SteakSauce's E30 Restore/Build

[Josh@canibeat]

Well my other thread didn't really show the progress so this will show from start to finish (even though there will never be a finish) of my 87 E30

Bought the car back in June bone stock.

June 13th, 2010

Well today I picked up a 87 325es today.

Its a work in progress and is bone stock.

Plan:
Full detail
Brakes & rotors
Shocks & springs (a drop is in order)
Replace:
Tails and gaskets
center console
glove box
Wheels (15's or 16's)
Valve Adjustment

Now to the pics

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0237.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0235.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0233.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0232.jpg


Today's Progress

I got it home and just had to play around with it. Cleaned the windows, also started war with some pesky ants in the trunk, and repainted a couple things... not much but its a start.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0238.jpg

June 14th, 2010

Well so far I have bought a ebrake handle and yellow highbeams... I know crazy lol. Should have some springs bought by the end of the night too.

Wheel wise I'm leaning towards some Axis OG San's in Gunmetal w/ a polished lip.

June 15th, 2010

Just ordered my some Axis OG San's in Gunmetal with a polished lip... 15x8 w/ a +25 offset. Got em for $650 shipped brand new... very pumped plus its not a wheel I see a lot... and I'm too poor for Formula Meshes lol.

Also have springs on the way, paid for em this morning, should drop me about 2.25 inch. Next up will be shocks.

Just ordered my Blistein Sport's as well... this next week will be very fun waiting for all my parts lol

June 18th, 2010

Update:

Well my wheels showed up today (haven't seen them yet, wife text me while I'm at work)

Also took the 325es badge off and pinstripe off, just need to get some adhesive remover to finish the job. Also shopping spacers bc I'll have to get one.

Also locally found a guy with tons of e30 stuff so I might have a full interior after this weekend.

Also have decided to do a plastic bumper swap, just gunna start with the front for now though. Should have my bilsteins Tuesday, springs mon or tues, yellow hi beams tues, brows tues or wed. Also ordered a Bentley Manual and should be here Monday lol.

Tire wise I'm thinking of going with 205/50/15's

I'll have some pics of progress tomorrow

June 19th, 2010

These came in yesterday!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0240.jpg

Also on the 19th...

So today I did a couple things, first up I removed the pinstripe and glue.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0251.jpg

Then I repainted the grills and kidneys black

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0249.jpg

Then I had taken my antenna out and need some sort of plug. So I found a generic gasket from a parts store, flipped it inside out so it would fit, then I stacked two buttons, then a dime and took silicon and glued them all in and topped it off with a dime. Then took silicon and put a beer bottle cap on top for look... don't know how I feel about it yet but it looks way better than the half up antenna

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0252.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

June 20th, 2010

So today I test fit my wheels (sorry no pics) and I will def have to get spacers.

Today I also buffed and washed my car, gotta wax it tomorrow, here is after the buff and wash.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0255.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0254.jpg

June 21st, 2010

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0256.jpg

Few things I got today

Light switch & grill brows

June 22nd, 2010

More goods

My Intrax Springs and Blistein shocks

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0257.jpg

June 24th, 2010

More parts!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0258.jpg

Yellow hi beams straight up German Yo! Also got ecs tuning 5mm spacers

Also got my dad getting some tools I don't have at his work so hopefully suspension will be on sat or sun. Tires are getting mounted on my wheels tomorrow, I need to get them on the car bc my front tires are shit lol.

June 25th, 2010

So this morning I got the yellow hi beams and the brows

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0259.jpg

Also my tires are getting mounted on the wheels... I'm hoping to have to them on before work.

Here is a super quick shot of my car with the new wheels... still have a vibration upfront so more investigating will have to happen.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0260.jpg

June 26th, 2010

Well here is a bit better pic of the front and how the car looks after the wax, black iS spoiler and I painted the side trim black... plan on doing around the windows soon.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0262.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0261.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

July 2nd, 2010

Front end before

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0275.jpg

Front end after... Replaced front turn signals and put the lip on.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0279.jpg

Also got a rear center console, ebrake boot, shift boot and glovebox

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0280.jpg

July 5th, 2010

Well after a long day and a few issues (and a ton of help from a couple buddies) the e30 was finally dropped. Still more suspension work to be done but its nice to finally have it dropped.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0286.jpg

July 10th, 2010

Well I got some parts last night

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0293.jpg

Also going to the yard today so hopefully I'll have more parts after today

July 14th, 2010

Repainted the trim on the front bumper and also tucked it in

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0304.jpg

July 16th, 2010

Well didn't get to much done as my spacers and caliper didn't show up so I lost motivation plus it rained some.

So I repainted the rear trim and rear bumper (did the bumper since the chrome looked horrible and there were some scratches in it). Also got my front center console in so my interior looks a little better.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0305.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0310.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0306.jpg

July 24th, 2010

Well haven't done to much but I did get some new stuff: shift boot, ebrake boot, euro analog clock and woodgrain shift knob

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0319.jpg

Got the knob and boots installed.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0321.jpg

July 30th, 2010

Got these in the mail, still waiting on one more bolt to put them on. 17mm for the back, so I'll get a little stagger

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0336.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

August 1st, 2010

Did a little photoshoot today.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0345.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0347.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0348.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0349.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0352.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0353.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0354.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0355.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0356.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

Wow this is out of date lol, time for some major update time.

In Sept:

So after like a month of doing nothing to my car... I painted the front bumper black.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/37b78450.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/1459f931.jpg

The Today

Well I finally got some carpet installed!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/f81e7ff0.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

Well finally got some carpet in the e30. Now I just need to locate some floormats

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0543.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0542.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

This was the last photoshoot I did

So I took some shots awhile ago, then put my car up forsale, then decided to make a comeback lol. Now I'm going to build a 2.7i motor and go lower.. so here are the shots I took... be easy... they aren't that great but I'm trying to get better lol

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0383.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0389.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0393.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0407.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

Well small update, nothing crazy.

Recently got some new roundlets for the hood and trunk.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/635538d9.jpg

Also I had black speaker covers in a car with tan interior so I didn't really think it looked very good so I picked up some tan ones. Also my driver turn signal went bad so I got a replacement

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/af4783ea.jpg

The restore continues lol, have a couple things I'm going to sell and I also have a early front valance on the way to replace mine that is in really rough shape.

[NINE]

Nice progress man. Great Car!

[matt638]

good stuff man, it's looking really good :D
keep it up!

[Josh@canibeat]

Ordered a canibeat banner and license plate frame last night, gotta represent lol

[matt638]

lol yeah i got my stickers in last week, im thinking a might need one of those plate frames in my life though

[Josh@canibeat]

Did you do a banner or just a normal sticker? I haven't seen anyone with a banner yet, I'm pretty pumped to get it on

[matt638]

^ just the normal stickers, but yeah the banner looks sweet man, you puttin on the front or back glass?

[Josh@canibeat]

back glass, gotta see if I can make it fit on like the side of the back glass, kinda like how my euro plate is

[98z24ragtop]

Nice E30, definitely liking the progress! Those wheels look sharp! Definitely looking forward to more progress, I've always had a thing for E30s! :cool:

[Josh@canibeat]

So I just got a front valance for the e30 to replace mine since its bent to hell

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/53ac84a6.jpg

[ShootJoeC]

Looks awesome dude! I love to see progress on older cars like this, you get to see a worn and neglected car get turned into something sparkling and new.

[xxxKezSC3xxx]

its coming out super well

[Josh@canibeat]

Thanks guys!

[Josh@canibeat]

Represent!!!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/67125563.jpg

[2000EK4]

Throw the banner on the Bimmer man,i want to see what it looks like:)

[Josh@canibeat]

I will once the snow clears, I gotta get to a garage so the car can warm up a bit lol

[2000EK4]

Ok cool,looking forward to it:)
Real cool car and project btw,keep it up

[Josh@canibeat]

Thanks man!

[98z24ragtop]

Love the gold plate frame! I need to pick on of those up...

[Josh@canibeat]

Banner and frame installed (excuse my dirty ass car, its been snowing)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/83436be2.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/b2a90c78.jpg

[hyperJDM]

Sick! I can't wait to see this in person. Are you going to the Omaha meet or SMP meet in May? I hope my pos looks a little better than last year lol.

[Josh@canibeat]

I'll be at both. Doing event coverage for another site. I'll be leading the group up to Omaha and just meeting up at the SMP meet. Hope to see sol again. Still loving the rusted trunk.

[Josh@canibeat]

So I painted my chrome trim around the windows today and it looks soooo much better. I was going to load up a teaser pic off my cell but its hating photobucket right now so you'll have to wait.

Also plan on repainting the door handles since they look like crap and might do some prep work on my front valance. I'll have pics later today.

Also should be getting some parts soon, already bought a knee bolster and working with a guy for set of shadowline trim since mine is pretty rough.

[Josh@canibeat]

Here are a couple terrible pics lol. I'll bust the Canon out once I get some more work done tomorrow. Still need to clean off the over spray on the windows as amazingly there were no newspapers at my parents house lol.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/889e27cf.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/6a04fc6a.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

More work today, repainted my side trim (hopefully will have actual shadowline soon) and also the door handles.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0758.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0757.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0756.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0755.jpg

Before and After on the handle

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0737.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0759.jpg

Then I painted the trim across the door panel.. not very happy with the finish though so I'll probably redo it. Also replaced some clips on my door panels.. Oooo exciting lol.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0744.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0760.jpg

[matt638]

looks good josh! i like what you did with the banner :)

[Josh@canibeat]

Thanks man, thinking about getting another one and double layering it

[jsu1012]

I love this car, good job homie keep it going.

[Josh@canibeat]

Well I'm bored at work so I'm going to grace you all with an update lol.

Painting will begin soon on the front valance to help clean up the front end.

I have a couple interior pieces on the way (waiting for shipping) and I'm trying to get my hands on a full set of oem mudflaps but the guy goes at a snails pace so we'll see.

Also have a sweet new sticker coming and I'm pumped for it haha.

[KatieMayhem]

looks good josh! i like what you did with the banner :)

This!

Looking good, Josh!

[Josh@canibeat]

Well went to the junkyard and I'm soo glad I did. After about 6 mos of searching I found a red trunk with no spoiler. Still need to remove the pinstripe and clean it up some.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/22800766.jpg

Then I found a full set of mudguards... only one pictured but will clean them up and have them on soon I home.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/0fb440dc.jpg

Also found a passenger tweeter that I was missing and a trunk mat for the bimmer since all of my trunk carpet is missing.

[Josh@canibeat]

Well last night I test fit the mudflaps and didn't like them on my car, didn't really fit the look IMO so they have already been sold.

Also got a knee bolster last night but since it was for a airbag e30 I had to hack it up a bit.. So eventually it will be getting sticker bombed.

[SikEj8]

wow car is coming together nicely, I really like the wheel choice :)

[Josh@canibeat]

So I'm so pumped for the next thing I'm getting I just had to update my thread...

Someone might be buying a Yakima rack for my e30 tonight... For 100 bucks...

Can't wait to get it but I have to till after work :(

[Josh@canibeat]

So last night I picked up a Yakima roof rack pretty cheap off craigslist. Happy with how it looks so far but it has a cracked fairing but I already have an idea of how that's getting fixed.

Here is a pic as I was walking into work this morning.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/1d6eab3d.jpg

[wask0]

i like it, nothing beats a good Craigslist deal. I think a CIB sticker will fix that crack.

[DRedman45]

nice...i have been trying to get my buddy to get a rack for his e30

[Josh@canibeat]

This is what I have been working on, stickers will be coming soon.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/c0c1504a.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

So I have started a little project that probably won't be well received which is ok lol. For quite sometime I have wanted to "stitch" up my dash but its far to hard to actually do that with thread so then I decided I would go with pinstripe. This is rather time consuming but I like how its turning out so far... but I have quite awhile to go lol.

Boring cracked dash

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0781.jpg

"stitched" dash

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0783.jpg

[colby_is_fly]

damn makes me miss my 87' 325is :( sadly was rolled on I-5 the thought to get one of these again came thru my head again the other day now ur making me second guess it

[rayyLo]

looks good man i also have an e30 that i am currently building

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i423/rayyLo/e30%20rayylo/_MG_5704.jpg

[Josh@canibeat]

Lookin good, if you ever want to see that hood bra let me know haha.

[Josh@canibeat]

Well I continued on the dash, some bad cell pictures. Have a meet in two weeks so I plan to finish the dash and also get a front valance painted and installed.... busy weekend ahead.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/e2dbc81b.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/75d66e92.jpg

[hyperJDM]

Hell yeah bro! Gotta love that jdm stitch. lol

[matt638]

So last night I picked up a Yakima roof rack pretty cheap off craigslist. Happy with how it looks so far but it has a cracked fairing but I already have an idea of how that's getting fixed.

Here is a pic as I was walking into work this morning.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/1d6eab3d.jpg


too fuggin sick.

[SubieStance]

I'm such a fan of these early bimmer's, especially this one!
You should deffinitly do coilovers ;)

[Josh@canibeat]

So I went to replace my valance but they made two early valances... of course it was wrong lol. I got ticked and decided that I was running bumperless... so here we are.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/9f009561.jpg

[SubieStance]

Looks pretty hard lol still clean w/o a bumper

[Josh@canibeat]

Here is another quick pic, need to wash it but its been crappy here lately in MO

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/057349bc-1.jpg

[S2tripleO]

Love watching stuff like this take shape, always such a wicked story that goes with it. Car has a lot of character man, keep up the good work!

[Josh@canibeat]

Some pics I took today.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0797.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0799.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0802.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0803.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0800.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/shortchevy/E30%20Build/IMG_0801.jpg

[Jay-D]

Dude thats a pretty sick E30, I had a question about the Trunk with the spoiler. is it a whole unit with the spoiler attahed or can i get a spoiler seperate?

[Josh@canibeat]

Dude thats a pretty sick E30, I had a question about the Trunk with the spoiler. is it a whole unit with the spoiler attahed or can i get a spoiler seperate?

Spoiler is separate. Its an "iS" spoiler. Check on r3vlimited.com, might be able to find one there.

[Jay-D]

Aw cool thanks man. also whats your lowering setup. just springs n shocks? how much were just the springs