My E30 M3, the story so far......

[BSSBMW]

Thanks for the kind words guys.



Safely delivered back at my workshop today so can press on over the xmas/new year break.







Very pleased with how the factory look has turned out. The aim was to replicate what was there before but without the corrosion and flaky sealer. Beige underseal and just the right amount of body colour over spray along with the black inner wheel arches faded in.













Every orifice from the inside out has been liberally filled with Bolt Hamber UC cavity wax to keep the rust at bay.

[BSSBMW]

Thanks guys.



The refit starts! All new engine bay bulkhead sound insulation fitted.



New interior bulkhead upper sound insulation and replacement stick on sound insulation pads cut and fitted where removed for repairs.





complete wiring loom has now been fitted with the engine bay re-wrapped in the correct fabric tape.

[BSSBMW]

DanGPR said:

a great read!

You're doing right by the car, I guess it's going to be a keeper!

Do you have something else to use on track if this is retired?

Thanks.

Yes it is my intention to keep it.

I don’t have another track car yet but there are a couple of E30’s i have my eye on.

[BSSBMW]

Felix79 said:

Barry, you're almost making me want to have an E30 again. I never thought I would miss them too much, but the idea of owning another Alpina (with much less miles this time lol). Is this your only E30, or do you still have your stunning 325i Sport?

Hi, once you own 1 E30 the bug usually never goes away! I am selling a C2 2.7 on behalf of a customer which is in the classified section on here.

I still have the 325i Sport and also Trevor (B7's) white 325i convertible which is actually the wifes.

[BSSBMW]

Felix79 said:

It's not Simon's C2 I hope?

I've just recently got myself an E85 Z4M, as I grew to love the S54 from the time my dad had his E46 M3 Cab, which obviously you knew pretty well!

I know I will one day get myself an E30 Alpina again, be it a C2 or B6. I was kinda sad about what happened with my old C2, especially after all the work you guys did on it near the end of my ownership with the car.

Hopefully I will be able to catch up with you at some of the BMW/PH shows in 2019 once the M3 is finished?

No its a white C2. Simon still has his black C2 and its final on the road.

Your old C2 is still about but has been painted blue.

[BSSBMW]

Small update. Chipping away at refitting it over the Christmas break.





Routing the body loom in place and wrapping it using the correct tesa cloth tape.



Carpet and HVAC box in place. Both doors have the wiring fitted, complete handle and lock mechs plus window regulators and glass.



Main part of the dashboard in place. There are other various clips, bracket and fittings also in place around the car.

[BSSBMW]

gary71 said:

Don’t know why I’ve missed this thread before. Great rebuild, I could feel it building to that ‘whilst I’m in here’ moment and the whole car coming apart.

Neat fabrication and repairs, good to see it being done properly.

Will be a new car again soon.

Thanks. I cant take credit for any of the body repairs or paint, that goes to the bodyshop we use for all of our restoration work.

[BSSBMW]

crossie said:

How much was the body shop bill if you don't mind me asking?

A lot! I could have bought a nice E46 M3 manual coupe for what its cost.

[BSSBMW]

Chipping away at it,





Bumper brackets have been blasted and painted, various fittings and brackets re plated in the original zinc passivate finish.





New heat shields fitted.



Original bumper side mounts cleaned up and refitted with new speed clips and spire bolts in the original finish.



Rear lights cleaned up and refitted, new number plate lamps and boot lock fitted.

[BSSBMW]

One of the things that triggered the restoration... for those of you who have read the whole tale will remember the front screen being hit by what felt like a rock during a hot lap of the ring. Replaced with a new genuine BMW top tint screen joined by a new genuine rear screen all fitted with new rubber seals at the front and new clips and trims at the rear. Some new scuttle vent trims and all new wiper linkage mounting hardware on the scuttle finish off that area.



New Hirchmann antenna as my original was badly faded. Also my radio reception was never great so hopefully this will improve it.











Picked up some freshly vapour blasted parts removed from the engine .

[BSSBMW]

For those of you with a good memory, back when i listed the new replacement panels one of them was a sport evo rear spoiler.



For those of you not familiar with the Sport evo it was the last homologated version of the E30 M5 which had a 2.5 engine as well as adjustable front and rear spoilers plus many other changes unique to the Sport evo. The spoilers have always been something that owners of non Evo M3's have retro fitted and ive always been a fan of that look (and function!)



The correct spacers unique to the Sport evo spoiler were fitted, something often missed out be people retro fitting or fitting a replica.



The bolts! These countersunk hex head bolts that hold the adjustable position rear blade to the main spoiler at NLA from BMW.

I had a selection of original ones, 6 corroded and 2 new (8 in total needed) and i was going the get the corroded ones blasted and re- chemical blacked to original finish but a trial fit found that the latest batch of Sport evo spoilers made by BMW had the threaded inserts recessed further in so the original bolts were not long enough,

Some searching online found the correct countersunk M8x1.25mm hex head bolts in a choice of lengths but in stainless so 5mm longer ones did the trick. A coat of satin black had them looking good and the result.....





Very happy with the rear end now! I've now the dilemma as to weather i replace the evo 2 front spoiler with a Sport evo adjustable front to match the rear...

What has become quite noticeable now is the left reverse light being duller than the right hand one so a new left lamp unit is now added to the ever growing list of new parts required.

[BSSBMW]

surgical said:

will you be selling this car after?

Not if i can help it but out of the three E30s i own it would be the first to go.

[BSSBMW]

Inside the rear right wheel arch is the fuel tank breather system which is an area often full of mud, rust and holes. The filler neck blasted and painted, vent tank cleaned, all hoses replaced with new and new electro plated fittings.



New Splash guard and a new metal pipe cover fitted (they have now doubled in price!) after being painted and cavity waxed on the inside.

Ignore the suspension components as these will be tackled later on but i gave the shock a wipe down for the aid of the pic.



Freshly refurbished 16x7.5 Style 5s by Lepsons shod in my favoured Yokohama AD08R rubber





Starting to look more like a car now. Bumper foils (black stripes) have been applied and new rear badges with the all important M3 badge fitted millimetre perfect as per BMW fitting instructions.

[BSSBMW]

helix402 said:

Badge positioning is crucial, so many people slap rear badges without actually thinking and measuring where they should be.

Indeed. One of my pet hates!

[BSSBMW]

helix402 said:

Paracetamol said:

Can you share the dimensions for the placement of the badge? Or is it a trade secret..I think mine is not quite correct. Thanks

Google might know:

http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TI...

That is the exact instructions i used (although from the complete manual, not just that web page.)

[BSSBMW]

rich350z said:

Wow what a restoration of my favourite ever Car.

I whish I could rewind time and not give away my E30 325i Sport for £2k.......

Thanks for sharing!

rich350z said:

Is there a thread on your Sport?

There is a thread on my sport on e30zone.net but it lost many pictures due to photobucket and ive not updated it in ages.

Here is the most recent pics of it.

[BSSBMW]

Details.... all new petrol flap and filler hardware. Decal is the first of many 1st class reproductions by pukardesigns.com.



The best part of six hours work to get the original headlining back in with a result i was happy with.



All of the shadow line trim has been painted in the correct satin black, Both doors have been fitted with their trims, complete new rubber seals and original glass.

[BSSBMW]

Trying to find time is getting harder but some progress is being made.









The rear bumper aero plastics have all been replaced with new.

[BSSBMW]

Thanks guys!





Side skirts painted in the correct satin finish now fitted with all new clips and fittings completes all of the body panel fitment.

[BSSBMW]

E30M3SE said:

All very nice, but more on the C2 2.7(?) in the background please.

Its a car we have done some restoration work on. I think there is a thread on the alpina register forum.