ROOOD's BMW E30 335I
Discussion
Aww, thanks again for the kind words everyone! 
I'll keep progress of the turbo conversion updated when the work really starts properly. I'm mostly just gathering parts at the moment.
Morningside - here's some more of the 'Maseratty'.
I bought it on Ebay for £550!
It was already stripped out with the bucket seats and harnesses, and the inside was brush painted in a fetching shade of white emulsion.
Possibly with a hint of peach...?
We did also remove some other unecessary or broken stuff, for added lightness!
Some of the bodywork looked a little lighter than it maybe once was too, but we won't dwell on that!
It's not really this shiny, cameras do lie!
With new oil, spark plugs and fuel hoses, the boost wound up and a pair of Renault 5 GT Turbo intercoolers...
It was still quite slow!
Our little rest on the M1 on the way from Kent to York Raceway for the PPC £999 Challenge!
We really should have checked the clearance of the bottom radiator hose to power steering oump pulley after we moved the radiator back to fit the intercoolers in!
At the event, and showing off our shiny motorbike rear cans - with removable baffles.
We managed a 15.6 second quarter mile, not too bad for a rusty turd that cost about £850 to buy and modify!
Group hug!
The car has now sat decaying some more outside my house.
I can't even drive it because the splines inside the steering wheel boss all ground themselves smooth, so the steering wheel just spins round and round!
Anyone got a steering wheel for a Mas..... no, thought not!
It might be revived soon, when the weather turns a bit better perhaps.
I'll keep progress of the turbo conversion updated when the work really starts properly. I'm mostly just gathering parts at the moment.
Morningside - here's some more of the 'Maseratty'.
I bought it on Ebay for £550!
It was already stripped out with the bucket seats and harnesses, and the inside was brush painted in a fetching shade of white emulsion.
Possibly with a hint of peach...?
We did also remove some other unecessary or broken stuff, for added lightness!
Some of the bodywork looked a little lighter than it maybe once was too, but we won't dwell on that!
It's not really this shiny, cameras do lie!
With new oil, spark plugs and fuel hoses, the boost wound up and a pair of Renault 5 GT Turbo intercoolers...
It was still quite slow!
Our little rest on the M1 on the way from Kent to York Raceway for the PPC £999 Challenge!
We really should have checked the clearance of the bottom radiator hose to power steering oump pulley after we moved the radiator back to fit the intercoolers in!
At the event, and showing off our shiny motorbike rear cans - with removable baffles.
We managed a 15.6 second quarter mile, not too bad for a rusty turd that cost about £850 to buy and modify!
Group hug!
The car has now sat decaying some more outside my house.
I can't even drive it because the splines inside the steering wheel boss all ground themselves smooth, so the steering wheel just spins round and round!
Anyone got a steering wheel for a Mas..... no, thought not!
It might be revived soon, when the weather turns a bit better perhaps.
Edited by ROOODBOY on Monday 4th February 19:34
I just love those cars - They have that 'something' about them. I dont care about the unreliability stories that float about, I mean how many cars would we buy if we listened to them all eh 
If I had seen it, mumble,mumble,mutter,mutter 
Yeah, I'm still kind of strangely attracted to old scrap!
Especially Italian scrap!
When I was a nipper there used to be a small Maserati dealership in Maidstone, I used to ride down there on my BMX to look at them on a saturday.
They barely ever sold any as it was nearly always the same two or three Biturbos every week! A 425, a Coupe and a Spyder.
There's always this one!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/324820.htm
It's a two door AND it's got an interior so you won't see the rusty floors!
I've seen several Biturbos sell for less than a grand, but you should be a little careful. Not that I was!
Especially Italian scrap!
When I was a nipper there used to be a small Maserati dealership in Maidstone, I used to ride down there on my BMX to look at them on a saturday.
They barely ever sold any as it was nearly always the same two or three Biturbos every week! A 425, a Coupe and a Spyder.
There's always this one!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/324820.htm
It's a two door AND it's got an interior so you won't see the rusty floors!
I've seen several Biturbos sell for less than a grand, but you should be a little careful. Not that I was!
Edited by ROOODBOY on Monday 4th February 20:11
Right folks, update time!
When I was building my E30 335i I got to know a well known bloke on the E30Zone (Toby Unna) who had (unknown to me at the time) put an M30 engine in an E30 long before me. Then after I got mine on the road, Toby (and it was covered in PPC magazine, for which he writes articles occasionally), fitted a turbocharger to it.
I was inspired and wanting more performance (as my car was still slower than the Mazda RX7 I owned previously) I decided to go the turbo route as well.
To cut a long story short, Toby recently made the decision to break up his E30 335i turbo for parts.
As I had become quite friendly with Toby by now, he gave me first refusal to buy any parts I wanted from his car.
I couldn't resist, and here is what I've bought.
And a little bit of piping and wiring to sort out!
When I went to collect these parts Toby's car was still road legal and complete, so we went for a drive.
I've been a very fortunate car enthusiast and I've been lucky to have passengered in and driven many exotic and very fast cars.
I knew this was going to be a quick E30 but the performance astonished me, I've been in slower Ferraris!
It was running a totally standard block and head with over 100,000 miles under it's belt and set at 9 psi of boost. It recently showed 296 bhp on a rolling road, with potential for plenty more!
The kit includes:
XS-Power T04E turbo
Custom downpipe and exhaust system
Blow off valve
External wastegate
Home-made exhaust manifold
Custom inlet manifold
Volvo/Saab intercooler and piping
E28 M30 radiator
M30 sump with stub for turbo oil return welded on
Oil feed pipe
Fuel pressure regulator
K&N air filter
Vauxhall / Saab ignition coil
Megasquirt mappable ecu
I hope to start getting things under way in the next few weeks with the brakes and turbo gear, I'll keep you posted.
When I was building my E30 335i I got to know a well known bloke on the E30Zone (Toby Unna) who had (unknown to me at the time) put an M30 engine in an E30 long before me. Then after I got mine on the road, Toby (and it was covered in PPC magazine, for which he writes articles occasionally), fitted a turbocharger to it.
I was inspired and wanting more performance (as my car was still slower than the Mazda RX7 I owned previously) I decided to go the turbo route as well.
To cut a long story short, Toby recently made the decision to break up his E30 335i turbo for parts.
As I had become quite friendly with Toby by now, he gave me first refusal to buy any parts I wanted from his car.
I couldn't resist, and here is what I've bought.
And a little bit of piping and wiring to sort out!
When I went to collect these parts Toby's car was still road legal and complete, so we went for a drive.
I've been a very fortunate car enthusiast and I've been lucky to have passengered in and driven many exotic and very fast cars.
I knew this was going to be a quick E30 but the performance astonished me, I've been in slower Ferraris!
It was running a totally standard block and head with over 100,000 miles under it's belt and set at 9 psi of boost. It recently showed 296 bhp on a rolling road, with potential for plenty more!
The kit includes:
XS-Power T04E turbo
Custom downpipe and exhaust system
Blow off valve
External wastegate
Home-made exhaust manifold
Custom inlet manifold
Volvo/Saab intercooler and piping
E28 M30 radiator
M30 sump with stub for turbo oil return welded on
Oil feed pipe
Fuel pressure regulator
K&N air filter
Vauxhall / Saab ignition coil
Megasquirt mappable ecu
I hope to start getting things under way in the next few weeks with the brakes and turbo gear, I'll keep you posted.
Edited by ROOODBOY on Tuesday 19th February 01:51
Thanks again guys!
Yeah the RX7 did stand out a little, still missing it sometimes!
What do you drive?, I'll most likely remember your car if it's something tastey!
You won't see the Maserati for a while, it failed the M.O.T. badly on rust and engine emissions. It could be a gonna!
But if I can sort the engine out I'll have a go at the bodywork too. We'll see.
A few things have happened with the E30 too, when I get a few minutes I'll update properly.
Yeah the RX7 did stand out a little, still missing it sometimes!
What do you drive?, I'll most likely remember your car if it's something tastey!
You won't see the Maserati for a while, it failed the M.O.T. badly on rust and engine emissions. It could be a gonna!
But if I can sort the engine out I'll have a go at the bodywork too. We'll see.A few things have happened with the E30 too, when I get a few minutes I'll update properly.
unfortunately not that tasty, but you shuld hear it and not in the chave ashmatic 3/4 pot manner either. currently driving a mk1 fiat bravo hgt (5 pot lump) with rather loud exhaist and induction set up and some s
te alloys..
had an alfa 155 silverstone before that in bright red
look forward to seeing the updates on the masser and BM
te alloys..had an alfa 155 silverstone before that in bright red
look forward to seeing the updates on the masser and BM
I'll look out for you Andy!
Right, update time!
I have changed my seats!
The Corbeau recliners have been replaced by these proper 1980s looking E30 318is seats.
The rear seat needed a bit of cutting and chopping to make fit round the roll cage.
The 318is rear seats are also a lot lighter in weight than the original 325ise ones.
I have painted and re-sealed the calipers and re-fitted the pistons and new bleed screws. I'm just waiting for a machine shop to make me up some caliper mounting brackets.
I have made up some aluminium spacers for the rear spring seats, just to raise the back end a few millimeters (I'm fussy like that!).
In anticipation of fitting the big brakes I have had to sacrifice the deep dish BBS 15" wheels for a set of TSW 17" ones. I don't like the look as much but... I'd rather be able to stop!
I've done some work on the engine:
I pulled apart the external wastegate, partly out of curiosity to look inside and it gave me chance to check and clean it all. There was also a broken mounting bolt so I renewed all four.
I have stripped the oil pump ready for a freshen up, as components for the pump are available seperately.
The bottom end is now totally stripped.
And so is the top end.
Before I build the engine up again I'm currently reading the first of two books I bought about turbocharging, so I can understand more of what I need to do, or not do!
The Maserati failed it's M.O.T.. Would you beleive that!
It's a good job I've just bought a welder! I'll need a large gas bottle and large roll of mig wire too!
The engine isn't too healthy on one bank either, if that can't be sorted it could be the great big Maserati garage in the sky for this one!
I'll let ya'll know!
MrFlibbles said:
Toby's a nice guy - when I met him he had just put the 335 together in NA form, and it was still running standard 316 drums... 
Toby is real gent, and very clever too! Right, update time!
I have changed my seats!
The Corbeau recliners have been replaced by these proper 1980s looking E30 318is seats.
The rear seat needed a bit of cutting and chopping to make fit round the roll cage.
The 318is rear seats are also a lot lighter in weight than the original 325ise ones.
I have painted and re-sealed the calipers and re-fitted the pistons and new bleed screws. I'm just waiting for a machine shop to make me up some caliper mounting brackets.
I have made up some aluminium spacers for the rear spring seats, just to raise the back end a few millimeters (I'm fussy like that!).
In anticipation of fitting the big brakes I have had to sacrifice the deep dish BBS 15" wheels for a set of TSW 17" ones. I don't like the look as much but... I'd rather be able to stop!
I've done some work on the engine:
I pulled apart the external wastegate, partly out of curiosity to look inside and it gave me chance to check and clean it all. There was also a broken mounting bolt so I renewed all four.
I have stripped the oil pump ready for a freshen up, as components for the pump are available seperately.
The bottom end is now totally stripped.
And so is the top end.
Before I build the engine up again I'm currently reading the first of two books I bought about turbocharging, so I can understand more of what I need to do, or not do!
The Maserati failed it's M.O.T.. Would you beleive that!
It's a good job I've just bought a welder! I'll need a large gas bottle and large roll of mig wire too!
The engine isn't too healthy on one bank either, if that can't be sorted it could be the great big Maserati garage in the sky for this one!
I'll let ya'll know!
Edited by ROOODBOY on Tuesday 22 April 21:47
Edited by ROOODBOY on Tuesday 22 April 21:58
I'll look out for you Andy!
Right, update time!
I have changed my seats!
The Corbeau recliners have been replaced by these proper 1980s looking E30 318is seats.
The rear seat needed a bit of cutting and chopping to make fit round the roll cage.
The 318is rear seats are also a lot lighter in weight than the original 325ise ones.
I have painted and re-sealed the calipers and re-fitted the pistons and new bleed screws. I'm just waiting for a machine shop to make me up some caliper mounting brackets.
I have made up some aluminium spacers for the rear spring seats, just to raise the back end a few millimeters (I'm fussy like that!).
In anticipation of fitting the big brakes I have had to sacrifice the deep dish BBS 15" wheels for a set of TSW 17" ones. I don't like the look as much but... I'd rather be able to stop!
I've done some work on the engine:
I pulled apart the external wastegate, partly out of curiosity to look inside and it gave me chance to check and clean it all. There was also a broken mounting bolt so I renewed all four.
I have stripped the oil pump ready for a freshen up, as components for the pump are available seperately.
The bottom end is now totally stripped.
And so is the top end.
Before I build the engine up again I'm currently reading the first of two books I bought about turbocharging, so I can understand more of what I need to do, or not do!
The Maserati failed it's M.O.T.. Would you beleive that!
It's a good job I've just bought a welder! I'll need a large gas bottle and large roll of mig wire too!
The engine isn't too healthy on one bank either, if that can't be sorted it could be the great big Maserati garage in the sky for this one!
I'll let ya'll know!
MrFlibbles said:
Toby's a nice guy - when I met him he had just put the 335 together in NA form, and it was still running standard 316 drums...
Toby is real gent, and very clever too! Right, update time!
I have changed my seats!
The Corbeau recliners have been replaced by these proper 1980s looking E30 318is seats.
The rear seat needed a bit of cutting and chopping to make fit round the roll cage.
The 318is rear seats are also a lot lighter in weight than the original 325ise ones.
I have painted and re-sealed the calipers and re-fitted the pistons and new bleed screws. I'm just waiting for a machine shop to make me up some caliper mounting brackets.
I have made up some aluminium spacers for the rear spring seats, just to raise the back end a few millimeters (I'm fussy like that!).
In anticipation of fitting the big brakes I have had to sacrifice the deep dish BBS 15" wheels for a set of TSW 17" ones. I don't like the look as much but... I'd rather be able to stop!
I've done some work on the engine:
I pulled apart the external wastegate, partly out of curiosity to look inside and it gave me chance to check and clean it all. There was also a broken mounting bolt so I renewed all four.
I have stripped the oil pump ready for a freshen up, as components for the pump are available seperately.
The bottom end is now totally stripped.
And so is the top end.
Before I build the engine up again I'm currently reading the first of two books I bought about turbocharging, so I can understand more of what I need to do, or not do!
The Maserati failed it's M.O.T.. Would you beleive that!
It's a good job I've just bought a welder! I'll need a large gas bottle and large roll of mig wire too!
The engine isn't too healthy on one bank either, if that can't be sorted it could be the great big Maserati garage in the sky for this one!
I'll let ya'll know!
Edited by ROOODBOY on Tuesday 22 April 21:47
Edited by ROOODBOY on Tuesday 22 April 22:00
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