Project 316: Back in the E30 Game

Im officially back in the E30 game!!

Been looking for a good reliable candidate for a while, but this one had to meet certain conditions before I went to look at it. The only thing I knew for sure is that it HAD to be a 316i Manual Coupe, so from that alone your should know not to expect big plans for it.

with the rest of what i was looking for,i was willing to compromise on to get the right one. Luckily the only compromise i had to make was the colour, I really wanted an alpine one. Ive had two alpines in the past but both had been crashed!

Brought it off the old man that drove it off the lot in 1990. As you can guess, full service history as a result. Is a coupe and Titan Red. Needs a new clutch which I will be doing myself and will probably need a few other bits for a WOF, but an all round tidy car, has had seat covers and a dash mat all its life so interior is great, in tan (fabric)



Quite happy with it so far. Before that photo being taken, I had already set to work rejuvinating the paint. You can clearly see the bonnet done, and ive made a start on the drivers door.

(No thats not my E36 behind it before someone asks)

Day 2: finished cleaning the car up, did oil and filter change. Oil that was in there seemed a bit more liquid than usual, but then again it was warm and i havent done a warm oil change before.



and probably my favourite photo this far:



Im very happy right now!

Day 3: Took it to work today, was a wee bit clunky in the rear end which i hadnt noticed before. got to work about 5km later and got under the back of the car to have a look. Sometimes I love having a stock rideheight! Nothing seemed out of place. took it around the block as I was early to work to see if i could figure it out by driving. found out it didnt happen when cornering right and under brakes, which means no load on the rear left wheel. get back to work, check the wheel bolts, loose as a hooker. tighten them up and good to go.

Took it for a WOF after work (similar to the UK MOT) failed on a few bits but nothing major. Will detail when i replace them.

how much? damn.. jealous. coupe too. i can only get 4 doors for cheap. The clean coupes get a premium. Great view too. Not a fan of red. interior pics?

Originally Posted by pjoa09

how much? damn.. jealous. coupe too. i can only get 4 doors for cheap. The clean coupes get a premium. Great view too. Not a fan of red. interior pics?

Havent decided if this is going to be a tidy up and sell or a tidy up and keep yet so prefer not to publish price.

No pics of interior yet, needs a wee bit of work yet. But nothing too flash, has rev counter in place of clock which is a rare find in a 316i. Obviously has all the euro bits being a euro car. Tan comforts and door cards, 100% virginal dash with a factory fitted dash mat.
Carpets need a clean and there is a small hole in the back seat needs stitching up when i get some time, and the drivers Y shape handle thingy has vanished somewhere along the line. otherwise pretty good condition overall no cracks in console or anything, window handles there and even have the screw cover caps.

dibs on hitch.

Congratz on the new girl...looks to be a keeper if you ask me.

Nice car dude! Sub'd for progress.

Originally Posted by SWISS

dibs on hitch.

factory BMW too which is nice

so ive crunched the numbers on this car and its going to be worth fixing up which is good! will be ordering new parts tomorrow and all going to plan will be ripping into fixing it up this weekend!

its a Keep'er!

I'd paint the bumpers tho.

Originally Posted by Ethrty

factory BMW too which is nice

That's what Steve said

Originally Posted by E30 hobby car

its a Keep'er!

I'd paint the bumpers tho.

Yes have considered that. bigger priorities to get it mechanically back into shape first!

Originally Posted by SWISS

That's what Steve said

i dont get your joke



Day 4: nothing happened, other than the fuel gauge finally left the 55L (Full) mark after 4 days of commuting around. my god this thing is economical!!! Econometer reads 6L/100km when im crusing along at 50kph in 5th gear. thats much better than my old 525iT could do, that was sitting around 11L/100km

Day 5: Called and ordered some bits for it from my usual local BMW parts guy (Gavin @ EuroItalian for those from New Zealand). Raining today again so no more progress on the car yet...

too bad its a 316 :/ s52 swap soon?

Originally Posted by noexceptions325

too bad its a 316 :/ s52 swap soon?

he's buying my turbo and is going to boost the 316.

Originally Posted by noexceptions325

too bad its a 316 :/ s52 swap soon?

Its intentionally a 316i. Ive been looking for a good one for the past few months, as I want a cheap economical run about. These weigh only just over a ton as they dont have any options on them. it even has manual windows. I hate E36 and they are heavy anyway, and I dont want to sink 6k into an E46, so E30 it had to be. I dont want to be spending every waking hour maintaining it either (thats what the E34 is for ), so with the M40 engine being reletively modern yet so tiny, it is by far the easiest engine ive ever had to work on. And as you all know, I know my way round the rest of an E30 like the back of my hand and could pull one apart one day and put it back together again the next.

So no engine swap for this one.

The E34 is getting a new engine and is very near completion, and is the new money pit. This will just be the daily driven for the forseeable future.

Now ive had it for almost a week, i realise why E30s will always hold a place with me, they are just so light that you dont need big power to have fun!

I am pretty confident when I say there wont be another modified E30 in my ownership again (to the extent my black twincam was). This car might get a subtle drop or some wheels, but i like the stock as a rock look the E30 has these days. Isnt it wierd how our tastes mature.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

he's buying my turbo and is going to boost the 316.

Haha nope. I have no use for A turbocharger........

Originally Posted by Ethrty

Haha nope. I have no use for A turbocharger........

two snails would be too much for you

Originally Posted by Ethrty

Yes have considered that. bigger priorities to get it mechanically back into shape first!



i dont get your joke



Day 4: nothing happened, other than the fuel gauge finally left the 55L (Full) mark after 4 days of commuting around. my god this thing is economical!!! Econometer reads 6L/100km when im crusing along at 50kph in 5th gear. thats much better than my old 525iT could do, that was sitting around 11L/100km

Day 5: Called and ordered some bits for it from my usual local BMW parts guy (Gavin @ EuroItalian for those from New Zealand). Raining today again so no more progress on the car yet...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...&postcount=163

Originally Posted by fcsteve

two snails would be too much for you

where were going.. we dont need snails

Originally Posted by SWISS

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...&postcount=163

your memory is way too good.
aftermarket ones are far inferior though

Originally Posted by Ethrty

your memory is way too good.
aftermarket ones are far inferior though

his memory isnt that good. he probably has every mess-up ive ever said/done written down with links to everything and listed times when he can bring it up.

and not true.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

his memory isnt that good. he probably has every mess-up ive ever said/done written down with links to everything and listed times when he can bring it up.

and not true.

Lol

and in my experience what I said holds true. they often consist of a bar bolted to the back of the car reinforced through the tyre well which isnt designed to bare load, as well as decreasing ground clearance. the one on the 325i I had flexed the tyre well when you put a trailer on it, thats how crap it was. Have never had an issue with OEM BMW bars. share yours?

the Curt one bolts behind the rear bumper using huge bolts and a solid L bracket, as well as a 4 bolt 1/2" thick plate bolted to the tire well. it was rated for more weight then id ever try to pull in an e30. a balanced empty trailer shouldnt have any real weight to even begin to flex a hitch.

ground clearance isnt affected at all by adding a plate to the tire wel, the subframe is still like 5 inches lower.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

the Curt one bolts behind the rear bumper using huge bolts and a solid L bracket, as well as a 4 bolt 1/2" thick plate bolted to the tire well. it was rated for more weight then id ever try to pull in an e30. a balanced empty trailer shouldnt have any real weight to even begin to flex a hitch.

ground clearance isnt affected at all by adding a plate to the tire wel, the subframe is still like 5 inches lower.

who tows around an empty trailer?
Okay so ground clearance might not have been the right phrase, try departure angle

Originally Posted by Ethrty

who tows around an empty trailer?
Okay so ground clearance might not have been the right phrase, try departure angle

you said when you attached the trailer, that sounds like you connected an empty trailer and it couldnt even handle that.

well no matter what you going to have some reverse rake, unless you are referring to the front of the trailer having bad rake. either way those issues are the same whether its OEM or not.

actually, on reviewing that pic, it comes down from behind the valence actually, but still equally as low and i think it demonstrates what im tryna say lol