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Sept 20, 2019 8:42:23 GMT
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I saw an ad pop up on Facebook for a BMW E21 which was quite local and up for the paltry sum of £1000. I went over to have a look at it, and was thoroughly underwhelmed. The interior looked like it was home to a thousand tramps and their dogs, there was more fiberglass in it than in a Reliant and there was a hole cut in the floor, where the previous owner had started a repair but then realised he didn't have a welder. On the plus side, the rear arches were solid and it ran and moved. I went away not that interested. I am one third of what we call the curse word Car Collective. It's kind of like Area 51. I had a chat with the others and they said 'Offer him £800 and if it's curse word, we'll flip it'. I rang him and offered £750, and he accepted. We collected it that night. It was actually driven onto the trailer. Then a couple of days later, I was thinking about how much I like old Beemers, having had a couple of E30s and currently run an E36. So, I ended up selling my Anglia project which I hadn't touched in years, to fund this one.                      From what we've seen, there's no major horrors. The rear panel is the worst, but I've managed to find a NOS panel, and I've collected a few other parts. I'm not sure on the plan yet. I would probably go down the restomod route with an M42B18 from a 318is, but they're getting thin on the ground. I've heard the M52B30 from an E46 330i may be a viable option. Something for me to look into. |
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Last Edit: Sept 20, 2019 8:46:04 GMT by zetecvan
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biturbo228
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,868
Member is Online
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Sept 20, 2019 10:31:11 GMT
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Awesome! Love an E21. My first thought reading through was 'damn, that is cheap for an E21'. Then I saw the pic where you can see the ground through the floor. That's why  still, all repairable and I've seen worse go for more money. As for swapping in a more modern BMW 6, the early M50s from E36 325s and E39 525s are simple swaps. Not sure if E21s are the same, but E30s there's tons of information out there for them. I've actually got a fair few of the bits needed for an E30 swap that'll be going spare, including an M50B25 from a 523i. Positives to those are the electronics are still old-school enough that you can plumb them up to retro cars without any funny business, they're cheap, they remap well, and there's a couple of affordable turbo kits if that takes your fancy. Cons are they're iron blocks so a little heavier than some later engines, and they don't make as much power out of the box. From what I understand, the M52B30 ECU speaks to other gubbins in E46s and doesn't like being cut off from them. I've read around that they can be flashed to believe they're still there, but haven't yet found someone who does it (if you do I'd love to know as I need to do the same thing with an M57D30TU from a 330d). You might be able to get one running on a remapped older ECU (not looked into that yet), and a standalone would work fine. Pros are more power and an alloy block so a bit lighter (around 170kg fully dressed, so 10kg lighter than the M20 that was in the E21 323i). Think M52TUB28s from the E36 328i are also alloy block, but don't quite me on that. I've got a load of info for medium case diff ratios and which ones have what type of LSD too, provided they're the same setup as E30s. |
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Sept 20, 2019 11:23:19 GMT
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Like it!
I had an e12 for a while, great car. Even when everything was knackered it still drove better than anything else ive ever had 😂
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Sept 20, 2019 13:27:04 GMT
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Glad to see some E21 love. I have also seen them going for more, and having a mate who cut his teeth at a BMW bodyshop in the early 90s, it was an easy decision to weld up. Thanks biturbo228 for the info. I'd not seen any info on the ecu problems with the M52. All I'd thought about was the anti theft systems. But like I said it's early days. I do know if I go down the M42B18 route, I'd have to get E30 parts, sump etc. Also been reading up on volvo brake conversions... |
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biturbo228
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,868
Member is Online
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Sept 20, 2019 14:18:10 GMT
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No probs  The ECU problems with the M52 can't be insurmountable as it's been done loads of times. Might just be a case of finding the right guy to flash it, or even more basic just find out what needs to stay connected for it to be happy and keep it all in place (I've got that info somewhere from a mate who was still moving his about after stripping various bits and pieces). |
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Sept 21, 2019 20:02:13 GMT
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had to chuckle at the crooklok....even that looks knackered.
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating
'80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip
'97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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Bigdoors
Part of things
cherwelldoors.com
Posts: 176
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Sept 22, 2019 6:46:13 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 22, 2019 6:47:50 GMT by Bigdoors
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,309
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sept 22, 2019 8:16:49 GMT
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This should be good! When you say M52B30, do you mean the M54B30? They're a very sweet engine. The M52TUB28 if that can can go in would be a great lump as well. For the ECU Gubbins, speak with Martyn *@ ECUWorx ; he at least in the M3 world seems to be a bit of a wizzard with them ; it's his software I used to flash my M3's ECU . |
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Sept 23, 2019 6:48:07 GMT
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Yeah ChasR, that's the one I meant. Thanks for the info re Martin. :-) @bigdoors, cheers. I'm reading through your thread right now. |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Sept 23, 2019 8:01:50 GMT
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Am I the only person who doesn’t really like 6 pots in e21s?
They’re fairly small light car so are much better suited to rorty (or turboed) 4 pot. I like your M42 idea, would make for a much more balanced car.
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Sept 23, 2019 9:21:07 GMT
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Dez, I've read a fair few forum posts about engine swaps, and a few people have the same thought that the best engine for an E21 is a four pot, but I love the sound and power from a six cylinder. I might have to buy a second E21 and do both conversions to see which one I like ;-)
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Last Edit: Oct 11, 2019 7:11:05 GMT by zetecvan
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Chuffing good stuff mate. Will be watching with interest.
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Chuffing good stuff mate. Will be watching with interest.
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Looking forward to seeing this develop! I've got a bit of a hankering for an e21 myself...
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Oct 12, 2019 19:04:40 GMT
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This morning we removed the rusty rear panel. I have a genuine BMW replacement. We found a couple of holes in the boot that had been covered in filler.   I also cleaned up the petrol tanks. These are about £600 each so I'm pleased they aren't in bad condition. Ready for painting.  I also stripped the rear brakes down. The arms and subframe will be blasted and painted in the next week or so. |
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niwid
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,754
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Oct 12, 2019 20:00:07 GMT
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Do love these
Looking forward to updates!
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Oct 12, 2019 22:40:39 GMT
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This is the problem with cheap old BMWs, and the E21 is no exception... they rot like nobody's business.
I still regret selling my 320. At least I know where it is, still possible to re-acquire...
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Last Edit: Jan 6, 2020 21:40:18 GMT by zetecvan
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still, all repairable and I've seen worse go for more money.
The ECU problems with the M52 can't be insurmountable as it's been done loads of times. Might just be a case of finding the right guy to flash it, or even more basic just find out what needs to stay connected for it to be happy and keep it all in place (I've got that info somewhere from a mate who was still moving his about after stripping various bits and pieces).
