DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 (edited) Hello there people... This is going to be kinda long but filled with pics figured I really should start keeping a lil thread of everything I do. If only for my benefit, to see my progress etc. This is not going to be a build of epic proportions, my heart still lies with my e36 Main aim for this car is just to have a cheap cruiser. Will do a manual conversion probably soon, but otherwise I am enjoying the lil 1.8! Apologise in advance for the pics! No talent/equipment in photography whatsoever! All started when I saw this going for a dollar reserve on trademe I immediately recognized it as Glenn's old car and remembered all the work he mentioned doing on it. Without even test driving it (could've been disastrous in hindsight!) I picked it up for a steal. Its done 260kms but you wouldn't know it, still runs silky smooth and the engine is as clean as a whistle! Back home in my driveway... Blacked out the grills pretty early. Decided to give it a good clean inside with a steam cleaner... Random pic with a good mate of mines car. Left it for about a week as is. Then this started bugging me: Headed off to Hellbm, where Ray was kind enough to help out on a Sunday morning. Managed to pick up some goodies from him! Lowering springs were supplied and installed by the Hellbm team, and on the same day I picked up some smiley headlights and some bits and bobs to retrofit foglights. Got bored one day and decided to tint the rears to all red. At the same time, I followed Hybrid's write up to retrofit e36 window switches. Then this happened on SH20. Two blokes in a white e34 were kind enough to help push it off to the side. Fuel pump was stuffed. Got that sorted! (Don't ever run your car dry!!!!) Expensive lesson. Colour coded the faded grey bumpers... Europlates... Cheers Andy. Also debadged it. And somewhere in between I happened upon a Volvo lip and some BBS RS reps which are temporary but my e36 needs to get sorted first! Matt blacked the brake ducts. Random pic with some of the others in the fleet. Shadowlined all the chrome window/door trims. And one teaser of the e36 I talk about, will make a build thread for that soon too. Plans from now on is to get a set of wheels that have better fitment sooner or later and the manual conversion. Thought about a m20b25 conversion but for now am happy with the economy of the m40 haha! Whats not shown in the pics is the maintanence work done. Already had all the fluids flushed and changed. New ignition leads from Brent. Fuel pump, fuel filter, plugs etc. And all the cleaning in between, the previous owner left it in a bit of a mess! All black trims have been sprayed back to flat black. Also I'm having second thoughts about the grill, prob revert back to the chrome kidneys soon. And unsure if I will leave the brake ducts black. Edited February 11, 2013 by L0WBMW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 badass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 good stuff, looking forward to its progress! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2122 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 Looks good! A manual conversion will improve your fuel economy a LOT over the automatic too, worth while just for that if you drive around in it alot. Pm Brent he has a blue 316i/5 hes parting that manual setup will work for this car. Has a for sale thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2312 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 Looks like a nice example. I would be inclined to have a chrome grille on it however. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 badassCheers bro! Waiting for progress on yours! Get Paya to help out hahagood stuff, looking forward to its progress! thanks! For the switch write up too, most don't notice but made a world of difference to me.Looks good! A manual conversion will improve your fuel economy a LOT over the automatic too, worth while just for that if you drive around in it alot. Pm Brent he has a blue 316i/5 hes parting that manual setup will work for this car. Has a for sale thread.Yep saw that, bit short on cash atm! Waiting on a set of vaders and coilovers for the e36! Also going to update the interior with leather or e36 seats. And light tints. And more importantly, my diff is goners so I'll be replacing that with a 4.4 which will make it better when it's a manual. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 Looks like a nice example. I would be inclined to have a chrome grille on it however. Yup I've pretty much made the decision to swap back! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lucan 196 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 You already know I'm a fan of your car(s) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 You already know I'm a fan of your car(s) Likewise bro! If you ever want to swap... Drop a text when you need help with the seats. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 18, 2012 Random pic of the 30 with a few mates. This week I'll be tackling the carpet and headliner. Already done it on a mates car, hopefully I can replicate results! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Top Secret 2 Report post Posted August 20, 2012 Looks good. It's nice to see easy and tasteful mods to make it into a tidy daily. Stick with the M40 IMO. I found my old 318i more fun to drive around the city than my 325i I currently drive every day. The good economy is also a nice bonus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
byza213 1 Report post Posted August 20, 2012 hey nice cars man.. nice taste! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 20, 2012 Looks good. It's nice to see easy and tasteful mods to make it into a tidy daily. Stick with the M40 IMO. I found my old 318i more fun to drive around the city than my 325i I currently drive every day. The good economy is also a nice bonus. Too true, tbh besides maintanence I havent spent all that much on the car. Most of it was time spent on the car and shitloads of spray cans! And as for the m40, definitely more than enough for me atm, it gives me a break from dishing out to fill up the e36! Maybe just a manual conversion haha hey nice cars man.. nice taste! Cheers bro! I can only take credit for the e30/36 though haha. The e46s and e28 are the parentals haha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted August 20, 2012 Looking quality. I really like how E30's can go from looking sh*t to quite awesome with little details. Keep it up. Also. I hope that guy is standing on his own car!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted August 20, 2012 Looking quality. I really like how E30's can go from looking sh*t to quite awesome with little details. Keep it up. Also. I hope that guy is standing on his own car!! Haha agreed!Honestly when I first got the car I couldn't stand the colour and wasgoing to spend all my money repainting it hellrot or alpine white. Now I'm in love with it, and it stands out! Ummmm... Nah thats not his lol. His is in the middle. The owner found out when I posted the pic on fb, I'll let you know what happens there haha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 Little teaser until I sort out spacers to clear the front brakes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikal 4 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 Awesome, real ones? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
euroriffic 601 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 Your thread is making me want a e30 again... Damn you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 Awesome, real ones?Honestly haven't even had the time to check them out properly! At the price I got them at, they could be fake for all I care haha. Any idea how to tell though?Your thread is making me want a e30 again... Damn you!Haha mate it's no fun when you're spending the money!! But that's one helluva compliment! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Navin 180 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 Nice! I've been trying to buy a set off 1 of my customers at work, no luck yet. Looking forward to pics! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
euroriffic 601 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) [quote name='L0WBMW' date='Sep 2 2012, 06:40 PM' Haha mate it's no fun when you're spending the money!! I know how you feel, the touring was ment to be a cheap daily, but as usual, sh*t gets outta hand haha Edited September 2, 2012 by euroriffic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted September 2, 2012 Nice! I've been trying to buy a set off 1 of my customers at work, no luck yet. Looking forward to pics! Bumped into an old mate and he gave it to me for the tyres of my old wheels and some cash (not very much). Just trying to decide what spacers to get. They are just touching at the front. 5mm should do it but might try my luck with 8mm, hopefully wont need longer bolts. Will prob also space the rears to keep it flush. [quote name='L0WBMW' date='Sep 2 2012, 06:40 PM' Haha mate it's no fun when you're spending the money!! I know how you feel, the touring was ment to be a cheap daily, but as usual, sh*t gets outta hand haha Haha others don't understand is that the idea of a daily is to be cheap on fuel, doesn't mean they cant look good Im with you on stuff getting blown out! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted September 4, 2012 Just a quick pic, still no spacers. And on an angle so front is riding high. And I'm ninety percent sure they ain't genuine. Looks like these ones here, http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....1&hl=borbet Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted September 4, 2012 And I'm ninety percent sure they ain't genuine. Looks like these ones here, http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....1&hl=borbet You might wanna read that thread a bit more. Those ones were replicas. Very good replicas, but replicas none the less. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarinD 8 Report post Posted September 4, 2012 You might wanna read that thread a bit more. Those ones were replicas. Very good replicas, but replicas none the less. Correct sir! You might want to read my post again hahaha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
