E30 M52 - I don't like modern cars.

[king_ZS]

Thought I'd start a thread more for me to look back on but if anyone else is interested then great.
I sold my track SRE30 in January this year and bought a 2005 Impreza WRX (which shamefully was a STI rep), which I didn't enjoy at all.
Ive wanted an Impreza since I was young watching the WRC in the late 90's but once I finally got one I didn't really bond with it, maybe I would have had I been able to stretch to an STI model but I wanted a blob eye and the WRX was less than half the price of a equivalent condition STI.
So the WRX lasted less than 6 months before it was gone and I started looking at something old again, everything in the WRX felt too light to use and I felt like I could only really enjoy it when trying to push it hard.
So I knew the next car had to be something old with some feel and character to it that could be enjoyed at normal speeds.
After looking at a variety of old BM'S I got a final shortlist of another BMW E30 with a M52 conversion or AE86 corolla, but I couldn't find a 86 under 10k that I wanted (trueno hatch) so E30 it was.
I came across one on that fit the bill perfectly with it being red, M52 swapped and having the sport/is interior I was working away in Germany at the time it came up so I had to fly home at the weekend to view it and then fly back the weekend after to collect the car.
So a breif spec of the car when I bought it.
Shell on 182k
M52 conversion on 110k
Is front lip
Is interior
Nardi wheel
Recent respray
Gaz coilovers
Customer ss exhaust (which is ridiculously loud and needs sorting)
Polybushed rear subframe

Below are a few pictures of the cars I've mentioned.

SR20'd E30 track car




WRX



E30



I'll add an update later of the few things I've done so far, there won't be many updates as I'm saving for my wedding 😅

[shalmaneser]

An M52 E30 is a wonderful thing. A great combo of new and old, I'd love to get into one in the future.

Would have to be a very solid shell though.

[Monkeylegend]

Love these. One of the very few cars I regret selling was my 1988 Sapphire Black 325i Sport.

Trying to find an unmolested, genuine sport now is like looking for hens teeth.

[king_ZS]

shalmaneser said:

An M52 E30 is a wonderful thing. A great combo of new and old, I'd love to get into one in the future.

Would have to be a very solid shell though.

I thought this one had a solid shell untill i had it mot'd in Novemeber and it failed on a rotten sill

[king_ZS]

So since getting the car I've done the following.
-stormwerks heavily weighted gearknob
-refurbished OZ MSW 1962a alloys
-stud conversion kit (no more trying to balance the wheel one handed)
-removed the clear indicator's and replaced with originals
-removed sunstrip
-replaced rear smoked lights
-raised it a good inch and a half as it was scene points low
-painted clock needles M3 red and covered uneeded warning lights/service light






Following plans are:
-fit a PMC short shifter as the play and throw in the gear stick is horrendous it's like stirring a bucket full of **** and it's currently ruining the driving experience
-poly bush the front end
-replace wooden nardi wheel with omp protipo heritage one
-remove ASC throttle body/replace with samco inlet hose
- undecided on weather to spray the front splitter OEM red or leave it black
-cupra 20v brake master cylinder

Edited by king_ZS on Thursday 20th December 14:20

[king_ZS]

So last year I took the car for an MOT just before winter hibernation and it failed on a shot wheel bearing, the little numberplate which I completely forgot to change (previous owner had put it on) and a rotten sill.
Following the failure I just tucked it away for winter to do the repairs once the weather picked up.
Dug the car out last weekend to see what was what with the rust issue and was greeted by this.
Was undecided all winter whether to do the work my self but having never welded on a car was unsure what to do.
Once I got it out though I decided I might as well have a crack at it.


First off attacked it with a grinder to clean it up


Then made some templates up



Will put up another post later with the welding done this weekend.