Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Hi All, I've had this car on loan for a while from my mate whilst deciding whether to buy it or not. Since I sold my Mk1 Golf the other week I decided I better replace it with the BMW as it's really a rather nice old car... shock, me buying a non-VW, whatever next?!?  It's my first RWD car (unless you count a '74 Type 2 panel van I had when I was 17 that never quite made it onto the road...) and so far it's excellent fun if a little thirsty!  1989 E30 325i Sport, black, two door, standard Mtec2 (I think?) bodykit, LSD, close ratio 'box and all that sort of sporty stuff. I gave it a clean today and took some photo's...     As I've had the car on loan for a while I've already ironed out a few issues with it - replaced the cambelt, waterpump, thermostat, some of the worn drivers seat material, leaky rear lights etc. I'd describe the condition as very good but not 'mint'. Not so good you're afraid to use it and a few little jobs to keep me busy as I like, but generally very presentable.  A pic on location at the 'Ring in June with my Mk2 Golf and brother in law's Mk4.  And one with the '75 Mk1 it's replaced, sadly missed...  Comments and suggestions welcome! Cheers Stu |
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Last Edit: May 11, 2022 9:58:13 GMT by Stu
'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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BMW... driven carefully on the 'ring. Haven't heard that one before!  Looking gooooood! |
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Nice ! Never been in ( or even sniffed ) an E30....maybe one day.
Change the wheels man.....hang on.....do you still have your ronals ??
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Change the wheels man.....hang on.....do you still have your ronals ?? No, the Ronal's went with the Mk1 I'm afraid. I like the standard BBS wheels on the E30 when they're nice and clean, but they are horrible to clean like the ones on my Mk2 Golf used to be... hence why that car's on steelies now!  Not sure really on wheel choice, what looks good on an E30 aside from BBS? Would have to be 15inch and not overly wide as I intend to use the car for trips my Golf is too low and hard for! Does anyone know what colour front indicators and side repeaters this car would have had as standard? Has clear ones now which I'm not keen on, was thinking of changing to smoked or normal orange ones. |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Would have had orange repeaters as OE. Probably got some spare here, bear with me & I'll have a rummage. Wheel choice is a mega dilemma. The BBS rims are OK, but a bit bland. However you'll find that anything else will be a compromise driving-wise, and seeing as it's 'teh ultimate driving machineZ'.... I'm back on BBS's for the winter now.  |
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Speedle
Posted a lot
Need a Country Rock band in the Hampshire Area? https://www.facebook.com/DirtRoadDiaryUK
Posts: 2,221
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gorgeous! and a minty fresh interior! glad to see some Haribo in the side pocket share em out! |
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mowzer
Part of things
Posts: 618
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Great cars these ;D Loved mine to bits most fun ive had in a car wish i never sold it now  |
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looks a cool motor dude, I'm sure ull forget the golf once ur go somewhere sideways
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Lovely looking Bimmer you have there mate. I really like these. Wheel choice wise, AZEV A's all the way, keep the BBS though, they'll be worth a fortune one day!
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That looks gorgeous - and I'm not even a Bimmer lover! Leave it as it is because it looks fine.
That Golf was gorgeous too though!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Glad you all like the E30, it's certainly growing on me the more I drive it - excellent fun, and such a good noise from the 6-cyl engine. I've got a couple of jobs to do on the car if anyone has any advice? 1. Central locking. This used to work 'til recently, seemed to go a bit random and then pack up altogether. I think it's to do with the electrical connector on the drivers door to the body of the car as occasionally when you lock it something in that area clicks repeatedly, a relay perhaps? Any common faults and fixes? 2. Brakes. The brakes, front in particular, got quite a beating at the 'Ring in June and as such they pedal feels a little 'wooden' now and they don't bite too well. I assume the fluid was overheated (just standard Dot4) and the pads glazed perhaps? Anyway - any suggestions for brake upgrades without having to go 5-stud or change wheel size? I'll be using ATE 'Racing Blue' fluid as had very good results in that with my Mk2 Golf, doesn't boil anything like as easily as Dot4. Any pad or disc recommendations? Ideally I'd like to go for larger disks but I believe it's tricky without going 5-stud on BMW's? 3. Heated Rear Window. The switch lights up, that's about it - the window doesn't seem to demist - any common things to check? 4. Engine is a little tappety. I believe these don't have hydraulic tappets like the VW's I'm used to - should I dig out the Haynes and get adjusting the tappets old skool style or is it not worth it? Pog - if you do have any orange indicators let me know Hmmm... Haribo... |
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Last Edit: Oct 8, 2007 19:33:08 GMT by Stu
'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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nice car - azev a or something similar look the nuts on these. don't go any bigger than 16" as the handling is compromised.
fast road pads from ferodo or mintex and goodridge braided hoses and standard disks should be all you need for brakes, thats all I did on my M535 and that stopped on a dime - I have a new one now and that has grooved front disks and EBC green stuff and it doesnt feel any different than my old one - looks better though. enjoy the LSD!! dave
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mowzer
Part of things
Posts: 618
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On my old 325i the brakes were a little rubbish so i fitted grooved and drilled disks and some decent soft pads. Plus changed the fluid to dot 4 synthetic and they were never a problem again |
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Thanks for the replies - hadn't thought of fitting goodridge stainless brake hoses, good idea - I fitted a set to my Golf a few years ago and they improved pedal feel a fair bit. I will investigate some decent pads and have a look at the state of the disks to see if they need renewing, I think they probably will. Might as well give the brakes a thorough going over before I start tinkering with making it go faster... |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Oct 11, 2007 18:34:21 GMT
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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hammoj28
Part of things
Old skool BM
Posts: 321
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Oct 11, 2007 19:39:00 GMT
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Looks great to me. My iS looks pretty much exact to that but with the 1.8 16v.lol. So not quite as fast. I put a 60/40 kit on mine. Didn't really drop it much at the back but the front went down a hell of a bit:   |
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Stu
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,913
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Oct 11, 2007 19:47:45 GMT
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Looks great to me. My iS looks pretty much exact to that but with the 1.8 16v.lol. So not quite as fast. Cheers - yes, this ones probably a little quicker but I expect you can get more than 20mpg out of yours and it looks lovely! ;D I put a 60/40 kit on mine. Didn't really drop it much at the back but the front went down a hell of a bit: Yours has a much better stance, higher at the back than mine but lower at the front. I wonder if my rear suspension should be higher as standard anyway and has sagged with age? I was trying to work out what's different about the front of yours compared to mine, yours looks meaner and I think it's the black grill surround, I like it a lot! Also, what sort of front indicator lenses do you have? I'm not keen on the clear ones on mine and want to change them you see |
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'89 BMW E30 325i Sport, '04 MINI Cooper S, '09 Volvo V70 D5
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hammoj28
Part of things
Old skool BM
Posts: 321
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Oct 11, 2007 19:54:17 GMT
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Hehe, yeah I suppose there is that. Its pretty much the way I want it tbh and I'm not gonna do much else to it as I need an m3.....
Yeah, I think the back maybe stayed similar to what it was. Apparantely if you lower it 40 at the back the arch should be in line with the top of the tyre and thats where mine always sat so I think my springs were a bit sagged.
The difference on the front of mine to yours is:
Smoked grille
Smoked indicators on the front and clear on the side.
German plates (illegal but they look ace)
and m badge which came with it but I'm gonna take it off.
Yours looks like a really clean example. And its the best colour.;-)
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Last Edit: Oct 11, 2007 19:54:34 GMT by hammoj28
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