New to the forum, but not to retro cars.
Names Ian, and I'm in Milton Keynes, some people may know me from Pistonheads, E30Zone or Driftworks
After the demise of my 320i back in 2009, 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'll be used for spares. Kinda gutting honestly seeing it ending it's life but rather it went to good use instead of ending up on a scrapheap going to waste!
Anycase after much hunting and considering a E36 touring.... I found this on E30 Zone.
After discussion with the owner a deal was struck and I collected it soon after.
A good look around and I found a few niggles, central locking not fully working on the drivers side, But was soon sorted.
Since getting it, I've spent a fair bit of time fixing it up and the story to date is as follows:
The 320 was raided for the OBC, LSD, polybushes which were transfered into the touring, a new fuel tank soon followed along with welding.
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.
I'd noticed the car had been misfiring for a while since i'd brought it so took a weekend off from university back in 2010 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 :cry:
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 for helping me out whilst I was away at university, K&J Engine services, highly recommended!
The head upon getting it back
And back in
Since that rebuild the car's never missed a beat, managing to pull 3 up with camping gear / race gear and clothing as part of a convey from MK to Dover.. then Dunkerque to Hockenhiem in 15 hours! :mad: At up to 120mph+ all LEGALLY
Then after finishing with University, I focused on the car and getting work. Off came the front valance, and on went a good one with a new iS lip
And set about fixing the sagging headlining too.
After a bit of research and finding a bargin on ebay... E28 Sports seats now reside in the touring
And since I went to the Gaydon show... I got spending a bit more and these parts were aquired.
New grill
6k HID's and smoked lenses
Strut brace
Soon after which, I took a week off from work to install this lot
Old stuff out
Cleaned down for underseal
Sealed up for winter
All new in
Fresh wishbones, drop links and tie rods
And this as is now, I recently took another 5mm out the front, but it's nicely setup now, though I could stand to corner weight it and get a full alignment done.
I've still got the 6kg flywheel to install from my old 320i, and sort out the woeful E30 steering (E46 clubsport / E36 / Z3 depending what's around) to do, but it's coming along well The diff needs replacing too, along with a gearbox seal needing replacing.
It's already annoyed one Porscher Boxter driver when going across MK ;D
Names Ian, and I'm in Milton Keynes, some people may know me from Pistonheads, E30Zone or Driftworks
After the demise of my 320i back in 2009, 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'll be used for spares. Kinda gutting honestly seeing it ending it's life but rather it went to good use instead of ending up on a scrapheap going to waste! Anycase after much hunting and considering a E36 touring.... I found this on E30 Zone.
After discussion with the owner a deal was struck and I collected it soon after.
A good look around and I found a few niggles, central locking not fully working on the drivers side, But was soon sorted.
Since getting it, I've spent a fair bit of time fixing it up and the story to date is as follows:
The 320 was raided for the OBC, LSD, polybushes which were transfered into the touring, a new fuel tank soon followed along with welding.
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.
I'd noticed the car had been misfiring for a while since i'd brought it so took a weekend off from university back in 2010 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 :cry:
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 for helping me out whilst I was away at university, K&J Engine services, highly recommended!
The head upon getting it back
And back in
Since that rebuild the car's never missed a beat, managing to pull 3 up with camping gear / race gear and clothing as part of a convey from MK to Dover.. then Dunkerque to Hockenhiem in 15 hours! :mad: At up to 120mph+ all LEGALLY
Then after finishing with University, I focused on the car and getting work. Off came the front valance, and on went a good one with a new iS lip
And set about fixing the sagging headlining too.
After a bit of research and finding a bargin on ebay... E28 Sports seats now reside in the touring
And since I went to the Gaydon show... I got spending a bit more and these parts were aquired.
New grill
6k HID's and smoked lenses
Strut brace
Soon after which, I took a week off from work to install this lot
Old stuff out
Cleaned down for underseal
Sealed up for winter
All new in
Fresh wishbones, drop links and tie rods
And this as is now, I recently took another 5mm out the front, but it's nicely setup now, though I could stand to corner weight it and get a full alignment done.
I've still got the 6kg flywheel to install from my old 320i, and sort out the woeful E30 steering (E46 clubsport / E36 / Z3 depending what's around) to do, but it's coming along well
The diff needs replacing too, along with a gearbox seal needing replacing.It's already annoyed one Porscher Boxter driver when going across MK ;D
!)
