do look low profile, but the wider track defo helps fill the arches, the rears look a bit lost at the moment

[DanThe]

You will need to go at least 20mm spacers at the back to keep the handling right, I couldnt believe the difference fitting just 5mm to the front made on mine, back wants to be front more than usual!

You should be fine for arch clearance IMO

[leeparkes]

Dont know how chromie arches differ from facelift but on a facelift you would be able to take a 7.5j rear to ET14 before it catches on the lip, i took a 7j to ET8 with a 205/50 tyre and had no issue's but it was close. You could 'test' the 20mm spacer on the rear with the spring removed to see if you will be ok. Also as Dan said you dont want the front track wider than the rears as it will slightly upset the handling

20mm FTW

[Dezzy]

Are you finishing her off today brizzle?

[leeparkes]

To give you an idea ive found out an old photo of 7j ET8 with a 205 tyre, 7.5j with ET14 would be similar.






HTH

[E30BeemerLad]

Not sure mate, been upto the stealers this morning to collect new throttle pedal and also the Z3 shifter etc. If it isn't tackled today it will defo be seeing some action tomorrow.

So with the ET at 36 on these mims, I assume with a 20mm spacer = ET16?

[leeparkes]

So with the ET at 36 on these mims, I assume with a 20mm spacer = ET16?

Yes

[E30BeemerLad]

would you recommend keeping an equal spacer front & rear as I was possibly thinking about going 15mm on the front and chucking the 20mm on the rears. But will a wider track on the rear make it understeer like a pig?

[DanThe]

No it will be fine

[Jhonno]

would you recommend keeping an equal spacer front & rear as I was possibly thinking about going 15mm on the front and chucking the 20mm on the rears. But will a wider track on the rear make it understeer like a pig?

It will be fine..

I prefer running with with more track up front though..

[E30BeemerLad]

Well some progress to report my friends, she moved under her own steam today, well several times

First I sorted the exhaust system, the manifold and system mated up perfect with the euro sleeves, nice one Dezzy I also did away with the DTM councilness, courtesy of the roughest angle grinder known to man and some hacksaw blades. It needs a tidy up to be perfect, but i like the subtle slash cuts I have created.

Bled up the clutch system, fitted the Z3 shifter and then got her on her wheels and moved back up the driveway so I can actually get the doors open properly. Fitted the M3 rear bench. The interior needs finishing off and a damn good clean, but it's 80% there.

I started trying to bleed the cooling system but must have an air lock as I'm getting no hot air at the vents. Got bored with that one and will come back to it. probably needs jacking at the front and I'm bored of jacking it up and the novelty of it sitting on wheels was too much to resist, so it had a very quick wash as a bit of a treat. Needs a proper clean and cut & wax but it managed to remove the crap that has been accumulating since November.

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty chippa as it's nearly there, couple of evenings and I reckon it's good to go.
Oh, defo going for some more spacers for the rear.

So here are the pics, click on them for full size.

Introducing Black Betty...........

[e30topless]

that Looks great Lee, jimmy hill FTW

it's all happening too fast ! surely it needs another 12 month to complete like the red one did ?

[Dezzy]

That looks the nuts mate.

Is the exhaust hung properly? Is the bracket we shortened in use?
Them wheels look really nice and am loving the agressive stance.

[E30BeemerLad]

Yeah it's taken what, 7 months to do this one compared to 2 years on the touring. Easy second time round just bolting up new parts.

The exhaust is mounted with the modified rear bracket mate, need a better rubber mount for the bit that hangs off the subframe.

Still got to wire up the electric fan and of course bleed the cooling system properly. Strut brace still to fit and I'll probably give the brakes another quick bleed just for the sake of it.

It worried me earlier by smoking a bit out of the exhaust, but not sure why that was It is not doing it all the time.

[skipunda]

Whole package looks cool!

You can't not love a pre-facelift with a wacking great exhaust

[Dezzy]

Quite pleased with that exhaust job you know. I think if a M3 stainless came up I would buy it and do mine the same. I am tge olny brother without stainless and I am an exhaust fitter

[Alex]

looks great Lee, Well done

[E30BeemerLad]

Dezzy, if I was in your game I would just buy the bits you need from Jetex and make the system myself, you're a tidy welder mate

[Dezzy]

I wish I could justify the expense of an exhaust pipe bender mate.

If we had one I wouldn't think twice but tge system you have is made to measure and is good quality. If one came up I think I would buy it.


I looked at yours when it was on the floar in steve's frag room. I nearly bought it then.

[E30BeemerLad]

Mate, you can buy whatever bends etc you need, all silencers individually etc etc

Worth a look http://www.jetex.co.uk/website/jetexcus ... tparts.php

But yeah, for £100 I would have been daft not to, especially with that poxy 320 system I had been using

[bss325i]

This has come along well Lee.

Looking good!

[DanThe]

You got some serious track going on at the front end

Nice one

[bss325i]

Yes, shouldn't you swap the fronts to back?

[E30BeemerLad]

I'm toying whether to go 20mm all round or buy some 15mm spacers and put them on the front

[leeparkes]

Id go 20mm all round, i think the front looks spot on.

Well done btw