E30 Bronzit Coupe Project

[necsis 27]

Somehow I had missed this thread all together, just read through the whole thing. Awesome work man!

[Cammsport 391]

Shameless 

[Olaf 3341]

awesome.

[Cammsport 391]

A couple of snaps from Euro & Brit Classic Car Show this weekend. Was a cool day, definitely going back next year. The neighbouring Mercedes Club got sulky over us taking up too much room, made for some nostalgic rivalry. 

The 15" basketweaves are all refinished now too. I'm so stoked and can't wait to fit some tyres. Any recommendations from anyone on good 205/55r15? Seems to be an odd size with a limited amount of makes. Might go with Falken Ze914 as the reviews and price are pretty good. Also after some form of wheel sealer/wax make cleaning the cross weave design alot easier. 

[Allanw 1072]

I really like how the Potenza re003 fitted really squarely on the 15" weaves on Dads E30. I have Continental MC6's on my VW, and they fit nice and square too - some other brands I have used are narrower, even though the size is supposedly the same, and they look a bit gash because they look stretched - not at all how an E30 on weaves should look 😎

Car looks awesome BTW!

[Cammsport 391]

44 minutes ago, Allanw said:

I really like how the Potenza re003 fitted really squarely on the 15" weaves on Dads E30. I have Continental MC6's on my VW, and they fit nice and square too - some other brands I have used are narrower, even though the size is supposedly the same, and they look a bit gash because they look stretched - not at all how an E30 on weaves should look 😎

Car looks awesome BTW!

Thanks for the advice. I think the RE003 might be getting phased out. I can't find either of the those brands in the 205/55 unfortunately. 

[Sammo 2550]

Not sure on basketweaves widths - 7-7.5? would going to 225/50 or something within a few % of rolling circumference be feasible?

[Olaf 3341]

9 hours ago, Cammsport said:

Thanks for the advice. I think the RE003 might be getting phased out. I can't find either of the those brands in the 205/55 unfortunately. 

https://www.bridgestonetyres.co.nz/find-tyres?TyreWidth=205&TyreAspectRatio=55&RimDiameter=15&LoadIndex=&SpeedIndexId=&SelectedTyreBrandIds=&SelectedTyreProductIds=&SelectedTyreDrivingStyleIds=&SelectedTyreTypeIds=&ShowSizeRunFlatTyreOnly=&FindTypesSort=1&TyrePatternSizeId=9229

No stock?  They were getting low some months ago in 205/55R15, with supply challenges through Ports of Auckland.  The website indocates "in stock", call Bridgestone.  The RE003 is a bloody brilliant tyre for the money, I'd buy them in a heartbeat.  I've had them on my e46 for years (third set now), did a full set on my e60 and loved them.  

Looks like the RE004 is coming; Bridgestone will undoubtedly be looking to extend performance envelope and maintain loyal customers (the easiest repeat buy tyre ever IMHO) and extend market share with performance and pricing.  https://www.bridgestone.com.sg/en/tyre/potenza-adrenalin-re004  Can't imagine Bridgestone NZ would introduce RE004 until RE003 stock is well depleted.  And will they do RE004 in 205/55R15?

HTH.

 

[Olaf 3341]

On 4/13/2021 at 11:52 AM, Cammsport said:

The 15" basketweaves are all refinished now too. I'm so stoked and can't wait to fit some tyres. Any recommendations from anyone on good 205/55r15? Seems to be an odd size with a limited amount of makes. Might go with Falken Ze914 as the reviews and price are pretty good. Also after some form of wheel sealer/wax make cleaning the cross weave design alot easier. 

 

I thoroughly recommend the Auto Glym wheel brush.  Absolutely brilliant, makes cleaning my 14" baskets easy.  They last and last and last, this is not your $18 supercheap or repco brush.  I've had mine three years and used it across four cars (now my fleet is down to three), still looks like new, gets the job done with no hassles.

Buy one here, support your fellow Bimmersporter @Autoglym

https://barrysgarage.co.nz/product/autoglym-hi-tech-wheel-brush/

[adro 1084]

+1 for RE003

I had RE002’s on the 16” ACS and now RE003’s on the 15’s and they are a great match. Daily duties or a spirited day at the track. + the sidewall looks sporty 

Edited April 15, 2021 by adro

[Cammsport 391]

Oniomania (from Greek ὤνιος ṓnios "for sale" and μανία manía "insanity"), is characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying. Safely ticking that box at the moment... 

Still haven't bought tyres yet, so the poor basketweaves are sitting naked in the corner of the garage. But we've got a dyno day coming up so I've borrowed a set of my mates (a fellow hoarder) Rays Gram Lights. They're 15" and don't actually look too bad! 

I said earlier in this thread that there's no way I'll be retrofitting A/C... I've just bout a complete kit from a SA 325i and lining up what new bits and pieces I need. So I guess that is happening. 

Also just bought an almost complete, OE cruise control kit. So there's that too. 

However the most exciting thing recently was the arrival of my sport seats! The vinyl is average and theres a few bits of missing trim here and there but they're NIGHT AND DAY comfort wise to my comfort seats. They fit snug and the lower lumber support is far better. Aesthetically, the car is pretty much where I want it to be. Yea it could do with a paint if I was fussy and ideally the seats would need recovering (will probably buy the kits from LSeats.com)but I'm going to leave those jobs to when I'm an old man with expendable cash I reckon. 

Also, to change up the wheel situation I thought I'd get round to putting in the Mtech II steering wheel I purchased of the late Jake Hamilton. 

[nick496 269]

You'll definitely want to replace the seals on the heater box which go to the firewall, and also the one on top that goes to the dash. 

Ah, so you snapped up the cruise control. I'd finally finished my tour around the south island, and figured cruise control would be a great thing to have. 

[Ghost Chip 188]

Cruise control in a manual is a thing?! And I can’t believe an ‘80s car had them. I always thought my 06 jap hatchback didn’t have it because it was not modern enough. Found out now that it’s just pov hahaha

Also if you change your mind on the AC, I’ll be happy to grab that off you 😂

Edited August 2, 2021 by Ghost Chip

[nick496 269]

In the E30 you could get cruise control in the manuals.
Very rare over here, but some cars internationally had it fitted. 

[Sammo 2550]

Interior coming together nicely!

[adro 1084]

Great work!

[Deano1968 37]

Go Yokohama ADVAN Neova® AD08R.  They come in 205/50/15.  Calibrate your speedo to suit.  Wouldn't recommend them for daily use because they won't last but the grip and feel is rediculously good.

[Deano1968 37]

Buy them from Hyperdrive when they go on special.

Edited August 3, 2021 by Deano1968

[displayname 35]

I will never look at Bronzit Beige the same 😍

And the imperfections on the seats add character 😉

Also don’t usually like wheels that aren’t OE but the Rays surprisingly look good. This project has come a long way and you’re still adding to it! Hope you’re proud man.

Edited August 3, 2021 by displayname
Repeated a word.

[qube 3570]

I always thought it would be a cool idea to somehow retrofit some E36 msport coupe side/door black trims onto an E30. Can you please do it?

it should in theory flow well with the thicker trims on the front and rear bumpers instead of the triangular shaped standard trims.

[Cammsport 391]

35 minutes ago, qube said:

I always thought it would be a cool idea to somehow retrofit some E36 msport coupe side/door black trims onto an E30. Can you please do it?

it should in theory flow well with the thicker trims on the front and rear bumpers instead of the triangular shaped standard trims.

That's a no from me man. But I do know what you mean, should look cool with the other trim! 

[Cammsport 391]

1 hour ago, displayname said:

I will never look at Bronzit Beige the same 😍

And the imperfections on the seats add character 😉

Also don’t usually like wheels that aren’t OE but the Rays surprisingly look good. This project has come a long way and you’re still adding to it! Hope you’re proud man.

Thanks man! I don't think it'll ever be "done" unfortunately/fortunately hahaha

[Sammo 2550]

On 4/13/2021 at 11:52 AM, Cammsport said:

A couple of snaps from Euro & Brit Classic Car Show this weekend. Was a cool day, definitely going back next year. The neighbouring Mercedes Club got sulky over us taking up too much room, made for some nostalgic rivalry. 

The 15" basketweaves are all refinished now too. I'm so stoked and can't wait to fit some tyres. Any recommendations from anyone on good 205/55r15? Seems to be an odd size with a limited amount of makes. Might go with Falken Ze914 as the reviews and price are pretty good. Also after some form of wheel sealer/wax make cleaning the cross weave design alot easier. 

Did you refurb these or get them done somewhere?

If I end up keeping my Weaves will definitely need to refurb them next year...

[Cammsport 391]

1 hour ago, Sammo said:

Did you refurb these or get them done somewhere?

If I end up keeping my Weaves will definitely need to refurb them next year...

I refurbed them. Started with some stripper but the 40 Yr old paint was too stubborn. So, I had a mate media blast them. Then I went to spray them but as soon as I opened my primer, it all started to set in the tin. I quickly rushed them down to a local paint guy to have them painted. I bought new centre caps and got The Panel Store in Papatoetoe to colour match. It all came out pretty bang on in the end. Finished them off with some RE003s. 

[Cammsport 391]

Long time, no update! Not a Heck of alot to tell on the E30 front. Had a dyno day Aug '21 that was great fun. Was interesting to see what power the M52 put out with 200,000kms on the clock. 

122rwkw or 163hp at the wheels. 

We've recently moved south, so in the mean time the E30 has been put on the back burner (modification wise at least). Recently bought an E87 120d and it's turned out to be a lemon. So the e30 has come to the rescue! Happily carrying out the daily commute around Central Otago. 

Making some friends at work. 

And some more E30 goodness (or maybe sadness?) at a museum down here. Cars look to be in a pretty bad way. I don't think the owners realise the fairly recent rise in value of these cars over the last couple of years. 

Bought a replica Mtech1 spoiler from Mr Bodykits as I have always like the shape. Technically not correct being on a FL E30, but I like it! Only mocked up in the pictures. Need to colour code the forward portion and find a rubber like paint for the rear portion. And then mount it. Probably this weekends job.