BMW's galore!

[Mark]

Planning on getting these rims on the e12 ASAP but can't afford coilovers - yet. Am looking at getting a set of custom lowered springs instead? Ideally I want a slight nose-down stance like I have on MIB. It just seems to suit shark front BMW's. Either way, it needs to come down at least 60mm, although any more will mean I can't get over the local speed humps.

I'm also on the hunt for an e12 rear bumper if anyone knows of one please?

The interior is super clean but the original steering wheel has some cracks which make it a pain to use. I also struggle to squeeze my dodgy leg under whenever I get in.



So, a quick rummage in the workshop and I found this.





I've been planning on fitting these but not sure if there might be a set of wide steels out there instead?

[rob0r]

Crumbs, that is early...

I know of an E12 M535i project that's sitting in limbo. He welded the shell up near enough and then lost interest. He would rather sell it complete (I have my eye on the engine and other bits!) but I'll ask if he has a spare rear bumper. Unless you want to take the whole car! (less the engine )

[Mark]

Possibly Rob. I might know someone even if I don't myself. I'm running out of storage space tbh.



The e12 is such a nice drive it's actually performing as a daily driver for the Mrs. It even manages over 30mpg!

[🇿🇼Kingludba🇬🇧]

going by you past E`s, this one should look awesome. Awaiting updates periodically!!

[Mark]

Changed the steering wheel and it feels much nicer. Next week it'll be new rims and dropped ride height. I'm also looking for a subtle front spoiler but might have to try an e28 one. New badges and some attention to the few rust scabs there are, is also on the agenda.





Spotted this while watching The Professionals today. X pack awesomeness.

[Mark]

A change of plan / priority meant the E12 went off to an excited new owner in Ireland last week.

I then turned my attention back to the e30 track car. I have planned to give it M3 arches for a while but also wanted to convert to LHD to ease engine upgrades and lose potential issues with steering and exhausts. A quick list of parts required, such as rack, pedal box, assorted brackets, pre facelift rear panel & lights etc and it wasn't going to be quite as cheap & easy as I'd hoped. I would also have to choose whether to miss up and coming events or wait till winter before work could start?

Anyway, fate stepped in to lend a hand and threw this in my direction for less than the individual parts were going to cost me.



Well the left hooker turned up I was pleasantly surprised.



Depite not having been on the road for a fair while first inspection showed it to be in pretty solid condition. The scuttle has no rot and obvious spots, like under the fuse box, are all really solid.

Mind you, the carpets were soaked and absolutely stank of damp so I figure there is rot in other places that might not be so obvious?







I spent a couple of hours on Monday getting stuck in and getting back to a bare shell.





As I said, the carpets were soaked so I figured chances are rust will have started.

Well it could have been far worse. Just a little bit of rot in the corners of the footwells. Someone has attempted a ''repair'' at an earlier date but had left all the rot and simply covered it up. This time it'll be chopped out and new metal let in.





I made a start on chipping away at the sound deadening stuff but I had to stop after a while as I can only tinker for short periods. I broke my neck & back in 4 places so am lucky to even be walking but focussing on something has helped me recover to the point I'm at now. That said, I am still very limited to what I can do / manage myself and am lucky to have friends who'll step in and help when needed. There's no rush though.

Anyway, I started the long boring task of chipping all the sound deadening crud off.

I also had a call from a well known company who dip shells. Because of the fund raising I do, they kindly offered a slight reduction on cost. It's still £745 plus VAT though so I'll be doing it the old skool way, with grinder, flapper wheel and elbow grease. :-)



Once the shell is stripped bare, I hope for something like this, which is an early works cage design used on the M3. M3's themselves were based upon the 1986 model e30 which is what this car is. I have the M3 panels already but the conversion will be done by www.pristinebodyworks.co.uk once the cage is finished. That way, the rigidity of the shell won't be compromised when the panel conversion is done. Well that's the plan anyway.

[Mark]

I spent another couple of hours on the LHD car today - or project imposter.

I took all the glass out, along with winder mechanisms, trim and head lining.





It seems as though water had been getting past the screen and I think they had forgotten to remove the backing plastic from the bonding. The good news is there was absolutely no rust whatsover in the windscreen surround.



Even the rear panel, another e30 weak spot, is pretty much rock solid wit just a few little scabs here and there. Bumpers will be replaced with fiberglass M3 items.



I need to get the engine out soon and then it'll be time to jet wash / steam clean prior to using polycarbonate pads on the grinder to get it looking like this.

[Mark]

Next week the Group 2 arch kit should arrive for MIB.

[renofan]

Absolutely love your collection and what you have done. Major jealously on my part I must say

[Mark]

Jul 13, 2012 10:27:12 GMT renofan said:

Absolutely love your collection and what you have done.

Thanks matey.

I've been looking for some rims that are big enough to fill the Group2 arches but that still look period. Ideally 15 x 9 and 0 offset as there's quite a lot of arch to fill.



A case of right time, right place turned these up. I'd actually owned them once before and regretted letting them go. I just need to find some suitable rubber to wrap them in. ;D




I also went and saw the guys at www.questmotorsport.co.uk yesterday. I had a quick nose around the e28 they are currently putting a full cage in and their work is certainly very good. I'm researching the cages built by Matter and used in the early e30 M3's and hope to have Quest follow the same design. As soon as the e28 is finished I'll drop over the e30. Hopefully the M3 panels will arrive this week!








Quest also have an RS200 replica build in progress. (please excuse crappy phone pics)

[Bigdoors]

Mark, you going to RRG?

[rob0r]

I disagree with arching MIB! It would ruin it's great lines and shape, presumably it would require riveting/drilling so it would harm the good shell too. I'd keep arching to track cars IMO!

[tonybmw]

For what its worth I'm with Rob0r on this one

[Mark]

I think so Simon.

Rob & Tony - your remarks are duly noted.

I am now off to spend some time with a heat gun & paint scraper removing sound deadening from the E30. Who says I'm too old to have fun?

[rob0r]

Buy my E21 M50 and arch that instead

[Bigdoors]

Do you wanna meet somewhere before?

[Mark]

Sounds like a plan but depends on Mrs. Last year we stayed in BnB after driving down day before. I'll ask her.

E30 went to www.questmotorsport.co.uk today and is getting the full monty with a Group A cage design from Matter.

This is the look I'm after.

[Bigdoors]

Cool, let me know. I'll see you there otherwise.

[Mark]

Collected rims to go under Group 2 kit on MIB today. Just need some polishing and the centres painting gold rather than black. I think some spigot rings might be an idea too.

MIB is actually at Pristine Bodyworks in Essex having some wiring issues sorted and a new steering rack. I'm taking the quick-rack out as I'll be running 225/50's and as it's non assisted it would be a bit too heavy.

[Mark]

Devastated.

I could almost cry.