BMW 325i Touring / Resto
Discussion
After the dismise of my 320i a few months back, I had to find a replacement for it. However all was not lost with the ol' 320i, though the shell is pretty much scrap (It looked clean but there was rust building in a few places, bulkhead / sunroof issues and a bit in the sills) 
I brought it back and it was used for spares for this...
This turned up on E30Zone and after some negotiations a deal was struck.
A good look around has found a few niggles, central locking not fully working on the drivers side, i can lock it but can't unlock it
It's needing a new bootlid and the headlining is sagging but.. it's on less mileage, and has a inch thick folder of recepts
and just had the brakes overhauled completely with a fresh MOT 
The shell is actually clean as anything and very little rust besides a bit of cosmetic here and there
Soon after getting it, the car decided to do some kettle impressions, which was traced to a half stuck thermostat, which was duely replaced.
Since i've got a few weeks break at Christmas from university (not the work though, have been doing chunks between working on the car) I've had a garage sort out the rear beam bushes and install the LSD taken from my old one.
After some more work, i should have the same suspension setup as per my 320, which was nicely tight and very capable, just through selective use of stiff bushing
At the moment she looks like this below. Though i've also installed my old Sparco seat and wheel, and currently working through the various faults and elminiating them.
I brought it back and it was used for spares for this...This turned up on E30Zone and after some negotiations a deal was struck.
A good look around has found a few niggles, central locking not fully working on the drivers side, i can lock it but can't unlock it
It's needing a new bootlid and the headlining is sagging but.. it's on less mileage, and has a inch thick folder of recepts
and just had the brakes overhauled completely with a fresh MOT The shell is actually clean as anything and very little rust besides a bit of cosmetic here and there
Soon after getting it, the car decided to do some kettle impressions, which was traced to a half stuck thermostat, which was duely replaced.
Since i've got a few weeks break at Christmas from university (not the work though, have been doing chunks between working on the car) I've had a garage sort out the rear beam bushes and install the LSD taken from my old one.
After some more work, i should have the same suspension setup as per my 320, which was nicely tight and very capable, just through selective use of stiff bushing
At the moment she looks like this below. Though i've also installed my old Sparco seat and wheel, and currently working through the various faults and elminiating them.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:25
More work today:
Bumper off to find....
Mmm rust....
Some grinding / Cutting and welding later...
It's been all seam sealed in from the inside, skin filled, sanded and given a lick of Red oxide till the weather clears up and i can get some good paint on. But no more hole.
Just need to get under the car and sort the Z3 shifter as the selector rod is catching on the balance ring on the prop
Bumper off to find....
Mmm rust....
Some grinding / Cutting and welding later...
It's been all seam sealed in from the inside, skin filled, sanded and given a lick of Red oxide till the weather clears up and i can get some good paint on. But no more hole.
Just need to get under the car and sort the Z3 shifter as the selector rod is catching on the balance ring on the prop
Well time i bothered updating this. 
About 2 months ago, i'd noticed the car had been misfiring for a while so took a weekend off to get the distributer swapped out, and give the car an oil service... cue it running for 20 seconds before clattering to a hault... after pulling the timing covers off... belt had jumped about 8 teeth
So after getting it apart, a good friend offered to get the head sorted for me by a local company, top blokes the pair of them :worthy:
The head upon getting it back
And back in
So far, since the rebuilt it's run sweet as a nut and is doing better MPG and pulls how it should do (it never did seem quite right before) It's also had a brand new fuel tank (oooouch at £160!)
Next on the list is swapping off the valance for the mint one i have, the iS lip spolier, and general tidying up.
About 2 months ago, i'd noticed the car had been misfiring for a while so took a weekend off to get the distributer swapped out, and give the car an oil service... cue it running for 20 seconds before clattering to a hault... after pulling the timing covers off... belt had jumped about 8 teeth
So after getting it apart, a good friend offered to get the head sorted for me by a local company, top blokes the pair of them :worthy:
The head upon getting it back
And back in
So far, since the rebuilt it's run sweet as a nut and is doing better MPG and pulls how it should do (it never did seem quite right before) It's also had a brand new fuel tank (oooouch at £160!)
Next on the list is swapping off the valance for the mint one i have, the iS lip spolier, and general tidying up.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:27
Update time
So far the car's ran pretty much perfectly since the rebuild, and I was also able to get the tank replaced so mechanically the car's pretty sound.
However aseticly it looked like a HEAP! Thankfully i'd picked up a few goodies a few months back and today i managed to get around to installing them finally.
Firstly, off with the old bent and generally f**ked front Valance
And.. on with a straight mint one in the right colour with a brand new iS lip spoiler
Next on the list is a new tailgate, once i've got work.. and maybe down to Littleknocks for a blow over to tidy it all up.
So far the car's ran pretty much perfectly since the rebuild, and I was also able to get the tank replaced so mechanically the car's pretty sound.
However aseticly it looked like a HEAP! Thankfully i'd picked up a few goodies a few months back and today i managed to get around to installing them finally.
Firstly, off with the old bent and generally f**ked front Valance
And.. on with a straight mint one in the right colour with a brand new iS lip spoiler
Next on the list is a new tailgate, once i've got work.. and maybe down to Littleknocks for a blow over to tidy it all up.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:29
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:29
Update time
Since finishing university and working on finding a decent job I've been working on getting some odd jobs done on the touring
Firstly it had a factory fit fire extingisher but since putting the seat in, it's been floating about. I've since modified the original bracket to fit it on the passenger side
And set about fixing the sagging headlining too.
After a lucky break i got my flywheel and clutch back from my old car, though it was rusty as hell.. I had a plastic tub.. so brought a couple of litres of vinegar. 24 hours later, and a brief scrub with a wire brush, it came up clean
I've also welded up the blowing exhaust for the time being since i'm STILL job hunting after 6 months, have had a couple of interviews but still no joy
Since finishing university and working on finding a decent job
I've been working on getting some odd jobs done on the touringFirstly it had a factory fit fire extingisher but since putting the seat in, it's been floating about. I've since modified the original bracket to fit it on the passenger side
And set about fixing the sagging headlining too.
After a lucky break i got my flywheel and clutch back from my old car, though it was rusty as hell.. I had a plastic tub.. so brought a couple of litres of vinegar. 24 hours later, and a brief scrub with a wire brush, it came up clean
I've also welded up the blowing exhaust for the time being since i'm STILL job hunting after 6 months, have had a couple of interviews but still no joy
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:30
Update time again, having bounced between jobs and settled down at a nice engineering consultancy place, I've been getting back on the case with the car and have been working somewhat. The handbrake wasn't working right and decided to have the discs off... uhm good thing i did, the pads had cracked up to hell and falling apart, generally meaning the handbrake didn't work once i cleaned out the dust!
Old vs new
Rather gone!
All new springs and handbrake shoes
New discs and Pads, job done and all working
Next up is the propshaft...
Old vs new
Rather gone!
All new springs and handbrake shoes
New discs and Pads, job done and all working
Next up is the propshaft...
Update time again Managed to get the propshaft done finally, but the nose bearings in the diff are now rumbling well
After a bit of research and finding a bargin on ebay... E28 Sports seats now reside in the touring Well the passenger side at the moment till i can get ahold of some driver's side runners from a old seat (anyone want to donate? 
)
And since I went to the Gaydon show... i got spending a bit more
: Opps.. but the following goodies are going on:
New grill
6k HID's and smoked lenses
Strut brace
And to follow next month, RPM's Coilovers, should tighten things up nicely
Managed to get the propshaft done finally, but the nose bearings in the diff are now rumbling well After a bit of research and finding a bargin on ebay... E28 Sports seats now reside in the touring
Well the passenger side at the moment till i can get ahold of some driver's side runners from a old seat (anyone want to donate? )And since I went to the Gaydon show... i got spending a bit more
: Opps.. but the following goodies are going on:New grill
6k HID's and smoked lenses
Strut brace
And to follow next month, RPM's Coilovers, should tighten things up nicely
ds got to it 
Ok Update again
Brief one this time as i'm waiting on the coilovers to arrive... however
Both in and soooo comfy and supportive, best change to date
HID's and clear front lenses in, but the company whom sent me the side lights sent me E36 items So waiting on them to send me the correct ones... still waiting
Brief one this time as i'm waiting on the coilovers to arrive... however
Both in and soooo comfy and supportive, best change to date
HID's and clear front lenses in, but the company whom sent me the side lights sent me E36 items
So waiting on them to send me the correct ones... still waiting Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:22
I got a nice big box arrive just in time for my week off
And what lurked inside.... was...
Brand new Gaz based coilovers from RPM, Also got new wishbones and a strut brace all to go in
After this it's MOT.. then sort the diff out which is now rumbling away
And what lurked inside.... was...
Brand new Gaz based coilovers from RPM, Also got new wishbones and a strut brace all to go in
After this it's MOT.. then sort the diff out which is now rumbling away
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:23
Day 2 of rebuild:
One new wishbone on... but new tie rods and a drop link needed.. and new discs :roll:
And no real progress after the bolt rounded out in the disc but i do have a reverse fluke drill to attack it with once the drill's recharged
New tie rods, one new droplink (did the drivers side but didn't do the passenger -: ) and new discs on order from Euros.
Managed to get some gators that kinda fitted (read not brilliantly) for the coilovers to help keep them in reasonable condition for winter.
One new wishbone on... but new tie rods and a drop link needed.. and new discs :roll:
And no real progress after the bolt rounded out in the disc but i do have a reverse fluke drill to attack it with once the drill's recharged
New tie rods, one new droplink (did the drivers side but didn't do the passenger -
: ) and new discs on order from Euros. Managed to get some gators that kinda fitted (read not brilliantly) for the coilovers to help keep them in reasonable condition for winter.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Sunday 30th March 15:34
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