stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
|
|
|
Hi, I've been lurking up until now, but I thought it about time I started my own thread. Seeing as I have only owned Triumphs for the past twelve years, two Spitfires, Dolomite, GT6 and MkI 2000 and after getting the 2000 through it's MOT again I decided it was time for a change, something more modern and quiter. Trying to decide what to get next I saw a BMW E21 316 for sale on this site and decided that was what I fancied, so last weekend I picked this up, a 1983 E21. The bodywork is all quite straight and after a wash, clay, polish and wax it is looking a lot better. The extra badges on the front have now gone and the chrome trims on the wheels will go soon also, the only trouble is that the wheels have only been partly respayed, so they look bad under the trims. I would like to find some slightly larger diameter wheels for it and drop it a bit, but the main plan is to just use it.
|
|
Last Edit: Apr 1, 2012 20:26:55 GMT by stevea
|
|
|
levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
|
|
|
Wowzers! That looks great. I kinda like it on those steelies.
|
|
'83 Merc 280CE
|
|
|
|
|
Belle! is the original chrome enclosures on your wheels? d'origine les entourages chromes des jantes?
|
|
retromods.forumactif.com/"la Française" oldschoolers community my cars: -83' Toyota Celica 1600st -81' Bmw e21 320/6 -81' Talbot Horizon 1,5 -87' Ford Escort mk4 wagon
|
|
stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
|
|
|
Thanks, I've not seen those chrome trims on any other car, so I can only guess they have been put on by one of the previous owners. They are somewhat dented and scratched, but look better at the moment than steel underneath, but they will come off soon as I fear they may be causing an imbalance. Extra badges are now off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That's a very tidy looking e21. It looks great in red. You could probably get a nice set of original 13" BBS wheels for it cheap enough (that's what I've got on mine) to keep it nice and original if those steelies are going to be a pain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
trés sympa
|
|
retromods.forumactif.com/"la Française" oldschoolers community my cars: -83' Toyota Celica 1600st -81' Bmw e21 320/6 -81' Talbot Horizon 1,5 -87' Ford Escort mk4 wagon
|
|
Tefal
Part of things
Posts: 514
|
|
|
nice
|
|
|
|
stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
|
|
|
I do like the looks of a clean and uncluttered looking car and fortunately it doesn't need too much doing to it. It seems they put the spare on to pass the MOT, but the tread is cracking badly, not surprising when the date on the tyre is Jan '94, so it's going to get a new pair of tyre pretty soon, but I want to re-paint the two rims first.
The underside could do with some paint or other protection before the tin worm gets to it, some of it makes it looks as if it has spent some time near the coast.
I'll keen an eye out for a set of alloys for it, in fact I have already been offered a set of 14" BBS rims, but the offset (ET) was all wrong without spacers.
At the moment I just need to stop myself from getting stuck into it until the Triumph 2000 is sold.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That looks like a really tidy example! Rust protection is a good idea, particularly if it's getting used through the winter.
|
|
1967 Morris Traveller 1971 Series IIA Land Rover 1991 Golf GL 4+e 1992 Corrado G60 1986 E28 BMW 528i
|
|
Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
|
|
|
Sweet car. If you want to upgrade to twin headlights just drop me a PM and I'll do you a swap. I also have a pair of e21 Recaro's in black which are rarely available.
|
|
Last Edit: Oct 8, 2009 13:48:24 GMT by Mark
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
|
|
|
|
|
|
lovely motor mate.
i've always liked this old shape, so much so, that i went to view one today and it also has the chrome wheel trim rings fitted! its totally original, so i think they were a bmw item/option. its going very cheap and i quite fancy it as a winter runner, but the tank leaks. any of you guys know where spares can be got? sorry to hijack the thread a bit but with a bit of luck i might be the proud owner of one of these next week.
yours looks nice and clean-good purchase!
|
|
|
|
stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
|
|
|
Linwar Motors could be worth a try www.linwar.com I'v not used them yet, so I can't comment on service. Looking through old receips, my car had new fuel tanks in 2005, the garage which did the work charged £93.62 & £124.26 + VAT for the tanks. At that sort of cost I would be inclined to try and seal them first before fitting new. *edit* Its out of stock at the moment, but for £25 it's worth a try Fuel Tank Sealer
|
|
Last Edit: Oct 8, 2009 20:39:22 GMT by stevea
|
|
|
|
|
Nice car bud! Any engine mods planned? I ran my M10 engined E30 on bike carbs and though it was a bit heavy on gas, it went a lot better. Looked nice too.
|
|
Anything with wheels.
|
|
8tee8
Part of things
Posts: 288
|
|
|
That is lovley, E21s look so much better with single headlights IMO
|
|
|
|
stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
|
|
Oct 10, 2009 15:18:41 GMT
|
lance1a - I've not got much planned engine wise, though a megasquirt system could be fun to fit. This car has had a tow bar fitted at some point, but the wiring for the lights was fitted using those nasty in-line connector blocks and when the tow bar was removed they just cut the extra wires off. This has all been tidied up now and re-wrapped with vinyl loom tape. It seems one of the problems of trying to find alternative wheels for these E21's is the small offset (ET) required, only 18 compared to 30 for the later cars, so I had to jump when I found a set of suitable alloys, which I picked up and fitted today. Three of the tyres were flat when I picked them up as they had not been in use for a while, once inflated I could see that a couple of them are leaking by the rim slightly and one had a leaking valve. I was in two minds about whether to use them straight away, but seeing as that one is leaking by the valve, I shall see about getting all four re-furbished. I guess they should go back to a light-ish silver, but was wondering whether it would look better if any parts were picked out in a darker colour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2009 16:21:13 GMT
|
I liked the steelies more, especially with the chrome rings. Paint the centres black and they'll be perfect.
|
|
|
|
Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
|
|
Oct 10, 2009 17:05:48 GMT
|
Try and find a Weber carb. It'll totally transform your car with extra MPG and a lot more go.
|
|
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
|
|
Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
|
|
Nov 15, 2009 10:06:55 GMT
|
I've located some leak free petrol tanks for you and they can be yours for just the postage? PM me if you want them?
I saw some of your alloys that had been painted as you were thinking. If I'm honest, they looked bloody awful. If you get them as clean as possible, or maybe a refurb', they look at their best. I'll find a pic of my old ones and post for you to see.
|
|
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
|
|
stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
|
|
|
Well it's been a long time and I've not really had to touch this car, just use it, but with the MOT in a few months time I thought I ought to do a few of the niggling jobs on it. Ever since I bought it, there has been a bit of a wobble to the steering wheel at speed, but this has got gradually worse with occasional metallic knocking sounds. I worked out that the steering chatter which was reduced by replacing the rack bushes was in part due to knackered bushes on the front lower arm. It turned out the front anti-roll bar was slack and hitting the lower arm. The bushes had both both failed most of the way by the bond between the outer metal sleeve and the rubber failing. Fortunately this made for easy removal of the out bushes by just cutting through the old outer sleeve in a couple of places and knocking it in. With the new bushes pushed in place the ride is much better, but the tracking is now out as it's changed the geometry again. After I bought my E21 I realised that the front seat base was broken, two springs snapped and a centre support bar broken in two places with one end detached from the frame. My plan now is to repair (weld) the frame, but will have to remove all the trim to reduce the risk of setting it alight. As the trim is quite worn and it has to come off anyway I was thinking about fitting new seat covers, but can anyone confirm what colour they are? I'm guessing it could be mocca?
|
|
|
|
murran
Part of things
Posts: 610
|
|
|
nice 21 that. those bushes youve replaced are infamous for causing the usual e21 40-50mph steering wobble.
|
|
|
|
|