OK - this project has been stalled for a year - and now I might get a chance to finally work on it. I tried to use the Forum search function but because I'm a Forum Newbie, I didn't find much - and I know there must be a ton of E30 projects out there... OK - what we have here is a 1990 BMW 325i - no sport package, 2.5L with 5 speed. It was a $1000 purchase back in 2009. 235K miles before the ODO broke. Originally it was going to be a full on Spec E30/Track Car... but I ran out of time and money... and I procrastinated so long that my 13 year old became a 17 yr old and needed a car... then I procrastinated some more and just bought him an 03 525i out of a Copart Auction - so now the "old BMW" as we call it - is mine again.
Original Plan: Add all Spec E30 goodies - except keep the AC and some kind of interior/4 point cage and use it as a track car until more Spec E30s showed up in Texas... this was 2009, remember? So it's got all the Spec E30 suspension under it - Springs, shocks, coil overs, sway bars, full poly bushings front and rear, New lower front wishbones, new brakes all around, Camber Plates, 3.73 rear gear, spec E30 exhaust that I added an Ebay Cat to - so it will pass Texas emissions.
Current state - I stripped the car to prepare it for the kid's desired paint job (flat black of course) - and wanted to use the car as my first attempt at a full body respray. Then I noticed the sunroof panel was making bad noises - and discovered rust in both the panel and roof. Otherwise the car seems to be rust free - except the rear lip of the deck lid.. Carfax said it lived in Chicago from 1990 to 1998 - then moved to Texas.
So what to do? Looks like I need to pull the sunroof cassette to address the rust - and I can't see that going back into the car - so that's leaning toward the gut the interior/real race car route. I can skin the sunroof and fill the hole... or I suppose I could put the cassette back in... as I have all new sunroof cables and hardware.
So again - the options are:
- Sell it as is - and probably eat most of the $3000? in Spec E30 parts in it
- Maintain original Plan - sunroof rust repair/bodywork/paint - keep the AC & interior, add 4 point rollbar and make it a "Texas Track car" - meaning it keeps the AC and power steering so I can actually drive it in the 6 months we have Summer here...I also gotta ditch the Spec E30 exhaust - as it sounds like a Honda Fart Can, or... It is a freaking go cart on the street now - very fun to drive considering it has no power.
- Go full Spec E30 - gut the interior, skin the sunroof, full cage and racing seat, remove AC and power steering, racing brake pads
In any option - I have a new clutch for it - and new plates for the Diff LSD - and it needs them. One wheel drive at the moment. Also needs Spec E30 wheels and tires - tire rack seems to have set for about $100 per wheel.
I'm willing to entertain any suggestions at this point. By way of introduction, I used to race Formula Vees in SCCA - but I think I've got the red mist out of my system. Not sure that Texas has much of a Spec E30 scene anyway - and my gut is telling me that you should always buy, never build your own race car if you really want a road racer.
