Resto-mod e21 BMW
Discussion
is your car still at pristine? seen it a few times in the flesh and have found myself spending a fair bit of time perving over it. looks like its done to a very high standard and looks cool as F£$K.
my mates xr2 is down there, so will go with him to pick it up to have a final snoop around at all the other cars down there.
my mates xr2 is down there, so will go with him to pick it up to have a final snoop around at all the other cars down there.
Yes. I spoke to Mick yesterday and he's hoping it'll be ready for Retro Rides gathering next month. Feel free to have a nose around when you're there. I think the electrics are just about done and the trimmer is next?
I went to Wales in my e30 last weekend, with the 02 crowd.
Headlight bulbs blew which meant the blast across the mountain to the BnB was a bit hairy in places.
I went to Wales in my e30 last weekend, with the 02 crowd.
Headlight bulbs blew which meant the blast across the mountain to the BnB was a bit hairy in places.
Retro Rides Gathering 2014 is taking place at Shelsley Walsh in Worcestershire, Post code : WR6 6RP
Date : Sunday 31st August
What to expect : The usual first rate show from the Retro Rides team, guest cars to blow your mind (and your ear drums occasionally), club stands as far as the eye can see, retro parking for all those cool enough to turn up in their retros, RWYB hillclimb for those that want to have a go at one of the most intense hillclimbs in the country.
What do you pay for this? Well if you are camping the weekend ticket is £30, if you are coming on the day entry is £10, or if you book in advance it is only £7.50
Why should you come? It really is very very good. This year we'll be blowing your minds with our guest cars for a start, then there is the range of clubs, the diversity of the show, the lovely venue, the historic lovely venue even, the lunatics heading up the hill, trade stands, chilled atmosphere, good times, just pure good times.
Can I book a club stand? YES here : retroridesgathering.com/club-stands/
www.retroridesgathering.com for a nice count down, and later in the year pictures of our guest cars and more info on everything.
Quick note no you can't bring a Dog or any other pet, sorry, motorsport venue, motorsport venue rules.
Date : Sunday 31st August
What to expect : The usual first rate show from the Retro Rides team, guest cars to blow your mind (and your ear drums occasionally), club stands as far as the eye can see, retro parking for all those cool enough to turn up in their retros, RWYB hillclimb for those that want to have a go at one of the most intense hillclimbs in the country.
What do you pay for this? Well if you are camping the weekend ticket is £30, if you are coming on the day entry is £10, or if you book in advance it is only £7.50
Why should you come? It really is very very good. This year we'll be blowing your minds with our guest cars for a start, then there is the range of clubs, the diversity of the show, the lovely venue, the historic lovely venue even, the lunatics heading up the hill, trade stands, chilled atmosphere, good times, just pure good times.
Can I book a club stand? YES here : retroridesgathering.com/club-stands/
www.retroridesgathering.com for a nice count down, and later in the year pictures of our guest cars and more info on everything.
Quick note no you can't bring a Dog or any other pet, sorry, motorsport venue, motorsport venue rules.
Going to Santa Pod on 28th for the BMW Snow, but most likely in the E30.
MIB update!
Got a message from Pristine last night and basically they are working their way through the wiring looms. There are 3 in total, that are spliced together, so they're being split apart again and all the joints soldered and heat shrink wrapped. A long, laborious process.
Once the wiring is finally complete it can go to the trimmer. I imagine they'll have it for a week, although the cage needs to come back out first. I did think about hiding the floor strengthening and cage feet, but decided to have them show with shiny new stainless bolts instead. The custom seat mounts also need sorting before the carpet too, so the Recaro are as low as possible. The stock seat mounts are simply way too high and fitting non standard seats really exaggerates the fact in an E21. Personally I like a seat mounted as low as possible and hopefully that will afford me some extra head room.
Other mechanical jobs are the shorter final drive crown wheel and pinion, from an early 628 and the quick-rack for the steering.
It's been a long time coming but Mick assures me MIB will be finished for late October.
Hopefully.
Once I finally put some miles on it I can think about getting the Jenvey on and getting it mapped.
MIB update!
Got a message from Pristine last night and basically they are working their way through the wiring looms. There are 3 in total, that are spliced together, so they're being split apart again and all the joints soldered and heat shrink wrapped. A long, laborious process.
Once the wiring is finally complete it can go to the trimmer. I imagine they'll have it for a week, although the cage needs to come back out first. I did think about hiding the floor strengthening and cage feet, but decided to have them show with shiny new stainless bolts instead. The custom seat mounts also need sorting before the carpet too, so the Recaro are as low as possible. The stock seat mounts are simply way too high and fitting non standard seats really exaggerates the fact in an E21. Personally I like a seat mounted as low as possible and hopefully that will afford me some extra head room.
Other mechanical jobs are the shorter final drive crown wheel and pinion, from an early 628 and the quick-rack for the steering.
It's been a long time coming but Mick assures me MIB will be finished for late October.
Hopefully.
Once I finally put some miles on it I can think about getting the Jenvey on and getting it mapped.
Single wiper conversion is sorted now. We saved the original BBQ'd one from MIB but anything rubber or plastic was knackered. As a result, it was copied and the original mechanism was modified. If you say it quickly it sounds easy, but in reality it's a PITA to do.
All the sound deadening is now new. Another proper fiddly job in such a tight confine, as around the wiper motor and heater matrix. These are all small jobs that eat up time, but need to be done. On MIB, where the wiring for the wipers passes through the bulkhead, it had worn through and caused an intermittent electrical short. This meant the indicators and wipers would just blow their fuses. It was a real pain in the arse and only solved when an electrician luckily heard the short happen! It was a total fluke and it was unlikely we'd ever have found it. Anyway, we just want to be sure things like that don't happen again.
All the sound deadening is now new. Another proper fiddly job in such a tight confine, as around the wiper motor and heater matrix. These are all small jobs that eat up time, but need to be done. On MIB, where the wiring for the wipers passes through the bulkhead, it had worn through and caused an intermittent electrical short. This meant the indicators and wipers would just blow their fuses. It was a real pain in the arse and only solved when an electrician luckily heard the short happen! It was a total fluke and it was unlikely we'd ever have found it. Anyway, we just want to be sure things like that don't happen again.
Well the E21 is finally starting on the button and pretty much all the mechanical stuff is finished. 
Proof of a fruity sounding 316 can be found here > https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1020488457717...
The wiring has been a laborious task and the new, blade type fuse box, now lives under a false floor in the passenger side foot well. This has meant that the engine bay is now a totally wire free zone. There's still way too much plastic on view for my liking, but the Jenvey throttle bodies will be going on once the engine (and specifically new Cat Cams) has done a few hundred miles. The new aluminium coil pack / cam cover is also coming along nicely, but has turned out to be quite a significant amount of fabrication. I'm confident it will be well worth all the effort though. We had to chop up a pair of M30 cam covers to use for the BMW roundel and ribs.
Anyway, we are still aiming for the end of the month. Hopefully.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1020488455409...
Proof of a fruity sounding 316 can be found here > https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1020488457717...
The wiring has been a laborious task and the new, blade type fuse box, now lives under a false floor in the passenger side foot well. This has meant that the engine bay is now a totally wire free zone. There's still way too much plastic on view for my liking, but the Jenvey throttle bodies will be going on once the engine (and specifically new Cat Cams) has done a few hundred miles. The new aluminium coil pack / cam cover is also coming along nicely, but has turned out to be quite a significant amount of fabrication. I'm confident it will be well worth all the effort though. We had to chop up a pair of M30 cam covers to use for the BMW roundel and ribs.
Anyway, we are still aiming for the end of the month. Hopefully.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1020488455409...
Sadly we are still behind with the build and the gearbox needs to be dropped out again, to investigate a resonating noise on overrun. Initially I thought it might be related to the lightened flywheel but it seems to be coming from near the starter.
Hopefully the paint can be completed soon, as it also needs to go to the trimmer for new carpets.
Hopefully the paint can be completed soon, as it also needs to go to the trimmer for new carpets.
Went to see MIB briefly yesterday and we are getting close to final paint and refit now. It's actually a running, driving car and starts on the key without issue. The brakes will be complete, as soon as the custom resevoir arrives. I'll be putting a few miles on the cams prior to the Jenvey ITB's going on, along with the DTA management.
The gauges are all in, with just the oil pressure sender to be fitted.
The rad has been modified slightly and the senders fitted. It also runs Evans waterless coolant.
Sadly you can't really see from the photos, but the stance is absolutely spot on. A bit of rake and the staggered alloys, have given it a really aggressive look and it has real presence when sat. I'm really chuffed with the overall look of it.
Flipping the headlight lenses has sorted these, although I still have a pair of clears, should I ever want to revert. I'm probably going to go with the American spec 320is front spoiler and not fit a rear for now. I'll play with the aesthetic details once the bumpers and stainless trim goes on.
It's been a long time coming but we are really getting close now. It'll be great to get it in a few shows next year, but I'm really looking forward to having an E21 daily driver again.
The gauges are all in, with just the oil pressure sender to be fitted.
The rad has been modified slightly and the senders fitted. It also runs Evans waterless coolant.
Sadly you can't really see from the photos, but the stance is absolutely spot on. A bit of rake and the staggered alloys, have given it a really aggressive look and it has real presence when sat. I'm really chuffed with the overall look of it.
Flipping the headlight lenses has sorted these, although I still have a pair of clears, should I ever want to revert. I'm probably going to go with the American spec 320is front spoiler and not fit a rear for now. I'll play with the aesthetic details once the bumpers and stainless trim goes on.
It's been a long time coming but we are really getting close now. It'll be great to get it in a few shows next year, but I'm really looking forward to having an E21 daily driver again.
mark.c said:
Good news Mark, looking forward to the gratuitous paint booth pictures!
Me too. It's been such a long time coming, although the attention to detail is top drawer. There is no rust, or damage to repair, so prep' should be pretty straightforward. Obviously he'll be going all out for a show quality paint finish. 
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