Budgie's E30 ~318i~ 325i Touring project

[couzens]

Took these a while back, only just got round to sorting them out.

Very clean example! Enjoy

E30 Touring 1 by couzens1989, on Flickr

E30 Touring 2 by couzens1989, on Flickr

E30 Touring 3 by couzens1989, on Flickr

E30 Touring 4 by couzens1989, on Flickr

E30 Touring 5 by couzens1989, on Flickr

 

[Matt Cup]

Nice late example there!

 

[boffey]

Would love an E30

 

[couzens]

No idea whats happening with the links??? Post the others up Matt

 

[Daniel]

No idea whats happening with the links???

I'm going to take a stab in the dark here, but I think you fcuked it up.

​Jus sayin.

 

[sbridgey]

use the bbcode rather than the html, same happened to me yesterday

 

[Matt Cup]

see below.

 

[Toby]

Still not working boys!

 

[sbridgey]

come on guys... get with the program

 

[Matt Cup]

There you go mate.

 

[yeecup]

V.nice

 

[sbridgey]

Thats lovely.

 

[Adam.P]

Very tidy, looks lovely.

 

[Saner]

 

[Fletcher]

All repaired now then Jon?

 

[Saner]

Pics are before actually, but in a few weeks it will look better than it was then

 

[Fletcher]

Pics are before actually, but in a few weeks it will look better than it was then

Good stuff.

 

[Rob]

I know I really shouldn't say this, but the front does need to come down a bit, just to level it out. Bloody lovely though.

 

[Scrooge]

I agree, it looks like it's attempting a wheelie. Love it though.

 

[Saner]

Define level, if you look at the sills it is perfectly level wit the centre of the wheels (almost).

I do agree however, front could do with less arch gap. Problem is I know if I modify one thing, it'll open up to a host of others. Determined to keep this standard!

 

[Rob]

Just springs, do eeeeettt.

Level as in the front arch gap looks far greater than the back.

 

[Saner]

Old vs new

 

[Ian_182]

Lovely car,looks very clean.Is that your house ?,it looks a bit like mine.

 

[Saner]

Parents house! Got a week off to get some work done.

It's a Wates build, built in 95

 

[Ian_182]

Mine was a second city homes build in 1994 so not far off,just a similar shape really.

They dont make em like they used too.

 

[Budgie]

Long term thread bump, seeing a couple of the old resto threads on here have spurred me into getting this done.

So the old girl ended up being bumped on the drivers side rear corner, and I bought it from @Saner.

It's sat on my driveway for the last year/18 months, but looks like it's picking up a bit.

I've just bought an M20 2.5 complete conversion to swap over (which I'm hoping to get in between Xmas and NY).. should be a big improvement on the 1.8 that's in there.

Crash wise, I've completely stripped it back and it needs, bumper, wing, valance, lights, grill and a bit of the inner wing fabricating. All parts sourced now, so once the engine swap has gone in, the car will get built back up and spend some time at the body shop getting some rust treatment if needed, and paint.

I love this car, and I'll be super happy to get it back on the road. Long term, I think it will end up with the M54B30 from my 330 daily, or possibly a V8.... we'll see.

 

[Budgie]

A few pics. People like pics.

Pre-bump above.

Bump one, repaired by @Saner:

As it arrived to me:

Now the sad point is that it's been bumped. The value of a car like this and in it's future is in it's originality, of which, none of the front will remain, lol. So, I have no qualms or hesitation in changing things to make them better.

@Luke this one.

 

[Matt Cup]

What did you end up doing with mine? @Budgie

 

[Budgie]

What did you end up doing with mine? @Budgie

A guy I half knew ended up buying it. Said he was going to turn it into a V8 pick-up to advertise his body shop!

I regret selling it everyday.

 

[Matt Cup]

A guy I half knew ended up buying it. Said he was going to turn it into a V8 pick-up to advertise his body shop.

I regret selling it everyday.

Me too! One of my biggest regrets that one.

 

[BigDaveRotary]

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Got a soft spot for them!

 

[alistairolsen]

Love E30s, looking forward to seeing another being saved!

 

[Budgie]

So, New Years. Out until 5:30. Up at 7:30 to drive to Herts and collect the below:

Had an amazing result with it, basically got everything from a donor car of the same age, so needs nothing but about 6 wires connecting loom-wise, a new prop shaft bearing and fluids.

Other parts wise, have acquired 4x brand new old stock centre caps, which are like rocking horse s**t. Wheels will be refurbed before they go on though. New tyres all round too..

Body shop is being contacted this week to see about availability. We'll see.

Engine swap next weekend hopefully.

 

[JackD]

About time you ginger prick

 

[Ian_182]

I love old E30's good luck with the work.

 

[Cub.]

We need to catch up ASAP ginger smurf.

I shall text Holmes.

In the meantime, good work on the touring.

 

[Budgie]

We need to catch up ASAP ginger smurf.

I shall text Holmes.

In the meantime, good work on the touring.

I know what this means - the Flamer is due some work?

Nah, be good to catch up mate!

 

[Cub.]

I know what this means - the Flamer is due some work?

Nah, be good to catch up mate!

Ha ha! Nah, flamer is all good old fruit. Be good to catch up you furry pygmy. I’ll ping you a text.

 

[Budgie]

Today is a reminder of why I try not to work on cars anymore. I'm fucked.

Started about 9am. Old engine:

About 2 hours later, exhaust, prop, engine and gearbox out/off:

Gave the engine bay a good clean up, and about an hour later the new engine is in on it's mounts.

Loom, ECU, heater matrix pipes all connected up. Throttle cable swapped for a 325 one too.

It started getting dark so I came in. Bits left to do in the week:

Connect up fuel, fit prop, exhaust and heatshields, then the rest of the bay can be put back together and it's firing up time!

 

[Budgie]

Another good thing to come from today, have spent a fair amount of time under the car, and the shell is in great condition. No rust at all, bar the odd few bits of surface rust that will sand off. Over the moon, and I guess it helps to get a late example for that...